málaga to MArbella
cycling route

Marbella. The most glamorous city in the province of Malaga is easy to reach with our route. Escape the busiest roads and take a ride between Sierra de las Nieves, Sierra Blanca and Sierra Alpujata to reach the best beaches on the Costa del Sol.

Images and text by Escapada Cycling.

Marbella is a cosmopolitan city known to be the preferred destination for celebrities and people of glamor. It combines the best of luxury and high quality tourism with the best beaches, restaurants and the typical charm of an Andalusian. Located at the foot of Sierra Blanca, the old town exhibits Marbella’s importance from its origins. Its houses still preserve the whitewashed facades and barred windows, and the course of time has left monuments of great interest, such as the Roman Villa of Río Verde, the Arab Castle or the “Casa del Corregidor”. For all these reasons, a cycling route to Marbella is a must for every cycling enthusiast who spends a few days in Malaga.

The first half of the route is the easiest one, while the greatest efforts will come in the second half. Although we may be tempted to get speed at first, starting too fast is not a good idea if you want to have enough energy when the climbs begin.

Our cycling route to Marbella avoids the coastal area, where there is more traffic and less interest for the cyclist. The road to the outskirts of Malaga will serve as a warm-up and acclimatization for the rest of the day. Leaving the city, we must follow the A-7054 until Pizarra, in the Guadalhorce Valley, a place known as "the orchard of Málaga" for its beautiful farms with agricultural land surrounded by fruit trees. 

As a point of interest, the route from Pizarra to Marbella was part of one of the first stages in the 2017 edition of La Vuelta a España. 

From Pizarra, the first slopes start; we will take the A-354 to reach a somewhat more different area, surrounded by olive groves. Just before Casarabonela, turn off towards Alozaina.

Alozaina is the best place to stop. It is located halfway, and considering that the last climb is still waiting for us, it won’t harm to rest a little before the last effort. There is a water source at the beginning of the town, and there are several cafeterias where you can fill your water bottles or have a snack.

Heading again to our destination, take the A-366 towards Coín. After 4 kilometers descending, deviate to Guaro. That road takes us straight to the last climbing part. In total, there are about 15 kilometers in this ascent and about 450 meters elevation. The slopes are not too steep and we can expect sections of 6% and some of 10%.

When reaching the top of the last climb, we will find the first detour to Ojén through the A-7103. This path takes you to a zigzagging road known as “Los Caracolillos” (a snail-shaped road) that offers better views and the chance of taking memorable photos. Finally, we will only have to ride down the way to Marbella.

Returning to Malaga, we recommend taking the bus from the Marbella Bus Station. The regular service is the cheapest and takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, while direct and express services are slightly more expensive but faster (60 and 45 minutes). The taxi is only recommended if you travel with a minimum of 3 people, since a one-way trip can cost around € 100 and only vans have capacity to carry a few road bikes.