Discover the exclusive Golden Mile of Marbella

Area Guide to the Golden Mile - Verdin Property

The Golden Mile, the most luxurious and privileged residential area in Marbella, surrounded by beautiful lush greenery stretches along the 5km splendid maritime promenade from the entrance of Puerto Banus to the Piruli, the emblem of the city of Marbella, covered with copper plates.

This area is home to the most desirable, intimate villas, some with direct access to the beach whose residents are mainly accomplished politicians and successful businessmen who have owned their homes for generations. Around these magnificent mansions, iconic and sought after resorts such as the Marbella Club Hotel and the Puente Romano resort contribute to the entertainment of the beachside, being the pinnacle of luxury living.

Marbella’s Golden Mile starts at the western edge of Marbella city at Plaza Bocanegra and extends for some five kilometers as far as the Rio Verde, which is just before Puerto Banus. Before the Marbella by-pass was constructed in 1994, the Golden Mile was the main N-340 coast road. It is totally straight in this location giving a clue to its origins as a Roman road and confirmed by the Puente Romano.

Some of the Marbella’s early luxury developments were established in this area, such as the Marbella Club Hotel (1954) and Puente Romano district including the world famous Puente Romano Hotel.

Golden Mile – History & Origin of the Name

In 1954 Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe decided to build the iconic Marbella Club Hotel which quickly became a prestigious location where affluent people started to stay and enjoy its amenities. As a result, many of them decided to build properties around this exclusive place, gradually turning the area into the Golden Mile. Before the whole development of the area, the Golden Mile was the main N-340 coast road whose origins date back to Roman times and where vestiges are still to be seen in Puente Romano.

Like all unofficial geographic terms, the limits of the Golden Mile are not well defined. Some real estate agents include properties a good distance away. The term “Golden Mile” was actually coined in the early 1980s by Roy Boston, the German singer (he had hits with España Olé and La Parranda in 1973) turned property developer, who died in the late 1980s. Unusually for a foreigner in Spain, a road bears his name – near his development Alhambra del Mar.

Golden Mile – Lifestyle

The Golden Mile is considered as the most privileged area of Marbella and is surrounded by beautiful, lively resorts where sophisticated tourists and locals stop for a few hours to enjoy all the amenities they have to offer. A stunning spot that cannot be missed is the legendary Puente Romano resort, on the beachside, full of fancy stylish restaurants and bars such as Sea Grill, Nobu, Leña, La Plaza and Bibo, where tasting the famous and Michelin-starred cuisine of the chef Dani Garcia is a must.

Golden Mile – Amenities & Celebrity Status

Some of the prominent international designer labels run shops and luxury retail outlets in this neighborhood, making it one of the greatest shopping areas in the city and also possibly the entire coast. Not to mention the fanciest nightclubs and bars, many of which are open from dusk until dawn and seek to offer quality by finding a point of difference. These include the entertaining Mamzel, the swanky Olivia Valere and the exclusive Supper Club within the Puente Romano resort.

The area has also been a magnet for film stars and A-listers, being the epicenter of glamour in the most desirable destination of Europe since the 1950s. Hugh Grant, Eva Longoria, Jason Statham and also Michelle Obama are among the celebrities who have fallen in love with it.

Next up, let’s take a look at the various areas and communities that form part of the Golden Mile.


Golden Mile Beachside Areas – all the land between the Golden Mile (N-340) and the beach.

Area Guide Golden Mile Beachside - Verdin Property
The beachside areas of the Golden Mile are home to some of the most exclusive real estate in Marbella

Rio Verde
This district comprises mainly established villas and includes the site of the Rio Verde Roman villa. There are plenty of bougainvillea climbing over Rio Verde’s high boundary walls and large white villas on the front line. It is bounded by the river of the same name.

El Ancon
El Ancon is the beachside district between Rio Verde and Puente Romano. The area bears the name of the beach and the old watchtower, Torre Ancon, hidden in the woods near Victor beach bar. This is an extremely exclusive district. The seafront promenade also runs the full length of the district.

Puente Romano
The Puente Romano district comprises four residential complexes built between 1967 and 2003, located on the southern side of the Golden Mile and running down to the seafront promenade.

Los Verdiales
Los Verdiales is an established urbanization on the seafront east of Puente Romano. It consists of five blocks of apartments and also several exclusive villas.

Las Torres
Las Torres del Marbella Club is reached via a narrow lane running down to the beach, giving access to 10 exclusive villas.

Marbella Club Hotel
With its imposing arch, Marbella Club was the first hotel to be opened in the (then) tiny fishing hamlet of Marbella, back in 1954, by German Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who invested in land in the Marbella area.

Santa Margarita
This was the name given to the farming estate that was originally purchased to create the iconic Marbella Club. The gardens with their pool and Romanesque artifacts have won several awards.

Las Cañas
Urbanizacion Las Cañas Beach is a narrow strip of land running down to the beach and comprising two rows of townhouses with interior gardens and swimming pools.

Marbella Mar
Marbella del Mar is the district at the eastern end of the Golden Mile around the Marbella exhibition centre. It includes the Urbanizacion Casablanca, Alhambra del Mar and also Marina Mariola.


Golden Mile Central Areas – the area adjacent and above the Golden Mile and below the A-7 coast motorway.

Area Guide Golden Mile central areas - Verdin Property
Las Lomas del Marbella Club is a sought after area of the Golden Mile

Plaza Bocanegra
The copper-clad tower in the centre is known as El Piruli and it was designed by architect Barrios Cepedano, commissioned in the mid-1990s by mayor Jesus Gil.

El Capricho
Fronting onto the Golden Mile is the El Capricho shopping centre, which was built in the 1980s. The residential estate is behind here and consists of relatively small villas.

La Virginia
At the top of Avenida Don Jaime de Mora, before reaching the motorway, slightly hidden away you find one of Marbella’s earliest and also at one time most famous residential estate called La Virginia.

La Caridad
La Caridad is a quiet residential district that fronts onto the Golden Mile. The Avenida de Conde Rudi (named after Rudolf Graf von Schönburg, popularly known as Count Rudi), is a residential street that is the artery of this district.

La Carolina
The La Carolina development dates back to the 1960s, and is familiar to most as the shopping rows that sit on the northern side of the Golden Mile.

Cortijo de Nagueles
An area of gated communities, stunning villas with imposing driveways, this development was founded in the 1970s by the famous Seville businessman and bullfighter, Manuel Gonzalez Cabello. There is still development under way in this large often overlooked district including apartments and townhouses.

Las Lomas del Marbella Club
This estate is located opposite the Puente Romano Hotel, on the northern side of the Golden Mile near the Marbella mosque. Construction began in 1973 and includes identical complexes inside including Lomas del Marbella Club Pueblo.

El Ancon Sierra & Ancon Alto
El Ancon Sierra and El Ancon Alto were developed in the mid ’80s by John David Green, the artist and property developer from London, and also the brother of art gallery owner Richard Green.

Monte Paraiso
Monte Paraiso is a fully-gated estate on the Golden Mile opposite the Puente Romano Hotel and above the mosque. Constructed in 1997 there are 93 apartments spread out in 16 low-rise residential blocks.

La Trinidad
La Trinidad is a fully-gated complex constructed in 2004. It consists of eight blocks in a semi-circle totaling 116 apartments in landscaped gardens and a pine tree forest.

Altos de Puente Romano
Altos de Puente Romano is one of the most in-demand areas of the Golden Mile, home to detached villas, townhouses and apartments alike, such as Collection Marbella, Lomas del Rey and Arco Iris to name a few.


Golden Mile Mountainside Areas – the area in line with the Golden Mile and above the A-7 coast motorway.

Area Guide Golden Mile mountainside - Verdin Property
Sierra Blanca is one of the most exclusive areas of the Golden Mile

Nagueles
This is the longest established district and is located adjoining and above the A-7 highway and below the Avenida Buchinger. Its full name is Rocio de Nagueles and lies to the east of Arroyo de las Piedras.

Sierra Blanca
Sierra Blanca comprises the main urbanization which has streets named after famous composers and is home to exclusive luxury villas and also a few apartment complexes. Also in the area you find Sierra Blanca del Mar, Reserva de Sierra Blanca and Los Picos de Sierra Blanca, developments of townhouses, apartments and villas.

Cascada de Camojan
Cascada de Camojan or Camojan for short is a large gated community that is one of the most exclusive and expensive in Marbella with properties regularly selling for upwards of 10 million euros.

Marbella Hill Club
Marbella Hill Club includes 50 single family plots, apartments including the terrace apartment complex of Jardines Colgantes (Hanging Gardens) and townhouses.


So there we are, a comprehensive guide to the Golden Mile of Marbella. As one of the most exclusive areas of Spain, not just Marbella and the Costa Del Sol, and known as Europe’s answer to Beverly Hills, real estate in this area is highly priced due to demand outstripping supply. However, you can check out the selection of properties we have on the Golden Mile by clicking this link!


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