Marbella on the Costa del Sol is one of the most luxurious resorts in Spain. Its reputation as a destination for the rich and famous was cemented in the 1950's and 60's with the opening of the Marbella Club, set up by the aristocratic Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe of Liechenstein. Marbella fell into decline in the 1980's but its fortunes were revived by the flamboyant yet controversial Jesus Gil y Gil. The former mayor instigated a number of improvements to the resort including a remodeled promenade, cleaned up beaches, and a zero tolerance approach to graffiti and litter. Known as Salduba under Roman rule, the town was later renamed Marbiliya during the Moorish occupation.

In the centre of Marbella is the old town (Casco Antiguo) which, with its maze of narrow streets and little squares, is in contrast to the multi-storey hotels found elsewhere throughout the resort. The focal point of the Casco Antiguo is the Plaza de los Naranjos. On one side of this pleasant square is the Town Hall which dates from the 16th century. Close to the Plaza de los Naranjos is Marbella's main church, the Iglesia de la Encarnacion, which also dates from the 16th century but was later remodeled in a Baroque style. Marbella has a couple of museums worth mentioning; the Museo del Grabada Espanol Contemporaneo which has a series of engravings by the likes of Picasso, Dali and Miro, while the quirky Museo de Bonsai which has a collection of the miniature Japanese trees.

Marbella's best beaches can be found to the west of the town centre in an area known as the 'Golden Mile'. This section of coastline is home to some glamorous beachfront properties, luxury hotels, and the famous Marbella Club which was mentioned earlier. The resort also has a marina, but this is overshadowed by the one at Puerto Banus a few miles down the coast. Towering over Marbella on the edge of the Sierra Blanca is the spectacular Concha Mountain, whose summit is around 1,000 metres above sea level.

Marbella is particularly renowned for the great golf courses surrounding the resort. These include Los Naranjos, La Quinta and Las Brisas, the latter having been the venue for the 2008 Andalucian Open. Also close by is the 9-hole La Dama de Noche, the first floodlit course in the whole of Spain.

Shopping is an important part of the Marbella scene. There are some lovely boutique-style shops within the Casco Antiguo, while designer labels can be sourced from the main avenue running through the town, Avenida Ramon y Cajal which leads into the Avenida de Ricardo Soriano. On the outskirts of the town is the La Canada commercial centre which contains shops, fast-food outlets, a multi-screen cinema and bowling alley.

Marbella bus station is situated next to the bypass, about 1 mile from the town centre. There is a regular express service from here to Malaga airport which takes about 45 minutes. There are also buses from Marbella to many of the resorts along the Costa del Sol, as well as inland to the popular tourist destination of Ronda. Long distance services to Cadiz, Jerez, Granada and Almeria are also available. The town does not yet have a railway station, although the coastal line from Malaga will be extended as far as Marbella within the next few years.