The place
Puerto Banús opened in 1970 with Aga Khan, Hugh Hefner and Prince Rainier among 1,700 guests and Julio Iglesias on stage. The architect Noldi Schreck shaped it as an Andalusian pueblo around a horseshoe marina, low, white, walkable, and that small decision is why it still works half a century later, even with the superyachts and Bentleys parked outside.
01
Around the harbour
Close to a thousand boats berth along the boardwalk, which is lined with restaurants, late-night bars and the kind of shopfronts that stay lit past midnight. The marina-front penthouses and apartments are some of the most coveted addresses on the coast, with terraces looking straight onto the yachts.
02
A few streets inland
Step one block back from the port and the volume drops. Family tapas bars, an art gallery or two, and the long stretch of Playa de Levante running east toward Marbella. Most residents live in the apartment blocks just behind the marina, front-row seats to the show, with the option to step away from it whenever they like.
03
Schools, healthcare and golf
The closest international schools sit just inland in Nueva Andalucía, Aloha College, Swans, the British International School, all within ten minutes. Quirónsalud Marbella and HC Marbella International Hospital are the nearest private hospitals, both a five to ten minute drive east along the Golden Mile. Golf is on the doorstep too, with Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, Aloha and La Quinta all reachable in under fifteen minutes through the valley behind the marina.
At a glance
45 min
To Málaga airport
8 min
To Marbella centre
~915 boats
Marina capacity
1970
Founded
Eat & drink
Where Puerto Banús eats
From Michelin-starred tasting menus to whitewashed tapas bars and chiringuitos grilling sardines on the sand.
Fine dining
La Pappardella
Italian · classic
Long-standing Italian institution on the marina, fresh pasta and wood-fired pizza on a terrace overlooking the boats.
Los Bandidos
French · Scandinavian
Iconic Puerto Banús restaurant by the harbour, classic French-Scandinavian menu and a regulars' culture since the 1980s.
Local tapas
Bar El Estrecho
Andalusian tapas
Tiny tapas bar in the streets behind the marina, classic Spanish staples and a tight local following.
Casanis Bistrot
Mediterranean · bistro
French-Mediterranean bistro a few streets back from the port, intimate and consistent year-round.
Beach club
Ocean Club Marbella
Mediterranean · beach
The original Puerto Banús beach club with a giant pool, daybeds and signature champagne spray parties through the season.
La Sala by the Sea
Mediterranean · beach
Beach club on Playa de Puerto Banús with pool, restaurant and live music, an extension of the La Sala group.
Golf
Courses around Puerto Banús
Real Club de Golf Las Brisas
Robert Trent Jones 1968 design in Nueva Andalucía, ten minutes inland from the marina.
Los Naranjos Golf Club
Trent Jones layout set among orange groves with La Concha as a backdrop.
Aloha Golf Club
Javier Arana's elegant parkland course in the Golf Valley, ten minutes inland.
La Quinta Golf & Country Club
27 holes by Manuel Piñero on the western edge of the Golf Valley, with a respected academy.
Dama de Noche
The Costa del Sol's only fully floodlit course, just inland in San Pedro and playable into the night.
Beaches
The coast at Puerto Banús
Playa de Puerto Banús
The marina's own beach, blue-flagged and home to Ocean Club and La Sala by the Sea.
Playa de Levante
Long sandy beach running east from the marina toward the Golden Mile, lined with chiringuitos.
Playa del Río Verde
Quieter stretch just east of Puerto Banús, popular with families and walkers on the paseo.
Playa de Nagüeles (Golden Mile)
Home to Trocadero Arena and the Marbella Club Beach Club, five minutes east along the coast.
International schools
For families
Aloha College Marbella
British curriculum and IB, ten minutes inland in Nueva Andalucía.
Swans International School
British and IB, with campuses on the Golden Mile and Sierra Blanca.
British International School of Marbella
British curriculum (EYFS to A-Levels), San Pedro de Alcántara, ten minutes west.
Colegio San José
Bilingual Spanish-English, Estepona, around twenty minutes west.
Getting around
45 min
Málaga Airport (AGP)
1 h
Gibraltar Airport (GIB)
8 min
Marbella centre
5 min
Nueva Andalucía
10 min
San Pedro de Alcántara
20 min
Estepona
FAQ
Living in Puerto Banús
What is it like to live in Puerto Banús?
Day to day is quieter than people expect. Most residents live in the apartment blocks just behind the marina, with the option to step into the show or away from it whenever they like. The Paseo Marítimo runs unbroken east to Marbella, and Nueva Andalucía's supermarkets, schools and golf courses are five minutes inland.
How much does property cost in Puerto Banús?
Marina-front apartments and penthouses are some of the most coveted on the coast, with prices comfortably above €1.5M for two-bedroom units and well past €10M for the largest penthouses with direct yacht views. Townhouses and apartments one street back start around €700,000.
Is Puerto Banús good for families?
Yes. Aloha College, Swans International and the British International School of Marbella are all within ten minutes, and the marina itself is fully pedestrian and safe to walk. Many families choose to live just inland in Nueva Andalucía and use the marina for dining, shopping and the beach.
How far is Puerto Banús from the airport?
Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is around 45 minutes by car via the AP-7 toll road, and Gibraltar Airport is roughly an hour west via the AP-7.
Do you need a car in Puerto Banús?
Not strictly. The marina, the beach and the closest supermarkets are walkable, and the Paseo Marítimo connects to Marbella town. A car is useful for trips inland to the Golf Valley, schools and the wider coast.
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