What to Do in Marbella When It’s Too Hot for the Beach

What to Do in Marbella When It’s Too Hot for the Beach

Marbella and sunshine usually go hand in hand. But anyone who has spent August on the Costa del Sol knows there comes a point when even the most dedicated beach lover starts looking for shade.

By early afternoon, the sand is hot, the Mediterranean sun is at its strongest, and the idea of sitting somewhere cool with an iced coffee suddenly becomes considerably more appealing than another hour on a sun lounger.

Fortunately, Marbella offers plenty to do away from the beach.

From wandering through the shaded streets of the Old Town to discovering independent boutiques, lingering over a long Spanish lunch and escaping into a spa, here’s how to spend a beautiful summer day in Marbella when it’s simply too hot for the beach.

10:30 AM — Start Early in Marbella Old Town

If you want to explore Marbella in summer, morning is your friend.

Head into the Casco Antiguo before the midday heat arrives. The whitewashed houses, narrow pedestrian streets, little squares and enormous cascades of bougainvillea make Marbella Old Town one of the prettiest places to wander on the Costa del Sol.

Start around Plaza de los Naranjos, but don’t stay only on the main tourist route.

Some of the nicest corners are found by turning down whichever little street catches your attention. Calle Nueva, Calle Peral, Calle Caridad and the tiny streets surrounding Plaza de los Naranjos are all worth exploring.

And because the streets are narrow, you’ll often find considerably more shade here than along the seafront.

There’s no particular itinerary required. In fact, getting slightly lost is part of the pleasure.

11:30 AM — Stop for Something Cold

This is not a day for rushing.

Find a shady terrace or beautiful courtyard and stop for an iced coffee, fresh juice or something cold.

One beautiful option is La Fonda Heritage Hotel, a carefully restored property hidden among the streets of Marbella Old Town. Its historic setting makes it an interesting place to discover even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

Alternatively, simply choose one of the cafés around the Old Town, find the shadiest table available and indulge in one of Spain’s great summer pleasures: taking far longer over a cold drink than is strictly necessary.

12:30 PM — Go Boutique Hopping

As the temperature begins to climb, this is a good moment to explore Marbella’s independent shops.

The Old Town is full of small boutiques that you won’t find in a typical shopping centre, selling everything from Spanish olive oil and ceramics to clothing, perfume, vintage pieces and handmade jewellery.

The pleasure is in wandering rather than following a strict shopping route. Step inside somewhere because the window catches your eye, talk to the owner and look for things that actually have a connection to Marbella or Spain.

If you enjoy discovering things that are made locally, stop by L’Essenziale, a small jewellery atelier and boutique on Calle Ortiz de Molinillo.

Jewellery is designed and made by hand inside the shop using natural gemstones, unusual pearls and carefully selected materials. Many of the designs are one of a kind, so you may find something that quite literally doesn’t exist anywhere else.

It’s also possible that when you walk in, the designer will be sitting at the worktable making the next piece.

It’s a very different experience from visiting the international jewellery houses of Puerto Banús — and a lovely example of the more personal side of shopping in Marbella.

If you want to continue exploring, there are plenty of other independent boutiques scattered throughout the surrounding streets.

2:00 PM — A Long Spanish Lunch at Casa Blanca

By two o’clock, Marbella’s afternoon heat is usually giving you an excellent excuse to stop exploring and start eating.

Head towards Casa Blanca on Avenida Miguel Cano, just a short walk from the Old Town.

It’s an informal Spanish tapas restaurant and exactly the sort of place where lunch can easily stretch into a couple of leisurely hours.

The menu lends itself to sharing, so order a selection of tapas and small dishes for the table, add something cold to drink and settle in.

There is no need to turn every Marbella lunch into a glamorous beach-club production. Sometimes what you really want is good Spanish food, a cold drink and somewhere comfortable to disappear from the afternoon heat.

And on a very hot August day, air conditioning may temporarily become the most important Michelin star of all.

4:00 PM — Discover a Little Art

If you still feel energetic after lunch, stay indoors for a while longer.

One of Marbella’s more unexpected cultural attractions is the Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo, housed in a historic building in the Old Town.

Dedicated to contemporary Spanish printmaking, it reveals a quieter cultural side of Marbella that many visitors never discover.

It’s also an excellent place to spend part of the hottest period of the afternoon.

If museums aren’t your thing, don’t feel obliged to be productive. Find another café, browse a little more, return to your hotel for a siesta or move directly to the next stop.

You’re in southern Spain. Nobody is awarding points for productivity.

5:00 PM — Escape to the Spa at El Fuerte Marbella

If there is ever a good excuse to disappear into a spa for a couple of hours, a scorching summer afternoon in Marbella is probably it.

El Fuerte Marbella is conveniently located between the Old Town and the Mediterranean, so you can reach it on foot without crossing half the city.

Its Spa by Clarins offers massages, beauty treatments and hydrotherapy experiences, providing a rather luxurious alternative to spending the hottest hours beneath a beach umbrella.

Book a treatment, slow down and enjoy the fact that for the next hour or two you have absolutely nowhere else to be.

By the time you emerge, the worst of the afternoon heat should be disappearing with you.

7:30 PM — Come Back Outside

This is when Marbella starts feeling wonderful again.

The sun loses its intensity, a breeze begins to come off the Mediterranean and streets that felt almost too hot a few hours earlier start filling with people.

You can return to the Old Town and wander through its streets again in the evening light. Shops stay open later during the summer season, terraces begin filling and Plaza de los Naranjos takes on an entirely different atmosphere.

Or head towards the Paseo Marítimo and simply walk beside the sea.

After intelligently hiding from the sun all afternoon, being outside suddenly feels rather glorious.

9:00 PM — End the Day at Boquerón

For dinner, finish somewhere relaxed and distinctly local in spirit. Boquerón is the kind of place that works beautifully at the end of a day like this: unfussy, lively and centred around the simple pleasure of eating well.

Order a few dishes to share, settle in and don’t make too many plans for afterwards.

One of the nicest things about Marbella in summer is that the day doesn’t really end when the sun goes down.

It simply changes pace.

Dinner starts late, streets remain busy well into the evening and there is always time for one more drink or one more walk through the Old Town.