Top Attractions in Nerja: A Guide to Must-See Sights and Hidden Gems August 21, 2024 – Posted in: Spain, Travel – Tags: Andalusia, Archaeology, Attractions, Frigiliana, Hiking, History, Holiday, Nerja, Spain, Vacation

Tourist Attractions in Nerja

The small town of Nerja on the Costa del Sol is just waiting for you with plenty of delightful experiences! There are many small and large attractions in Nerja, along with the most beautiful beaches and lots of great hiking trails.

However, most tourists only visit Nerja for a day trip to see the caves and Frigiliana, which is actually a shame. Nerja has so much to offer, and above all, it’s just really charming here. This article is from our trip in March 2023, where we had four nights. It wasn’t quite enough for all the hikes we wanted to do, so we plan to return.

Briefly About Nerja

Before we start discussing the tourist attractions in Nerja that you simply must experience, it’s necessary to provide a brief overview of Nerja’s history. The town was originally called Narixa under Muslim rule, which in Arabic means “rich in water”. When the Moors arrived in the area in the 8th century, they settled here, which is still evidenced by the current white houses in the winding streets.

In fact, people have lived in the area since the Stone Age, and items found in the nearby caves date back at least 25,000 years! Later, around 1000 B.C., the Phoenicians arrived, followed by Greeks, Romans and Visigoths.

When the Moors later conquered Al-Andalus, from which Andalusia gets its name, Nerja was only a small fishing village. They established an extensive textile industry here, which was at its height when the Catholic kings began La Reconquista, the reconquest of Spain.

Later, the waters off Nerja became a popular territory for pirates, who were fought off from the current Balcón de Europa. At the same time, sugarcane cultivation began, and the first sugar factories sprang up. The large aqueduct, Las Aguilas, which you can read about further down, was built to transport water to the large sugar factory in Maro.

The discovery of the caves in 1959 put Nerja on the tourist map, and tourism is now a significant source of income for the area, although it primarily relies on agriculture. But let’s head out and explore Nerja!

Sights in Nerja

Even if you have several days available, it can still be difficult to choose what to see when you are on vacation in the city. There is actually even more to see and experience in Nerja than we have had space to mention here. For more information, please visit the Tourist Information in Nerja.

Balcón de Europa

We start with all the other tourists at the Balcón de Europa, where you have a fascinating view over the Mediterranean Sea. There is activity here at all times of the day, with plenty of cozy ice cream parlors and bars. A small staircase leads from the gate down to the small beach El Boquete de Calahonda.

What many don’t know is that the area was once part of the fortress Castillo Bajo, which also extended to where Hotel Balcón de Europa is today. The rusty cannons and cannonballs were positioned to defend the fort, which was destroyed in 1812.

La Torrecilla

From Balcón de Europa, head west to La Torrecilla, The Little Tower. The remains of the tower are located on the small balcony at the end of Playa Torrecilla. From here, medieval defenses could ward off pirate attacks and send warning signals to Castillo Alto, the main castle, which was further inland on the road to Frigiliana. Later, the tower became part of a defense system to protect the sugar factories.

Shopping in Nerja in The Old Town

From Torrecilla, head a bit inland through the charming old part of Nerja. The narrow streets radiating out from Balcón de Europa reflect a town that has grown organically over many centuries. Unlike, for example, Torrox, which was just barren fields in the 1960s, this cozy little town has been around for a long time.

And make sure to take the time to wander around and visit all the small shops. Shopping in Nerja mainly offers quality souvenirs in the form of dresses, hats, and bags. If you need a supermarket, there is a larger Mercadona at each end of the town.

The Beaches of Nerja

Although Nerja has an exciting history and beautiful nature, one of the main attractions is its many lovely beaches. The largest and most popular is Playa Burriana at the eastern end of the town, with its many lively bars and restaurants. Right by Balcón de Europa are also Playa Calahonda and Playa Calatilla. In total, Nerja has 12 bathing beaches within the municipal boundaries, spread over 13 kilometers of coastline.

The Sugar Factory

If you’d like to stretch your legs after a long day in the sun, we recommend a hike out to the sugar factory and the large aqueduct. The first sugar factory was established in Nerja as early as the late 17th century. Today, you can see the remains of the large factory San Joaquín Sugar Mill, which was closed in 1911.

Here’s how to get there: Follow the wide sidewalk out of Nerja towards Maro. At the first major roundabout just before the aqueduct, there is a small road leading up along the greenhouses. You can search for Google Maps for Fábrica de Maro or click the link.

The Roman Road in Nerja

And from the sugar factory, things get a bit nerdy! We have a soft spot for ancient ruins, particularly those left by the Romans. If you head behind the sugar factory, you’ll spot a small radio mast to the west – it’s visible in the photo. Right below that mast are the remnants of an old Roman road.

Yes, as mentioned in the introduction, the Romans also passed through Nerja, which they named Detunda. Today, most archaeological traces of them are found in the neighboring town of Torrox, where you can see, among other things, a garum factory. However, in this area, coins, amphorae, and even the remains of a villa in Maro have been found.

But this road, part of Vía Cástulo-Malaca, is evidence of significant Roman activity between the cities. Nerja has always been a good place to land fish that needed to be transported for processing in Torrox.

The Las Aguilas Aqueduct

If, contrary to all expectations, you find old Roman roads not exciting at all, you can instead turn back from the sugar factory and head out to the main road. At the roundabout, you can take the Carr. de Almería road, which will lead you over the bridge with a good view of the aqueduct Las Aguilas. That’s the one you can see in the top picture.

The Eagle Aqueduct was built between 1879-1880 and is now considered one of the highlights of Spanish architecture. And it’s impressive as it stands tall in front of the mountains. It was originally built to direct water to the San Joaquín sugar factory, but the aqueduct is actually still in use today.

If you’d like to see the aqueduct away from the many cars on the bridge, you can turn south just before the roundabout. This will lead you down to the old bridge, from where you can also take the small path all the way down into the gorge. Most people choose to take the walk out to the small beach here, but you can also go and admire the aqueduct from below. Be aware that there are a few homeless camps under the bridge. They are friendly and will greet you, but just so you’re not startled.

The Caves – Cueva de Nerja

From the aqueduct, it’s just a short walk to the caves, Cueva de Nerja. While we have been moving through a distant past that we know, we now travel back in time even further. There is a theory that Neanderthals also lived in these caves 40,000 years ago. A concrete proof is still lacking, but it is certain and scientifically proven that humans lived here 25,000 years ago.

The Stone Age people left us a legacy of cave paintings, tools, and clay pots, many of which can be seen in the attached museum. However, the cave paintings are rarely accessible to the public, but you can visit the beautiful dripstone caves, which include the world’s largest stalactite.

If you don’t want to walk to the caves, there is also a small train from Nerja running many times a day. You can check the departure times here.

Hiking in Nerja

Many, like us, come to Nerja to hike. There are many options for beautiful hikes both along the coast and in the mountains. We had three hikes, including one to the neighboring town of Maro, which you can also read a bit about here, and to the other nearby towns of Torrox and Frigiliana.

We have chosen to write a separate article for each town, and you can read it right here: Hiking in Nerja.

We make good use of the app AllTrails, where you can get inspiration for your hiking route and see all the trails in the area, even the smallest ones. Where we previously stood as two question marks wondering if we could continue on a path or if it ended in a dead end, today we can just go on an adventure. You can read more about AllTrails here.

More Great Tips for Your Vacation in Nerja

Find a Great Hotel in Nerja

Nerja is a small town, but there are surprisingly many hotels. Many tourists come here on a charter holiday, but if you prefer to book independently, it’s just as easy. We chose to stay a little outside the town center, but still just a few minutes’ walk to the Balcón de Europa. At our small boutique hotel, Hotel Boutique Sibarys, located on one of the quieter streets, it was quiet all day and night.

Even though the hotel is just a short walk from Playa Calahonda, it features its own cozy pool and a pool bar. We had a delightful small balcony with views of the pool and the sea. The balcony, furnished with a small table and two chairs, provided the perfect spot for us to relax and soak up the evening sun before going out to explore the town’s restaurants. In the mornings, breakfast is served in the intimate dining room located in the basement, offering a buffet that truly lives up to the motto “small but superb!”

Hotel Boutique Sibarys is an adults-only hotel, and it was quite clear that only fellow hedonists like ourselves were staying there! Sibarys is a hotel you stay at if you enjoy relaxing and want to be close to the town life but still have enough peace to take a midday nap in the sun lounger without being disturbed.

Read more about the hotel here: Hotel Boutique Sibarys and see all the other hotels in Nerja by clicking here. You can also make your own search for hotels in Nerja right here:

Booking.com