The Best Hotels to Book in Estepona, Costa del Sol

Relaxation is the buzzword at this luxurious five-star spa retreat, where the wellness amenities include a Turkish bath, a Finnish sauna, a Himalayan pink salt room and an ice cave. There’s also a restaurant devoted entirely to healthy eating – fresh scallops and fruit salads are among the nutritious, delicious offerings. The spacious rooms – some have four-poster beds – ensure a good night’s sleep and have private furnished balconies or terraces overlooking the sea or the hotel gardens.

Combining the sun-washed Mediterranean glamour of Marbella with the natural beauty of the Andalusian coastline, this glitzy resort sits within more than 8ha (21 acres) of gorgeous landscaped gardens. Rooms have a beachy feel that reflects the scene outside, with a neutral colour scheme and sea or pool views through floor-to-ceiling windows. The Ikos Spa has a similar aesthetic and offers a wide range of scrubs, massages and facial treatments.

Kempinski Hotels is renowned for its exquisite luxury – and this property holds the flag amply. Rooms have a classic look, with polished floors, wood-panelled walls and gorgeous marble bathrooms, and the luxurious spa has a similarly timeless look and feel. Among the several restaurants and bars is the popular Baltazár Bar and Grill, where the signature dish is succulent grilled octopus.

A gleaming white steel-and-glass construction, the Senator Banús Spa Hotel has a stately feel reflected in the mid-century modern guest rooms, which feature furnished balconies overlooking the Mediterranean Sea or gardens; some even have jacuzzis. The spa includes a hypersaline pool – great for the skin – and a hammam alongside high-tech features that include a bioclimatic thermal cabin and a thermal flotation bed. In the evening, enjoy a cocktail and some live music at the piano bar.

The exotic landscaped gardens of the Elba Estepona Gran Hotel enclose a varied collection of buildings that combine to form a characterful and luxurious property. Rooms have a lovely traditional feel – decked out in rich teak and overlooking the gardens or the sea from the balconies. Golfers will take particular interest in the fact that no fewer than 35 courses are near the resort.

While it’s within easy reach of the bustling resort town of Estepona, this lovely resort feels like it’s in a world of its own – thanks to its setting in palm-lined gardens. The Arroyo Vaquero beach is right on your doorstep here, overlooked by some of the rooms, which feature lovely polished marble floors and a contemporary design. Other rooms have views of the Sierra Bermeja. Don’t miss La Abacería – the buzzing on-site sports bar where snacks include exquisite Andalusian charcuterie.

This adults-only retreat is one of the finest places in Andalucia to come for thalassotherapy, which harnesses the healing power of seawater. To that end, the spa includes a hammam, a sauna and seawater baths, as well as 35 treatment cabins. Rooms ramp up the relaxation further – with each one featuring a large terrace – and the premium suite boasts its very own spa equipment in the form of a hydromassage tub.

Rooms at this popular resort are bright and breezy – with a marine blue-and-white colour palette and stripy fabric headboards that mirror the patterned sun loungers on the nearby beaches. One beach lies right beside the hotel, while an outdoor pool area – shaded by palms – is an alternative place to sunbathe and take a dip. Among the several bars and restaurants is Thalassa, specialising in ocean-fresh seafood, such as white anchovies, a local speciality.

The longest beach in Estepona is the setting for this all-inclusive resort, which has everything you need for a classic Costa del Sol stay within one complex. Your room is a breezy, fan-cooled space decorated with the blue azulejo ceramic tiles characteristic of the Iberian Peninsula, while some feature plunge pools shared with another suite. There’s also a huge spa complex with no fewer than eight water areas for you to enjoy.

A sky blue-painted dome crests the lobby of this palatial hotel, which sits in a vast villa-style building near the beach and the historic core of Estepona. The four-star rooms have a similarly elegant, classic style; some even have hydromassage bathtubs. Just as spectacular are the views – rooms overlook the old town or the hotel’s gorgeous patio.