What to see in Nerja, 15 places not to be missed

A must in Andalucia

Nerja best things to see and visit in the jewel of the Costa del Sol


nerja things to see europa balcony

In this article, you’ll find the essential information on what to see in Nerja :

  • A few words about Nerja
  • What makes the town so famous
  • Where is Nerja on the map?
  • Visiting Nerja: what to see
  • Best activities to do in Nerja
  • Book accommodation in Nerja
  • Things to see in Nerja on a map
  • What to see around Nerja
  • Some useful links
  • Latest articles on Andalucia

nerja-best-beaches-Burriana-beach
Burriana Beach in Nerja

Quelques mots sur Nerja


Nerja is located in Axarquia in the province of Malaga.


Nerja has a very privileged location. It is surrounded by nature and unspoilt beaches.


In my opinion, Nerja’s natural environment is unique: 14 km of coastline, most of it in a protected natural park.


Playa del Canuelo – Nerja –

For mountain hikers, the Pico del Cielo in the Sierra de Almijara, at an altitude of 1,505 metres, dominates the area around Nerja.


Nerja Pico del cielo
Pico del cielo in Nerja

Nerja takes its name from the Al-Andalus period. The Moors gave it the name of Narixa (abundant fountain) due to the presence of several rivers (rio Higueron, rio Chillar, arroyo de la Miel, etc.).


The reasons for Nerja’s fame


In a curious way, Nerja’s reputation was born out of one of Spain’s first TV series.


Nerja was originally a fishing and farming village. It gained international fame in the early 1980s with the broadcast of the TV series Verano Azul.


The Dorada boat – Verano Azul –

La Dorada is Captain Chanquete’s boat from the series Verano Azul. You can see a full-size replica of this boat. It can be found at the car park in calle Antonio Ferrandis Chanquete.


There is also a sculpture of the captain that pays homage to this actor, at the mirador del Chanquete.


nerja que ver y hacer el mirador de chanquete


For those who have seen the Verano Azul series, here is a video of the opening credits.


Where is Nerja on the map?



What to see in Nerja ?


  1. The balcony of Europe
  2. Calahonda Beach
  3. Calle del Salón and Salón Beach
  4. The Nerja cave
  5. Plaza de la ermita
  6. Carabeo Street with its viewpoints
  7. Calle Almirante Ferrandiz
  8. Pintada Street
  9. Maro-Cerro-Gordo Protected Natural Park
  10. The Eagle aqueduct – Acueducto del Aguila
  11. The old sugar cane factories in Nerja
  12. Church of Our Lady of Wonders
  13. Nerja Museum
  14. El Artesano fish market
  15. Mesón José y Victoria

nerja spain things to see europa balcony


The Balcony of Europe, the iconic place to see in Nerja


nerja things to see balcon de europa


The Balcony of Europe is often the place to be in Nerja. It is located just off the Plaza del Balcón de Europa.


nerja espagne que visiter et voir le balcon de l europe


This square is home to the beautiful 17th-century Church of the Saviour (iglesia del Salvador), in Baroque and Mudejar style. It is home to Nerja’s patron saint, the Archangel Michael.


nerja que hacer en un dia visitar la iglesia del salvador


Finally, from this promontory, the balcony of Europe, you can see the magnificent little beach of Calahonda and the beauty of the shoreline.



Calahonda Beach


This beach is another of Nerja’s landmarks, with its little cave house.


nerja must see calahonda beach


It’s a picture-postcard spot. It can be reached from the Calahonda boquete on Calle Puerta del Mar :


nerja que visitar boquete de calahonda par ir a la playa de calahonda


Calle del Salón and Salón beach


This is one of my favourite streets in Nerja. Every time I visit, I make a point of stopping off here. Calle del Salón is a real invitation to travel and escape.


nerja spain must see salon street calle del salon


And in this street, there is a door, quite simple, but undoubtedly one of the most beautiful entrance doors in the world…


nerja must see door in salon street calle del salon


If you continue down this street, you will come to the beach of the same name: la playa del Salón. The beach is home to a number of old fishermen’s cottages.


nerja cosa vedere spiaggia del salon


NB: local legend has it that the expulsion of the Jews living in this area in the 16th century was carried out from this beach. The last words of the Sephardim leaving by boat for North Africa were shalom. After the oral Spanishisation of the word, this is how the name Salón came about.


The Nerja cave, a wonder to behold Nerja


One of the treasures to visit in Nerja is, of course, the Cueva de Nerja, which extends over several kilometres of galleries.


la grotte de Nerja


In this cave, you can see one of the tallest columns in the world, standing 33 metres high.


nerja caves booking a visit


If you wish, you can visit the Nerja cave. It is reputed to be one of the most beautiful caves in the world.


Note: A few years ago, cave paintings dating back to the Palaeolithic period, created by Neanderthal man, were discovered. They have been dated back 42,000 years, making them the only Neanderthal paintings in the world and the oldest traces of mankind known to date. They depict seals painted in red ochre.


Plaza de la Ermita


The Plaza de la Ermita is home to a hermitage (Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias) that you can visit, as well as several bars and small restaurants.


nerja things to see ermita square with restaurants and hermitage


I really like the Andalucia atmosphere of this square.


Carabeo Street with its viewpoints


Calle Hernando de Carabeo, known simply as Calle Carabeo, is one of the most charming streets in Nerja. It starts right next to the Plaza del Balcón de Europa. It’s a beautiful, fairly quiet street. Walk along it and you’ll find another lovely balcony with incredible views of the sea.


nerja places to see landscape on the sea in hernando de carabeao street


From here you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the small beach of Carabeillo.


nerja que ver la pequena playa de carabeillo


A little further on, you come to the mirador del Bendito, which offers a magnificent panorama.


visiter nerja et voir le mirador del bendito calle carabeo


Just below, you can enjoy the beautiful Carabeo beach (which is larger than the Carabeillo beach next to it).


nerja must see carabeo beach


If you take the path down to the left, you’ll come to the large and famous Burriana beach.


nerja best things to see burriana beach


There are numerous beaches and coves in Nerja. There’s something for everyone. Of the 12 beaches in Nerja, 3 are ranked among the most beautiful in Andalucia.


nerja-best-beaches-and-coves


Calle Almirante Ferrandiz


This pedestrianised street in the centre of Nerja is one of the city’s busiest.



There are plenty of small shops, bars and restaurants.


nerja places to see almirante ferrandiz street with restaurants and shops


Calle Pintada


Calle Pintada is also a very lively street with plenty of shops. It’s just off Calle Almirante Ferrandiz.


nerja things to see and do the pintada street for shopping


Nerja is a very lively town during the day on these streets, as well as on the Balcón de Europa. In the evening, there’s a square with a rather unusual name that comes alive a lot: the Plaza Tutti Frutti.


nerja places to see tutti frutti square


Maro-Cerro-Gordo Protected Natural Park


This protected natural park is a thing of beauty. It is home to numerous hiking trails. It’s also a place where you’ll frequently come across Iberian goats – cabra montés – on the road and also on the cliffs!


fauna en Malaga : cabra montes axarquia
cabra montes

In this natural park, the Cerro-Gordo viewpoint is a unique place from which to observe nature, from both the sea and the mountains.

The watchtower, which was used to monitor pirate attacks on the coast, is also very well preserved.


nerja-cerro-gordo


At sunset, this is an exceptional place to be…


The Eagle aqueduct – Acueducto del Aguila


This aqueduct is a thing of beauty, even at night when it is lit up in blue.


Nerja Acueducto del Aguila
Acueducto del Aguila

This aqueduct was used to bring water to a cane sugar factory in Nerja – La Fábrica San Joaquín de Maro.


The old sugar cane factories in Nerja


Nerja was a major sugar cane-growing centre until the middle of the 20th century. Nerja even had 3 cane sugar factories.


Fábrica azucarera y alcoholera San Joaquín


This site is now abandoned. However, for fans of industrial tourism, the site is well worth a visit.


visit nerja old sugar cane factory


Ingenio azucarero de Armengol


This former cane sugar factory is also located in the town of Maro, which is part of Nerja. Its structure stands out from the rest. Just behind it, you can see part of a splendid estate belonging to the Larios family.


Nerja_Maro-antigua-azucarera


Next to this Ingenio is a café-bar with a superb view of the sea from its terrace.


Note: you can see the ruins of a third cane sugar factory. The Antonio Abad factory is located not far from the Nerja bus station.


Church of Our Lady of Wonders


This is a Mudéjar-style church.


Nerja Iglesia de Las Maravillas en Maro, Nerja, Andalucia
Iglesia de Las Maravillas en Maro, Nerja

From the café-bar in the square you can admire this small Mudéjar-style church.


Nerja Museum


The Nerja Museum is located in the large and beautiful Plaza de España. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 4pm.


5 rooms tell the story of Nerja and its fabulous cave. You can also admire ‘Pepita’, a complete skeleton that is 8,000 years old.


Note: admission costs €4. However, entry is free if you present your ticket for the Nerja cave.


visiter nerja et voir le musée de nerja sur place d espagne


El Artesano fish market


There’s a place in Nerja where I particularly like to come for a drink and some tapitas. The place is rather unusual: it’s in a small fishmonger’s shop.


Here’s the name and address, right in the centre, close to the Balcon de l’Europe: Calle La Cruz, 25. You’ll find this tiny fishmonger’s on the town map: Pescadería El Artesano.


Mesón José y Victoria


Mesón José y Victoria is a fabulous little restaurant. It’s a great place for dinner.

Run by Lucrecia and Angela, the food is excellent, the welcome is warm and all the dishes are made ‘con mucho cariño’.


What can you do in Nerja?


There are plenty of things to do in and from Nerja.


In terms of nature, there are numerous walks, including the fabulous Río Chillar hike:


rio chillar hike ruta randonnee


From Burriana beach you can also take a kayak tour to see the cliffs and the Maro waterfall. On the same beach you can then enjoy a paella at Ayo’s.


Nerja Ayo plage de Burriana


There is an incredible choice of activities in and around Nerja. You can go snorkelling, diving, via ferratas, canyoning, hiking and even paragliding:



There’s also an excellent local guide offering some great excursions from Nerja. Cipriano’s excursions include visits to typical, authentic villages and the main sites in Andalucia (Granada’s Alhambra, Cordoba’s Mezquita-catedral, etc.).


Finally, Nerja offers travellers the chance to enjoy several ferias



feria de nerja 2024



Nerja, romeria San Isidro

This romeria is not to be missed if you’re in Nerja in May.



The pilgrimage, romeria, leads to the magnificent site of the Nerja caves, where you can enjoy a beautiful fiesta alongside the romeros and animals.



Book accommodation in Nerja?


Below you will find all the hotels and accommodation available in Nerja, once you have selected your dates:


 

 


Places to see in Nerja on a map


Here is a map of the places mentioned in the centre of Nerja:



What to see around Nerja?


Nerja is surrounded by beautiful villages and nature spots to see. Here are some of them!


Frigiliana


Frigiliana is a beautiful white village 5 km from Nerja. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Andalucia and Spain.


frigiliana pueblo mas bonito en Axarquia
Frigiliana

El Acebuchal


This hamlet, on the heights of Frigiliana, offers a real haven of peace and quiet. To reach the hamlet, you have to take a dirt road for the last 2 kilometres.


El Acebuchal is known as the Aldea Fantasma – The Lost Village -. This nickname is linked to its peculiar history in the 20th century, when it was forgotten for almost 50 years…


une ruelle dans El Acebuchal
El Acebuchal

Cipriano, a local guide, offers a guided tour of Frigiliana and El Acebuchal. He will pick you up at your place of stay and bring you back to the same place after the day’s visit.


The tour can be done from Nerja, Torrox and Torre del Mar.


Here is the link to get all the details and book: Frigiliana and El Acebuchal Tour.


Torrox pueblo


Torrox pueblo is a white village just outside Nerja (10km) that has kept its authenticity. This village has been called “Mejor Clima de Europa” and is well worth a visit!


Torrox pueblo y mar
View of Torrox pueblo and the sea

Competa


Competa is located further away in the mountains but is also worth a visit! This white village is known as the Corniche of Axarquia and offers spectacular views! The village is particularly well known for its wine festival – La Noche del Vino – which takes place every year on 15 August.


competa village de l'Andalousie authentique
Competa

Quelques liens utiles



  • If you are in the western part of the Costa del Sol and would like to visit Nerja anf Frigiliana, you can use the following link to book a day trip from Málaga, Torremolinos, Mijas or Benalmadena.

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