March may not be the most famous month in Marbella as elsewhere, but in reality, it is a time when so many things come together on the Costa del Sol that it makes this a magical part of the year.
In Marbella, March is the point of transition from winter to spring, which brings with it not only an awakening of nature and floral beauty, but also longer days, frequent sunshine and warm but very manageable temperatures. In other words, it’s a period during which almost everything the Costa del Sol offers is within your reach—and that’s a lot!
To begin with, this is a perfect time to practise sport, and while the Costa del Sol golf season runs from September to July, and is one of the longest in Europe, March is a perfect time not only to play this sport, but also for tennis, paddle tennis, cycling, outdoor fitness and yoga, as well as hiking, horse riding and mountain biking.
The latter two are particularly popular, as this is when nature reawakens spectacularly, offering wonderful views of a countryside covered in wild flowers and, if you venture a little further inland, the gorgeous white-pink blossom of almond trees. Amid birdsong and greenery, it is a great time to be outdoors in Southern Spain.
From mountain to sea
At times you will spot the snow-capped mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the mighty mountain range that rises up above Málaga. Here, long ski runs turn this area, a little over two hours from Marbella, into an alpine winter sports resort destination, complete with cosy chalet lodge hotels and lively après ski ambience.
This time of year it is famously possible to be on the ski slopes in the morning and on the beaches of Granada province – just east of Málaga and Nerja – by lunchtime. Marbella itself it not much further, and by the end of March you’ll have your pick between snowboarding in the Sierra Nevada and kite-surfing off the beach in Tarifa.
Though very popular in summer, Tarifa is also a delight in the period between March and July, when the temperatures rise, the skies are deep-blue and its laid-back hippy-hic beachside resort venues come to life.
With all this and the café society of Marbella, Estepona, Málaga and also the cultural and gastronomic discoveries of the Andalusian hinterland and such historic gems as Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera, Granada, Seville and Córdoba to enjoy, March is the beginning of one of the most enjoyable times of year in Europe, let alone the Costa del Sol.