Estepona is a southern municipality of the province of Malaga, one of the most popular resorts on the Costa del Sol. Estepona is a town of beautiful views: 23 km of beaches and the Sierra Bermeja mountain range, approached the coast almost right, form picturesque landscapes. Moreover, the town itself, and especially its historic center, show the spirit of a typical Andalusian settlement: whitewashed facades of houses, stone mosaics of pavements, cascades of flowering plants in pots, hung on walls and balconies or placed in pots on porches and along the streets. It’s not for nothing that all guidebooks lovingly call Estepona «Jardín de la Costa del Sol» – the garden of the Costa del Sol.
According to data for 2022, about 75 thousand residents lived in Estepona, 19 thousand of whom were foreigners, and the vast majority were British citizens.
The distance from Estepona to the nearest transport hubs, major cities and popular resorts is the following:
- Málaga – 90 km;
- Malaga International Airport – 82 km;
- Gibraltar International Airport – 45 km;
- Benalmádena – 74 km;
- Fuengirola – 62 km;
- Marbella – 33 km;
- Puerto Banus – 22 km;
- Manilva – 14 km;
- Sotogrande – 29 km;
- Gibraltar – 50 km.
From the airport, you can get Estepona by taxi or bus. The journey by bus will take a little over an hour. There are only 4 direct flights per day, which is not very convenient. As an alternative, you can choose the following option: go directly from the airport to Fuengirola by train, and from there – take a bus to Estepona. There is also a regular bus service connecting Estepona with other coastal resorts.
Nature and Climate of Estepona
Estepona is located on the sunniest coast of Spain – the Costa del Sol. The town can really boast a large number of clear days a year – up to 330. The sunniest and driest period is summer, but summer-like warm weather can persist many days in a row even in winter and in the off-season. From May to October, the average daily air temperature in Estepona ranges from +22 to +29°C, rising on some days to +35°C in the shade. The hottest months are July and August, when the differences between day and night temperatures become quite insignificant. The coldest period falls on January and February, but even during these months the air can warm up above +15°C during the day.
Thus, the water off the coast of Estepona can be unpredictable: its temperatures, even in summer, often range from +15 to +24°C – it all depends on the currents and cold waters of the Atlantic entering the Mediterranean Sea through Gibraltar. The most suitable period for beach holidays is August and September.
The tourist flow to Estepona continues unabated throughout the year. Some people are attracted by hot summers and beach holidays, others encouraged by the opportunity to spend the winter in a warm climate and comfortable conditions, spending a lot of time outdoors, walking and playing sports. Most tourists are wealthy Europeans who love Estepona for its excellent infrastructure, well-maintained sandy beaches and an excellent selection of bars and restaurants.
The Sierra Bermeja mountain range, at the foot of which Estepona lies, protects the town from cold western and northern winds, creating a special mild microclimate. In the most picturesque part of the mountain range, there is the Natural Park – Paraje Natural Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja, which has numerous hiking trails and viewpoints. The highest point, Los Reales Peak, is located at an altitude of 1452 m above sea level.
Estepona’s mild Mediterranean climate allows for a variety of sports activities throughout the year. Perhaps, golf is the most popular: in the vicinity of Estepona, there are about a dozen excellent golf clubs, the most famous and prestigious are Azata Golf, Atalaya, El Paraiso and El Campanario. No less popular are horse riding, Nordic walking, cycling, as well as all kinds of water and sailing sports.
Estepona has a large sports port with 447 berths – it is the third largest one in the province of Malaga. It is located near the historic center of the town, and a municipal market of craftsmen is regularly held on its territory. In addition, the port has numerous bars and restaurants, which are ready to offer dishes from fresh, literally just caught fish and seafood. Also, a fish exchange operates daily in the port.
Here you can relax and enjoy the sun on the beautiful sandy beaches of Estepona, which we will talk about in more detail below.
Estepona: a Little History and Preserved Architectural Landmarks
The territory of modern Estepona has been inhabited since prehistoric times, which is confirmed by archaeological finds. There is a myth that there was a ritual sanctuary during times of the Celts, erected in honor of the patron goddess of horse breeding – Epona. Also, at different times, the coast was inhabited by Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs. During Roman times, the settlement, located on the site of modern Estepona, was of strategic importance. During excavations, archaeologists discovered foundations of Roman dwellings and remains of ceramics. The Roman town was destroyed in the IV-th century as a result of a strong earthquake.
A little later, the Moors came to these lands. According to one version, the town received its modern name during the reign of the Arabs: Caliph Abderraman II (Abd ar-Rahman II or in Arabic: عبد الرحمن الأوسط ) built the Al-extebunna fortress, which over time turned into Estepona. The heyday in the XIV-th century fell into economic decadence. In the middle of the XV-th century, local residents refused to pay taxes to the Christian king Henry IV of Castile (in Spanish: Enrique IV de Castilla), which served as the formal reason for the invasion of the royal army and the liberation of the town from Muslims.
The town’s Clock Tower (Torre del Reloj) from the XVI-th century has been preserved from that era, and part of the castle of XV-th century – Castillo de San Luis, built to defend the coast from Berber pirates. The tower is the only thing that has survived from the first Christian church, built on the site of a mosque in 1473. Initially, the clock on the tower was a sun clock. An earthquake in 1755 destroyed the town, including the church and tower, and after restoration, the clock was replaced with modern mechanical one. The remains of the fortress walls of the Castle of San Luis are preserved in the area between Villa and Castillo streets, in the old part of the town. Also, in the old town, there are beautiful mansions of wealthy families – Casa de la Borrega and Casa del Marquis de Mondejar, which can be admired. The facades of many other buildings are decorated with paintings – Murales, and there is even a special route around the town, covering all such houses.
Administratively, Estepona was subjected to Marbella for quite a long time. Only at the beginning of the XVIII-th century, by order of the Spanish king Philip V (Felipe V de España), the town received its own charter and became an independent municipality. Until the beginning of the XX-th century, the main economic activities of Estepona were farming and fishing. And today, despite the development of sectors such as tourism, services, construction, the agricultural sector continues to play an important role in the life of Estepona: onions and grains are grown on the outskirts of the town, large areas are occupied by lemon gardens.
Among the attractions of Estepona, it is worth noting the Church of Our Lady of the Remedies, adjacent to the Clock Tower. Previously, this church was part of a Franciscan monastery. The history of the church goes back more than five centuries: during these times, it has been repeatedly completed, destroyed, rebuilt and restored.
The Chapel of San Isidro can be also visited – it was named after the patron saint of the town, as well as the magnificent botanical garden with one of the best collections of plants in the country. This garden has a waterfall and a glass greenhouse, where the most incredible and beautiful varieties of orchids are collected.
The town hall houses the Archaeological Museum with an interesting exhibition, and the building itself is of architectural interest. It is called «Casa de las Tejerinas», and serves not only administrative needs, but also cultural ones, regularly holding exhibitions and various cultural and educational events within its walls. Many will be interested in going on excursions to the Paleontological and Ethnographic Museums.
And, of course, while relaxing in Estepona, you definitely need to walk to the Plaza de las Flores, previously used as a bullring. Today, there is the Bullfighting Museum named after the famous bullfighter Antonio Ordoñez.
Also of interest, there is the Los Pedregales Park (Parque Municipal de Los Pedregales), located on the border with another natural park – Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja, 8 km from the center of Estepona. There is another archaeological museum on the territory of the park, built on the site of the excavations of ancient dolmens (Dólmenes de Corominas), which are estimated by historians at 5 thousand years. There are also numerous paths for hiking and cycling in the park, there is a restaurant, a children’s play area, picturesque ponds and a place for family picnics.
Infrastructure of Estepona
Estepona is a resort town, so its entire infrastructure has actively developed in step with the times, satisfying the ever-increasing demands of the tourism sector. The Tourist Information Point is located at Plaza de las Flores in the heart of the town.
Estepona offers excellent bars, cafes and restaurants of various price categories, many of them specialize in Mediterranean cuisine, fish and seafood. This modern town can boast a developed commercial sector of retail and wholesale trade, there are about 20 bank offices, and several excellent hotels. As we noted above, several modern golf clubs can be found in the nearby suburbs.
In the old town, many interesting souvenir shops, artisan shops, and small exhibition halls can be found. On sale, there are items from leather, metal, precious metals, wood, ceramics, paintings, sculptures and much more, made by local craftsmen. The souvenir exhibition and fair – Mercadillo Ecologico de de Artesania is regularly held in the central square of the town.
In Estepona, there is a large zoo – Parque Selwo Aventura, covering an area of more than 100 hectares and divided into several zones where you can walk, go on a mini-safari, feed the animals under the guidance of a guide, and watch performances.
Urban transport of Estepona is represented by only two bus routes: a ring route through the town center and a peripheral one, connecting Estepona with suburban urbanizations. Intercity buses run from Estepona to almost all other resort towns on the Costa del Sol.
The road network includes two highways, A-7 and AP-7, as well as numerous national highways and secondary roads, so driving your own transport along the entire coastline won’t be difficult.
Beaches of Estepona
Estepona is a land of endless beaches with fine golden, gray or brown sand. The municipality’s coastline is 23 km long and includes 15 beaches, 4 of which annually receive the highest mark of cleanliness and quality – the Blue Flag. All large beaches have changing cabins, columns of water, toilets, and convenient ramps for wheelchairs.
The best beaches of Estepona from south to north:
- Playa de Galera is a clean, well-equipped beach at the foot of the old Torre de la Galera tower, in the southern part of the municipality. Sun loungers and umbrellas can be rented on the beach. The beach is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque in Estepona.
- Bahía Dorada is a quiet and peaceful beach with gray sand, equipped with foot wash stations. During high season, there are lifeguards on duty. This place is very popular with snorkelers.
- Costa Natura is a famous nudist beach with a length of 850 m, the first such place in Spain and therefore the most famous one. Its official opening took place back in 1979. The beach is well equipped, there are also sunbeds and umbrellas for rent.
- Playa del Cristo is a large, beautiful beach 1300 m long with a bay, adjacent to the sports port of Estepona. It is famous for fine sand and clear water. The beach is equipped with everything you need, in addition to renting sun loungers and umbrellas, there is a rental of jet skis, as well as there are beach bars.
- Playa de la Rada is a popular urban beach about 3 km long, located in the heart of Estepona. It receives its Blue Flag annually. Along the beach and the promenade, there are numerous bars and restaurants where you can have a great lunch or refresh yourself with a cocktail. There are also children’s playgrounds and dedicated bicycle lanes on the embankment. The twenty-meter-high lighthouse – Faro de Punta Doncella rises above the southernmost part of the beach.
- Playa del Padrón is another popular beach within the town, about 1500 m long, especially busy on weekends, but very clean. It is well equipped, has convenient access roads, and is also regularly awarded the Blue Flag.
- Playa de Guadalmansa (Bella) is a low loaded beach in the northern suburbs of Guadalmansa. It is equipped with everything necessary, has convenient entry into the sea, is famous for its clean water and almost complete absence of algae. At the same time, there are often waves here, so surfers love this beach.
- Playa de Saladillo is one of the longest beaches in Estepona, characterized as very quiet and peaceful. It is chosen not only for passive relaxation – lying on the sand, swimming, but also for long walks along the water’s edge.
In addition to the above beaches, Estepona also has many cozy corners and bays for relaxation, favorite places for fishermen and divers.
Estepona’s districts and property prices
Administratively, Estepona is divided into 8 districts: Benamara – Atalaya, Selwo, Punta Plata, Estepona Pueblo, Seghers, Costa Natura, Playa Bahía Dorada and Altos de Estepona. They all differ in the type of development and real estate prices.
One of the most expensive and prestigious areas of this part of the coast is the New Golden Mile – the section between Estepona itself and the Puerto Banus area. Many modern residential complexes are being built here, and the infrastructure is considered one of the best on the entire coast. Another fashionable area is the port area.
In August 2023, the average price per square meter of housing was 2,004 €/m2 in Spain, and 2,044 €/m2 in the Andalusia region, 3,002 €/m2 in the province of Malaga, 3,150 €/m2 in Estepona. Compared to May 2023, prices in Estepona increased by 3%, and compared to August 2022, the growth was 13.8%.
Benamara – Atalaya is a north-eastern suburb of Estepona. This is an expensive and prestigious area, where the average cost of housing is 3,246 €/m2. The buildings are represented mainly by gated residential complexes, cottages and villas. There are also 2 golf clubs surrounded by modern urbanizations. Prices for studios and small apartments start from 90,000 €, townhouses and bungalows are from 145,000 €, individual cottages cost from 495,000 €, villas are from 725,000 €, luxury villas cost from 1,500,000 €. The windows and terraces of the most expensive and well-located villas offer panoramic views of the coast, sea and golf courses.
Selwo is another prestigious area of Estepona, located northeast of the town center. Here, the average cost of housing is 3,395 €/m2. There are also 2 golf clubs surrounded by modern residential complexes. Unlike the previous area, it is almost impossible to find budget options in Selwo. Prices for 3-bedroom apartments start from 149,000 €, 1-bedroom apartments on the first line with panoramic sea views are at the prices from 199,000 €. Townhouses can be found at prices starting from 244,000 €, detached cottages cost from 490,000 €, villas are from 800,000 €, luxury villas start from 1,500,000 €.
Punta Plata is one of the most expensive areas of Estepona, closely adjacent to the old town. Housing here costs an average of 4,040 €/m2. You can find properties of any type, but the choice is small. The most inexpensive apartment with 1 bedroom will cost 205,000 €, a townhouse with 3 bedrooms is at 285,000 €. A small apartment with 1 bedroom, but located on the first line of the sea, will cost about 320,000 €. Prices for detached houses located close to AR-7 start from 550,000 €, houses with sea views are from 650,000 €. Villas in the Punta Plata area cost from 1,500,000 €, luxury villas are from 4,250,000 €.
Estepona Pueblo is an old town where most of the offers relate to apartments and tourist apartments, belonging both to the old housing stock and located in new modern residential complexes. The average cost per square meter of housing in the town is 2,843 €. Prices for small apartments start from 75,000 €, but there are very few budget options, so you should expect prices from 100,000 €. The closer to the sea, the higher the prices are: an apartment with 2 bedrooms and a side sea view will cost from 185,000 €, new apartments with 2 bedrooms a couple-of-minutes walk from the embankment cost from 190,000 €. Townhouses and bungalows in the town cost from 220,000 €.
Small detached cottages can be found from 382,000 €, urban villas are from 799,000 €.
Seghers is the smallest district of Estepona and the most expensive. A square meter of housing in Seghers costs 5,410 €. The area is located near Playa del Cristo beach and the sports port. Prices for the smallest studios and apartments start from 125,000 €, apartments on the first line with direct sea views are on sale from 400,000 €, for townhouses are from 694,000 €. But the most prestigious housing in the Seghers area are spacious apartments and penthouses in modern residential complexes near the sea, with terraces offering panoramic views of the embankment and marina. The price for the most expensive penthouses reaches 4,290,000 €.
Costa Natura is also good neighborhood, but located southwest of the center of Estepona. Housing here costs an average of 3,340 €/m2. There is an excellent golf club and a huge number of modern gated residential complexes with housing of different types and different price categories. The most budget studios and 1-bedroom apartments can be found at prices starting from 109,000 €, 2-bedroom apartments with beautiful views of the golf courses cost from 140,000 €. Townhouses in the Costa Natura area cost from 330,000 €, detached cottages are from 495,000 €, small villas are from 800,000 €, villas with beautiful sea views are from 1,725,000 €, luxury villas cost from 2,395,000 €.
Playa Bahia Dorada is the most southwestern area of Estepona, characterized by low prices: a square meter of housing here costs an average of 2,591 €. In this area, there is one of the best golf clubs on the coast – Estepona Golf. Despite the fact that the area as a whole is considered inexpensive, small apartments in it are quite expensive (from 130,000 € for a 1-bedroom apartment) and their choice is limited. But, there is a good selection of bungalows, duplexes and large apartments with 3-4 bedrooms (at prices from 185,000 €). A small detached house in the Playa Bahía Dorada area can be found at a price from 489,000 €, prices a villa are from 735,000 €, a luxury house on the first line will cost from 2,495,000 €.
And finally, Altos de Estepona is the largest area remote from the sea, located in a valley between the mountains. This district is also expensive (4,048 €/m2), despite its distance from the sea. The development here is very different: country estates with large land plots, luxury villas, modern residential complexes – and all this is combined with picturesque hills and green areas. 1-bedroom apartments in the Altos de Estepona area cost from €75,000, 2-bedroom apartments are from €99,000. Townhouses are available at prices starting from 200,000 €, detached houses and cottages are from 275,000 €, villas are from 995,000 €, mansions with an area of 400 m2 will cost from 1,300,000 €.
If you are interested in purchasing real estate in Estepona, you can get acquainted with the offers of properties in our catalogue.
