A guide to visiting Estepona, Spain

I thought it was about time I shared a blog post about one of my favourite places near to where I have settled in Spain. I’ve truly fallen in love with Estepona and I hope this blog post will inspire you to add it to your travel wishlist.

Estepona is situated on the Costa de Sol, just over an hours drive from Malaga city. Known as the ‘Garden of the Costa del Sol’, Estepona is a quintessential Andalusian town, where you will find narrow streets lined with colourful plant pots, white washed walls, charming patios and pristine floral displays at every turn. Estepona also boasts some of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the area, lined with chiringuitos (beach bars) and views of Gibraltar and the Moroccan coast in the distance.

Estepona is fast becoming a popular place for expats to settle due to it’s sleepy town feel. I would describe it as a smaller and toned down version of Marbella. Even though there is much to see and do here, it has a peaceful and relaxing feel and retains much of its traditional charm. Estepona has a great cafe culture and an amazing array of bars and restaurants, with plenty of shops including some popular brands, like Mango and Calzedonia. Estepona is beautiful in the evenings too, with plenty of places to go dancing and enjoy a night out without feeling over crowded or busy. And of course, it’s the perfect place as a holiday destination if you’re looking for an Andalusian getaway away!

Let’s dive in and see why Estepona is the perfect place to solo travel and holiday on the Costa Del Sol!

Historic Old Town

If you want to immerse yourself in the charm of Estepona, then wandering through the old town or centro historico is a must. Here you will find a labyrinth of charming cobblestone streets, each with their own vibrant colourful plant pots, together with many pretty patios, fountains and orange trees. I love the maze of traditional townhouses, all decorated with vibrant florals and coordinating pots. I have a favourite street I call the ‘yellow pot street’ but I could not tell you the actual street name. There is just something magical about the old town area. I absolutely love this part of Estepona in spring time as you are met with the beautiful scents of blossom here. This is a picturesque place to simply wander, explore and see what you discover.

Top places to discover in the Historic Old Town:

  • Calle Real is the main shopping street in Estepona and is a good place to start when exploring the old town area. If you like to shop, this is the place to go along with nearby Calle Terraza and Calle Caridad.

  • Plaza de las Flores is the town’s main square and is the perfect place to stop for lunch or a coffee. This picturesque square is filled with orange trees and beautiful florals, and surrounded by a selection of cafes and restaurants where you can dine al fresco. Here you will also find the Tourist information centre.

  • Iglesia Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is one of Estepona’s most iconic landmarks which can be seen from many places in the old town. The church itself is pretty inside and has wonderful views overlooking Estepona too.

  • Torre del Reloj (clock tower) was once part of the oldest churches in the Costa de Sol completed in 1473. However the church was destroyed in the aftershocks of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and only the clock tower survived.

Orchidarium

Estepona is home to the largest Orchid house in all of Spain and it’s a place I often visit. Situated in the historic town area, the Orchidarium is home to over 1,300 species of orchids, which can be found under a glass dome that has its own special microclimate. It is believed to be the biggest collection of orchids in all of Europe and is a must see whether you are a botanical lover or not. Here you can meander your way through an indoor tropical jungle complete with palm trees and even towering waterfalls that you can walk beneath. You are guaranteed to see flowers bloom no matter what time of year you visit here. It reminds me of the Eden project in the UK; you feel like you have stepped into a totally different world. There is small entrance fee to visit and children under 4 can visit for free.

Mural route

If you’re a fan of urban art, then you’ll love the many murals that await to be discovered throughout the old town area of Estepona. It’s quite something to stumble across a whole facade covered in vibrant street art and there are over 60 murals here. My absolute favourite mural is known as the ‘A Day of Fishing’ which covers six buildings to create one image of a fisherman catching a fish. The murals have become a real cultural attraction in Estepona that you can now follow with a self-guided walking tour. You can pick up a map of the mural route at the tourist information office located at the Plaza de las Flores or you can download the Reveel app for free, which has several self-guided walking routes including one for the murals.

Paseo Maritimo and Mirador del Carmen

The newly revamped promenade ‘Paseo Maritimo’ is now completely pedestrianised and the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely stroll along the seafront. Here you can walk from the historic town all the way down to the marina, taking in Estepona’s beautiful beaches and endless floral displays. There are sometimes market stools to enjoy here, along with giant chess boards and play parks for the kids. As you head towards the marina along the Paseo Maritimo, you will approach the Mirador del Carmen tower which opened in 2023. This cultural centre will be home to numerous exhibitions and events, and boasts the best panoramic views of the town and Mediterranean coast from the top deck. The tower is open Tuesdays to Sundays 10 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, with an entrance fee of 6 euros.

Photo Credit: iStock & B.Solis

Estepona port and marina

Just beyond the Mirador del Carmen tower you will find the thriving port area of Estepona. Here there are many bars and restaurants with lovely views of all the sailboats moored in the marina. Here you can enjoy numerous boat tours, including a dolphin tour which I enjoyed for my birthday last year via Viator.

This area is particularly popular for nightlife, with several night clubs and places that have live music. The marina also hosts a weekly market on Sundays from 10 am selling all sorts of items, including clothing, jewellery, ceramics, homeware and more. This is the perfect place to get a gift or souvenir from your time in Estepona.

Credit: iStock

Best of the rest

Best places to stay in Estepona:

  • For the best budget option, I’d recommend Veranera Hostel in the old town. This boutique hostel has a rooftop bar and jacuzzi and offers various activities for its guests, as well as pick up from Estepona bus station. The Old Town Boutique Hotel is officially for adults only and is located in the old town close to the beach.

Best places to eat in Estepona:

You are truly spoilt for choice in Estepona when it comes to cafes, bars and restaurants. The best places to find Estepona’s most popular restaurants are Calle Real, Calle Malaga and Calle Caridad in the old town. It’s going to be tough to narrow it down, but these are my recommendations:

Best Beaches in Estepona:

Being on the coast, Estepona and the surrounding area has plenty of beaches to enjoy. The Council takes great pride in keeping the beaches clean and tidy and many have blue flag status.

  • Playa del Cristo - located near Estepona port, this beach has a selection of chiringuitos and is popular for swimming and families.

  • Playa de la Cala and Playa de la Rada - both these sandy beaches can be found along the Paseo Maritimo.

  • Playa Costa Natura - located west of Estepona, it is the local nudist beach.

Best Day Trips from Estepona:

Estepona is situated close to many beautiful and exciting destinations that are accessible via bus or via tours with Viator and Get Your Guide. My top recommendations of places to visit from Estepona for a day trip are Sevilla (check out my Sevilla blog post), Marbella, Ronda, Gibraltar and Malaga city (check out my Malaga blog post).

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. I hope it gives you a flavour of why Estepona is a great solo travel destination for the Costa Del Sol in Spain. I’d love to know what you think! If you’ve in fact been to Estepona or considering going and have questions, drop me a comment below.

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Solo Travel, Latest, Female TravelEmily SandersonSolo travel Spain, Female Solo TravelComment