Nerja, Spain - great guide to the gem of the Costa del Sol - Spanish Real Estate

Nerja on the Costa del Sol in Andalucia, is a city that has been widely praised by both Swedish and foreign media. In May 2016, the city won a major international vote and was named "Spain's most beautiful coastal village" and it received a similar nomination as recently as last year. At the beginning of 2018, the world's largest travel site Tripadvisor also published the results of its annual international poll. Nerja ended up as the only Spanish place on the list "Travellers' Choice Destinations on the Rise — World" at number 9, and later in June, in the same poll at number 4 . In terms of destinations around the world, the city was also ranked 9th in the recent website's Traveller's Choice Awards in the same month. "Beautiful geology, the lack of crowds, clear water and greenery make Nerja a winner for most people who are willing to visit the city".

Just before the opening of the Spanish borders in the summer of 20, the European Commission published a report carried out by over 300 tourist agencies around the continent. Nerja ended up in second place on the list of Europe's best places to visit! It has been over ten years since the Swedish travel magazine Vagabond gave Nerja, as the only place on the Costa del Sol, the highest rating, and the city's reputation has only been strengthened since then, and during the summer Expressen wrote a guide to the city with the title Costa del Sol's gem . During the Corona crisis, the city has also launched several million-dollar projects to further strengthen its attractiveness. The city's new, major investment in Sustainability and Quality Tourism, with the renovation of beaches, hiking and biking trails and nature parks, as well as the construction of a new health center, amphitheater, library with sea views and a new golf course, etc. will only strengthen its position.

Not only that. According to a new international survey, Nerja has Spain's second happiest residents. Hemingway's favorite Ronda is found in first place (it is under two hours by car between these two cities).

Our broker Anders in Spain, a long-time resident of Nerja, tells us that many Swedes who go down to the Costa del Sol to buy a house go up and down the coast in search of a home, but in the end they still choose Nerja. There is something about this small Spanish town 5 miles east of Malaga that plays on our inner strings.

Many feel that Nerja, with its white houses and narrow alleys, is surrounded by a fairy-tale shimmer they can't quite put their finger on. Maybe it's the nice people, maybe the uniquely beautiful environments, or the almost perfect climate. Maybe it's the proximity to the sea and the subtropical greenery, or the clean beaches. Whatever the reason, everyone wants to return to Nerja.

Nerja offers a unique climate, skiing and tropical vegetation

The high mountains that surround the city combined with the proximity to the coolness of the sea help to create a protected zone with pleasant summers and mild winters – a unique climate in Europe. It rarely gets above 30 degrees in the summer, and during the winter the temperature rarely drops below 15 degrees.

Nerja is extremely fertile, and colorful flowers and tropical fruits such as avocados, papayas and mangoes spread across the “ Costa Tropical ”, painting an unbeatable exotic environment.

The city is also only 2 hours from the Sierra Nevada and its wonderful ski slopes ! This makes Nerja and the Costa del Sol one of the few places in the world where you can ski during the day, and take a dip in the sea at night!

NOTE, don't miss that you can rent an apartment or house in Nerja directly through us . No other player in Sweden can offer a larger selection of cheap properties in this area. We think you will like the selection and the prices! We also offer rentals in the city's most popular area , Capistrano Village. Our visitor office in Nerja is located on the main street (near the Balcon de Europa) Calle Pintada 9. Welcome!

If you'd rather stay in a hotel, Hotels.com is recommended. Book hotels in Nerja cheapest here.

Eat in Nerja

The city is known for its rich selection of restaurants. The food here is absolutely top class, and the prices are generally lower than in the neighboring towns on the western Solkusten.

There is a large selection of tapas restaurants, international restaurants and superb Paella (don't miss Ayo's at Burriana!) and other dishes from the sea are served along the beaches. Our favorite restaurant in the city is Oliva . The restaurant has a slightly more experimental, exclusive feel, but the atmosphere is relaxed and the prices are amazingly good! This restaurant is located at Plaza Espana 2. The Parador hotel is not only famous for its beautiful views, but also for its restaurant El Ombú del Mediterráneo, which is often mentioned in international food publications. . Local dishes with avocado, prawns and tuna are found here. Sollun is another restaurant that was also recently (2024) recognized by the Michelin guide, which considers Nerja to be one of the best culinary resorts on the entire Costa del Sol.

Tip: If you want to visit a winery , Bodegas Bentomiz is located 30 minutes from Nerja, towards Compet (near Sayalonga). Ariyana's wines are made here; red, white and rosé. Guided tastings can be ordered, also in combination with lunch. Read more: bodegasbentomiz.com

Ruta de La Tapa (tapas round) is a relatively new phenomenon that reached Nerja a few years ago. During the entire month of May, a larger number of tapas bars and restaurants participate in a campaign that consists of showing off their best culinary side to both locals and tourists. During this month, a tapas and a caña (small beer) cost less than 2 Euros. Every time you buy a tapa at one of the restaurants participating in the round, you get a stamp in a booklet. When you have visited at least 9 bars in the round and hand in the booklet, you participate in a raffle where the prize is a dinner for four at a restaurant of your choice. The booklet ("Passport") and a map of participating tapas bars can be found at the Tourist Office located at the entrance to the Balcon de Europa.

The city is becoming increasingly popular for film shoots

In recent years, more and more film shoots have been relocated to the city, thanks to its visual beauty, relatively low prices and beautiful weather. Hollywood director Tosca Musk (also Elon's sister) calls the city "the best in Europe for filming". German and British film companies have also shown interest in filming in the city. If you're lucky, you may in the future see an international film star strolling along one of the city's beaches.

Sights in Nerja

The city is famous for maintaining its Spanish heritage and small-town calm, but the ideal location and the many attractions also help to create a large tourism industry, with all that that entails in terms of shopping, nightlife, water sports, golf and dining options.

In addition, 25% of the 30,000 inhabitants are of international origin, which further contributes to the international character mixed with the genuine Spanish. Below is a brief description of some of the sights Nerja has to offer:

The Balcon de Europa is the remains of an old fortress (built in 1487), which was an important protection against pirates, and offers a magnificent view of the Mediterranean and the mountains. "Europe's balcony" is the pride and center of the city.

Burriana beach is the favorite beach of the residents and it is lined with lots of cozy restaurants and bars. The areas around Burriana are very popular residential areas.

According to many, the Kayak trail between Burriana beach and Maro beach is among the most beautiful nature experiences in all of Andalucia. Along the trail you paddle past small caves filled with turquoise water, hidden beaches and large waterfalls. The major Spanish TV channel said it best: "Paradise exists on earth, and it does so right here in Andalucia".

Cueva de Nerja , the caves of Nerja (at Maro). Only 3 kilometers from the center you will find the spectacular caves that were first discovered in 1959, and are now considered to be one of the greatest archaeological finds in the world. Among other things, the archaeologists found objects and paintings older than ~~20,000~~ 41,000 years. This is annually the most visited natural attraction in Spain. CNN May 16, 2023: "European tourism: it's as old as time. In the 19th century, the US glitterati would pop over to Paris to refresh their wardrobes. From the 1700s, places like Venice and Rome were becoming essential tourist stops in Italy. In the Classical era there were, famously, the seven wonders of the world. None of these compare, however, to a cave in southern Spain which – it has just been revealed – has been visited by humans for over 41,000 years.”

The caves are believed to be over 5 million years old. Here you can view fantastic cave formations such as stalagmites, and huge cave halls. In addition, concerts and other events are often organized in Cuevas de Nerja, whose areas offer a restaurant and museum.

Soon you will also be able to walk or cycle all the way to Manilva on a beach promenade that runs along the entire Solkusten. Starting in the fall of 2014, they started connecting existing walks and it will be completely completed in 2024. The total distance between Nerja and Manilva is 184 km long.

A new marina in the immediate area and an absolutely world-class golf course are also expected to be built in the next few years.

As the city has such an unusually beautiful location, wedged between the mountains and the sea, and inherent harmony in both nature and the population, it has also become very popular to organize Yoga and meditation trips and hiking trips to the area. The most famous hiking trail in Nerja is the Rio Chillar . The surroundings are spectacular and teeming with birds, butterflies, dragonflies, wild flowers and cane sugar. Rio Chillar is also unique in that the trail is covered in a lot of shade, plus the river cools down the hikers. This is one of the very few hiking trails that you can take in hot Andalusia during June, July and August. However, due to the impact from tourism, it is largely closed from time to time.

Other very popular areas for getting out into nature and hiking are the protected natural areas of Sierra de Tejada and Almijarra Natural Park.

In addition, the famous hiking trail along the sea, Sendo Litoral, will have its starting point at Nerja's Balcón de Europa. The stretch, which will offer a truly unique coastal walk, will be over 160 km long, and the final destination is beyond Manilva.

The highest coastal mountain in the area is El Cielo (which means "the sky") and it is 1508 meters above sea level. The mountain is easily accessible (well) and must be climbed if you want to witness the most beautiful views in Europe! On a clear day, you can see the entire Costa del Sol from the mountain, from Almunecar to Malaga – as well as the nearby mountain peaks and the North African coastline.

Frigiliana - Andalucia's most beautiful village is a historic gem high in the Almijara mountains. The village, which is something of a suburb of Nerja, is a traditional stronghold for cultural figures and has won several Spanish awards for its unadulterated Spanish charm, and architectural beauty.

The residents of Frigiliana take great pride in their village, and take care to keep it stunningly clean and beautiful. Walking down Frigiliana's narrow cobbled streets and witnessing the architecture and people is like being in another place and time!

Festivals in Nerja

All Andalusian cities celebrate several festivals a year and Nerja is no exception. Feria de Nerja between October 8-13 is perhaps the biggest festival, and is almost a big weekend for the residents when basically everyone takes time off and dresses up in traditional Flamenco costumes and parties as if there was a meteor hanging in the sky.

In February they celebrate Carnaval , and the celebrations during Easter week - Semana Santa - are gigantic. Other festivals are for example San Isidro on May 15 when everyone again dresses up in Flamenco dresses and parties, San Juan on June 24 (can be compared to our midsummer celebration) when it is celebrated with barbecues on the city's beaches, and Virgin del Carmen on July 16 when a statue of the Virgin Mary is carried through the city, and on to the sea.

Finally, we would like to mention Reyes Magos , on January 5, the great holiday of the Christmas celebration when the three wise men arrive in Nerja to distribute Christmas presents to the children.

Nerja and surroundings

It is not only Nerja itself and the immediate surroundings that have become popular in this part of Andalusia . A short drive away you will find several lovely towns and communities to visit, or why not settle in. For example, 10 minutes away in an eastern direction is Cerro Gordo with its protected nature reserves and unspoiled beaches.

La Herradura is another beautiful coastal resort nearby, which is known, among other things, for its range of restaurants, and nightlife.

Almunecar is only 16 kilometers east of Nerja, and the coastal road between the two towns is nothing short of amazing! Almunecar has a history that stretches back more than 3,000 years. Here you will find Roman aqueducts, the ancient castle Castillo de San Miguel which is believed to date back to the Phoenicians, and many other places of historical interest.

Almunecar also belongs to the Costa Tropical, i.e. the tropical part of the Costa del Sol, and is therefore a very popular holiday destination due to its superb weather. The name of the city comes from the Moorish word Narixa, which means "rich in water". You'll also find the historic cities of Seville , Granada and Cordoba within easy driving distance of Nerja.

In addition, the motorways on the Costa del Sol are well developed so it is easy to get there by car, and the new train line between Malaga and Madrid was recently inaugurated. The ultra-modern AVE train reaches speeds of up to 350 km/h and the journey time to the capital is around 2.5 hours!

If the accident is imminent - important phone numbers (for Swedes)

The Swedish consulate is located in Malaga, more specifically at Calle Córdoba 6. Opening hours are normally 10am-1pm. Telephone number for the consulate: +34 952 604 383
Embassy of Sweden in Madrid +34 917 02 20 00
Should you happen to be involved in a crime, it is most appropriate that you visit the police station in Nerja. Calle Virgen del Pilar (see map below), 1, 29780 Nerja, Málaga, Spain. Telephone: (0034) 95 252 0091
The emergency number in Spain is the same as in Sweden: 112.
If you need to contact the police by phone, call 091.
The Swedish Church in Fuengirola is still active. Although so many people may not turn there when they encounter problems, it can still be good to know that they have an emergency telephone number: +34 675 945 929.

Broker in Nerja

As we have our Spain office in Nerja (Calle Pintada 9) with brokers who know the market inside and out, we can offer housing in Nerja at very favorable prices and locations. Get in touch at info@spanskafastigheter.se for an expression of interest. A selection of our houses and apartments in Nerja for sale.

There is much going the right way for the Costa del Sol in general and Nerja in particular right now and in the long term. Nerja invests heavily in sustainability and nature . This will lift the city's already very strong brand and make the contrast with the western side's "Disneyfication" (several large amusement parks are being built in these areas, which will attract families with children, but Nerja and Torrox invest more in the sustainable, on nature experiences, etc.) even stronger. Nerja is currently working on fulfilling the requirements for the "Plan de Calidad Turística" certificate and Sustainability and Quality are the keywords for Nerja's future and this also includes an investment in the natural parks at Sierra Almijara and Maro. In addition to this and a general refurbishment of beaches and facilities, they are also focusing a lot on security, hiring, among other things, five new police officers at the beginning of 2022. We are convinced that this well-thought-out strategy will increase to an increasingly quality-conscious tourism that will push up the prices of both real estate and its rental prices (Nerja, as you know, has fewer hotels than most resorts on the Costa del Sol).