Marbella – a fantastic sports destination

Most come here to relax, but whether as a form of active relaxation, for fitness or professional training purposes, the Costa del Sol is actually one of the best sports destinations in Europe. The fantastic weather draws sports enthusiasts in great numbers and this has led to the creation of an infrastructure that ranks among the best – so whether you’re interested in golf, tennis, padel tennis, squash, water sports, hiking, jogging, rollerblading, mountaineering, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, caving, extreme sports and many others, this region is the place for it.

It’s also the place for outdoor fitness on the beach or grass, yoga al fresco with fantastic nature views, swimming in the sea throughout much of the year and fantastic exploration in open country. Andalucía, with its beautiful and often iconic landscapes, is also popular among aficionados of classic car rallies, and of course you’d be hard-put to find a better range of first-class golf courses, racquet clubs and marinas internationally. The beach areas – and in particular the coastal pathways and boardwalks – are also popular with those practising yoga, jogging, strolling or working out on or near the sand, while the many marinas form hubs for scuba diving, sailing, jetski and parasailing.

In addition, the inland lakes and reservoirs are little-known but favoured by sports fishermen and birdwatchers, who come here to relax and marvel at the natural bounty of this region. Quite different is the vibe at the Costa del Sol’s several karting centres, the highly select private racing circuit near Ronda and the high-flying skydiving schools and hot air balloon rides. It’s an area that offers it all – including La Liga football at first division club Málaga FC and top-level basketball at Unicaja – but perhaps the most popular sports of all in Marbella are golf, tennis and padel.

The latter are facilitated by an excellent range of clubs, from Marbella’s prestigious Puente Romano tennis club – which recently hosted the first round Davis Cup tie between Spain and Great Britain – to the Manolo Santana racquet club, famous for tennis and padel, and the many internationally renowned golf clubs, such as: Aloha, Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, Rio Real or Guadalmina to name but a few. With all the first class facilities and quite possibly the best climate in Europe, it’s not surprising that amateurs and professionals such as Novak Djokovic and many of golf and football’s top names make this the ‘Costa del Sport’.

If you are looking for a golfside house, with tennis court, or close to sports facilities, please contact the experts at Diana Morales Properties | Knight Frank.

Pia Arrieta, 22 Mar 2018 - Lifestyle