If you haven’t yet been, we urge you to spend your next holiday in Spain in this delightful corner of Southern Spain.
Nerja is a tourist resort on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. The Balcón de Europa, situated on a promontory, overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding mountains. At its foot, there are sandy beaches and coves next to cliffs.
Nearby are the Caves of Nerja, with its original stalactites and stalagmites, as well as Palaeolithic paintings, which can be admired on guided tours. During summer nights, concerts are organized in these caves during the summer season and are very popular.
Nerja is one of the most touristy towns in the province of Malaga. If it is for a reason, don’t you think? This coastal town can boast of being one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia. Even with the passing of time, it has managed to retain all of its unique charms.
This picturesque town is s full of white houses, has a very well-kept centre, and stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. In this post, we’ve compiled all the useful information you’ll need with all the things to see and do in Nerja.
In this article, we’re going to give you a run of all the essential places you have to see in Nerja in one day. One day is more than enough to visit this beautiful town and its surroundings, which also deserve a visit.
Visit El Balcón de Europa
Prepare yourself for one of the most spectacular views you’re bound to see. The Balcón de Europa is a large square overlooking the sea, the cliffs, and the beaches of Nerja. The views from this vantage point are some of the best on the Costa del Sol. Also, from there you can see that the water in this area is incredibly crystal clear blue.
Sit around here and relax for a while because the place deserves it. It’s a very lively and busy place, as it’s a usual meeting point. There’s always someone playing an instrument here or painting. It’s even common to see commercials being shot here.
The Paseo and the Plaza del Balcón de Europa are two of the most important places to see in Nerja. In addition to the famous viewpoint, you will find a multitude of bars and restaurants, as well as the parish church of El Salvador.
Balcon de Europa
Found just off the square of the viewpoint, is the Parroquia El Salvador, and is one of the most-hyped places to visit in Nerja. It’s a temple designed in the baroque academicist style dating from 1697. Later, in 1724, the bell tower was added, whose main feature is that it is one of the few in the world to include representations of the three archangels, including St. Michael, patron saint of Nerja.
Parroquia El Salvador
Soak up the Sun at Some of Andalucia’s Best Beaches
Nerja has some of the most spectacular beaches on the Costa del Sol, ideal places to relax after touring the places to see in Nerja. Of all the beaches in the town, the most important are the following:
Burriana Beach
With a length of 800 metres, it’s the best beach to visit in Nerja and one of the most famous, mainly because of its appearance in the series “Verano Azul”. It is an urban beach with crystalline waters and all kinds of services. On its promenade, there are several beach bars, among which El Ayo stands out, a place where they serve one of the tastiest paellas in the world.
Calahonda Beach
At 120 metres long, Calahonda is not only the most famous beach to see in Nerja but also one of the best beaches in Andalusia. A semi-urban beach with a privileged location, it’s situated just below the popular Balcón de Europa.
To access it you will have to go down the so-called “Boquete de Calahonda”, a beautiful white gate, with a huge drop leading directly to the Mediterranean Sea.
Torrecilla Beach
Torrecilla beach is the second longest beach in Nerja, after the Playazo. It’s a sandy and pebble beach 300 metres long, located very close to the centre and frequented by tourists and locals alike. It’s a location where many services have been awarded the Q for Tourist Quality in Beaches, as well as the Blue Flag.
Other beaches to see in Nerja are the beaches of El Carabeo and Carabeillo Chico, Playa El Chorrillo, Playa La Caletilla, Playa La Caleta de Maro, Playa del Molino de Papel, Playa de Las Alberquillas, Cala del Cañuelo and Cala del Pino.
The Beach below the Balcon de Europa
Explore Nerja’s Caves
Discovered in 1959 by a group of young locals looking for bats, the Nerja Caves are a complex of two caves 4 kilometres long and 35 kilometres wide, located in the district of Maro, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2006.
An essential place to see in Nerja, it has the longest and largest stalactite in the world, with a height of 33 metres and a base of 13×7 metres, located in the Sala del Cataclismo.
Opening hours
Open all year round, except on January 1st and May 15th, the day of the patron saint of Nerja, and is open from September 9th to June 22nd from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Monday Thursday to Easter Sunday and from 23 June to 8 September: from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm.
Nerja Caves
Where to Stay in Nerja
We definitely recommend staying in Nerja’s Old Town. Its historic town centre is host to many exciting cultural attractions, such as its urban beaches, seaside promenade, restaurants, nightlife venues, and hotels.
Other excellent areas to consider when deciding the best location in Nerja include Burriana Beach, Punta Lara and the charming little town of Frigiliana.
Hotel Paraiso del Mar,
A 2-star establishment, this quaint hotel has everything you need with an outstanding customer review on Booking.com. This accommodation offers direct access to Burriana beach and stunning views over the beach. It’s surrounded by gardens and has a sauna, hot tubs and an outdoor swimming pool open in summer. The Old Town of Nerja is only a 10-minute walk away.
The staff are very friendly and helpful, they treated us wonderfully. They took care of Vilma and Telma at all times. It’s a pet-friendly establishment! It also has an abundant and tasty breakfast buffet that you can have on the terrace overlooking the sea, highly recommended!
Other accommodations that I recommend are:
Hostal Boutique Plaza Cantarero
Located right in front of the bus station in Nerja, this beautiful accommodation has a rooftop terrace with beautiful views of the town and the mountains.
Hostal Casa Mercedes
Extraordinary accommodation is just 5 minutes from the beach in Burriana.
Hostal Doña Carmen
This hotel is adults-only, so leave the kids at home! A stunning establishment within a few minutes walk from the Balcón de Europa.
Nerja Old Town