Marbella East Guide

What is Marbella East?

The district is known for some of Marbella’s widest, best-preserved beaches, backed by pine forests and dunes, several golf courses, and generally more spacious homes at more accessible prices than the Golden Mile or Puerto Banús — while still being the closest part of Marbella to Málaga Airport.

The district is known for some of Marbella’s widest, best-preserved beaches, backed by pine forests and dunes, several golf courses, and generally more spacious homes at more accessible prices than the Golden Mile or Puerto Banús — while still being the closest part of Marbella to Málaga Airport.

History of Marbella East

Marbella East’s modern history begins in 1962, when the well-connected family of banker Ignacio Coca opened the five-star Hotel Los Monteros just east of Marbella town, on an estate sloping down to the sea. Originally 35 rooms, the hotel quickly expanded to 168 rooms as it became a fashionable meeting place for Marbella’s high society.

Its restaurant, El Corzo, was one of the first serious restaurants on the Costa del Sol, and the hotel’s guest list came to include figures from General Franco’s inner circle alongside stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Richard Burton and, later, Michael Jackson.

In 1965, the Coca family also built Río Real Golf, one of the first golf courses in Marbella, and went on to develop the surrounding villas and apartments through the 1970s — laying the template for the golf-and-beach communities that now make up the district, most recently reinforced by a new Kimpton luxury resort that opened in the area in 2025.

Where is Marbella East?

Marbella East runs along the coast from the edge of Marbella town out to Cabopino, where the municipality meets Mijas. Coastal neighbourhoods such as Los Monteros, Las Chapas, Marbesa, Elviria and Cabopino sit below the old coast road, while Río Real, Santa Clara and Altos de Marbella occupy higher ground above the motorway.

Because it sits at the eastern end of Marbella, the district is the closest part of the town to Málaga Airport and the AVE high-speed rail station, while still being well connected back to Marbella centre and on towards Fuengirola and Mijas.

What are the neighbourhoods of Marbella East?

Marbella East isn’t one district so much as a string of distinct neighbourhoods along the coast, each with its own character, from historic golf-and-hotel estates to newer beachside developments.

Browse current listings across the district on our Marbella East properties page.

What style of homes can you find in Marbella East?

Marbella East offers one of the broadest property mixes on the coast, from beachside villas and golf villas in Río Real and Santa Clara to low-rise apartment complexes in Elviria and Las Chapas, and marina-view penthouses in Cabopino. Plots and floor areas here tend to be more generous than in the Golden Mile or Puerto Banús for a comparable budget.

What do properties cost in Marbella East?

Marbella East generally offers better value per square metre than the Golden Mile or Puerto Banús, though it has also been among the fastest-growing parts of the market, with some sub-areas seeing double-digit annual price growth in the past year.

What is there to do in Marbella East?

Beaches & marina

Marbella East has some of the coast’s widest, most unspoilt beaches, backed by dunes and pine forest, including a protected coastal reserve at Cabopino that runs alongside the Costa del Sol’s prettiest marina, with its restaurants, cafés and boutique shops.

Further along the coast, Elviria and Marbesa offer their own long sandy stretches with a more relaxed, family-friendly feel than the beach clubs of Puerto Banús.

Watersports operators along Cabopino’s marina offer paddleboard, kayak and small-boat rental for residents who want to get out on the water without leaving the district.

Golf

The district sits within the East Marbella Golf Valley, home to five 18-hole courses — Santa Clara, Río Real, Marbella Golf, Santa María Golf and Cabopino Golf — with Río Real dating back to 1965 as one of the area’s original courses.

The Río Real Golf Hotel and the area’s other resort hotels, including the 2025 Kimpton opening, also offer dining open to non-guests.

Río Real Golf’s clubhouse restaurant remains a popular spot for a post-round lunch with sea views, and its 1965 layout is still considered one of the East’s most characterful rounds.

Dining & beach clubs

Elviria is the district’s social hub, with beach clubs and chiringuitos such as Casanis and Playa Padre offering a more relaxed alternative to Puerto Banús, alongside Nikki Beach, which operates from the Hotel Don Carlos.

Trocadero Arena and Trocadero Playa are consistently rated among the coast’s best spots for a refined beach lunch, while La Câbane by Dolce & Gabbana in Los Monteros and Amù Beach Club at Gran Marbella Resort add a more design-led alternative; Lucia, which opened permanently at Don Carlos Marbella in March 2026, and Sabine Beach, launched on Playa Real de Zaragoza in spring 2026, are the district’s newest beach-club additions.

Shopping

Elviria has its own shopping centre with supermarkets, boutiques, cafés and restaurants, giving residents everyday amenities without needing to drive into Marbella centre or Puerto Banús.

For a wider retail trip, Marbella centre and the Golden Mile are both within a 15-minute drive west.

Nightlife

Marbella East’s evenings lean towards sundowners rather than late-night clubs: Nikki Beach’s Sunday brunch parties and beachfront DJ sets are the district’s best-known social draw, while Elviria’s beach clubs keep a relaxed, family-friendly crowd well into the evening through summer. For a livelier late night, Puerto Banús is around 20 minutes west.

Compare Marbella East with the town’s other coastal districts in our full area guides, including the Golden Mile and Puerto Banús.

What is life like for kids in Marbella East?

Marbella East is one of the most family-friendly parts of Marbella, thanks to its space, beaches and the long-established English International College, which sits right in the district between Las Chapas and Elviria and draws families from across the area.

The mix of golf, beach and pine-forest surroundings, combined with lower traffic than the town centre or Puerto Banús, makes it popular with families wanting a quieter, more residential base.

Schools near Marbella East

English International College’s catchment covers Los Monteros, Bahía de Marbella, Las Chapas, El Rosario, Elviria, La Mairena and Cabopino — effectively all of Marbella East.

Marbella East vs. Puerto Banús and the Golden Mile

Marbella East trades the marina glamour of Puerto Banús and the front-line prestige of the Golden Mile for more space, quieter beaches and generally lower prices per square metre, while still offering golf, dining and some of the best sandy beaches on the coast.

Fun facts about Marbella East

• Hotel Los Monteros opened in 1962 with just 35 rooms and grew to 168, hosting guests from General Franco’s inner circle to Audrey Hepburn, Richard Burton and Michael Jackson.
• Río Real Golf, built in 1965 by the same family that founded Los Monteros, was one of the first golf courses in Marbella.
• The East Marbella Golf Valley now has five 18-hole courses: Santa Clara, Río Real, Marbella Golf, Santa María Golf and Cabopino Golf.
• Cabopino’s marina is often described as the prettiest on the Costa del Sol, backing onto a protected reserve of dunes and umbrella pine.
• Marbella East is the closest district in Marbella to Málaga Airport, around 35 minutes by car.
• A new Kimpton luxury resort opened in the area in 2025, part of a continuing wave of high-end hotel investment along this stretch of coast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Buying property in Marbella East with CarlingPetri

CarlingPetri’s Marbella team covers every pocket of Marbella East, from Los Monteros and Río Real to Elviria and Cabopino, helping buyers find the right beach or golf property from search through to completion.