The 20 Best Luxury Hotels in Marbella

In Marbella, the pool is often only a few steps from the sand, and many hotels have more than one.Nobu Hotel Marbella · Golden MileWarm all year: at the Marbella Club Hotel, all three resort pools, including the one at the beach club, are heated to 27 to 29 °C year-round. Guests aged 16 and over have a pool of their own at Finca Ana María, and every villa at the resort comes with a private pool.

Adults only: the Nobu Pool on a raised terrace is reserved for adult guests of the Nobu Hotel Marbella, with views of La Concha and DJs from midday. ME Marbella has an adults-only pool next to the Oasis area, and the Gran Marbella Resort keeps its family pool, adults’ pool and children’s pool apart.

Above the rooftops: if you are looking for a 5-star hotel in Marbella with a pool on the roof, book El Fuerte Marbella: next to the restaurant Edge, a rooftop pool recommended for adults looks out over the old town, the Sierra Blanca and the sea; the hotel’s pools open seasonally. On the roof of the Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella, the infinity pool belongs to Escondido Rooftop, with Mexican food and cocktails at sunset.

For families: at Puente Romano Marbella, La Casita, the Kids Club, has a heated pool of its own, and the COYA Pool lies at the heart of the resort. Next to its Kids Club, the Don Carlos Marbella adds La Burbuja, a children’s pool with a play structure.

Two of the best-known spas in town sit right by the sea. At the Marbella Club Hotel, the Thalasso Spa combines a seawater pool with yoga, Pilates and meditation, along with nutrition advice and a wellness chef. A few minutes away, Puente Romano Marbella and the Nobu Hotel Marbella share the Six Senses Spa: nine treatment rooms, three of them with sea views, plus a hydrotherapy pool, a cold plunge pool, a hammam and visiting practitioners of Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.Puente Romano Marbella · El VicarioNew and all about water: at the Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella, the Maison CODAGE Spa was created with CODAGE Paris and has a hydrothermal saltwater pool, a hammam, sensory showers and an ice fountain, for guests aged 16 and over. The Gran Marbella Resort has a Champneys Spa with a thermal area that includes a sauna, a steam room and an indoor pool, plus a yoga studio and ELEMIS treatments; it is best to book your appointments ahead.

Big or perfectly quiet: at the Don Carlos Marbella, the spa covers 1,600 m², with ten treatment rooms, a water circuit and a private spa suite, and every guest gets free entry once per stay. If you prefer your 5-star hotel in Marbella small and calm, the Boho Club Hotel Marbella has The Sanctuary, with an infrared sauna, a cold plunge pool, a yoga pavilion and a meditation garden.

In the hills: in the Golf Valley, the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Marbella has a spa built around more than 2,000 m² of Roman baths, with a sea-salt hammam and a floatarium. A short way off, also in the Golf Valley, the Heavenly Spa by Westin at The Westin La Quinta brings Moorish architecture, a hydrotherapy pool and a thermal area together across 1,500 m².

Hotel rates start at 187 € at the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Marbella and go up to 519 € at Puente Romano Marbella; half of the twelve hotels cost no more than 286 € a night. The eight villas are rented as a whole, from 4,700 € for Villa Tuscany Marbella to 21,000 € for Villa Celestial Marbella, always for at least seven nights. The hotel list below shows what each property costs for your travel dates.

Included at every hotel: daily breakfast for two and an upgrade on arrival, subject to availability, though not with every rate at ME Marbella. The benefits start from the first night, and from two nights at the Nobu Hotel Marbella.

Hotel credit: eight of the twelve luxury hotels in Marbella add 100 US dollars. At the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Marbella and the Gran Marbella Resort it is for food and drinks, at the Nobu Hotel Marbella it also covers the spa, and at ME Marbella it applies from three nights.Villa Tuscany Marbella · Nueva AndalucíaIn the villas, a concierge credit of 500 € per stay is included, along with a property manager who can provide extra staff on request and, if you like, a private chef; the chef’s services, food and drinks are charged separately.

Points and status: the Leaders Club applies at three hotels, I Prefer at three as well, Melia Rewards at ME Marbella and Marriott Bonvoy at The Westin La Quinta; the villas belong to Fans of Mandarin Oriental. At the Marbella Club Hotel and Puente Romano Marbella, your Leaders Club points count as long as you give your membership number when you book.

The best time to go: Marbella works all year round. At the Marbella Club Hotel, the beach club and Kids Club never close and the pools are heated; from spring to fall, seasonal beach clubs such as Amù at the Gran Marbella Resort join in. Booking early pays off for the summer vacation in July and August.

How long to stay: plan four to five nights at your 5-star hotel in Marbella – that leaves time for the old town, a night out in Puerto Banús, beach days on the Golden Mile and an excursion into the hills.