Why Visit Nerja Spain?

So what is it about the charming whitewashed village of Nerja Spain, on the popular Costa del Sol, that makes it so special?

Well, to start with and what I think makes Nerja so unique from the rest of the Costa del Sol is the fact that ...

... Nerja is still relatively unspoilt!

So while tourism is Nerja’s biggest industry you won’t see a high-rise hotel building in site.

Secondly, Nerja is really easy to get to ...

Nerja is located in the Spanish Region of Andalucia, in the province of Malaga.

It is the most Eastern point of the Costa del Sol coastal stretch.

Nerja is conveniently located about 50kms east from the city of Malaga and about 100km from the city of Granada.

Both Malaga and Granada have international airports, so getting to Nerja in Spain really is a breeze and you can get there relatively cheaply.

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So what are some of the Nerja attractions?

Well, that’s what you’ll find in the fascinating historic center of Nerja which was built in 1487.

The heart of which is the famous Balcon de Europa .

The Balcon de Europa was formerly a 9th Century castle and is now an ample promenade which ends in a viewing point that juts out to the sea.

Another very famous Nerja attraction is the Nerja Caves or Cuevas de Nerja and in fact some people come to Nerja Spain just to visit the caves which is, believe it or not, the 3rd most visited monument in the whole of Spain! (according to the Nerja Office of Tourism).

A one kilometer section of the cave is open to the public where you can marvel at incredible stalagmites and stalactites that have formed over thousands of years.

In July each year the Nerja Caves Festival or Festival de las Cuevas de Nerja is held in the cave.

The Nerjenos (as the local people are called), just like most Spanish people, are passionate about their cultural traditions and festivals.

There’s almost one festival per month in Nerja and if you’re lucky enough to coincide with one make sure you take part in the festivities to really appreciate the local culture and have lots of fun!

And of course, Nerja would not be Nerja without it’s 13 kilometers of pristine Nerja beaches.

Due to its close proximity to the cities of Malaga and Granada, Nerja is the ideal spot to base yourself from to visit other attractions in the South of Spain and Andalucia.

Nerja has some of the best weather in the Costa del Sol!

Thanks to this, Nerja is protected from the cold north winds and therefore the weather in Nerja is mild all year round.

It’s probably one of the only places in the world where in winter or spring you can be on the beach in the morning and in the afternoon skiing on the ski slopes of Granada!

The weather also makes it an ideal place to enjoy its 13 kilometers of Nerja beaches and to take part in a wide range of outdoor activities including fishing, diving, waterskiing, canoeing, water bikes, hiking, cycling, horse riding, jeep safaris, paragliding and much much more!


Just out of interest ... Nerja was first named “Detunda” by the Romans. It was the Moors who later changed the name to “Narixa” which means “abundant spring".

Narixa then evolved into the name Nerja that we know and love today.

And by the way, the "j" in Nerja is pronounced like a "h" and not like a "j", so when pronounced it sounds like "nerr-ha".

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