Istan, the very stunning little town on the western side of Costa del Sol offers a wonderful excursion opportunity from Marbella.

Sitting on the foot of the Sierra Real (in the north), close to Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park, Istan constitutes rural tourism in the region with stunning mountain views and attractive tourist points.

Visitors to resort town Marbella just need to take a 15/20 minutes drive to the west of the town to reach Istan and its countryside.

You will find many symbols of cultural and monumental heritage, including the San Miguel Hermitage, the Escalante Tower, the San Miguel Church, and Plaza El Calvario, among others.

From the San Miguel Hermitage, you can view Sierra Blanca, the Rio Verde Valley and also the Mediterranean.

Several footpath and bike routes allure visitors to go for a trekking or cycling tour from Istan. A walking tour is the best way to enjoy the rural beauty of Istan and exploring its past as a Moorish village.

Numerous fountains – water from the Sierra springs and Rio Verde – of the town further adds to the attractiveness of Istan. The El Chorro fountain is one of the most emblematic spots of the town, while the Canalon Pond is one of the prettiest natural spots in Istan.

The town centre is very attractive with small squares leading off to tiny streets flanked by a good number of restaurants, bars and cafes. Moreover, approaching the streets, there are beautiful open space covered with colourful flowers which standout against the fences and benches, from where you can picture the natural beauty.

Church of San Miguel Istan

The fascinating landscape of Istan and the magnificent mountain range are the places where you can breathe in peace and tranquillity. The picturesque beauty, the relaxing sound of water falling and the flow of the river down below are worth of appreciation.

Getting to Istan

Istan is just about 70 km from the provincial capital-Malaga and 13 km from the coastal belt. The AP7 (N340) motorway links the town with other areas of Costa del Sol with frequent local bus service.

To reach it, you have to leave the motorway at Puerto Banus and take the A-6206 straight to the village. Coming from Marbella, you must take the local A-7176 road from the Costa del Sol (Marbella) to Istan.

Frequent bus services are available from the Marbella bus stand or you may hire a taxi which is the convenient mode.