A pretty Spanish town known as ‘Garden of the Costa del Sol’ is gaining a reputation for being a rival to nearby glamorous Marbella. 

Estepona is a refurbished old town nestled on the Mediterranean coastline. Its labyrinth of reflective white streets lined with blossoming flowerpots make even a simple walk through the town a total delight. 

Labelled as the ‘Garden of the Costa del Sol’, Estepona is a resort town hosting a quieter holiday destination than its neighbour, Marbella. Just 32 kilometres from the bustling party town, a well-preserved history centre, a marina with dazzling boats and 20 kilometres of sandy beaches can be found. 

The ‘City of a Million Flowers’ is a popular destination for visitors all year round. Home to approximately 66,000 residents, Estepona combines both natural and traditional beauty with modern architecture.

The refurbished old town with lively restaurants and bars is set in the picturesque backdrop of rolling hills and green valleys that meet the Sierra Bermeja mountain. 

The urban renewal programme in the city means much of the area has been pedestrianised, free from cars. This means tourists can take a slow, leisurely stroll along the waterfront and around the winding streets without being disturbed. 

Estepona is situated conveniently between two major airports.

Brits can fly in to either Malaga International Airport, a 50 minute drive away, or The Gibraltar International Airport which is an easy 45 minute drive west. With flights from the UK taking less than three hours, Brits could be transported to the flower city in just a morning of travelling. 

With the winter months still hitting highs of 18C, Estepona could be the perfect destination for a break from the plummeting temperatures in Britain. 

When choosing which Spanish town to visit, one recent traveller on Tripadvisor said: “Estepona is amazing, Marbella is great and Puerto Banus is over hyped and expensive; Personally, Estepona is where I would choose to stay and just do a day trip to Marbella and Puerto Banus.”

For those seeking a more cultural trip, the city boasts many attractions other than its golden sand and flowers. The town hosts an iconic bullring, a Spanish tradition dating back to the 11th century.

Many museums and monuments can be found scattered throughout the streets too, with wildlife parks, maritime adventures and open-air theatre performances on the list of activities to do while there.