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The short answer
Puerto Banús is the luxury marina of Marbella, about 6 km west of the old town. The developer José Banús built it in the late 1960s as a mock Andalusian fishing village, and it was inaugurated on 18 May 1970, then presented to society at a famous party on 2 August 1970 attended by Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly. Today it has roughly 900 berths, rows of superyachts, designer boutiques and the busiest nightlife on the Costa del Sol.
- Why go: to walk the quays and look at the yachts, shop, take a boat trip, spend a day on the beach either side of the port and go out at night.
- Time needed: 2–3 hours for a look around; a full day with the beach and a boat trip.
- Cost: walking around is free. Drinks on the front row cost about double what you pay a street back.
- Getting there: local bus or taxi from Marbella, or walk the seafront in about 1 h 15. No train, and no direct bus from Málaga airport.
Is Puerto Banús worth visiting?
We think so, for a half-day or an evening, as long as you treat it as a show rather than a sight. There is no history to see: what you get is people-watching on a grand scale, with yachts the size of small ferries, supercars on the quay and evening crowds.
It suits shoppers, people who enjoy a glamorous scene for a few hours, groups looking for nightlife and beach clubs, and families who want a calm beach with shops and restaurants nearby.
It doesn’t suit anyone on a tight budget, travellers looking for Spanish atmosphere (go to Marbella’s old town or Estepona instead), or light sleepers staying next to the port in summer.
Things to do in Puerto Banús
Walk the marina front
Start on the Muelle Ribera, the main quay, where the largest yachts moor stern-first in front of cafés, boutiques and restaurants. Carry on round the harbour towards the breakwater for a view back over the boats to the mountains of the Sierra Blanca. We think the walk is at its best at sunset, when the terraces fill up and the cars come out.
At the roundabout at the main entrance stands a bronze Rhinoceros Dressed in Lace (Rinoceronte vestido con puntillas), a sculpture by Salvador Dalí designed in 1956 and placed here in 2004. It weighs about three tonnes, and it is the only real work of art in Puerto Banús.
Shopping
Puerto Banús is the main luxury shopping street of the Costa del Sol.
- The quays: the front row and the lanes behind it are lined with designer boutiques, mostly international fashion and jewellery brands.
- El Corte Inglés Puerto Banús: the Spanish department store, on Calle Ramón Areces behind the port, with luxury brands, a supermarket and a car park. It is usually open Monday to Saturday 10:00–22:00, and every day in July and August.
- Marina Banús: a two-level shopping centre in the middle of the complex with high-street chains such as Zara, Massimo Dutti and H&M, if the boutiques are out of your budget.
- Saturday market: every Saturday morning (about 9:00–14:00), more than a hundred stalls of clothes, crafts, ceramics and bric-a-brac set up next to the Nueva Andalucía bullring, a short walk inland across the A-7. There is no weekly Sunday market in Puerto Banús itself.
The beaches
The beaches either side of the marina are the same coarse, grey-brown sand as the rest of Marbella, but they are clean, with calm water and plenty of services.
- Playa de Puerto Banús (Levante): just east of the port, about 1 km long and sheltered by the breakwater. The water is shallow and calm, which makes it good for children. Sunbeds and beach restaurants line the back.
- Playa del Duque (Nueva Andalucía): west of the port, busier and more social, with smarter beach clubs and fewer cheap chiringuitos.
For quieter sand, go east to Cabopino or west to Estepona. See the Costa del Sol guide for the whole coast.
Boat trips and dolphin watching
In our view boat trips are the best thing to do from Puerto Banús. Kiosks along the quay sell them, and you can book ahead online.
- Dolphin-watching trips: usually 2–3 hours on a catamaran or sailing boat, from about €40–45 per adult. Sightings are common but not guaranteed; morning trips usually have the calmest sea.
- Fly Blue catamaran: a big tourist catamaran that runs a ferry between Puerto Banús and Marbella (about €11 one way, €20 return, in season) plus a 2-hour trip with a swimming stop and a sunset cruise (about €35).
Compare trips here: Marbella and Puerto Banús boat trips.
Walk or cycle the seafront to Marbella
The Paseo Marítimo runs from Puerto Banús east to Marbella’s old town, about 6 km along the beaches of the Golden Mile, past beach clubs, hotels and walled villas. Allow about 1 h 15 on foot, less by bike. We’d walk to Marbella in the morning, have lunch in the old town, and take the bus back.
Nightlife and beach clubs
Evenings start late on the front row, move to the bars and clubs around Plaza Antonio Banderas and the lanes behind the port, and go on until dawn in summer. Dress codes are strict at the smarter clubs, and entry and drinks prices are high.
- Front-row bars: famous spots such as the Sinatra Bar charge about €10 for a bottle of beer and around €15 for a whisky, and some take cash only. You pay for the view.
- Beach clubs: Ocean Club Marbella, on the beach between Puerto Banús and the Golden Mile, is the best known. Sunbeds start at about €60, beds for four at around €185, and VIP beds run into hundreds of euros plus a minimum spend. We’d book ahead in July and August.
- Cheaper: we’d walk one or two streets back from the water, or eat at the chiringuitos on Playa de Puerto Banús, where a beer and a ración cost normal Costa del Sol prices.
Prices at a glance
| What | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Walking the marina, the Dalí sculpture, beaches | Free |
| Beer on the front row | About €8–10 |
| Beer one street back | About €3–5 |
| Dolphin or catamaran trip | About €35–45 per adult |
| Beach club sunbed | From about €60 |
| Underground parking | About €2.35 an hour |
When to go
- We think May, June, September and October are the best months: warm enough for the beach, the terraces are busy but not packed, and hotel prices are lower.
- July and August are the peak: the most yachts, the biggest parties and the highest prices. We’d book beach clubs, restaurants and hotels well ahead.
- Winter is quiet and mild. Shops and restaurants stay open, but many clubs and beach clubs close.
- Time of day: we’d come in the late afternoon and stay for sunset.
For temperatures and sea warmth month by month, see Costa del Sol weather.
Getting to Puerto Banús
There is no train. The nearest station is Fuengirola, at the end of the C1 line from Málaga.
| From | Car or taxi | Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Marbella old town | 10–15 min, taxi about €15–20 | 20–30 min on urban line 1 |
| Málaga airport | 40–50 min, taxi about €70–95 | Avanza to Marbella, then change: 1 h 15–1 h 45 |
| Estepona | about 25 min | L-79 via San Pedro, about 55 min |
- From Marbella: urban bus line 1 runs through the centre to Puerto Banús, and several other lines stop there too. A single costs about €1.20, paid on board. The stops are on the A-7 above the port, not at the marina itself.
- From Málaga airport: there is no direct bus to Puerto Banús. Take an Avanza bus to Marbella bus station and change to a local bus or a taxi; some airport services continue to San Pedro, which is closer. Details: Málaga airport transfers and Málaga to Marbella, or compare buses on Omio. With luggage, a pre-booked private transfer or a taxi (about €70–95) is much easier.
- By car: take the AP-7 toll motorway or the free A-7, exit at Puerto Banús, and park underground. The SABA car park under Plaza Antonio Banderas is open 24 hours (about €2.35 an hour); El Corte Inglés also has a car park. Some other car parks, such as the one at the Cristamar centre, charge much more. See car hire at Málaga airport or compare prices on DiscoverCars.
Where to stay in Puerto Banús
Staying in the port itself means noise until the early hours in summer. Most hotels are a few minutes’ walk away, towards the beach or along the Golden Mile.
- Occidental Puerto Banús: a four-star hotel about 250 metres from the marina, with a pool. In our view the most convenient location. Rated 8.5 on Booking.com.
- ME Marbella: a five-star design hotel by Meliá, a short walk from the port and about 50 metres from the beach, with an indoor beach club. Rated 8.9 on Booking.com.
- More options: hotels in Puerto Banús, or we’d stay in Marbella’s old town for more character: see where to stay in Marbella.
Day trips from Puerto Banús
- Marbella old town: 20 minutes by bus, or walk the promenade. Orange-tree squares and white lanes. See the Marbella guide.
- Istán: a quiet white village above the Río Verde valley and the Concepción reservoir, about 25 minutes inland by car. You need a car or a taxi.
- Ronda: about 50 minutes to an hour up the mountain road from San Pedro, to the gorge and the Puente Nuevo. See the Ronda guide or book a Ronda day trip from Marbella.
- Gibraltar: about 50 minutes to the border at La Línea, then walk across. Bring your passport. See the Gibraltar guide or a Gibraltar day trip from Marbella.
FAQ
Is Puerto Banús part of Marbella?
Yes. Puerto Banús belongs to the municipality of Marbella and lies in the Nueva Andalucía district, about 6 km west of the old town and just east of San Pedro de Alcántara.
How do I get from Marbella to Puerto Banús?
Take urban bus line 1 from the centre (about 20–30 minutes, about €1.20), a taxi (about 10–15 minutes), the Fly Blue catamaran in season, or walk the seafront promenade in about 1 h 15.
Is Puerto Banús expensive?
The front row is: expect about €8–10 for a beer and much more in the clubs and beach clubs. One or two streets back, and on the beach, prices are normal for the Costa del Sol. Looking at the yachts costs nothing.
Is there a direct bus from Málaga airport to Puerto Banús?
No. Take the Avanza bus to Marbella bus station and change to a local bus or taxi, which takes about 1 h 15 to 1 h 45 in total. A taxi from the airport takes 40–50 minutes and costs about €70–95.
Does Puerto Banús have a beach?
Yes, two. Playa de Puerto Banús, just east of the port, is sheltered and shallow, good for families. Playa del Duque, to the west, is busier, with beach clubs. The sand is coarse and grey, like the rest of Marbella.