The lay of the land
Puerto Banús opened in 1970 as a private marina development by José Banús and quickly became the address that drew everyone from Saudi royalty to Hollywood. The marina itself is the town — a horseshoe of low-rise white buildings around 900-plus berths capable of taking yachts above 50m.
Residentially, it splits into beachfront apartments (the original Banús buildings facing Levante beach), front-line marina penthouses, and the gated estates climbing inland into Nueva Andalucía. The vibe is unapologetically high-end: Louis Vuitton, Dior and Versace flagships line the marina, and the surrounding restaurants and clubs draw a steady international circuit.
Key neighbourhoods
What buyers are doing
The most expensive square metre on the Costa del Sol per Idealista's data — €6,700+/m² average and front-line marina penthouses regularly trade at €15–25k/m². Demand is global; 70%+ of buyers are non-resident and holding periods are long, which means turnover is thin and well-located stock moves quickly.
New supply is essentially zero — the marina is built out and the surrounding urbanisations are fully developed. Investors come for capital preservation more than yield; rental returns are 3–4% gross on apartments, higher on short-let beachfront one-bed units.
Top attractions
Beaches
Where to dine
Schools + healthcare
Safety + practicalities
Marina nightlife brings late-night crowds — pickpocketing and scooter-snatch are the realistic risks. Daytime is benign. Expensive watches and bags attract attention; leave the obvious at home or in the safe.