Marbella has 24 beaches along more than 27.9 kilometres of coast, and eight of them fly a Blue Flag in 2026. That is the most of any town in Málaga province, and the one most visitors picture, by the yachts of Puerto Banús, is not among them. The flag in Banús belongs to the marina, not to the sand. Which beach suits you depends less on the postcard than on where you sleep, whether you have a car and who comes with you.
Which Marbella beach should I choose? Without a car, El Faro, Venus and La Fontanilla, three of the 8 Blue Flag beaches, with El Faro 1.5 km from the bus station. With a dog, El Pinillo, Ventura del Mar or Cortijo Blanco, the only three that allow dogs. With limited mobility, El Faro or Venus-Bajadilla. For space, Cabopino, by the Artola dunes at the eastern end.
Which bus stop to get off at from the airport
The airport bus is cheaper than going into Malaga first. A single ticket on Avanza costs 6.48 euros from Malaga Airport to Marbella and 7.68 euros to San Pedro Alcántara, against 7.81 euros from the Malaga city bus station; the airport express to Marbella costs 9.30 euros. The other routes, car included, are in Malaga airport to the coast.
Get off in Marbella for the town beaches: the bus station is on Avenida Hermanos Blánquez, about 1.5 kilometres in a straight line from El Faro. Stay on to San Pedro for Guadalmina and the dog beaches in the west. For Puerto Banús itself, read whether Puerto Banús is worth it.
The eight Blue Flag beaches, west to east
The Blue Flag list for 2026 gives Marbella 8 beaches and 2 marinas. The flags are awarded for two seasons this time, so the list also holds for 2027. How the rest of the coast compares is in Malaga’s Blue Flag beaches.
- Guadalmina, San Pedro: 1,500 metres of sand and shingle, best reached by car, with a public car park.
- Nagüeles-Casablanca, on the Golden Mile: 1,600 metres of golden sand.
- La Fontanilla: the western town beach, 1,000 metres, golden sand.
- El Faro: only 200 metres, by the lighthouse and the marina, fully step-free.
- Venus-Bajadilla: by the old town, sand and shingle, fully step-free.
- El Cable: dark sand and a beach-barbecue zone.
- Los Monteros: narrow, between developments, awkward on foot.
- Cabopino: 1,200 metres of golden sand next to the protected Artola dunes.
Which beach for which trip
Families and wheelchair users do best at El Faro and Venus-Bajadilla: boardwalks to the water, adapted toilets and changing rooms, shade on the sand and in the water. Assisted bathing with an amphibious chair runs from 11:00 to 20:00 in July and August and 11:00 to 19:00 in June and September; book on +34 658 61 83 33. The province-wide picture is in accessible bathing on Malaga’s beaches.
Dog owners have three options and no others: El Pinillo, Ventura del Mar and Cortijo Blanco. Elsewhere on the coast, see dog-friendly beaches near Malaga.
Naturists usually head for Cabopino, though no stretch there is signposted; the official naturist beaches of the province are in Malaga’s naturist beaches.
What might put you off
Town beaches are crowded in August, so keep your bag in sight, and several, Venus-Bajadilla and Guadalmina among them, are sand mixed with shingle rather than fine sand.
Beach barbecues, moragas, need a booking on the council website and are only allowed in set zones: 3,947 were booked in 2026 by 1 October.
For food near the sea, see where to eat in Marbella; for quieter beaches further west, Estepona’s beaches. Buses and passes for the wider area are in getting around Malaga.
Marbella beaches FAQ
Which Marbella beaches have a Blue Flag in 2026?
Eight: Guadalmina in San Pedro Alcántara, Nagüeles-Casablanca, La Fontanilla, El Faro, Venus-Bajadilla, El Cable, Los Monteros (listed as Adelfas) and Cabopino. The beach next to Puerto Banús does not have one, although the José Banús marina does.
Is there a dog-friendly beach in Marbella?
Yes, three: El Pinillo, east of the centre, with water fountains and showers for dogs; Ventura del Mar in Nueva Andalucía; and Cortijo Blanco in San Pedro Alcántara. Dogs are not allowed on the others.
How do I get from Malaga Airport to Marbella’s beaches?
Avanza runs buses from the airport: a single costs 6.48 euros to Marbella and 7.68 to San Pedro Alcántara, or 9.30 on the airport express to Marbella; the same trip to Estepona costs 10.24 euros. There is no train to Marbella.
Is Puerto Banús beach good for swimming?
It is a normal sandy town beach, called Levante, with assisted bathing in summer, but it has no Blue Flag in 2026. If you want a flagged beach nearby, Nagüeles is about 2.5 kilometres east.