Estepona
Estepona is often called the "Garden of the Costa del Sol" — a nod to the decade-long transformation of its old town, where pedestrianised streets are lined with flower pots, orchid displays and dozens of murals. It's a genuine working Andalusian town rather than a purpose-built resort, with white-washed houses, tapas bars and small shops sitting alongside the newer development that's grown up around it.
The town has two long beaches either side of its centre — Playa del Cristo, sheltered and popular with families, and Playa La Rada, which runs for over two kilometres along the seafront promenade lined with beach bars. Estepona's marina, about 1.5km east of the old town, has several hundred moorings and hosts a well-known Sunday market. To the west, Estepona blends into the New Golden Mile, the newer stretch of development running toward San Pedro and Marbella.
Property in Estepona
Property here spans the full range: renovated apartments in the old town, frontline-beach developments around Estepona Este, and villas in the residential areas further back from the coast. Prices are typically well below equivalent properties in Marbella, which is a large part of why UK buyers increasingly choose Estepona over its more famous neighbour.
Getting around
- Málaga Airport: around 1 hour 15 minutes
- Gibraltar Airport: around 35 minutes
- Marbella: a short drive east along the coast road
- Old Town, marina and both main beaches: all within walking distance of each other
Is Estepona a resort town or a real working town?
It's a genuine working Andalusian town — the old town has been there for centuries, with its own market, fishing heritage and daily life, rather than existing purely for tourism. The newer coastal developments have grown up around that existing town rather than replacing it.
How does Estepona compare to Marbella on price?
Property in Estepona is typically well below equivalent properties in Marbella, which is a major reason UK buyers increasingly choose it over its more famous neighbour along the coast.
