Best Areas to Stay in Estepona, Spain

Estepona’s Centre is considered one of the most beautiful historical quarters on the Costa del Sol.

This area is located on a small hill near the Ensenada de Estepona beaches. It stands out for its traditional architecture, typical of the White Villages of Andalusia, with narrow pedestrian streets decorated with flowers.

The historic centre of Estepona also has beautiful squares like Las Flores, surrounded by small cafes, restaurants and terraces.

Another interesting square is Plaza del Reloj, considered the city’s heart; this square hosts the town hall, the main market and the church of Los Remedios.

Nearby, the Archaeological Museum offers a small but interesting collection of objects and artefacts dating back to prehistory.

Located in the north of the Historical Center, the Estepona Orchid House offers the most avant-garde facet of the city. This interesting botanical garden displays thousands of flower varieties and a waterfall in a modern setting under three massive glass domes.

To the south, central Estepona is very close to some of the city’s most popular beaches, such as La Cala and La Rada.

As it couldn’t be otherwise, the centre of Estepona is the best-connected area of this Costa del Sol town.

Avenida de España, which runs parallel to the seaside promenade, has several bus stops connecting the main beaches of the municipality and the other towns on the coast, such as Marbella or Málaga.

For long-distance destinations, the Estepona Passenger Terminal is located a couple of kilometres to the east.

Although it has a charming historic city centre and several cultural attractions, Estepona is primarily a beach destination.

This city on the Costa del Sol has a spectacular coastline full of wide beaches with fine white sand and offering all kinds of services and amenities for a perfect holiday in the sun.

The main beaches in the urban centre of Estepona are Playa de la Cala, Playa de la Rada, Playa Beach, Playa del Cristo and Playa Seghers.

The beaches closest to the city centre are connected by the Pedro Manrique Promenade, a lively and quaint boardwalk full of restaurants, bars and shops.

Playa de La Rada, one of the most famous on the Costa del Sol, is very popular for its beach bars and places to eat. Just behind it is the old Fishermen’s Quarter of Estepona. This area is characterised by its typical Andalusian architecture and countless restaurants. Nearby, you’ll also find the Fun Beach Park Estepona, which offers fun for kids on its giant inflatable obstacle courses.

At the southern end of the city is the Puerto Deportivo de Estepona (Estepona Marina). One of the most important on the Costa del Sol, this port area has many shops, restaurants and nightlife venues.

To the west of the port, Playa del Cristo is considered one of the best in Estepona. El Cristo attracts many families thanks to its shallow waters and sun lounger rental services.

The coastal districts are the best areas to stay in Estepona for families and for those looking for a beach holiday. Estepona’s coastline is packed with accommodation options ranging from modest B&Bs to the most elegant tourist apartments and five-star spa hotels.

Saladillo Beach is located about 10 kilometres east of the city centre of Estepona.

With more than three kilometres of fine sand, El Saladillo is considered one of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol.

It is a popular destination for families and young couples and offers all kinds of services, including toilets, showers, and rental services for sun loungers and water sports equipment.

El Saladillo is also popular thanks to its many leisure and nightlife options, including several restaurants, beach bars and pubs.

This ​​eastern Estepona area is characterised by being a semi-urban district, with a large number of luxury residential developments, country clubs and exclusive shopping centres.

Not far from El Saladillo, you can find many world-class golf courses such as El Paraíso Golf, Atalaya Golf & Country Club, Real Club de Golf Guadalmina and Villa Padierna Golf Club.

As you might expect, this area is also characterized by its exclusive accommodation offer, including gorgeous beach resorts, spa properties, luxurious private villas and some of the best luxury hotels in the province of Malaga.

Being an exclusive and predominantly residential area, most compounds in eastern Estepona lack good public transport connections. The best way to get around this area is by car or taxi. Additionally, many east Estepona hotels offer shuttle services to the beach and golf courses.