Living in Estepona: everything you need to know

Estepona is a town that radiates magic in every one of its streets and is one of the areas that offers the best quality of life in the whole of Europe. Its architecture, with white houses and balconies covered in flowers, will relieve the stress of everyday life and encourage you to immerse yourself in a lifestyle focused on enjoyment. Would you like to experience this wonderful way of life and live in Estepona? Read on and we will tell you everything about this fairytale location.

Where is Estepona?

It is a town located in the province of Málaga (Andalusia) and is one of the most popular municipalities in the whole of the Costa del Sol. And this is no surprise considering that the town is on the Mediterranean coast, where you can enjoy some of the best sunsets in Andalusia.

Characteristics of Estepona

Estepona is one of the treasures of Andalusia and stands out for a range of different characteristics.

A town that shows its roots

Traditionally, fishing and agriculture were the main economic activities in Estepona, but over recent decades tourism has become its most important industry. This growth in tourism is due to its location and combination of rich history with a contemporary feel, and that’s without forgetting the typical Andalusian hospitality. 

Its picturesque town centre, made up of streets decorated with flowers, its cobbled streets, its beaches, its beautiful promenade and its welcoming atmosphere make it a very appealing destination for visitors from all over the world.

Some of the most impressive buildings are the Town Hall, the Church of Santa María de los Remedios, the ancient Castle of San Luis and the Clock Tower. All of them are located around Plaza de las Flores, which is the centre and the true heart of the town.

Another appealing feature of Estepona is its beaches, as they offer over 20 kilometres of coastline, including golden sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters that act as a natural fortress. The following are the most notable: Playa de La Rada, with its beautiful promenade that will will make you want to go take a dip; Playa del Cristo, an idyllic little cove with warm waters that is perfect for those looking to relax; and Playa de Galera, one of the most popular beaches for surfers.

Delicious cuisine

Estepona is known for its rich and creative Mediterranean cuisine. As the town has its own fishing port, the local restaurants are able to offer a wide range of dishes featuring fresh fish and seafood, with the most popular options being “pescaíto frito” (fried fish) and skewered sardines. It also produces large amounts of agricultural products, so vegetables, lemons and avocados form a significant part of the local cuisine. Some of the typical dishes include sopa campera, gazpacho and ajoblanco.

A wide range of cultural activities

Living in Estepona enables you to enjoy a diverse range of cultural activities. In addition to its beautiful old town centre, it also offers many very interesting attractions, such as the Dólmenes de Corominas archaeological site, the ethnographic museum and the archaeological museum. It also has an urban art museum where you can enjoy some fresh air while exploring over 60 walls covered in art that are spread throughout the city. And one of these walls is the largest in the whole of Europe.

To complete your cultural experience, if you are a fan of nature, you can visit the Botanical Gardens and Orchid House, one of the main green spaces in Estepona, with over 10,000 square metres of pure nature. It is home to one of the most special and important orchid collections in Europe, and also offers 5,000 species of plants.

An idyllic paradise for sports enthusiasts

This Andalusian town also offers many options for sports lovers. The Costa del Sol is a paradise for water sports, such as paddleboarding, kite surfing and diving, among other activities.

If you’re more into activities on land, just a few miles from Estepona you’ll find Sierra Bermeja, a paradise for hiking, mountain biking and family excursions. It is also in the region of Serranía de Ronda, which boasts a geological composition that is unlike anything else in the world and offers some impressive views of the Mediterranean Andalusian coast.

Quality public transport

In Estepona, you will find two types of public transport: the intercity bus (managed by CTSA-Portillo) and the taxi service provided by Radio-Taxi Estepona. The bus service is limited to suburban routes and does not operate within the urban areas. If you’re interested in visiting Marbella, the number 27 bus operated by CTSA-Portillo connects Estepona and Marbella with a journey that takes 1 hour and 10 minutes. It also makes several stops along the way, if you’d like to visit any other towns.

What are the best neighbourhoods to live in Estepona?

At AQ Acentor we offer a premium quality development called Estepona Gardens. The development is located in one of the most beautiful historical centres in the Costa del Sol and is just a few minutes from the Estepona Promenade.

Some of the other best neighbourhoods to live in Estepona include Hornos, which is most notable for its 18th, 19th and 20th century architecture, the Nueva Milla de Oro de la Costa del Sol, which is home to various luxury developments, and the marina, located between the Rada and Cristo beaches.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in Estepona?

We will now give you some more specific information to help you decide if living in Estepona is the right choice or you.

Below are some of the key advantages of living in Estepona:

• Access to high-quality gastronomy.
• It is home to some of the most reputable bilingual schools in Andalusia.
• It offers several top store brands.
• It is a perfect place for all kinds of sports.
• It offers a very impressive range of cultural activities.
• You can enjoy more than 20 kilometres of coastline.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to living in Estepona, although the advantages are greater in number:

• The price of some properties can be a bit higher as the great quality of life in the area leads to increased demand.
• In summer there are a lot of tourists.
• The employment offer in Estepona can be rather seasonal, as it is dependent on tourism.

Now that you know what it’s like to live in Estepona, you can make an objective decision about what you’re looking for. What is clear is that this city is a great investment option.