Where is Estepona?
The town of Estepona is situated on Spain’s Costa del Sol, approximately 80 kilometres west of Malaga Airport and 25 kilometres west of the fashionable and popular resort of Marbella.
What kind of place is Estepona?
Estepona is a lively port town with a population of around 60,000 inhabitants. Although a popular holiday destination and resort, it is one of the few towns on the Costa del Sol which has managed to retain much of its traditional character and Spanish charm.
With the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Sierra Bermeja mountains to the north, Estepona benefits from a microclimate which provides more than 325 days of sunshine per year.
What is there to do and see in Estepona?
Whilst Estepona has developed to accommodate its many annual visitors, the old and the new blend together quite happily to offer a range of experiences.
Starting from the coast, and Estepona is indeed well known for its massive 21 kilometre stretch of fabulous beaches, the town is home to its own marina which, particularly during the summer months, harbours a superb collection of boats. The area is alive with bars, restaurants and, of course, tapas bars, as well as offering some superb nightlife until the wee small hours. Alongside the marina lies the fishing port and it is here that you can watch the fisherman land their catch early in the mornings. The beaches themselves, as well as offering the opportunity to simply relax and soak up some rays, also provide a range of watersports.
The area closest to the sea front is the best place to look for restaurants, either along the main promenade or along the Calle Real. With a range of dishes available, the fresh seafood makes for a particularly good choice.
Calle Real and Calle Terraza are also where you will find many of the modern shops of the town, although as you wander the streets you will find shopping experiences to suit every taste and budget. Estepona also hosts a huge midweek market which sells everything from locally-grown produce to clothing, and a Sunday market which is held down by the port and tends to concentrate on imported and tourist goods.
Like many Spanish towns, Estepona has its old quarter which sits on top of a hill overlooking the town. The houses there are very simple affairs and the town hall and the Plaza del Reloj (clocktower square) make for an interesting visit. The town also has four small museums dedicated to its local history, all of which are situated in Estepona’s bullring.
What is there to do and see in the area generally?
Whether you choose to explore the coastal resorts or head off inland, there is much to explore around Estepona. If the twinkling lights of Africa, which can be seen from town itself, are too much to resist however, it is only a relatively short drive to Algeciras, from where you can catch a ferry to Morocco and spend the day exploring the delights of Tangier.