Once a sleepy fishing village, Nerja is now a popular coastal resort that has managed to hold onto its whitewashed village charm. Visiting Nerja is easy as it’s just 56 kilometres east of Málaga and can be reached by motorway in under an hour. Situated at the base of the Sierra de Tejadas mountains, at the mouth of the River Chillar, Nerja is surrounded by stunning landscape, beautiful beaches and the Mediterranean Sea.
The old quarter of the town is still virtually unchanged with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed houses with Andaluz terraces overflowing with geraniums. The town has a great atmosphere. Buzzing with tapas bars, restaurants and little souvenir shops. At the heart of Nerja sits the spectacular Balcón de Europa, a glorious promenade along the edge of a towering cliff, once the site of the great Moorish castle. Either side of the Balcón are small coves and beaches, to the east you’ll find Nerja’s favourite beach, Burriana.
Visit Nerja Caves
A trip to Nerja would not be complete without a visit to the Cuevas de Nerja, one of Spain’s most popular and spectacular historical sites. The Caves are a series of huge caverns stretching for almost five kilometres and home to the world’s largest stalagmite, a 32 metre high column measuring 13 metres by 7 metres at its base. Visit Nerja Caves
Sea Kayaking
Sea kayaking lets you explore a very different part of Nerja. As you glide through the crystal-clear water alongside rugged rocks and untouched landscape, you’ll see waterfalls, secluded coves, sea caves and beaches that can only be reached by kayak. More about Sea Kayaking
Hiking in the Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama de Granada
Explore the hills and natural parks that surround Nerja. For experienced hikers there are many great routes to explore. You can also join a guided walking tour with a variety of hikes to choose from. Guided Hikes
The Rio Chillar Walk
A great way to cool down on a hot summer´s day is to walk up the River Chillar in Nerja. This walk is very popular in the summer months as there is plenty of shade and the water keeps you cool. The scenery is spectacular, there are natural pools, waterfalls and narrow gorges. A great day out and suitable for children too.
Tapas Tour
The best way to sample Andalusian cuisine is by taking a tapas tour. Nerja has a wide variety of restaurants focused on tapas. Many are located in the old part of town and on small side streets. A night of tapas in the traditional bars is a great night out, not only is it very cheap but it is a very social way of eating and meeting some of the locals.
Water sports
Parasail, jet-ski, hop on a banana boat or hire a pedalo; Burriana Beach has all kinds of water activities. You can also go diving at Burriana Beach.
Nerja Museum
The museum traces the history of Nerja from as far back as cave dwellers of Palaeolithic times to the tourist boom years of the 1960’s. It also looks at the Moorish occupation and the town’s agricultural history. The museum is a great way to find out more about Nerja’s rich history and how it shaped the town. There is also a tourist train that links the museum to the Nerja caves. Visit the Museum
Visit Frigiliana
Visit the beautiful village of Frigiliana, set in the hills of the Natural Park of Sierras de Almijara, Tejeda y Alhama. Frigiliana is located just 7km north of Nerja. Discover more about Frigiliana
Experience a flamenco show
Enjoy some flamenco at one of Nerja’s traditional bars such as El Colono Flamenco Restaurant or El Burro Blanco.
Take a walk to Maro and view the old Sugar Cane factory and the famous Aqueduct of El Águila
Play a round of golf at Baviera Golf in Caleta de Velez
Visit Málaga for the day
Take the kids to Aquavelis Water Park in Vélez-Málaga
Take a Jeep Tour to see the beautiful countryside surrounding Nerja
Take a boat trip from Marina Del Este