Estepona City Guide
Image by Yana Lohokha via unsplash

Spain

Estepona City Guide

Andalusia

Estepona is a coastal town in Andalusia with a traditional Andalusian feel. It has over 21 km of beaches and is backed by the Sierra Bermeja mountains. The town is known for its flowers and relaxed lifestyle, attracting tourists and expats.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

A variety of seafood and Spanish, Mediterranean, Italian, and French food. Some vegan and vegetarian options are available. Late-night dining mostly in summer and marina area.

Local Dishes:
Grilled sardines, Gazpacho, Paella
International Cuisine:
Italian, French, Mediterranean
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
6

Nightlife is modest with mainly bars and restaurants around the seafront and marina, no major clubs.

Coffee Culture
Good
7

Strong café culture with many coffee shops and specialties around town.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is polite but not required. Around 5-10% in restaurants, rounding up taxi fare common.

Top Attractions
Estepona Old Town
historic
White-washed houses with flowers and narrow streets.
Plaza de las Flores
culture
Central square with flowers and cafés.
Orchidarium
nature
Large orchid garden near the marina.
Estepona Marina
leisure
Harbour area with restaurants and shops.
San Luis Castle ruins
historic
Historical castle remains in the town.
Bullring Museums
culture
Several museums inside the bullring building.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are sold in phone shops. Vodafone, Orange, and Movistar are major providers with eSIMs available. ID required for registration.

Available at:
Vodafone Store
Orange Shop
Movistar Store
Recommended Apps
Google Maps(navigation)
Cabify/Free Now(transport)
Glovo/Uber Eats(food)
WhatsApp(communication)
Renfe(transport)
DeepL Translate(language)
AllTrails(outdoors)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
9

Estepona is clean and well-maintained with a pretty town center.

24/7 Services
Limited
5

Some late-night pharmacies and minimarts, but limited 24/7 services overall.

Groceries
Mercadona
Carrefour
Lidl

Supermarkets offer international products, especially for expats. Daily fresh markets operate near the castle and Plaza del Reloj, plus a Wednesday open-air market on Avenida Juan Carlos.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Cards are widely accepted in most places, including shops and restaurants.

ATMs

ATMs are common and mostly found near banks. Use bank-connected ATMs during business hours to avoid scams.

Schools
International

Both local and international schools are available. Colegio San José is a well-regarded bilingual option.

Available Schools:
Colegio San José
International School Estepona

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
8
Available Spaces:
Savage Coworking
Beachfront location with fast WiFi and dog-friendly policies.
Estepona Avda Andalucia Coworking
Private offices and coworking with 5G WiFi.
Turnkey del Sol
Modern office with flexible passes and meeting rooms.
Tu Espacio
Coworking and offices open 8 AM to 9 PM.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
ViceVersa
Cafe with WiFi in the port area.
Umami22
Work-friendly cafe by the marina.
Tolone
Old town cafe with WiFi and seating.
Love by Noya
Offers vegan options and WiFi.
MOM
Old town spot good for working.
Etcetera Cafe Bar
Casual cafe with WiFi.
Sabores
Friendly cafe with work space.
Café de Theresa
Popular coffee and light meals.
Ikigai
Trendy spot for coffee and work.
La Italiana
Known for good coffee and ambience.
Alternatives:
Public Libraries
Quiet with WiFi for focused work.
Hotel Lobbies
Comfortable seating and internet access.
Community Centers
Spaces with WiFi and seating.
Digital Nomad Community
Good
7

Growing expat and nomad community mainly from Europe and North America, with social events and coworking spots.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

Many parks and gardens with green, landscaped spaces and the nearby protected Sierra Bermeja.

Running
Excellent
8

Paseo Marítimo along the coast is a popular and safe running route.

Gyms
Available

Multiple gyms available, including coworking spaces that offer fitness options.

Available Gyms:
Savage Coworking (with sports activities)
Fitness Estepona Gym
Gimnasio Coral Beach
Tennis
Good
7

Tennis and padel courts at local sports clubs and residential areas.

Padel
Good
7

Padel courts widely available, popular in local clubs.

Yoga
Good
7

Several yoga studios and wellness centers serve locals and expats.

Martial Arts
Limited
5

No specific info on martial arts facilities; larger nearby towns usually offer various options.

Skiing
Poor
2

Nearest ski resorts are several hours away near Granada.

Water Sports
Good
7

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing available at the marina.

Surfing
Poor
2

Limited surfing due to small Mediterranean waves; better surf spots farther away.

Diving
Limited
5

Some diving and snorkeling along the coast; better sites further east or on Atlantic coast.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Good healthcare with health centers and private hospitals. Some staff speak English. Pharmacies have a green cross sign and stock common medicines.

Hospitals:
Costa del Sol Hospital
Quiron Marbella
Pharmacies:
Farmacia Estepona Centro
Farmacia Plaza de las Flores
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is generally safe to drink in Estepona.

Common Scams
Pickpocketing in tourist areas, Distraction scams like 'something on your shirt', Street game scams, Fake donations and police, ATM skimming, Inflated bills in some restaurants

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
9

Many playgrounds and parks, plus an indoor LEGO play area and picnic spots, make it good for families.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
9

LGBTQ+ friendly with legal protections and a welcoming attitude.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet friendly with dog-friendly coworking, parks, and vet services.

Communities
Savage Coworking (coworking)
Estepona Expats Facebook Group (social)
Digital Nomads Costa del Sol (social)

Quick Facts

Population
65,592
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Power supply is generally reliable with few outages.

Beach Access
Available

Over 21 km of beaches, including quiet spots, mostly sandy and clean.

Mountains
Available

Close to Sierra Bermeja and Los Reales mountains, easy access to trails.

Languages
Spanish(100%)
English(70%)
Emergency
112
General Emergency

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
2
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
3

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
July, August
Summers can be very hot, so plan accordingly.

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