Top destinations for a Padel Holiday
Break a sweat on vacation.
An air of jet set life in Marbella
In Spain alone, more than six million people play padel making it the second largest sport in terms of participation. But in Marbella padel is not considered a “new” sport. As early as the 70’s, the Spanish prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg introduced padel to the Marbella jet set. If you want that luxurious experience today, pay a visit to Real Club Marbella. Since opening in 2009, it has grown into a multi-sport club, now offering 10 padel courts, gym, restaurant and beauty salons. You can book a padel court by the hour or sign up for teaching schools, summer camps or tournaments.
Beach + padel in Barcelona
One of the many advantages of Barcelona its proximity to Barceloneta, with its long stretch of beach you can reach easily from the city center and the shopping streets. Why not make the most of your day at the beach and combine it with some sport activities? Club Natació Atlétic-Barceloneta started as a swimming and water polo club in 1913, but today you can play padel on one of four courts – all with great views of the beach and the sail-shaped hotel W. The sports club also offers several outdoor pools for all ages, if not all your family members are interested in a game.
Multisport in Malaga
One of the more prestigious sports clubs on Costa del Sol is Real Club El Candado, situated only 10 minutes from the city center of Malaga. It started as a tennis club about 50 years ago, but today you can easily spend a whole day here filled with sport activities that include golf, tennis, windsurfing, swimming, gym training – and of course padel on any of its seven courts. Real Club El Candado is also known for hosting many national and international tournaments and competitions. So if you want a smorgasbord of sports while you’re in Malaga, this is the place for you.
Alicante club opened by padel icon
Fernando Belasteguin, or Bela, is considered by many to be the superstar of padel. Born in Argentina, he completely dominated the padel tour and was ranked number one for 16 consecutive years. Not surprisingly, as he reaches the end of his long career, he is involved in opening several padel centers in Spain to promote the sport and share some of his expertise with other enthusiasts. One of those clubs is the Bela Padel Center in Alicante. The location was chosen partly because of the long-standing sports culture here, and its reputation for being the area in Spain with most practitioners and attendees of padel tournaments. The center offers nine outdoor courts (including two individual) plus five indoor courts.
Lush padel in Palma de Mallorca
With its closeness to the city center and being completely surrounded by nature, Pins Padel Club in Palma de Mallorca is popular among padel players of all levels, especially among Scandinavians. With a total of 16 courts, several of which are covered, you can enjoy your game both in the searing sun and the pouring rain. Book a court for an hour or let a trainer help you improve your game.
Spectacular views in Lisbon
One of the most iconic landmarks of Lisbon is the red Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge over the river Targus, which bears a close resemblance to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Just under the bridge lies Clube de Padel. Here you can play a game on one of six glass-covered courts and enjoy the incredible environment and the river views at the same time. If you’re really hooked, you can sign up for training classes for two to four days.When you’ve finished for the day, head to nearby LX Factory, the trendy shopping and restaurant area housed in a former industrial site.
Black courts in the middle of Stockholm
With two clubs, one in Stockholm and one in Kuala Lumpur, ASCARO Padel is building a sophisticated empire. The club, located on the roof of the NK department store in Stockholm, lures you in with its black courts and views of the city center. Not only is it a padel club, but it also features running tracks and a healthy bar for socializing.
First padel club in Montenegro
Montenegro’s first padel club is located in Tivat and although small in size (with only one court), padel is a perfect sport to play during your vacation. The club is a 15-minute walk from Tivat’s marina and can be combined with a coffee on the promenade after the game.
Text by Anna-Lena Ahlberg