--- title: "Marbella Old Town from El Paraíso: drive, park, what to see" url: "https://paraisogolfretreat.com/blog/marbella-old-town-from-el-paraiso" locale: en published_at: 2026-09-28 updated_at: 2026-10-06 generated_at: "2026-10-20T05:18:25.847Z" slug: marbella-old-town-from-el-paraiso category: Travel Info author: Mex Smits --- # Marbella Old Town from El Paraíso: drive, park, what to see _2026-09-28 · by Mex Smits · Category: Travel Info_ A practical guest guide to Marbella's Old Town from Urb. El Paraíso: the drive, car parks near the casco antiguo, Plaza de los Naranjos and the old lanes, tapas bars, the best times to go, and how it compares with Puerto Banús. Marbella's Old Town (the _casco antiguo_) is the easiest half day out from Urb. **El Paraíso** if you want white streets, orange trees and a proper tapas lunch rather than yachts and designer shops. It is compact, mostly pedestrian, and you can see the best of it in two or three unhurried hours. This guide covers the drive, where to park, what to look at, where to eat, and when to go so you are not walking the lanes at 4 pm in August. ## How far is Marbella Old Town from El Paraíso? From El Paraíso to Plaza de los Naranjos is about **18 to 19 km**. In normal traffic plan on roughly **20 to 25 minutes** by car. On summer weekends, and around beach hours in July and August, give yourself more time. The route is simple: head down to the A-7 coast road, drive east past San Pedro and Puerto Banús, and follow signs for Marbella Centro. The last stretch runs along Avenida Ricardo Soriano, the main street along the top edge of the Old Town, where most of the useful car parks are. If you are flying in and picking up a car, our [Málaga Airport to El Paraíso](/blog/malaga-airport-to-el-paraiso) guide covers the first drive. ## Parking near the Old Town The Old Town streets are narrow and access by car is limited, so do not try to drive into it. Use an underground car park on the edge and walk in. These are the ones we would use: * **Parking Plaza de la Victoria (Parkia / Indigo)**: the closest, with the entrance on Calle Huerta Chica, a short walk from Plaza de los Naranjos. Open 24 hours, but it is small (around 109 spaces) and the bays are tight, so it fills up early in summer. * **Parking Avenida del Mar (Indigo)**: under Avenida del Mar, between the Old Town and the beach. Open 24 hours, height limit 1.9 m. Handy if you want to combine the Old Town with the Dalí sculptures and the seafront. * **Parking Arias Maldonado (APK2)**: next to Parque de la Constitución, near the seafront and about 10 minutes on foot from the centre. A good fallback when the central car parks are full. On price, the central garages have charged roughly 3 to 5 euros an hour in recent years, with daily caps at some of them. Check the board at the entrance, as rates change. **Summer vs off-peak:** from late June to early September, and on weekends, arrive before about 10:30 or come in the evening, and go straight to a car park rather than circling for street parking. Outside summer it is much easier, and on a weekday morning in spring, autumn or winter you will usually find space without trouble. ## Is there a bus? Technically yes, practically not really. The Avanza L-79 (and the faster L-70) runs along the A-7 between Estepona and Marbella, stopping along the coast road and in Marbella centre. It is a stopping service, though, and getting from the apartment to a stop on the A-7 is not a pleasant walk. The L-33 from Benahavís village only runs to San Pedro a couple of times a day. For most guests a car is the practical option. A taxi is the easy choice if you want to have wine with lunch or stay out for dinner. ## Plaza de los Naranjos and the old streets Start at **Plaza de los Naranjos**, known in English as **Orange Square**, the square at the heart of the Old Town, laid out after the Christian conquest of Marbella in 1485\. It is lined with orange trees (the fruit is bitter, so leave it on the tree) and has a Renaissance stone fountain in the middle. Around the square you will see: * **The Ayuntamiento** (town hall), a 16th century building with coats of arms and a sundial on the front. The tourist office is also on the square if you want a map. * **Casa del Corregidor**, with its stone facade in a late Gothic and Mudéjar style. * **Ermita de Santiago**, a small, simple single-nave chapel and the oldest Christian church in Marbella. From the square, wander uphill to the **Iglesia de la Encarnación**. The stone doorway and the tower (over 50 metres) are the things to look at from outside. Inside there is a Baroque altarpiece and a large modern organ, the Órgano del Sol Mayor. After that, just walk. The best part of the Old Town is the lanes themselves: whitewashed houses, flowerpots on the walls and balconies, small squares and cobbled streets. Calle Ancha has some grand old houses and leads up to Plaza de Santo Cristo. Near Calle Fortaleza you can find what is left of the old Moorish walls and castle towers. ### Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo If you want one indoor stop, make it this small print museum in the old Hospital Bazán building. The collection covers Spanish printmaking, including works by artists such as Picasso, Miró and Dalí. Opening hours at the time of writing are 10:00 to 14:00 on weekday mornings and 11:00 to 14:00 at weekends, plus 17:00 to 22:00 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Last entry is 20 minutes before closing. Check the Marbella city council website before you go, as hours can change. ## Alameda park, Avenida del Mar and the beach The Old Town sits just above the seafront, so it is easy to add a walk to the sea. Cross Avenida Ricardo Soriano to **Parque de la Alameda**, a shady little park with benches and a fountain decorated with Andalusian tiles. From the Alameda, **Avenida del Mar** runs down to the promenade in about five minutes. It is a pedestrian avenue in marble with ten bronze sculptures by Salvador Dalí, among them Don Quijote, Perseo and an elephant. It is free, and it is a nice spot in the early evening. At the bottom you reach the paseo marítimo. Turn left or right for a flat seafront walk, then head back up to the Old Town for dinner. ## Marbella Old Town restaurants and tapas A quick tip first: the terraces on Plaza de los Naranjos are lovely for a drink and the view, but they are the most touristy and generally the priciest tables in town. For food, walk a street or two away. A few places we would point you to: * **Bar El Estrecho** (Calle San Lázaro): a small, traditional tapas bar that has been open since 1954, in a narrow alley just off the square. Classic Andalusian tapas and raciones, lively and busy. It is closed on Sundays, so check the current hours on their website. * **Bodegas La Venencia** (Avenida Miguel Cano): a busy tapas bodega between the Old Town and the seafront, with a big terrace and a traditional Andalusian interior. Open every day from noon, which is useful when other places are shut. * **Casa Eladio** (Calle Virgen de los Dolores): for a proper sit-down meal. A family restaurant going back to 1965, now serving updated Andalusian cooking with tasting menus, and recommended in the Michelin Guide. Book ahead. If you would rather eat closer to the apartment another night, see our guide to [restaurants in Benahavís and around El Paraíso](/blog/restaurants-benahavis-el-paraiso). ## When to go * **Summer:** go in the morning (arrive around 9:30 to 10:30) or in the evening from about 19:00\. Midday and early afternoon are hot, and the lanes hold the heat. Evenings are the nicest time, when the squares fill up and dinner starts late, Spanish style. * **Afternoon closures:** many small independent shops close for a few hours in the afternoon and reopen in the evening. Restaurants and the larger shops tend to stay open, but do not plan a shopping stroll for 15:00. * **Spring, autumn and winter:** this is when the Old Town is at its best for walking. It is quieter, parking is easier and the weather is often mild enough for lunch outside. A winter visit around midday is a good plan. ## Old Town or Puerto Banús? Guests often ask which one to do. They are very different outings: * **Pick the Old Town** for history, whitewashed lanes, traditional tapas bars, a slower pace, and a walk down to the beach. * **Pick Puerto Banús** for the marina and yachts, designer shopping, and a bigger nightlife scene. It is also closer to El Paraíso. If you have time for both, do them on different days. We cover the marina, parking and evenings there in our [Puerto Banús from El Paraíso](/blog/puerto-banus-from-el-paraiso) guide. ## A simple plan for a half day 1. Drive down in the morning (or after a round of golf, see our [golf near El Paraíso](/blog/golf-near-el-paraiso-benahavis) guide) and park at Plaza de la Victoria or Avenida del Mar. 2. Coffee near Plaza de los Naranjos, then walk the lanes and look into the Encarnación church. 3. The Museo del Grabado if it is open, or straight on to the Alameda and Avenida del Mar. 4. Tapas lunch a few streets from the main square. 5. Back to El Paraíso for the pool in the afternoon, or return in the evening for dinner. ## Booking your stay El Paraíso gives you a calm base in Benahavís with Marbella, Puerto Banús and the beaches all a short drive away. If you are planning a trip, check availability and book directly on our [homepage](/), or find us on Airbnb. _Written by Mex Smits_