Estepona: White Pearl on the Costa del Sol

Estepona: photos of one of the most beautiful Andalusian towns—perhaps even in all of Spain. It is also known as the “White Pearl” of the Costa del Sol. It has a magnificent coastline, an historic old white village of narrow streets, full of color, plants, cacti and flowers. Estepona has a long seafront, beautiful, clean beaches and many street art murals on apartment buildings.

A municipal worker is watering the plants in Calle San Miguel. With the warm summer weather, all those plants and flowers in the old town center need plenty of water.

Estepona is a former fishing village 80 kilometers from the city of Málaga that is now a very popular tourist destination. It features a beautiful coastal promenade (the Paseo Marítimo), a marina, hotel apartments, and many restaurants and bars. An authentic Andalusian atmosphere still prevails in the old town, with its typical Andalusian streets, whitewashed houses, and colourful flower pots.

La Rada Beach in Estepona, with Gibraltar on the horizon.

On clear days, the British Gibraltar can be seen in the background (see picture above). It is nicknamed “The Rock” – referencing its iconic 426-meter-high limestone monolith.

Seafront promenade, next to the beach with beautiful plants, modern blue and white parasols and a giant chess game.

Ducks by a pond on Avenida Litoral in Estepona.

Rooftops and terraces in the old town of Estepona.

In this gallery:
The Paseo Máritimo promenade and La Rada beach · Estepona old town flower streets · Calle Terraza and the Orchidarium · Traditional Jábega fishing boats

Estepona’s Paseo Marítimo promenade and La Rada beach

The beautiful and clean La Rada beach of Estepona.

Africa Beach, a chiringuito on Playa de la Rada in Estepona.

Chiringuitos are informal beach bars or restaurants, typical of the Spanish coast, where visitors can enjoy food and drinks close to the sea.

Lifeguard station on Estepona’s La Rada Beach.

Below you can see pictures of the Paseo Marítimo of Estepona, a lovely promenade for a walk. The seafront promenade stretches for nearly 3 kilometres along the Mediterranean and connects La Rada Beach with Estepona Port. Often referred to as the “jewel of Estepona”, the promenade is known for its sea views, cycling paths, playgrounds along the beach.

The Paseo Marítimo promenade during summer.

An apartment complex with distinctive yellow turrets on Avenida de España. It is located directly behind one of the city’s well-known fountains, which are part of the “Fuentes de Estepona” project.

NASA gorilla at the entrance to the Foot on Mars sneaker store on Calle Arroyuelo.

Much of the seafront promenade is lined with a mix of cacti, tropical palms, exotic succulents, and flowering Mediterranean plants. It is sometimes known as the “Garden of the Costa del Sol”.

One of the Paseo Marítimo’s most distinctive features is the series of white and blue parasols with circular patterns, creating shaded rest areas while allowing fresh sea breezes to pass through.

The Paseo Marítimo promenade at night with its modern blue and white parasols.

The Paseo Marítimo at night with beautiful plants and palm trees

Estepona’s old town: whitewashed houses and colourful flowerpots

The old town (casco antiguo) of Estepona is considered one of the best-preserved historic centres on the Costa del Sol. Its narrow pedestrian streets feature typical Andalusian whitewashed houses, colourful flower pots and charming squares. Take a look at the photos below to explore this unique area of Estepona and its white streets.

Street in Estepona’s old town with its whitewashed houses, and colourful flower pots, plants and palm trees.

Calle Real, with people gathering around the mermaid sculpture.

A touch of Gaudí style in Estepona: the beautiful mosaic bench under a green jacaranda tree at Plaza ABC.

Street in Estepona’s old town (casco antiguo) with its whitewashed houses, and colourful flower pots.

The beautiful Church of Los Remedios on Plaza de San Francisco, right in the heart of Estepona’s old town.

The Church of Los Remedios on Plaza de San Francisco.

Statue paying tribute to the “costalero”, who helps carry a heavy processional float (“paso”) during religious processions.

Street in Estepona’s old town with its whitewashed houses, and colourful flower pots.

Estepona is often called the “Garden of the Costa del Sol” because of its many flowers, plants and cacti. Murals and other examples of urban art can also be found in parts of the old town. Together, they create an interesting contrast between traditional Andalusian architecture and contemporary art.

The Church of Los Remedios.

Strolling through Estepona’s old town is a very relaxing experience, thanks to the tranquil atmosphere created by the whitewashed houses—a setting that contrasts beautifully with the abundance of plants and flowers. Given its proximity to the sea, a gentle breeze often blows, offering a refreshing sensation when combined with the shade provided by the traditional Andalusian houses.

Street in Estepona’s old town.

City garden in Estepona’s old town.

Street in Estepona’s old town.

Plaza de Juan Bazán, next to Calle San Miguel.

Above and below, you can see Plaza de Juan Bazán, next to Calle San Miguel. It is a charming, lushly planted square in Estepona’s old town. Benches line every side, allowing you to enjoy the shade at any time of day. Because I was using a 50mm lens, I couldn’t capture the entire square in a single shot. I therefore split it into two photos; this also allows the beautiful details to stand out more effectively.

Plaza de Juan Bazán, next to Calle San Miguel

The Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower) in the Plaza del Reloj.

In the 16th century, it served as the tower for the very first, original Iglesia de los Remedios. During the devastating Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the old church collapsed completely, with the exception of the clock tower. An impressive clock mechanism was installed in the early 20th century. The sound of the bells still sets the rhythm of time in the streets of the old town.

Calle San Antonio in Estepona’s old town (casco antiguo).

Below, you can see the entrance to the historic Estepona municipal cemetery. The old “Enalta” Municipal Cemetery is located at 1 Avenida de Andalucía.

The entrance to the historic Estepona municipal cemetery. The “Enalta” cemetery is located at 1 Avenida de Andalucía.

Pedestrian shopping street Calle Terraza and the Orchidarium

Calle Terraza (pictured below) is one of the most important and lively shopping and pedestrian streets in Estepona’s historic center. This street, which is approximately 600 meters long, has recently undergone a complete renovation and been made entirely car-free.

Calle Terraza, a commercial street in Estepona with plenty of greenery.

The Orchidarium of Estepona on Calle Terraza.

Opened in 2015, the Orchidarium is organised on two levels separated by a bamboo garden and includes a lake, a waterfall of more than 15 metres and three glass domes, the highest reaching around 30 metres. Inside, visitors can discover more than 5,000 plants and over 1,300 species of orchids from around the world, mainly recreating the warm habitats of South America and Southeast Asia, together with large vertical gardens.

A former fishing village and the traditional Jábegas

Below you see traditional fishing boats on the beach of Estepona. Before tourism transformed the town, Estepona was largely a working-class fishing village, and these brightly painted boats honour the generations of families who built their lives around the sea.

Traditional “jábega” fishing boat on the beach in Estepona.

Traditional jábegas —recognizable by their long, narrow wooden hulls, pointed bows, and raised sterns—were historically used for net fishing close to the shore. These antique boats remain an important symbol of the maritime heritage of Málaga and Estepona.

Traditional “jábega” fishing boats on the beach in Estepona.

The sculpture “Farmer and Fisherman” (“Labrador y Pescador”), a work by Marino Amaya (1969), on the Estepona seafront promenade. The sculpture pays tribute to the men of the land and the sea. It has become one of the city’s emblems.