Nerja
A Costa del Sol town with the Balcón de Europa sea-view terrace, a cave with paintings about 42,000 years old, and mountain villages such as Frigiliana nearby.
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Nerja is a coastal town on the Costa del Sol in Málaga province, Andalucía, southern Spain. It lies about 52 km east of Málaga city and about 100 km from Granada. Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is about 45 minutes away by car on the A-7 motorway. The town is known for the Balcón de Europa, a sea-view viewpoint in the old town, and for the Nerja Caves, discovered in 1959 and opened to visitors in 1960. Their seal paintings are dated to about 42,000 years ago.
Nerja works well for a beach stay. Calahonda is quieter and less developed, Burriana is the largest and busiest beach at about 800 m long, and El Playazo, closest to the historic centre, has fine sand and calm water. The Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park rise north of town. Summer is the busiest season, with days of about 20 to 30 °C, while winters stay mild at about 8 to 17 °C.
Nerja in five
- Take the bus from MálagaCoaches run from Málaga to Nerja in roughly an hour, so you can stay without a car. Check the last return before a day trip and book tickets ahead on weekends.
- Start at the Balcón de EuropaThe palm-lined viewpoint on the cliff is the town's center, with narrow lanes of cafes around it. Come in the evening, when the light is better and the day-trippers have gone.
- Pick a cove by walking distancePlaya Burriana is the long beach with services; smaller coves sit below the cliffs near the old town. Reach the quieter Maro cliffs by car or a long coast path.
- Visit the Nerja caves earlyThe cave system a few kilometers east is a major attraction and gets busy by late morning. Check opening hours and ticket rules on the official site before you go.
- Add Frigiliana by bus or carThe white village of Frigiliana sits in the hills above Nerja, a short ride from town. Lanes are steep and cobbled, so wear flat shoes and go early in summer.
Need to know
- Airport
- Málaga-Costa del Sol (AGP), about 45–60 min by road
- Getting there
- Coach from Málaga in about an hour; no train to Nerja
- Getting around
- On foot in town; local buses to Maro and Frigiliana
- Best base
- Old town for evenings; Burriana for beach days
- Time needed
- A long day from Málaga; 2 to 4 nights as a quiet base
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Mild, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Mild, quietFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Spring walksMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 122 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring walks
- AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Easter, warmAprilClear
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, warm
- MayClear4 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, quietMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh24°Low19°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low23°Hot, festivalsAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, festivals
- SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear5 rainy daysHigh22°Low18°Mild, calmOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- NovemberClear5 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Mild, quietNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- DecemberClear5 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Mild, lightsDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, lights
Average daily high and low in Nerja, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Nerja
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 17°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 10%
Nerja
12:22 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today18°14°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed16°13°71%Wednesday: Rain. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Thu16°14°25%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Fri19°15°7%Friday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sat17°14°10%Saturday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun19°16°51%Sunday: Rain. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 51%.
Updated 11:51 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Frigilianaabout 15 min by bus or carA white mountain village with steep lanes and views back to the sea.
- Málagaabout 1 hour by busMuseums, the Alcazaba and the city beach.Read the guide
- Granadaabout 1.5 to 2 hours by busThe Alhambra and the Albaicín in a long day or one night.Read the guide
Before you go to Nerja
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Rules for Nerja, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors are registered at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System, which takes fingerprints and a photo. Check the current rules before you travel.
- Nerja is not in the Málaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium, so regional metro-area tickets do not apply here. Check the local bus fares before you ride.
- Only the southern section of the caves is on public view. The upper and newer galleries have restricted access.
Plan around Nerja
Málaga, Marbella or Nerja compared as bases
Read the guideMálaga travel guideThe nearest city, about an hour west by bus
Read the guideMálaga ProvinceRonda, Antequera and white villages
Read the guideGranada travel guideThe Alhambra, a long day by bus from Nerja
Read the guideAll of SpainThe wider country, from Andalusia to the islands
Read the guideNerja FAQ
Is Nerja worth visiting?
Yes if you want a calmer, more traditional Costa del Sol town with cliff viewpoints, coves and nearby caves. It is smaller than Málaga or Marbella, so it suits relaxing, not nightlife or big museums.
How do you get to Nerja from Málaga?
By coach from the Málaga bus station in about an hour, by car on the A-7 coast road, or by guided day tour. There is no train, and the last return coach leaves in the evening, so check the timetable.
Can you visit Nerja as a day trip from Málaga?
Yes. It takes about an hour each way, which leaves time for the viewpoint, a cove and the old town. Stay a night if you also want the caves and Frigiliana.
Is Nerja good for a beach holiday?
It suits a coves-and-views holiday more than a long sandy one. Playa Burriana is the main beach with services, and smaller coves lie below the cliffs. The sea stays cold into May.
What is the best time to visit Nerja?
May, June, September and October for warm days and calmer streets. July and August are hot and busy with Spanish families, and winter is mild with some places closed.