Estepona, A vibrant and traditional town
Estepona, originally an agricultural and fishing village, only a few kilometers away from the Sierra Bermeja, it has 23 kilometers of coastline, an excellent Mediterranean climate and an average temperature of around 17°C.
The municipality has an area of about 130 km². To the north are the municipalities of Jubrique and Júzcar, to the northeast Benahavís, to the northwest Genalguacil and to the east, Marbella. The Mediterranean sea is to the southwest and south, and the Casares is to the west.
Its location almost equidistant from the international airports of Malaga and Gibraltar makes it very well connected, not only by plane, but also by train from Malaga and by bus from the station located on Avenida Litoral east of Estepona. Estepona, like the entire Costa del Sol, has modern motorways, both toll and public, such as the AP-7 and the N-340.
The charm of Estepona lies not only in the city with its preserved old town, its narrow streets full of flowers, almost totally pedestrianized, but also in the services and facilities it offers, whether you come for a holiday or to live all year round, whether you like swimming, diving, golfing, hiking, sailing, kite surfing, visiting historical places, the excellence of Spanish food.
Frequently asked questions
What is shopping like in Estepona?
In the city of Estepona most of the shops are centrally located on Calle Real or Calle Terraza. There is a wide variety, which include boutiques, souvenir shops, delicatessens, stationers and bakeries.
There are also markets such as the Marina market on Sunday morning from 09.00 to 14.00hrs. This market has been established for 30 years and is very popular selling gifts, leather work, watches, costume jewelry, arts and crafts. Alternatively the Town Market on Wednesday mornings, popularly named “Mercadillo” is off Puerta del Mar Ave. and good for fresh fruit and vegetables. This is the traditional market of the city that has been taking place for 50 years although it has moved sites a few times because of the evolution of housing developments and feria grounds.
What healthcare facilities are available in Estepona?
There is a public health centre located on Avenida Juan Carlos which has a 24hr emergency wing as well as the daytime medical appointment facilities. The state hospital for Estepona is Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella.
There are also privately operated health clinics in Estepona for patients to go without referral as an alternative to the state health service, such as Cenyt Hospital with more than 40 medical specialities on 3.000 m2 and Clínica del Rio with more than 20 medical specialties and special units. Hospiten Estepona, located approximately 7 km. away to the East of Estepona city centre, in N-340, Km.162, provides a large list of specialist services.
Are there any good restaurants in Estepona city?
Along Caridad and Malaga streets all the way down to Plaza Ortiz and around Flowers Square there is an abundance of restaurants with everything from Spanish tapas, to Argentinian steak and Italian pasta, to Mediterranean seafood and shellfish: Casa Doña Jerónima, Taberna Diez, El Pescador, La Bulla Gastrobar, Alma de Miguel, Las brasas de Alberto, Los Rosales, La Rada and La Escollera, to name a few. The Marina also has a large choice of restaurants with terraces overlooking the Mediterranean. Both in the East of Estepona and in the West there are countless restaurants and bars for almost all tastes and budgets.
Are there golf courses in Estepona?
There are eight golf courses within a 20 minute radius from Estepona centre.
In the eastern side of Estepona, there is Estepona Golf, was inaugurated in 1989 at the foot of the Sierra Bermeja mountains, to offer wide fairways and very long greens, having the longest hole in Spain measuring 568 metres.
Azata Golf with 18 holes PAR 71, a technical course with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra Bermeja, approximately 7 km. away from Estepona centre.
Valle Romano Golf & Resort, situated also in the foothills of Sierra Bermeja, is a 60 hectare course par 72 for normal play and par 71 for competition.
There are five golf courses in the New Golden Mile, two with 18-hole courses El Paraíso, an 18-hole course designed by the famed Gary Player in 1973 and Atalaya Golf & Country Club, with two tracks: the old one inaugurated in 1968 and the new one, inaugurated in 1992, the former inaugurated in 1968, the later in 1992m; the other three with 9 holes: La Resina Golf & country Club, par 3 and 4, a pleasant circuit which leads through lakes and tropical gardens, El Coto de la Serena, inaugurated in 1989 known by its numerous streams and El Campanario Golf & Country Club, designed by Manuel Piñero, which opened in 2003.
What cultural activities are there in Estepona?
Estepona has much more to offer rather than a lovely town and gorgeous beaches.
The Archaeological Museum, sited in Estepona’s Old Town Hall, contains great treasures that played a crucial role in mapping Estepona’s history. The museum is home to over 400 pieces from different eras, with the oldest piece from the Palaeolithic period, also known as the Old Stone Age. Some of them are up to 100,000 years old.
A total of four museums are located at the bullring; the arena itself – which was built in 1972 with an asymmetric design – also can be visited. The Image and Sound Museum was founded in 2004 as part of Estepona’s annual film festival and is an homage to Spanish film director Luis Garcia Berlanga, where one can see a collection of cameras and other historical items from the Spanish film and music industry. The Ethnographic Museum -which used to be called Museum of Agriculture and Fishery tools- contains around 2.000 pieces that depict life of Estepona in the past. The Palaeontology Museum of Estepona houses one of the greatest fossil collections, with more than 2.000 fossils of 600 species of flora and fauna. Antonio Ordonez Bullfighting Museum, named after the Ronda born bullfighter, contains posters, images, costumes, props, and bulls heads.
The 21-metre-tall Punta Doncella lighthouse, built in 1861, at the end of the waterfront promenade.
The ancient ruins of the Moorish San Luis Castle, constructed to protect the town from Berber pirates from North Africa.
Estepona Art Museum with the exhibition of the fascinating “Garó Collection”. The collection has nearly 300 unique pieces dating from the 15th century to the present day, ranging from paintings by Cubells to artists such as Picasso, Alberti and Maella. Among the many pieces on display are original works by Federico García Lorca such as “Pierrot winking one eye” and “Woman with a strawberry tree”. The exhibition is completed with a collection of 19th and 20th century mother-of-pearl fans and bird feathers.
Corominas Prehistoric Necropolis is located above the town and can be visited by appointment only. At the museum, arranged underground, can be seen a 5000-year-old megalithic tombs, which was discovered in 2001.
The Felipe VI Theater-Auditorium, opened in March 2015, with a total built area of 5,500 m2. has become the largest stage space on the Costa del Sol, and hosts first class theatrical performances, concerts, forums, conventions and exhibitions. Its main room has capacity for 600 people and a 225m2. stage, with a system of simultaneous translation that allows the holding of international conferences.
The Estepona Orchidarium with three glass domes, is divided into three floors, at different levels, with a total surface area of 1,000 square metres, and a space of 15,000 cubic metres. To show an attractive botanical collection, made up of more than 3,000 species including some 1,500 species of orchids,represented by nearly 4,000 specimens. It also has a miniature orchid garden, unique in Europe.
How far is Marbella City Centre from Estepona?
Between Estepona and Marbella City Centre there is a distance of approximately 27 km. taking either A-7 or the N-340 roads.
What child friendly activities are there in Estepona?
Kart & Fun is located next to the Estepona fairgrounds; it has up to 1160 metres of rope and a minimum width of 8 metres. The track is specially designed for group races and is illuminated so that you can continue to enjoy the speed when the sun goes down, and all sessions are timed. Children from the age of 6 years old can drive on the children’s track or enjoy two-seater karts with their parents.
Signum Escape Room Estepona, is a very fashionable game which consists of solving an enigma in order to get out of a room. It is ideal for the whole family to enjoy. Beyond the fun part, it offers great benefits to children, such as the development of logical thinking or the promotion of creativity.
On the east side of Estepona is Selwo Aventura, the Costa del Sol’s own wildlife safari park, an absolute must-visit. The animal theme park is home to over 2,000 animals from all over the world that live in areas similar to their natural habitat. One of the highlights of the park is the Asian elephant, the only of its kind to have been born in Spain.
Additionally there are a couple of children’s indoor parks, ideal for rainy or colder days, Mundomania (which also has an exterior area with water fountains, small football pitch and jumping beds), and Kidz Kingdom both with seating areas for parents and coffee shops.
