BEST THINGS TO DO IN ESTEPONA, SPAIN
BEST THINGS TO DO IN ESTEPONA, SPAIN

INTRODUCTION: BEST THINGS TO DO IN ESTEPONA
Are you planning a trip to the Mediterranean coast of Spain and are looking for a great destination? Are you considering Estepona on the Costa Del Sol but you want more information? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I will outline some of the important highlights of Estepona and give some recommendations to help you plan the best beach vacation ever. Let’s dive in and find out what are the best things to do in Estepona. As someone who has lived in the area for over a decade, I’m glad to give you my insight and insider information on this beautiful town on the Mediterranean Sea.
Estepona, with a population of about 67,000, is located on the southern coast of Spain about 30km north of Gibraltar and about 20km west of Marbella. The town lies on a fertile valley with a mountain range to its north, has 21km of coastline with 17 beaches, and enjoys over 325 days of sunshine per year. Located directly on the Mediterranean coast, it is a great seaside destination, absolutely worth visiting.
(To find out more about this region see our related post, “Guide to the Mediterranean Coast of Spain“, “Guide to the Mediterranean Coast” and “Costa Del Sol“)

WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN ESTEPONA?
Beaches
With over 20km of shoreline and 17 beaches, there is a large choice selection to choose from. If you are staying directly in Estepona, the two main beaches to visit are:
Playa de la Rada
This beach is located right in town and stretches almost 2km. It is wide and made of fine grey sand and has a promenade lined with palm trees, shops, beach bars, and restaurants along its entire length.

Playa del Cristo
Playa del Cristo is located on the south-facing coast of the town, to the west of the marina. It is about 700m long with calm waters and is ideal for families with kids. There is a car park nearby and 2 beach bars directly on the beach.

Water Sports and Activities
With 20km of coastline and beaches right in town, there are all kinds of water sports and beach activities to keep everybody busy such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, kite surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, parasailing, jet skiing, and sailing. Most of the equipment can be rented locally at local shops or at the marina.

Boat Tours
At the marina, you will find tour operators providing boat excursions of various duration to take you up and down the Mediterranean coast. Check with the operators for departure times and prices.
Old Town
In the Old Town of Estepona, you will find a maze of narrow cobblestone streets with white-washed buildings and thousands of flowering plants everywhere, that make for an ideal location to stroll around.


Orchid House (Orquidario)
This is the largest orchid house in Spain and has a total area of 1000m2 and over 1300 different varieties of orchids and 5000 tropical plants.

Selwo Aventura Wildlife Park
Home to 2000 animals and covering an area of 100 hectares, Selwo Aventura Wildlife Park is an ideal outing for the entire family. Here you can see wild animals such as lions, rhinos and giraffes.
Puerto Deportivo (Marina)
Visit the local marina which has restaurants and bars, where you can enjoy some of the finest seafood, caught fresh daily. And on Sunday mornings you can come visit the weekly craft market and pick up some locally-made handcrafts and souvenirs.

Sierra Bermeja Natural Park/Hiking
North of Estepona is the Sierra Bermeja mountain range with an average height of 1000m with the highest point being 1450m. Here you will find the Los Reales Sierra Bermeja Natural Park which has various trails to hike. To find a good list with maps of some of the best trails in the park go to komoot.com for more information.
Golf
With great year-round weather, Estepona is a great golf destination. Here are the top 10 golf courses in the area:
Real Club Valderrama – Approximately 35-40 km east of Estepona
Finca Cortesin Golf Club – About 15-20 km east of Estepona
La Zagaleta – Roughly 25-30 km east of Estepona
La Reserva Club Sotogrande – Around 30-35 km east of Estepona
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande – About 30-35 km east of Estepona
The San Roque Club (Old Course) – Approximately 35-40 km east of Estepona
Marbella Club Golf Resort – About 20-25 km east of Estepona
Los Naranjos Golf Club – Roughly 25-30 km east of Estepona
El Paraiso Golf Club – Approximately 10-15 km east of Estepona
Villa Padierna Golf Club – About 15-20 km east of Estepona
These are some of the highest-rated golf clubs in the area however this list is not exhaustive, with over 70 golf clubs in the Costa Del Sol.

Estepona’s Culinary Scene
When visiting Estepona make sure you try these Andalusian favorites:
Gazpacho
Gazpacho which is a cold soup made of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, garlic, bread, olive oil, wine vinegar, and salt. This is a standard meal in this region, in particular during the hot summers.
Tapas
One of the traditions in this area is to go on a tapas tour or “Ir de Tapas” which involves visiting several bars and restaurants and sampling different foods and drinks.
Seafood- Espetos
Being on the coast, you will find that fresh seafood (caught daily)features quite high on most menus. One of the local delicacies to try out is Espetos which is skewered sardines cooked over a beach fire.

Day Trips
Marbella
Located only 20km away is Marbella with a population of about 104,000. Marbella is a great day trip destination as it offers a wide range of shops and boutiques for shopping, you can stroll through Puerto Banus and admire some of the luxury yachts, or head into the city in the evening to enjoy the nightlife.

Ronda
A great day trip option is to visit the town of Ronda which is home to its iconic bridge, “Puente Nuevo” or new bridge, built back in the 18th century over the El Tajo Gorge. Another main attraction is the old town of Ronda, which is a maze of cobble-stoned streets and white-washed houses. Take the time to walk around and explore this town and make sure to try one of the locally produced wines.

Gibraltar
A piece of England right in Spain. Gibraltar, with its iconic “Rock of Gibraltar, is an excellent day trip option. It has a rich military history, an incredible natural park (with monkeys, come on!), an English-speaking community and market, and on a clear day a view of Northern Africa.

Best Time to Visit and Travel Tips
Peak Tourist Season
The peak tourist season is during July and August when most regions of Europe have their school breaks. And of course, this is when the weather is at its hottest. The end result is that millions of Europeans end up heading to the coast all at the same time.
Tip: If you are looking for a less hectic experience, you might want to consider traveling in May/June or in Sept/October. The weather is still exceptionally nice and you can escape the large crowds.
Transportation options
Flying
The closest airport to Estepona is 35km to the south in Gibraltar, with multiple connections to airports in the UK. The next closest airport, and with more European connections, is in Malaga about 75km to the east.
Driving
You can reach Estepona by using the A-7 highway that runs through the region or the old national highway, NM-340.
Train
The closest train station to Estepona is in Fuengirola which you can reach either by bus or by taxi.
Accommodations
The main industry in Estepona is tourism so there is no shortage of hotel accommodations in the area. However, as mentioned above, summer is the busiest time in the area so I recommend that you book well in advance. Your best bet is to check online for available places and book as soon as you can. Check out the link below for places available right now.

FINAL THOUGHTS: BEST THINGS TO DO IN ESTEPONA
If you are looking for a great vacation destination on the coast of Spain then Estepona is an excellent choice. This town on the Costa Del Sol offers a great combination of natural beauty, scenic landscape, and vibrant culture, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking an unforgettable Mediterranean experience. Located directly on the sea, with beautiful sand beaches, perfect weather, and a large variety of entertainment and activity options to choose from, Estepona is an ideal beach vacation destination.
“Don’t Just Dream It! Do it!”
How about experiencing the Mediterranean first hand? Use the map below to inspire you and plan your next Mediterranean vacation right now!
Reg Auge
Reg holds an MBA, is a former Captain in the Canadian military and has worked as a consultant in industry for over 20 years. From his home in Spain, he has spent the last 10 years traveling throughout the Mediterranean, exploring the various countries and regions. He also regularly runs, windsurfs, and kite surfs, maintaining a healthy and active way of life. Captivated by this Mediterranean lifestyle, he began a Blog last year to inspire like-minded souls to learn about and discover this unique region for themselves.