El Padron - Estepona districts
By Sinéad Mangan-Mc Hale
East of Punto Plata, visitors will enjoy a visit to the Padrón district. This low-density area showcases the benefits of the Andalucía Mediterranean coastline, offering visitors and residents the choice of a relaxing beach, beach clubs, and restaurants alongside the coastal walkway to explore the area. The district is bounded by Rio Padron to the west and Rio El Velerin to the East.
Río del Padrón
The Padrón River originates in the Las Reales de Sierras Bermeja and flows down to the Mediterranean Sea. The river travels 12.4 kilometres from its source in the mountains to the sea and has several tributaries along the mountainside of Padrón. A wooden arch bridge, the Puente Río Padrón, was constructed over the river to allow continual access along the Senda Litoral.
Beaches
Playa del Padrón (Padrón beach) stretches for 1.4 kilometres with an average width of 30 metres and is a popular beach for visitors and residents. The dark sanded beach can be very stoney in places, so beach shoes are useful. The beach has facilities for disabled persons, with public toilets and showers. There is parking nearby, so accessibility is good. Visitors can access several beach clubs along this coastline or rent hammocks, sun loungers and sun shades, though availability and costs vary.. During the summer season, lifeguards are on duty from the day up to early evening. Read more about all Estepona beaches and listing of all Estepona Beach Bars (Chiringuitos).
In addition to bringing personal snorkelling or paddle boards, beachgoers can hire equipment from Freedom Watersports, located in Playa de Padrón. They offer paddle surfing, big SUP, and kayaking classes and hire equipment to enjoy the wonders of the Mediterranean Sea.
Beach Clubs and Restaurants
Laguna Beach is built on the same site as the original and popular Laguna Village, which was entirely devastated by a fire in August 2020. Opened in the summer of 2024, Laguna Beach, a complex comprising Sublim Beach Club, and Kai,a Japanese-Mediterranean fusion restaurant Designed by local architects Archidom Studio, the frontage is an impressive undulating wave or dune-shaped roof emulating the Sierra Bermeja mountains and the path of the Río de Padrón. More about Laguna Beach
Further along the Playa de Padrón visitors can experience Beso Beach, a restaurant on the beachfront that offers a fusion between Basque and Mediterranean cuisines, a range of cocktails and live music.
Hotels in El Padron
Book Hotels in El Padron
Coastal Path / Senda Litoral
The Senda Litoral (Coastal Path), when complete will enable visitors to walk along the entire Costa del Sol coastline from Nerja to near Sotogrande. From Padrón one can walk or cycle. into Estepona town, crossing over the wooden bridge, Puente Río Padrón. . The path is very popular with locals and visitors; many use it as a hiking, running or cycling trail. Senda Litoral.
Watchtowers
The Torre del Padrón (Padrón Tower) marks the western boundary of this district, located near the mouth of the Padrón River a few metres from the beach and alongside the Kempinski Hotel in Punto Plata district. This watch tower, one of seven along the Estepona coastline, was built as a part of a defensive system against attacks from Northern African pirates . The tower measures 12 metres in height with a base diameter of seven metres; thought to have been built in the second half of the 16th century. More about Torre del Padron
Bus Service
There are also public bus services passing Playa de Punta Plata: L-79 Estepona - Marbella to and from Marbella town, La Cañada Shopping centre and Marbella Bus Station. These is also the E-3 Microbus (only four services a day) to and from Estepona town.
The L-79 Estepona - Marbella bus stops in this district are located at El Padron (4109) which is near Calle las Dunas and Mar Azul Resort and El Gastor (4108) which is located (for direction Marbella) 200m before Rio del Castor and (for direction Estepona on the roundabout opposite Playa Padron near the BP petrol station. Timetable and live wait times.
Car Hire, Taxi and Transfers
In addition to hiring a car in Estepona, Malaga Airport, or Gibraltar Airport, Estepona taxis and several firms offer private transfers by minibus car or limousine to and from the airport and the surrounding areas. Bolt and Uber Apps also work within the district.
For those who want to enjoy more of the sights of Andalucía, the district is situated close to the A-7 coastal highway and within a short distance of the AP-7 toll road (this road is typically quieter, but there are multiple tolls along the way in both directions – tolls can be paid in cash, by credit card, or contactless) so visitors can easily access destinations on either side of Estepona. Along the coast to the west, these include Sotogrande, Gibraltar, Tarifa and the golden sand beaches of Costa de la Luz. Along the coast to the east, these include Marbella and Malaga. They can also explore the inland villages of Casares and Gaucin on the road to Ronda. Not forgetting the magnificent cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada.
Neighbouring Districts
The neighbouring district to the west is Punto Plata.
The neighbouring district to the east is El Velerin.
