Nerja Information

Nerja is on the coast some 50 km from Malaga on the N340 coastal highway and marks the eastern tip of the Costa del Sol. Once a sleepy fishing village, the town now has a population of over 12,000.

Powdery sand and sparkling clear water are the features of Nerja’s 16 km of beaches. All major water sports are available here including water skiing, scuba diving and sailing.

Flanked by a dramatic mountain range, Sierra Almijara to the east, the town has managed to avoid being blighted by the concrete high-rise building that has been the inevitable result of the tourist boom in some other coastal resorts.

The old quarter of the town is still virtually unchanged with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed houses with wrought iron terraces overflowing with geraniums and sometimes a canary can be heard singing from one of these.

The heart of Nerja is its spectacular Balcon de Europa, the "Balcony of Europe", a magnificent promenade along the edge of a towering cliff. Once the site of the great Moorish castle, it has sweeping panoramic views of the Mediterranean and small coves and beaches below, set against an awesome backdrop of hazy mountains.

Nerja cuisine includes several specialities including De La Concella (red mullet) and pescaito frito (fried hake). There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from and you can find everything ranging from top international cuisine to the ubiquitous sausage, eggs and chips.

The visitor can hire a horse drawn carriage to explore the most romantic corners of the town. Nerja’s monuments include the 17th century Church of El Salvador in a style that is a charming mixture of baroque and Moorish. The beautiful gardens of Capistrana Playa that descend to Burriana Beach are worth a visit.

However, Nerja’s most spectacular attraction is undoubtedly its fascinating caves, located just three kilometres from the centre of town. They include archaeological treasures such as paintings over 20,000 years old and other pre-historic remains. One of the enormous natural caverns has been transformed into a concert hall, where many performances are staged during the summer.