Things to do in Nerja, Spain in one day

Last Updated on March 5, 2024

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Costa del Sol in Spain is famous for beautiful coastline, gorgeous beaches and an average of 320 days of sunshine. There are many towns to visit, but one of the most charming and a true gem is Nerja. What used to be a sleepy fishing village is now a very popular vacation destination. While many flock to this scenic Andalusian town to enjoy one of the 12 beautiful beaches, there are more things to do in Nerja, that also make it a great day trip from the nearby Málaga or Granada.

One of the things that make Nerja stand out among other towns on Costa del Sol, is that despite being a popular vacation spot, it retained its Andalusian charm. Instead of the generic looking, high rise hotels, so typical for resort towns, you will find postcard perfect white washed houses. The backdrop of Sierra Almijara mountains and Nerja’s location along the beautiful coast add to the town’s appeal.

Things to do in Nerja

Balcón de Europa

Balcón de Europa is Nerja’s landmark and what’s considered to be the central part of town. Originally a fortress, these days it’s the most popular view point. From the round balcony you’ll have the most beautiful, panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the coastline.

The Balcony and the nearby palm tree lined promenade is one of the liveliest spots in Nerja. You’ll find a few cafes and restaurants nearby, where you can stop for a bit, enjoy a drink and some people watching. At night the area comes alive with artists and performers.

If you go to the left of Balcón de Europa, you will find an arch door Boquete de Calahonda. Once you go through it, there is a staircase leading down to Calahonda beach. Head all the way down the pathway past the beach and towards the rock formations. This is a really nice and scenic spot with great views. If you continue walking along the promenade, you will end up at Playa de Caletilla, the other beach right in the town center.

Explore Cueva de Nerja

The Caves are the biggest tourist attraction in Andalusia and one of the best things to do in Nerja. Stretching for 5 km underground, they’re are one of nature’s most amazing creations. The stalactites ( hanging from the ceiling ) and stalagmites ( rising from the ground ) were created by water seeping slowly through the caves, in a process that took millions of years. Cueva de Nerja are also home to world’s largest stalagmite, measuring in at 32 meters ( 105 ft ) tall.

The discovery of the caves was somewhat accidental, when in 1959 five friends went out looking for bats. Little did they know, that when they entered a little opening, they’d discover something so magnificent.

The caves can be visited on a 45 minute tour with audio guide. Because the tour involves a lot of walking up and down stairs in partial darkness, it’s not recommended for people with mobility issues. Also, for that reason, they ask you wear proper shoes ( no flip flops! ). Flash photography is also not permitted. Because visiting the caves is one of the most popular things to do in Nerja, expect a long line to buy tickets. You can easily avoid that by buying your tickets online .

PRO TIP: If you are a European Union passport holder, you can visit Nerja Caves for free Monday through Friday at 9.30 am. This is limited to 60 tickets and you need to reserve them online no earlier than 48 hours before ( scroll to the bottom of the page to book it ). Tickets are valid for that one time slot only, so if you score the free ticket, be sure to arrive on time.

How to get from Nerja to Nerja Caves ( CUEVA DE NERJA) :

The caves are located 5.2 km from Nerja’s center, which means you need some sort of transportation to get there. You have several choices to get to Cueva de Nerja from the main part of town:

• Cueva Tren – a fun way of getting from the town of Nerja to the Caves is by taking the Cueva train, which leaves from Plaza de Los Cangrejos, makes a stop in the town Maro and then arrives at the Caves. The journey takes about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. The train runs year-round (schedule varies depending on the season). The round-trip ticket costs €19.50, it’s valid for 24 hours and it includes entrance to the Caves and the museum.
• Bus – You can also take a bus from Avenida de Pescia for €1.60 one way. It departs from the bus stop on the opposite side from the ticket booth. The bus has Cueva de Nerja displayed up front. Tickets need to be purchased at the ticket booth.
• Taxi – the most convenient way is to just hop in a taxi. There are plenty of them lined up alongside the bus station. One way ride shouldn’t be more than €10.

Visit one of the beaches in Nerja

Even though there are many more things to do in Nerja, soaking up the sun on one of the beaches is the main reasons people visit. Nerja has 13 km of coastline with 12 beaches total, so you’ll have plenty to choose from. Here are some of the best ones:

• Playa de Calahonda – this is a small and picturesque beach, that is right by the Balcón de Europa. Because of its location right in the town center, it’s only accessible by foot. To get there, look for an opening Boquete de Calahonda and walk down the pathway, that will lead you right to the beach.

• Playa de Caletilla – this is another beach, right in the center of Nerja, sitting directly under the Hotel Balcón de Europa. Because of its small size and location, it’s often mistaken for a private beach.

• Playa de Burriana – out of all the beaches in Nerja, Playa de Burriana is the best known and most popular. It’s the beach with the most facilities and water activities available. There are many restaurants nearby, and you can easily spend an entire day there. Burriana beach is about a nice 10 minute walk from Nerja’s center, just keep in mind that the walk back might be a bit hilly.

• Playa de Torrecilla – this beach is located on the western end of town and it’s the second most popular beach in Nerja, right after Burriana. Playa de Torrecilla is easily accessible thanks to a few entry points, the prettiest one being the Rainbow Steps. You can find them near Rui Monica Hotel.

• Carabeillo beach – this is a small beach on the eastern end of Nerja. Getting there is not the easiest, so this beach is usually quiet and not too crowded. To get there, head to the Mirador del Bendito and take the steep staircase all the way down. Carabeillo beach has no facilities, but there are a couple of kiosks selling refreshments by the Mirador.

Stroll through the Old town

Nerja’s Old Town is absolutely beautiful and what you’d expect from a traditional Andalusian town. The lack of tall buildings is what makes not only the Old Town, but Nerja in general such a charming place. The streets are narrow and pretty, lined with countless tapas bars and stores.

If you’d like to do some shopping, Calle Pintada is where you want to go. There, you can get anything from tacky souvenirs to more refined goods.

Have paella at Chiringuito de Ayo

Yes, you can get paella pretty much everywhere, but if you’re in Nerja, the place to go is Chiringuito de Ayo. This beachfront restaurant has been serving paella since 1969, and the owner Francisco Ortega Olaya is often seen stirring the giant dish himself. What makes this place unique, besides delicious food, is Paella is cooked in one big dish over the wood fire, then scooped onto the plates.

They have a full menu, and you can get many other dishes at Ayo, but a €9.90 plate of paella continues to be the most popular. They don’t accept credit cards, so make sure to have some cash.

Ayo is a very popular place and gets very busy around lunch time. The location on Burriana beach, the most popular in Nerja, certainly doesn’t help. However, don’t be discouraged by a long line, especially on the weekend. The restaurant is pretty big and the turnover is quick.

How to get to Nerja from Málaga

Nerja belongs to the province of Málaga and makes for a great and very easy day trip from the city. ALSA buses run hourly from Málaga’s main station ( which is located right next to Maria Zambrano train station ). It’s about one hour bus ride and one way ticket costs €4.84. You can check the full schedule and pricing here.

The bus station in Nerja is just a small booth on Avenida de Pescia. This is where you can buy your return ticket back to Málaga. The buses depart from the bus stop on the side where the kiosk is.

Nerja ( and Frigiliana ) group tours

Even though it’s very easy to visit Nerja independently, you might be one of the people, who are more comfortable taking an organized tour. This way you don’t need to worry bus schedules and figuring out how to get around on your own.

Nerja is not far from bigger tourist destinations in Andalusia, like Málaga and Granada, and it’s easy to find group tours from both cities. They are usually combined with a visit to Frigiliana, which is another white washed village located just 6 km from Nerja. Frigiliana is considered by many as the most beautiful village in Andalusia.

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