Istan, Spain

One of our favourite places to go to at the weekend is Istan. Istan is a small village with just over 1,500 habitants. Its just 25 minutes from Marbella but feels a million miles away. Here are some photos of Istan, the fantastic fruit they grow up there, where you can collect water fresh from the mountains and some of the sunny views of Istan.

 

In Istan, there are lots of walks and cycle routes to do you can read more at the bottom of the page. We often go for some great fresh air, a change of scenery and to fill up our water bottles.As you enter the town you may follow some parking signs where you go up a steep hill. Parking is to the left where normally there is a man who will give you a ticket, you give him 1 euros. If you turn right and follow the road round to the left eventually you will come to a place where you can park your car and see the water coming out of the mountain (middle picture on the left above)

We also go to the children's playground right at the end of the village overlooking all the mountains. Its now covered which is great so your little ones don't get too much sun. To get there walk through the village and round to the left passed the allotments and all the fantastic fruit that grows. Throughout the village are little narrow streets and signs with all the different views of the mountains etc.

On Saturday mornings there is a little street market in Istan. The other thing to see is "El Chorro" pictured above. Its where people used to (maybe still do) wash their clothes. All over the town are places to fill up bottles of water too.

 

This is our favourite place to go for a coffee & cake or if really hungry then they also do good steaks too. We have been going to this restaurant for about 6 years and then some people we know took it over. As you walk into the town its the first restaurant on the left hand side. They serve a whole range of food from great cheese and ham melts to Steak and Ribs. The cakes are delicious too.

 

On the great things about this restaurant is the terrace at the back. Its so lovely sitting there chilling overlooking all the mountains. The photo below is from the terrace.

As you walk through the town there are quite a few other restaurants and tapas bars to go into too. Some people feel a little awkward being in such a small Spanish Village and in one of the local bars. If you do feel like that then the Restaurant here is run by English People.

From the bottom of the mountain to Istan will take about 20 minutes to drive depending on how comfortable you are. If you don't like heights or driving up mountains, then you have been warned. Its not as bad as Ronda though!!! My mother in law is petrified of heights and driving, but we knew that she would love Istan once up there. So we sat her in the middle of the car in the back and kept her occupied and she was fine. She loved Istan and cant wait to go back.

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The easiest way to get to Istan from the Coast is to get to Manolo Santana Tennis Club

You can get directions here from Marbella to Manolo Santana Tennis Club. Once here you just follow the road all the way up.

 

We cant wait for our daughter to get a bit older so we can go walking along all the routes. There are lots of different walks and cycle routes to take. The are many maps around too to have a look at.As you drive up to Istan you will see many cyclists going up and down too.

Here are the walking routes of Istan. If you click on the link you will go through to the Main Istan Website. It is all in Spanish but its pretty easy to understand, how far, how high and how long each walk shall take.

ISTAN - La Concha

ISTÁN-CAÑADA DEL INFIERNO

ISTÁN-CAMINO DE LA CUESTA-ISTÁN

ISTÁN-ERMITA DE SAN MIGUEL

ISTÁN-EL PICACHO

ISTÁN-MARBELLA

ISTÁN-CAÑADA DE LOS LAURELES

ISTÁN-ERRIZAS DE LAS GALLEGA-ISTÁN

Sendero 9 P.R.-A 167 ISTÁN-OJÉN

 

Here are the 6 Cycle Routes in Istan. Each link will take you through to the main page in the Istan Website. It is in Spanish but pretty easy to understand the basics.

Route 1 Istán-Ermita San Miguel

Route 2 Istán-Monda

Route 3 Istán-Puerto de la Trocha

Route 4 Istán-Castaño Santo

Route 5 Istán-Casa Balatín

Route 6 Istán-Puerto Barrancones

If you have cycled around Istan or done any of the walks and wish to give more information or if you have a website please email me, jo@malaga-airport-guide.com.

 

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