Nueva Andalucía: the area behind Puerto Banús
Anyone exploring Marbella for the first time will quickly come across a host of names: Nueva Andalucía, the Golden Mile, Benahavís, Elviria, Estepona, Sotogrande. Every region on the Costa del Sol has its own character, its own atmosphere, and its own crowd. During an initial consultation, we often get asked the same question: which region is the best fit for me? The answer varies from client to client, and we’re happy to guide you through that process.
The story begins in Puerto Banús
When José Banús planned his marina in the 1960s, he included the surrounding area in his design: wide avenues, green spaces, a golf course, homes, and everyday amenities—all part of the same master plan. Puerto Banús opened in 1970, and the neighborhood behind it continued to grow according to that plan.
You can still see that today. Anyone driving through Nueva Andalucía doesn’t see a neighborhood that has sprung up piecemeal, but rather a cohesive whole: wide avenues, green spaces between the residential developments, and golf courses that flow into one another. That choice made back then still determines how people live there today.
A Unique and Strategic Region
Nueva Andalucía is ideally located. Puerto Banús, the beaches, Marbella, and San Pedro Alcántara are all nearby, and Golf Valley begins just around the corner, featuring courses such as Las Brisas, Aloha, and Los Naranjos.
At the same time, it feels quieter than the harbor area. International schools are in the immediate vicinity, as are padel clubs and neighborhood restaurants, and on Saturdays the neighborhood comes alive for the farmers’ market, which now attracts visitors and residents alike. Few areas in Marbella boast so many dining options within such a short distance of one another. So you don’t have to go far for daily life, and you can get away quickly if you want to.
“For me, Nueva Andalucía is the best place to start. Everyone knows Puerto Banús: the marina, the promenade, the waterfront terraces. Nueva Andalucía is what lies just beyond that, a few minutes inland, with Golf Valley at its heart. The neighborhood has been here for over half a century and exudes an authentic charm. You can still see that today in the way people live there.”
Annelies Verhaeghe
From young families to investors
Nueva Andalucía attracts a wide range of people for various reasons. Young families choose it for its schools and safe living environment. Golf enthusiasts simply know the area as Golf Valley. Second-home owners particularly appreciate its central location. Investors, on the other hand, recognize that both vacation rentals and long-term rentals have remained active here for years—not because there are guarantees, but because the region attracts an exceptionally broad international audience.
Four very different profiles, the same neighborhood. This is no coincidence, but the result of that original plan: when you design schools, sports facilities, shops, and homes together, you create an environment where many different lifestyles can coexist. If you’d like to see what that looks like in practice, take a look at our listings in Marbella.
Would you like to see what this actually looks like? Check out our listings in Marbella here.
