Winter really had a long chokehold on Spring. I was more than ready to get out of the cold Spring weather and jump into the warmth. A group of girls and I had been planning our friend’s bachelorette weekend to Marbella for nearly six months. We were ready to hop on the plane and have some fun in the sun. This was my first trip to Marbella but I had an idea what to expect as I have been to Spain for two other bachelorette weekends in the past. The first was to Barcelona in 2018 and Ibiza in 2021.
Here is everything that you need to know about the trip especially if you are going in the future. Stay tuned as some reels will be dropped on my Instagram page.
COVID MEASURES IN MARBELLA
Although covid measures are easing up across Europe, there are some that are still in place in some circumstances. A mask is required if you are sitting next to an Uber driver. If you are not wearing a mask, they will open the windows for cross ventilation. All the Uber drivers were wearing masks. You have to wear a mask on the plane but you do not have to wear it at the airport. You do not have to wear your mask to enter restaurants, clubs, indoor and outdoor establishments. I felt pretty safe throughout the trip and always kept a mask on me at all times.
BEST TIME TO GO TO MARBELLA
The end of the week into the weekend is the best time to visit Marbella all year round. Marbella has a Mediterranean climate so if you want to enjoy it during the off-season, I would recommend visiting during April to June. The weekends are usually busy but it was not crowded and we didn’t have any issues booking tables at restaurants for a group of 9 people. Peak season is between June to September so expect it to be extremely crowded if you plan to visit during that time.
GETTING TO MARBELLA
By plane, it took me about 2hrs and 30 minutes from Geneva airport to arrive at Malaga airport. I took an early flight at around 9.30am on a Thursday and the flight was full. From Malaga airport, it is a 30-40 minute drive to Marbella depending on whether you take the toll or avoid it. The taxi drivers will ask you which route you would like to take, be prepared. We returned on early morning flights on Monday and the airport was packed. It was actually not the seamless airport experience that I usually enjoy. I’d recommend flying in on Thursday and leaving later in the morning on Monday to avoid the early morning rush. I’d also recommend flying in on a Wednesday night and heading back on a Tuesday. I find that flying odd days during the week is more seamless and less crowded.
WHERE TO STAY
If you are travelling by yourself or with a friend and want to be close to the beach, restaurants and shops, I would stay as close as possible to the city center. Nearly everything is within walking distance. As we were a big group, it was cost effective to rent out a villa and order Ubers for when we went out. We stayed at a Villa in Nagüeles Alto. It was beautiful and a great place for all the activities that we had planned. There were 6 ensuite bedrooms and four floors with a lift. The Villa was affordable for the number of people that we had. It was very close to Marbella Center and Puerto Banús which made getting around very easy.
WHERE TO EAT
We ate anywhere and everywhere while we enjoyed our time in Marbella. Here is the low down on best restaurants in Marbella:
Mosh Fun Kitchen: It was good place to go for small chops (appetisers), cocktails, shish, and dancing. They tried their best to play a lot of Afrobeats to keep us there!
Luuma Beach Restaurant: It is a beautiful beach restaurant with views of the Mediterranean Sea. The food is very fresh with lots of options for dietary needs. The aesthetics are amazing for a good time and pictures.
Breathe Restaurant: It has a romantic feel to it with the outdoor space, rooftop terrace and the fireplaces. A good place to go for food, drinks and hang out with friends and significant others.
Tango Restaurant: An Argentinian bar and grill place. We had a set menu as we were a big group, so we didn’t get the Argentinian experience. That was unfortunate.
Pizzeria Picasso: We order pizzas from here before we hopped on a private yacht. They make them fast. It’s fresh and cooked to perfection.
WHAT TO DO & SEE IN MARBELLA
Marbella is a stunning place to visit. Also Puerto Banús is very close so I would recommend checking that out.
- Take a private yacht out in Puerto Banús with drinks and hang out with your girls
As you know by now, I love doing city tours when I visit a new location or city. I wasn’t able to do it during this trip but here are some places that I would have visited:
- Marbella Old Town and Orange Square
- Lounge at Venus Beach
- Do a day tour at Ronda & Setenil de las Bodegas
- A day trip to Gibraltar
Go forth and book that flight to Marbella! Check out my Instagram Reels for this trip and follow for more travel content!
Until next time,
Folakemi
