Private Marbella, Puerto Banús and Mijas Tour with Your Own Driver
In five hours this private tour shows three faces of the Costa del Sol: Mijas, a white village above the coast, Marbella's orange-tree squares, with an official guide if you wish, and the yachts of Puerto Banús.
What you'll see
- Walk through Marbella's old town and the Plaza de los Naranjos, official guide optional
- Spot the remains of the Moorish castle walls hidden among houses
- Stroll Avenida del Mar with its bronze sculptures by Salvador Dalí
- Admire the view over Fuengirola from the gardens of La Muralla in Mijas
- Visit the tiny chapel of the Virgen de la Peña carved into the rock
- Browse the marina of Puerto Banús lined with yachts and boutiques
Most visitors know Marbella for its beaches and nightlife, yet behind the seafront lies a compact old town of whitewashed lanes, flowerpots and small squares, built inside the walls of a Moorish fortress. Two hours on foot, ideally with an official guide (optional, arranged on request), turn it from a pretty backdrop into a story: Roman villas, Nasrid walls, Castilian churches and the jet-set years that made the name famous. Guests are often surprised by how quiet it is a few steps from the shops.
Mijas Pueblo adds height and perspective. Perched on the mountainside above Fuengirola, it looks down on the whole bay. Puerto Banús, a few minutes west of Marbella, completes the picture with superyachts, designer boutiques and people-watching. It is a short tour, ideal for a first day on the coast, for families or for cruise passengers. Nobody needs an early alarm, there are no tickets to juggle and the longest drive is under an hour. And with the car and driver at your complete disposal, you can swap Banús for a beach or head back whenever you have had enough.
In pictures
Choose where we pick you up
How the day goes
Mijas Pueblo
The road leaves the coast and climbs a series of bends to Mijas, about 430 metres up. Your driver drops you near the main square and suggests a short circuit: the hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña, carved into the rock by friars, the walled gardens of La Muralla, and the small bullring. Shops sell local ceramics and leather goods.
Marbella old town, with or without a guide
In Marbella, if a guide is part of your plan, they meet you on the edge of the old quarter; otherwise your driver points you in. The walk starts in the Plaza de los Naranjos, laid out once the Christians took the town in 1485, with the town hall, the Casa del Corregidor and the little Ermita de Santiago around it. From there you follow narrow streets up to the church of the Encarnación and the remains of the Alcazaba.
Down to the sea
The walk continues through the Alameda park, with its benches covered in tiles from Seville, to Avenida del Mar. This pedestrian promenade between the town and the beach displays a series of bronze sculptures by Dalí. If you have a guide, the walk finishes with the story of how a fishing and mining town became one of Europe's best known resorts in a single generation.
Puerto Banús
A short drive west brings you to Puerto Banús, built in 1970 and still the place to see and be seen. Walk along the quay past yachts registered all over the world, peer into the boutiques of the front row or sit down for a coffee and watch the parade. The driver waits at the entrance to the port while you explore.
Back along the coast
The return trip follows the coast motorway east, with the sea on one side and the Sierra de Mijas on the other. You are back at your door in the early afternoon, with time for the beach or a long Spanish lunch. If anyone fancies a cold drink at a beach bar on the way, just say so and the driver will pull in.
Optional official guide
An official guide is optional here. On request we book a Junta de Andalucía licensed guide for roughly two hours in Marbella, covering the old town's Moorish origins, the conquest of 1485, churches and noble houses, the Alameda and Avenida del Mar, the iron mines and the jet-set years of the 1950s. We price it separately and confirm it along with your booking, so you know the total before committing; English and Spanish are always possible; for other languages we check availability. Without one, you wander the old town, Mijas and Puerto Banús at your own pace with your driver's tips; Andalusian law keeps guiding inside monuments for licensed guides.
Tickets
There are no tickets to buy in advance for this tour: the old town of Marbella, the streets of Mijas and Puerto Banús are all freely accessible. Small optional visits, such as the bullring in Mijas or a local museum, are paid on the spot if you fancy them. That makes this a good last-minute choice when other tours are sold out.
Included
- The car: a Mercedes saloon or V-Class van, yours alone
- Driver throughout, waiting at each stop
- Fuel, tolls and parking at Mijas, Marbella and Banús
- Booster and baby seats if needed, plus cold water
Not included
- Optional entries such as the Mijas bullring
- Official guide for the Marbella walk (about two hours): optional, priced on request
- Food, drinks and shopping
- Overtime past five hours, at the per-hour price
Good to know
- Mijas has steep streets; trainers or comfortable sandals with a heel strap work best.
- Marbella's old town is mostly shaded, but bring a hat for the Avenida del Mar in summer.
- Pushchairs manage the Alameda and the promenade easily; the upper streets of Mijas have steps.
- The boutiques of Puerto Banús open around mid-morning, so arriving later in the visit works best.
- In August, an early start keeps Mijas pleasant before the day-trippers arrive.
- Churches may ask for covered shoulders if you want to go inside.
Price per vehicle
| Vehicle | Price |
|---|---|
| Mercedes E-Class 1-3 passengers | €330 |
| Mercedes V-Class 4-7 passengers | €430 |
Fixed price for the whole vehicle and the whole day, the same from anywhere between Málaga and Marbella. Includes driver, fuel, tolls, parking and all the waiting time; an official licensed guide can be added on request, quoted separately and confirmed with your booking. Entry tickets not included.
Frequently asked questions
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes, it is one of the easiest days we offer. The drives are short, there is plenty of ice cream in Marbella and the yachts in Banús are a hit with children. Child seats are free if you ask for them.
If we add a guide, can they cover Mijas too?
The optional guide's two hours are planned for Marbella, where there is most to explain. If you prefer to split them with Mijas, tell us when you book and we will see whether it fits the route and quote accordingly.
Is there time for lunch?
The tour is five hours, so lunch is not built in. Many guests eat in Puerto Banús or in the old town and add an hour at the chauffeur rate, or have lunch after returning home.
What should we wear?
Light clothing and comfortable shoes. Puerto Banús has no dress code by day, but some guests like to dress up a little for the stroll along the quay.
Can we add a beach stop?
Of course. Since the tour is private, you can trade time in Banús for a swim at one of Marbella's beaches, or extend the day at the hourly rate.
Other private tours
Granada & the Alhambra
Spend a whole day in Granada from the Costa del Sol: a Mercedes and driver kept for your group alone, about three hours in the Alhambra, an official guide should you want one, then lunch and the lanes of the Albaicín before the drive home.
Ronda
A full day in Ronda at your own pace: door to door in a Mercedes with a driver who waits all day, the Puente Nuevo and the old Moorish town on your own or with an optional official guide, then lunch and the cliff-top viewpoints.
Ronda wineries & tapas
Two winery visits in the hills around Ronda, a long tapas lunch in town and a chauffeur who does all the driving, so everyone in the group can taste.
Plan your private tour
No prepayment. You pay on the day, by card or cash. Free cancellation up to 48 h before.