Marbella's greatest asset is its expansive, sun-soaked coastline and the leisurely activities that go with it. Sailing, water sports and golfing are popular activities with tourists. Families with children will find amusement parks and beaches that offer facilities for younger visitors.

El Faro Beach
The fine, golden sands of El Faro beach stretch for more than 3,000ft, welcoming sunbathers and swimmers during the warmest months of the year. There are plenty of beach accessories available for hire here, as well as games and facilities available for children. This is a popular fishing spot as well, and it isn’t uncommon to see fishermen staying overnight in tents with their rods secured at the shore.

Funny Beach
This is an ideal family attraction, located near the coast at the Marbella Arch. Children will enjoy the trampolines, bumper boats, video games and motorised bikes and cars. Meanwhile, parents have plenty of entertainment options as well, including pool tables and go-karts. An onsite restaurant provides a great place to refuel after a hard day of playing. Phone: +34 952 82 33 59.

Golfing
The Andalucía countryside has long been a haven for avid golfers on holiday. There are numerous courses across the Costa del Sol region, with the Marbella Golf and Country Club (the closest) located within a five-minute drive of the city centre. A restaurant, full facilities and tennis courts are also found onsite. Phone: +34 952 83 05 00.

Prado World
Located along the N340, this amusement park is an ideal stopover for families with children. Facilities span traditional amusement park rides and water park attractions. You’ll find trampolines, a mini-golf course, train rides and swings alongside swimming pools, flume rides and waterslides. Phone: +34 952 79 11 74.

Sailing
The Costa del Sol is home to a total of 11 marinas so yachts are easily accommodated all along the coastline. Puerto Banus is the nearest such facility, and visitors will find there are ample facilities here including outfitters, charter companies and sailing schools that specialise in skipper licensure and in some cases, scuba diving certification.

As one of the most successful resorts on the Costa del Sol, Marbella has several museums spanning fine art institutions displaying work by masters such as Picasso and Dali to quirkier, less-expected establishments such as the Bonsai Museum. Roman ruins can be found just outside of the city, and there is a museum dedicated to the excavation of these sites. Meanwhile, flamenco continues to be performed on stages throughout the region.

Bonsai Museum
Easily one of the best such museums in the world, the Bonsai Museum in Marbella boasts trees that are as old as five centuries. The main building is modern in style and stands over a small pond stocked with fish and turtles, and supporting bonsai flotillas. A portion of this pond actually emerges within the museum itself. The Bonsai Museum is located east of the old quarter in Arroya de la Repressa Park. Phone: +34 952 86 29 26.

Contemporary Art Museum
Built in the 1500s as a place for Don Alonso de Bazon, this building was later dedicated to the public sector as a hospital for the impoverished. The building itself spans Gothic, Renaissance and Mudejar architectural styles, and houses a collection of artwork by contemporary masters such as Picasso and Chillida. Phone: +34 952 82 50 35.

Flamenco Dancing
The passionate art of Spanish flamenco was born here in Andalucía province in the late 1700s. In recent decades, flamenco has garnered a broad, enthusiastic audience not only at home, but internationally as well. Many of Spain’s greatest flamenco performers regularly appear on stages near Marbella, some practicing the art in its pure, original form and others innovatively fusing it with jazz, rock and blues music.

Museo Cortijo de Miraflores
Opened in 2001, this art museum draws on several centuries’ worth of material. Most of the artwork was produced between the 17^th and 19^th centuries, with a particular emphasis on oil painting. The house itself has historical interest and is framed by a lovely botanical garden. Phone: +34 952 90 27 14.

Roman Ruins
The Roman ruins at Marbella (between the city centre and neighbouring Puerto Banus) are open for guided tours three days a week. Two archaeologists, D Fernando Alcalá and Carlos Posac Mon discovered this collection of ruins in 1960. Visitors to the ruins can view the ancient patio, its columns and 12 rooms. Phone: +34 952 78 13 60.

Scattered across its quaint plazas and along its narrow, historic avenues, Marbella boasts an impressive variety of dining options. Tapas bars are popular with local residents, and most dining establishments that offer alcoholic beverages also feature tapas-style snacks such as omelettes, locally-made sausages and Russian salad (an unexpected local speciality). La Ruta de la Tapa is an annual festival that celebrates the town’s reputation among tapas enthusiasts.

Of course, as a well-established resort town, Marbella has numerous upscale options for fine diners. Some of the most popular local, five-star restaurants are The Santiago, La Hacienda and La Meridiana. Local chefs specialise in creative dishes featuring fresh, local seafood. International cuisine is also well-represented, most notably spanning Mexican, Chinese, South American and Italian fare.

Shopping enthusiasts in Marbella will best serve their interests by strolling through the historic quarter and leisurely perusing the numerous boutiques, designer fashion studios and speciality food shops. The city is compact enough that a well-planned shopping excursion isn’t necessary. Hypermarkets and larger shopping complexes (such as La Canada) are located on the outskirts of the historic centre, while even greater shopping options are found nearby in Puerto Banus.

Shopping enthusiasts in Marbella will best serve their interests by strolling through the historic quarter and leisurely perusing the numerous boutiques, designer fashion studios and speciality food shops. The city is compact enough that a well-planned shopping excursion isn’t necessary. Hypermarkets and larger shopping complexes (such as La Canada) are located on the outskirts of the historic centre, while even greater shopping options are found nearby in Puerto Banus.

Beyond designer clothing and accessories, shoppers in Marbella gravitate toward speciality food items and lively, local red wines. Handicrafts and other souvenirs are also easy to come by. For one-stop shopping, visit El Corte Inglés, a mainstay of department store shopping in Spain.