Costa del Sol
Marbella East
Pines, beaches and room to breathe
The place
Marbella East is the stretch of coast that runs from Río Real, just past Marbella's old town, out to the marina of Cabopino on the border with Mijas. It is the greenest side of the municipality: umbrella pines between the urbanisations, some of the widest beaches in Marbella, and a rhythm that stays noticeably calmer than the Golden Mile or Puerto Banús. Established communities such as Los Monteros, El Rosario, Las Chapas, Elviria and Marbesa grew up here between the golf courses and the sea, and the area has quietly become one of the most popular sides of town for families and year-round residents, helped by one of the shortest drives to Málaga airport within the Marbella municipality.
01
A different pace, the same address
What defines Marbella East is space. Plots are larger, buildings lower and the pine forest is never far away. Los Monteros and Bahía de Marbella hold some of the area's most prestigious beachside homes, while Hacienda Las Chapas and Marbesa are classic villa territory among the trees. Elviria is the commercial heart of this side of town, with supermarkets, restaurants and services around its centre, and Costabella and El Rosario fill the middle ground with apartments and townhouses in established, well-kept communities. It is still Marbella, ten minutes from the old town, but it rarely feels like the postcard crowds.
02
The beaches
The east side is where many locals go to the beach. The sand is wide and backed by dunes rather than promenade for long stretches, from Playa de Los Monteros and El Alicate through Playa Real de Zaragoza and Las Chapas to Cabopino, where the protected Dunas de Artola form one of the last natural dune landscapes on the Costa del Sol. Cabopino itself adds a small working marina with restaurants on the water. Beach clubs punctuate the coastline, from long-standing chiringuitos to full-service clubs around Elviria and Los Monteros, but the dominant feeling is unhurried.
03
Golf, schools and everyday life
Golf shapes this side of town as much as it does the Golf Valley. Río Real, Marbella Golf & Country Club, Santa Clara, Santa María and Cabopino Golf all sit between the A-7 and the hills, most of them minutes from home for residents. For families, the English International College (EIC) is located in the area itself, at Urbanización Ricmar on the A-7, teaching a British curriculum from ages 3 to 18, and the Deutsche Schule Málaga in nearby Ojén runs school transport across this stretch of coast, which explains the area's strong German community. Daily practicalities are covered by the commercial centres of Elviria and Las Chapas and by La Cañada, Marbella's main shopping centre, at the edge of town.
At a glance
30-35 min
To Málaga airport
10 min
To Marbella centre
5
Golf courses in the area
Río Real to Cabopino
Stretch
Golf
Courses around Marbella East
Río Real Golf
A classic Javier Arana design between the A-7 and the sea, at the western gateway to Marbella East, with its own boutique hotel.
Marbella Golf & Country Club
Robert Trent Jones Sr. design with sea views from much of the course.
Santa Clara Golf
Modern, walkable layout beside Marbella Golf, surrounded by newer residential communities.
Santa María Golf & Country Club
At the heart of Elviria, an established club that anchors the area's golf life.
Cabopino Golf
Compact, pine-lined course above the marina at the eastern end.
Beaches
The coast at Marbella East
Playa de Elviria
The lively heart of the east side's coast, wide family-friendly sand around the Don Carlos resort, home to several of Marbella's best-known beach clubs.
Playa de Los Monteros
Wide, quiet sand in front of some of East Marbella's most exclusive homes.
Playa Real de Zaragoza and Las Chapas
Long, dune-backed stretches with chiringuitos, popular with residents.
Playa de Cabopino and the Dunas de Artola
A protected dune landscape beside the marina, one of the most natural beach settings on the coast.
International schools
For families
English International College (EIC)
British curriculum from Early Years to Sixth Form, located in Marbella East at Urbanización Ricmar.
Deutsche Schule Málaga
Official German school in nearby Ojén, with school transport serving the coast between Málaga and Estepona.
Marbella's wider school offer
Swans, Aloha College and the British International School are 15 to 25 minutes west.
Eat & drink
Beach life
From white-bed beach clubs to barefoot lunches in the pines, the east side does beach life at its own pace.
Nikki Beach Marbella
Beach club · Elviria
The Marbella outpost of the global beach club brand, on the sand beside the Don Carlos resort, known for its white daybeds and summer events.
La Plage Casanis
Beach club · Playa Real de Zaragoza
Casanis Group's beach club at Golden Beach on Playa Real de Zaragoza, Mediterranean dining, sunbeds and sunset DJ sessions by the sea.
Nosso Summer Club
Beach club · El Rosario
Relaxed all-day beach club on the El Rosario shore, from morning coffee to sunset drinks.
Luuma Beach
Beach restaurant · El Rosario
Nature-inspired beach restaurant on the white sand of El Rosario Beach, green plants, natural wood and long Mediterranean lunches.
Getting around
30-35 min
Málaga Airport (AGP)
10 min
Marbella centre
20 min
Puerto Banús
30 min
Estepona
1 h 15 min
Ronda
FAQ
Living in Marbella East
Where exactly is Marbella East?
Marbella East covers the coastal stretch east of Marbella's old town, from Río Real and Los Monteros through El Rosario, Las Chapas and Elviria to Marbesa and Cabopino, at the border with Mijas Costa.
Is Marbella East a good place for families?
Yes. It combines gated communities, larger plots, the English International College inside the area, wide beaches and five golf courses, with a quieter everyday rhythm than the central hotspots. It has long been popular with families and year-round residents, including a strong German community.
What kind of property can I find in Marbella East?
The range is broad: apartments and townhouses in established urbanisations such as Elviria and Costabella, villas among the pines in Hacienda Las Chapas and Marbesa, and prestigious beachside homes in Los Monteros and Bahía de Marbella. New build appears occasionally, mostly around the golf courses.
How far is Marbella East from the airport and the centre?
Málaga airport is roughly 30 to 35 minutes by car, one of the shortest drives within the Marbella municipality. Marbella's old town is about 10 minutes, and Puerto Banús around 20.
Is Marbella East lively year-round?
Elviria and Las Chapas keep their supermarkets, restaurants and services running all year, supported by a large resident community. The beach zones are naturally more seasonal, which is part of the area's calmer appeal.
For sale here
A taste of Marbella East
A spread of homes currently on the market in Marbella East, across price points.
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