Marbella

Sheltered by the Sierra Blanca, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, Marbella lies between the city of Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar on the Costa del Sol. Present-day Marbella is a holiday haven for affluent Europeans as well as celebrities such as Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas, Sean Connery and Joan Collins. What was once a fishing village is now the most luxurious of the Andalusian resorts of Costa del Sol. From family-friendly theme parks and a gorgeous stretch of sand to an old town riddled with white-washed homes and Moorish architecture, Marbella is mesmerizing. There's also a dazzling string of nightclubs, restaurants and bars along the coast from Marbella to Puerto Banús, as well as a few museums, parks and archeological sites. Spacious golf courses, horse racing tracks, and the upscale hotels make Marbella well-worthy of its fame.