Playa de Nagüeles

Playa de Nagüeles is one of the beaches along Marbella’s Golden Mile, the stretch of coast between the old town of Marbella and Puerto Banús that is lined with some of the most exclusive hotels and villas on the Costa del Sol. The beach is a long strip of golden sand, backed by gardens, palm trees and resorts, and it faces a Mediterranean sea that is usually calm and clear. Its character is elegant rather than lively, and it is popular with people who prefer a more refined atmosphere to the busier family beaches near the old town.

The story of the area is tied to the rise of Marbella as a destination for the wealthy. Until the 1950s Marbella was a small fishing and farming town. In 1954, Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe established the Marbella Club on the coast here, a hotel designed as a place where friends from European aristocracy and the film world could meet, and its success drew other developments and a stream of well-known guests. The beach in front of it became part of the glamorous coastline, and the Golden Mile took its nickname from the value of the land and the standard of the properties on it. The resorts along the beach, including those with their own private jetties and gardens, still preserve that tradition.

The beach has the facilities of a well-kept urban beach. Sun loungers and parasols can be rented, there are showers and toilets, and lifeguards patrol in summer. The eastern section, called Playa Casablanca, runs on from Nagüeles and widens the sand, and a breakwater at the western end helps keep the water calm. The Trocadero Playa beach club, a well-known chiringuito and restaurant, offers food and drink on the sand, alongside other beach clubs that provide a more upscale experience. A wooden jetty serving a hotel pushes out into the water and gives boat access.

The seafront promenade, the Paseo Marítimo, runs along the beach and is a pleasant place for walking or cycling, with views of the sea and the hills behind the coast. Celebrity-spotting is a popular pastime on the Golden Mile in summer, though visitors are unlikely to see much. The sunsets from the beach are particularly fine, as the sun goes down over the sea.

The beach is free and open to everyone, and the surrounding establishments keep their own hours. It lies between Marbella’s Old Town, with its Plaza de los Naranjos, and Puerto Banús, and is easily reached by bus or taxi. In July and August it is busiest, and spring and early autumn offer a more relaxed visit.