אסטפונה

Spring and autumn are warm, with fewer crowds. Summer is hot and busy, with the beaches full in July and August. Winters are mild, and the old town is pleasant for walking, although some beach businesses close.

The town's flowers are at their best in spring.

• The old town (casco antiguo) has narrow streets with flowerpots on every wall, murals, and small squares such as the Plaza de las Flores.
• The Castillo de San Luis is a small castle with a tower in the old town, and the Torre del Reloj is a clock tower on the site of the old walls.
• The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is the parish church on the main square.
• The Museo Taurino and the Museo Etnográfico are small museums in the old town.
• La Rada is the main town beach, with a seafront promenade, and the Faro de Punta Doncella is a lighthouse on the promenade.
• The Orquidario (orchid house) is a botanical garden with a large collection of orchids.
• Selwo Aventura is a safari park in the hills behind the town.
• The Playa de Guadalmansa and other long sandy beaches are east of town, and the Puerto Deportivo is the marina.

• Walk through the old town and look at the murals and flowerpots.
• Spend a day on the beach and walk the promenade at sunset.
• Eat fresh grilled sardines at a beach bar.
• Go on a day trip to Ronda or Gibraltar.

• Marbella (about 30 km): a coastal resort with a pretty old town.
• Ronda (about 70 km): a town on a gorge, with a famous bridge.
• Gibraltar (about 50 km): a British territory with a rock and a nature reserve. Take your passport.
• Algeciras (about 55 km): a port with ferries to Morocco.
• Casares (about 20 km): a white village on a hilltop.

Other places nearby:

• Costa del Sol: Marbella and Benalmádena.
• Andalusia: Ronda, Algeciras and Antequera.

• By air: Málaga airport is about 80 km away, and Gibraltar airport about 45 km.
• By bus: Buses run along the coast from Málaga, Marbella and Algeciras. There is no railway station in Estepona.
• By car: The AP-7 toll motorway and the A-7 free road run along the coast.

• On foot: The old town and the seafront are flat and easy to walk.
• Local bus: Buses connect the center with the outlying beaches and the port.
• Bike: There are cycling and walking paths along the seafront.

• Is a car worth it?: Useful for day trips along the coast and into the hills, but not needed in town.
• Parking: The old town has underground car parks. Many streets are pedestrian only.
• Roads: The coastal road is busy in summer.

The cuisine is based on fresh fish and seafood. The classic is espeto de sardinas, sardines grilled on a skewer over an open fire on the beach. Also try pescaíto frito (fried fish), gazpacho and ajoblanco (a cold almond and garlic soup), and fresh seafood in the marina.

Tapas bars in the old town serve small plates with drinks.

Estepona is generally safe. In summer, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. Pickpocketing is possible in crowded areas. Check the swimming flags on the beaches, as currents can be strong.

The Estepona area has been settled since prehistoric times, and there are Roman remains nearby. The Moors held the town for centuries, and it was captured by the Catholic Monarchs in 1457.

In the 20th century, Estepona was a fishing and farming town. Tourism developed from the 1960s, and in recent years the town has invested in its old town, with flowers, murals and pedestrian streets.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: