Nerja, Spain in a day

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Things to do in Nerja, Spain

If you’re visiting Andalucia, or southern Spain, don’t forget to add Nerja to your list of places to visit. Sevilla, Cordoba, Ronda, and Granada will fill you with historical wonders and insights, but Nerja will invite you to relax, soak in the rays and enjoy a slower pace on the coast where you’ll stand on the Balcony of Europe.

According to Weather Spark, the weather in Nerja Spain varies between summer and winter like this:

• Summers: hot, arid, and mostly clear and the temperatures rarely go above 92 degrees (F)

• Winters: cool, windy, and partly cloudy, with the temperatures rarely lower than 40 degrees (F)

Nerja beaches in the Andalucia part of Spain are a big Costa del Sol attraction.

When to visit Nerja

In my opinion, it seems April, May, end of September and through October can be fantastic months to visit, where the temperature hovers in the 70s and the beaches in Nerja aren’t overcrowded. Mid-July through mid-September is crazy busy there. I also believe it’s better to visit during the week and to avoid busier, crowded beaches on the weekends, even in shoulder season.

My husband and I have been fortunate to visit Nerja twice, once in May 2001 while based in Malaga, and again in September 2017 while based in Sevilla. There are lots of things to do in Nerja Spain and the surrounding area, and if you have a day, we believe the following options will give you the best taste of Costa Del Sol’s favorite little beach town.

Stay in a spacious, bright penthouse with panoramic views of the Mediterranean.

Snorkeling in Nerja Spain is a fun way to explore the coast of Andalucia

1. Snorkel along Costa del Sol

We chose Nerja Dive Resort to take us out for a few hours of snorkeling along the coast. Located on Burriana Beach, Bernie and his crew were helpful and fun.

Tip: If you own a GoPro, bring it along for underwater footage and boat ride selfies. The crew's camera wasn't that great and the above picture is proof. 

The boat ride itself was fun, and while it wasn't the most colorful, exciting snorkeling we've experienced, the bright orange coral and jellyfish were the most impressive. The water wasn't really cold, but we wore wetsuits to protect us from the jellyfish. 

Be sure to try the paella at Ayo’s on Burriana Beach

2. Head to Ayo's for a Paella feast

After our snorkeling excursion, we were famished, so we headed straight for Ayo's.

At Ayo's you'll dine on inexpensive, fresh paella under a large tiki hut on Burriana Beach. Cash only, Ayo serves an all-you-can-eat (until he runs out) paella feast at lunchtime. Ayo has happily fed locals and tourists for three decades. 

Ayo's paella fires blaze up about noon and run through mid to late afternoon. Snag a table under the canopy and ask for a jug of Sangria.

Only a 20 minute walk from the Balcony of Europe, this outdoor eatery sits on the east end of Burriana Beach - look for the pyramid shaped rooftop with AYO'S in larger lettering. 

This Nerja Spain beach is great for relaxing on the Mediterranean Sea

3. Hit the Beach

After you've had your fill of paella, walk right out to the beach, spread out a blanket and snooze or sun-bath on one of the many great beaches in Nerja.

Don't have a beach blanket? Rent a couple of chairs and an umbrella if you prefer, and buy a cold Fanta as you people watch. 

Families love Burriana Beach for all it's entertainment options: volleyball, paddleboats, playgrounds, and cafes.

Nerja Beaches

• Playa Burriana

• El Salon Beach

• Playa El Chorrillo

• Playa Guilche

• Playa Carabeillo

• Playa Torrecilla

• Cala del Canuelo - known for snorkeling

• Playa Chula Nerja

• Playa de Moro

• Carabeo Beach - small cove

• Playa de las Alberquillas - secluded with cliff views

• Cala Barranco de Maro

• Calas Torre del Pino

• Playa la Caletilla

• Playa de la Calahonda

Balcon de Europea

4. Balcony of Europe  

One of the most famous spots in Nerja Spain is the Balcón de Europa, or Europe's Balcony, on the Mediterranean Sea.

Hop in your car (if you parked near Burriana Beach) and drive west a few minutes to find a parking spot in town that gets you within walking distance of this large viewing balcony that juts out over the Mediterranean.

You can also walk 20 minutes from Burriana Beach to get there. Parking can be difficult in the Old Town, so choose what works best for you. 

Head for the Balcony of Europe and enjoy romantic vistas and beaches below. PIck up your daily scoop at a gelateria along the way. 

To the left of the balcony are stairsteps that wind down to the rocky coastline and beach below.

Looking over the Mediterranean from the Balcony of Europe in Nerja

5. End your day with dinner

Dine in one of the many restaurants on or near Plaza Balcon de Europa.

Particularly along Calle Almirante Ferrandiz, Nerja's restaurant row, you will find lots of great choices for a wonderful dinner inside or out.

Reminisce about the day while you enjoy a leisurely dinner before hopping in the car for you drive back to Sevilla. 

Restaurant Row in Nerja

Rent kayaks to head out to Maro Waterfall in Nerja Spain

More outdoor adventure near Nerja Spain:

Maro Waterfall

This waterfall springs forth from the caves of Nerja to a 15 meter fall to meet the Mediterranean below. To enjoy it, meet the waterfall from below by kayaking between the cliffs.

This is one of the secret places the Natural Park of the Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo. You can rent kayaks from Educare Aventura.

Nerja Caves

Just 2.5 miles east of Nerja, these caves boast the world's largest stalactite column found within the Hall of the Cataclysm. A 45 minute unguided tour up and down 400 stair steps winding deep into the mountain is a favorite among Spanish families and cruise ship folks. 

While many head south to this scenic town to enjoy one of the dozen beaches, there are more fun things to do in Nerja Spain, making it a perfect day trip from the nearby Málaga or Granada.

Frigliana

This super cute white-washed hill town just 4 miles up from Nerja is a pure delight. If this is your only chance to wander through a white hill town, do it! Pick up a little map at the Tourist Information building before exploring Old Town and perhaps find a quaint place for dinner. 

How to get to Nerja

This past visit to Spain, while basing ourselves in Sevilla, we made a few day trips. Charming Nerja along Spain's southern coast followed our day and overnight in Granada. (We also hit up Ronda and Cordoba. You can check out our full Andalucia itinerary here.)

From Sevilla: You can easily take the train to Malaga from Sevilla. Then, at Malaga's Maria Zambrano Station, you will see the bus station where you can hop on buses to Nerja.

From Malaga airport: The train from the airport to the station is the quickest and easiest option, taking around 15 mins. Trains depart every 30 minutes. There are daily departures from Malaga to Nerja, roughly every hour or so between 7:00 and 23:00. You can also consider renting a car, especially in the shoulder season. On our first visit, we rented a car to get around Costa del Sol and it was fun and easy to get around, although parking may be a challenge.

From Granada: you can take a bus or rent a car (our choice) and it only takes about an hour to drive south via A44 and A7.

Things to do in Andalucia - southern Spain

What beats celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary in Andalucia, Spain? Not much if you ask me. My parents decided to forego the boring reception and splurged instead on a celebratory trip with their four kids and spouses (read me and the hubs, sans kids)!

My dad loves a challenge, like planning a week-long celebration vacation for a party of ten in Spain, without breaking the bank. 

Mission accepted, mission successful! 

We had a blast and you can read more about how we based ourselves in Sevilla and what our week-long itinerary in Andalucia looked like here:

Our favorite guide Book

No one beats Rick Steves for honest, practical, tourist help and suggestions for fun throughout all of Europe. Rick wittingly tells you where to go, what to skip, and how to get there. Pick up a copy and you won't have any regrets: 

Have you been to Spain's Costa del Sol? What was your favorite? 

All photos in this post belong to Tanya Raedeke. Please do not use without written permission. 

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