Two beautiful spots on Spain’s southern coast, Sotogrande and Marbella both have a long list of things to recommend them, yet it is interesting to note just how different these two privileged locations can be.
Indeed, the different ambience, lifestyle, scenery and pleasures each has to offer acts as a self-selecting factor when it comes to choosing the one you favour. People living in Marbella love to visit Sotogrande for the polo, the marina, the atmosphere and the wonderful green surroundings, while residents of the latter naturally enjoy visiting the larger town for its shops, nightlife and professional services. However, what makes you choose the one over the other as a place to live will also determine why you will always be happy to come back ‘home’.
Different lifestyles
Though roughly half an hour apart, Sotogrande and Marbella appeal to different people because of the respective lifestyles they have to offer. Where Marbella is bright, buzzy and at times a little flash, Sotogrande is exclusive, private and understated. We personally love to dip our toe in the Marbella way of life whilst being able to return to the tranquillity and breathing space of Sotogrande, which is why we chose to make this our home many years ago.
Perhaps because it is actually a small city – and one that is geared for a larger-scale type of tourism – you will also find Marbella to be more commercial. More posters, billboards and the kind of on-street promotional activities we simply don’t have in Sotogrande, where people are free to shop, stroll and enjoy the local café society without being harassed. This is not to say that Sotogrande is boring, far from it, but its lively social scene has a more convivial and less frenetic feel about it than the bars and cafés of Puerto Banús or downtown Marbella.
We love to visit our ‘big brother’ for shopping sprees or to sample the famous nightlife, but especially families like the gentler ambience of Sotogrande, where there is more space and a greater focus on community, sports and shared cultural activities that are particularly important in the upbringing of children. Going to a restaurant, the shops, a round of golf, tennis, the beach or simply to Sotogrande’s marina to enjoy some breakfast or lunch, you won’t get caught in commuter or high season traffic jams, but can go about your business in a stress-free way, with literally everything on your doorstep.
Even the school run is hardly a chore in such a beautiful location as this, and after school the kids can choose from horse riding, water sports or a wide range of other activities at their disposal. Yes, Sotogrande is less built-up, with fewer apartments, more greenery and lots of space, but above all the difference between life in Marbella and the Sotogrande way of life is one of personal freedom – the freedom to enjoy a stress-free life within a lively community in a beautiful natural setting.
By Jackie Cruz - Manifesto ·