Practical Information
The essential information that you need to know when visiting Marbella so that you can feel as knowledgeable as a local when travelling here!
Local Time
Marbella is an hour ahead of Greenwich meantime
Business Hours
Most businesses will be open from 10am until early evening but quite a few will be closed in the afternoon from 2pm until 4-5pm
Tipping
It is customary to give 10% tip in restaurants and with activity and service providers
Post Offices
You can find post offices (Correos) in every town, they are usually open from 8.30am to 2pm
Water
The water in Marbella is drinkable in most areas but it can taste bitter so it's best to buy bottled water and drink that instead, especially for babies and children.
Electricity Sockets
The sockets used in Spain are type c or f which are also used in many other European countries
Bargains when buying
You generally cannot barter in the shops around Marbella, but feel free to haggle a little when buying something in one of the markets
Dress code
The customary dress code for Marbella in the summer is quite casual so it's normal to see people wearing flip flops, vest tops, bikinis and shorts especially by the beach however you can glam it up of an evening especially if you're heading to Puerto Banus or one of Marbella's top restaurants! In the winter it can get chilly so a light coat is a good idea.
