Nerja, on the eastern border of the Costa del Sol, was once a small fishing village. It has developed into a popular resort without loosing its traditional charm. With the Almijara Mountains behind and sandy beaches in front, Nerja is a very attractive location with excellent facilities.
A Nerja holiday offers a relaxing place in the sun with soft sandy beaches and the warm Mediterranean Sea. It has a wide variety of bars and restaurants and offers fairly peaceful evenings. The famous Nerja Caves, one of Spain’s most popular tourist attractions, is only three kilometres from the village.
Nerja is very popular with families and older couples who enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the resort. Beautiful beaches with safe bathing attract families with young children and there are plenty of interesting sights in the area including the world famous Nerja Caves.
Although Nerja is a year round holiday destination the summer holiday period is the most popular time to go, with guaranteed sunshine and warm seas. Those who wish to walk or cycle in the hills would find early or late season a better time to visit when the temperature is a little cooler. Nerja is also a good place to go to escape from the damp British winter.
Nerja, fifty kilometres from Malaga on the Costa del Sol, is very popular with British tourists. White houses, their tiled roofs glowing in the sunlight, line the narrow cobbled streets that wind their way into the centre of the village which has managed to retain its traditional allure. A pleasant way to explore the town is by horse and carriage.
There are thirteen kilometres of beaches and small coves where holidaymakers can relax in the sun or try out water sports including water skiing, fishing and scuba diving in the crystal clear water. The Balcon de Europa, built on the site of an Arab fortress, is a wide palm lined promenade on top of the cliffs giving magnificent views over the Mediterranean and the beaches and coves below.
The Caves of Nerja are just three kilometres from the town and they are the most amazing sight with their huge stalactites and stalagmites all dramatically illuminated. One column is the incredible height of thirty two metres. Imagine how many drops of water were needed and how many years it took to grow into such a size. The largest cavern is a concert hall and there are many performances through the summer months.
The hills provide opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, hang- gliding and jeep safaris.
While in Nerja it is possible to visit Granada, only ninety minutes by road, where you can see the splendour of the Alhambra Palace.
The nightlife in Nerja is fairly low key reflecting the popularity of the resort with families and older couples. Many bars have live music and there are a number of Flamenco bars. Holidaymakers mainly spend their evenings over a meal and a drink in one of the many restaurants on the waterfront.
Nerja’s old town has a number of craft shops where the goods are made by local people. These include pottery, embroidered linens, basketry and jewellery. In addition there are the usual numbers of gift and souvenir shops where holiday makers can purchase their mementoes.
Nerja has a wide selection of restaurants serving everything from an English pub roast to a Thai green curry. There are many wonderful fish restaurants offering Nerja’s particular favourite, red mullet, or those delicious small fried fish served with rice and salad. For those who find the gap between lunch and dinner a little too long, Tapas bars are available to ease the hunger pangs. Local wines are pleasant and inexpensive.
