Guide To Puerto Banus Marbella

Even if you have never been to Puerto Banus, its likely that you already know the name. This luxury marina in the heart of the Costa del Sol attracts some of the richest people in the world to its shores due to its reputation as a playground for the super rich and the mega famous. But do you really have to be in this elite club to enjoy all that Puerto Banus has to offer?

Overview

Puerto Banus is only six kilometres from the well-known Marbella on the Costa del Sol. It is a relatively new location, and was only officiously opened in May 1970. However, the guest list at that event pretty much set the scene for how it was going to turn out, with names such as Hugh Hefner and Roman Polanski in attendance.

It immediately became known as a resort for the super rich, and to display this in the most impressive fashion possible it soon became filled with the most spectacular collection of yachts to be found almost anywhere on the planet. Indeed, it is these yachts that make up one of the biggest attractions to the area for the normal tourists, who line up and gape in open-mouthed wonder at the sheer size of the boats and the riches on offer.

Now, the near-constant sun and the warm temperatures throughout the seasons mean this once-peaceful fishing village now attracts over four million visitors a year.

Shopping

Puerto Banus is essentially a large complex, and for this reason shopping is one of its biggest attractions. As you can imagine, there is a fair number of designer shops to cater for the appetites of those with money to burn. You can get practically any name you want to if you have a big enough limit on your credit card, and whether it is Gucci or Armani that takes your fancy you wont have to look too far.

For the more normal-value goods, you should head straight to the impressive Corte Ingls, a mega department store with five stories. Next to this you will also find the Marina Banus Shopping Centre, where you can find a wide variety of goods on offer.

But for something altogether different, many tourists choose to head to the street market that is held every Saturday in the bull-fighting ring. Here you can find practically anything, and there are some real bargains to be had.

Going Out

Puerto Banus was designed for entertainment, and as such you can find a plethora of bars, restaurants, cocktail bars and nightclubs to cater for every taste. Although some of the nightclubs are clearly aimed at an exclusive clientele and will have prices to reflect this, one popular pastime, especially in the summer months when the resort is at its busiest, is to sit in one of the numerous bars lining the marina and to watch the impressive yachts and the elite owners as they walk by.

One of the best places to head to is the Muelle Rivera alongside the seafront where you will find plenty of upmarket cocktail and wine bars, and if you do decide to go out to a nightclub you can enjoy some of the best on offer in Spain and stay up partying all night long.

Entertainment

If you get tired of people watching in the bars, you can head up to the multiplex cinema with its English films or even take a trip to the casino where you can try your luck amongst the big spenders. The beautiful sandy beaches make up one of the biggest attractions of Puerto Banus, and at Playa Levante at the north end of the port you will find one kilometre of golden sand, and you wont find a shortage of water sports on the beach to keep you entertained.

Accommodation

Generally speaking, Puerto Banus is not going to be the most cost-effective place to stay if heading to the south of Spain. In fact, most of the accommodation is aimed at the very wealthy, and this is written on the assumption that you do not have your own yacht to stay in. There are numerous villas, apartments and penthouses to rent with excellent views out over the sea, but they are likely to burn a hole in your pocket.

Having said that, there are a number of more affordable hotels and apartments to choose from for the average tourist, but you are not likely to get a prime location for these. To counter this, many people choose to stay in Marbella and make day trips to Puerto Banus instead.

Surroundings

You dont just have to stay in the actual resort when you visit Puerto Banus, as it is surrounded by stunning scenery. To the north you have the stunning Sierra Bermeja mountains, with plenty of opportunities for hiking and nature watching to get away from it all.

One of the other main attractions is golf. Around the area you will find a large number of golf courses to enjoy, and these are considered some of the best clubs on the continent, especially Atalaya and the Marbella Golf and Country Club.