Celebrating Valentine’s Day in Marbella

Paris might be known in popular folklore as the “City of Love” but when it comes to romance Marbella is also one of Europe’s favourite destinations for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day. On 14 February every year, southern Spain’s own “City of Love” is the perfect place for a romantic getaway. Or, for those who have found their dream home in the sun with Promas Estates and have already settled on the Costa del Sol, another magical evening under the stars by the Mediterranean.

Sailing and Lunch

Most couples prefer to celebrate Valentine’s in the evening but – if time and work schedules allow it – there is no reason why the revelry can’t start early.

Marbella’s top marinas, including Puerto Banús and Cabopino, offer excellent boat rental services (with or without a skipper), so why not book a late morning sail along the coast, come well-prepared with a gourmet picnic hamper, and pull up anchor for lunch.

Garden for Lovers

For a relaxing afternoon before the evening celebrations, couples can walk hand in hand in one of Marbella’s stunning urban gardens, the appropriately named Parque de los Enamorados. Located in the heart of the city, “Lovers Park” features a fountain showpiece resembling ships’ sails.

Sunset Cocktails and Candlelit Dinners

As the afternoon draws to a close, before dinner there will be plenty of time for couples to enjoy exotic pre-dinner cocktails while admiring Marbella’s renowned sunset – at a bistro bar or restaurant terrace by the sea.

Then move on to one of the city’s many elegant restaurants for a glamorous candlelit dinner.

There are, for example, four Michelin-star restaurants in Marbella: three in the town centre and one, El Lago, in a picturesque lakeside setting in the Elviria residential estate.

Romance in Ronda

Spanish celebrity news and lifestyle magazine ¡Hola! Has just published its top 20 list of romantic destinations in Spain, which includes Ronda – located in the mountains 35 kilometres from Marbella.

“Ronda is the most romantic city in Spain,” declared the magazine. “There is not a single one of its ancient streets, adorned with stately palaces where some of the most notable families of Andalucian aristocracy still live today, nor its street corners or squares, that does not have a legend or a love story to tell. The city is, in reality, two very different cities: the Old City and the New City, joined by the Tajo bridge, where the waters of the river Guadalevín flow downstream.”

Cosy Evening in Sierra Nevada

Tourism guides providing information about the Costa del Sol often note that, during the winter months, you can have a swim at a Mediterranean beach in the morning and ski on the Sierra Nevada slopes in the afternoon – on the same day.

Located just a two-hour drive from Málaga, in neighbouring Granada province, Sierra Nevada is the most southerly ski resort in Europe. That makes it an excellent option for Valentine’s couples seeking something a little different on 14 February: breakfast at a Marbella beach café, chauffeured limousine to Granada, afternoon visit to Granada’s famous Alhambra Islamic palace, and fireside dinner that night at one of Sierra Nevada’s luxury hotels.

Champagne and Caviar

Many couples prefer to celebrate at home, especially if they have just bought a new property from Promas Estates and are like “newlyweds” still excitedly discovering the many pleasures of living in a penthouse apartment or beautifully landscaped villa in Marbella.

First of all you will need the right setting to create an appropriate mood – a candlelit table in the garden or a cosy lounge area on the terrace – and then there is the matter of what to place on the table.

A simple choice, really. From beach clubs to gala dinners, Champagne is an iconic ingredient of Marbella’s luxury lifestyle, and especially so on 14 February. So make sure you have a bottle (or two) of your favourite bubbly and perhaps “marry” it with another culinary favourite of Marbella’s in-crowd, caviar.

In a small village in the Loja mountains, just outside Málaga, the Ríofrio sturgeon farm produces the “first certified organic caviar in the world”, either bought directly (if you have time to plan ahead and visit them) or through their online store.

Luxury Boutique Shopping

Apart from deciding where, and how, to celebrate Valentine’s Day there is also, of course, the equally important matter of gifts.

In Marbella, you will find sophisticated boutiques selling all the world’s top luxury jewellery, fashion and perfume brands, along the marina frontline in Puerto Banús, in the Ricardo Soriano high street and at the La Cañada commercial centre.

For those living or staying east of the town centre or further afield in neighbouring Mijas, there is also the Miramar shopping complex (in Fuengirola) and Plaza Mayor on the outskirts of Málaga.

Fragrant Flowers

And we mustn’t forget the other quintessential symbol of Valentine’s Day. Specialist flower shops throughout Marbella will be filled with the fragrant aroma of roses on 14 February, and the city streets also offer a wide choice of kiosks selling flowers and plants during the day – and into the evening for last-minute purchases.

For those unable to shop in person, Interflora is well-established in Spain and offers convenient home deliveries, including express if this final Valentine’s flourish has been left a little late.

Finally… the ultimate gift for couples visiting Marbella. As you cradle a Champagne flute in your hand and savour another morsel of lobster, there is no better time than now to consider buying a new property so you can enjoy the next Valentine’s Day in your own sumptuous Marbella home. At Promas Estates, we await your call. In the meantime, enjoy a wonderful Valentine’s.