Nerja is a picturesque coastal town on the Costa del Sol, only 50 km from Malaga and renowned for its beaches and idyllic subtropical climate all year round. It has managed to avoid all the Torremolinos style high rise apartment blocks and is largely unchanged along its rocky coastline and can lay claim to fabulous cliff top views overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. This attractive seaside town is lively in the summer and quiet and peaceful the rest of the time with an average yearly temperature of 20° C, so it's the perfect place to escape from those cold North European winters!

 

Nerja's year round sunshine and 12 km of beaches are the main reason it is a popular holiday destination but the area has a lot more to offer in the way of things to do and see. First there is the Balcon de Europa, an impressive natural promontory lined with palm trees and a promenade which leads past an array of bars and restaurants to a cliff edge and magnificent views right along the coastline. To the north, the old town offers a tangle of lovely little streets to wander down, past pretty souvenir shops, tapas bars and restaurants specialising in traditional Andalusian dishes, particularly fish and seafood. For those who prefer to cook at home, there is a lively market every Tuesday, as well as shops and supermarkets selling an array of Spanish, English and German food.

 

Nerja can also boast a 20,000 year old archaeological site, discovered in 1957 and comprising a series of enormous caves etched with Paleolithic paintings and where ancient tools dating back 30,000 years were discovered. The paintings are not available for public viewing but a tour through the caverns is highly recommended as they have been rated as some of the best prehistoric caves in the world.

 

Other places of interest include Frigiliana, a very attractive white village in the hills 6 km north of Nerja and a good starting point for trekking further into the Almijara mountain range. Possible day trips include Malaga, Granada and the ski resorts of the Sierra Nevadas, as well as the beautiful Alpujarra mountain villages, and they are all within easy driving distance from Nerja.

 

There are also plenty of activities for the more active holiday maker including golf, guided walks ranging from 1 to 8 hours, mountain climbing, scuba diving and nearly every other water sport, boat trips and jeep excursions, to name but a few. Nerja has something for everyone and it is a delightful area to spend a relaxing time on the beach, an action packed holiday, or a sightseeing visit to one of the most interesting and historic regions of Spain!