What to see and do
Eating and Shopping
On its wonderful beaches in the early hours of the morning, you can see the freshly caught fish being unloaded from small boats and distributed to the town’s many restaurants in a matter of hours. Many traditional tapas bars situated in the old part of the town still give a free tapa with every drink but there are also many cosmopolitan restaurants in town offering a wide variety of international menus to suit all tastes.
On Burriana Beach there are many fish restaurants where you can watch chefs prepare Paella in giant pans.
As for the shopper, there are plenty of chic shops littered all over the Old Town and there is a Street Market every Tuesday.
More to see and do
The Balcon de Europa is always buzzing with activity and has a vibrant feel to it. The scenic promenade is adorned with palm trees and exotic plants as visitors wander past to the furthest end of the Balcon to get panoramic views along the rocky coastline to the east. As night falls, numerous street performers turn up on the Balcon including singers, mime artists and spray painters. The horse and carts are always waiting to take you on a tour of Nerja.
Nerja has around 10km of Sandy Beaches including the famous Burriana Beach, which is one of the few EU classified blue flag beaches. Here you will also find several opportunities for water sports such as windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, fishing and scuba diving.
Around Nerja
You can go walking in the ‘Axarquia’ where there are plenty of trails for walkers of varying levels. The famous caves of Nerja are breathtaking and are only 3 km outside the town. As one of the largest tourist attractions in Spain, they are a must see. Tens of thousands of years old yet only discovered in 1959, the caves stretch for almost 5km and they hold concerts in one of the main chambers which forms a natural amphitheatre.
Historical Interest
The Romans gave the settlement the name "Detunda", and it was later taken over by the Arabs where it was renamed "Narixa", which means "abundant spring". This is the origin of its present name. Its agricultural and silk products were famed throughout the Muslim world and were in the markets of Damascus as early as the tenth century. At the heart of Nerja town lies the Balcon de Europa. Originally a Moorish Castle in the 9th century, it was transformed into a fortress in 1487 before its destruction by the French during the Napoleonic War of 1812. It is now home to a panoramic restaurant and a superb view point. Today, two ancient cannons provide a reminder that there was a fortress at the top of the cliffs. In 1885 King Alfonso XII visited Nerja and he was so amazed by the views that it was he who named it the ‘Balcon de Europa’ – The Balcony of Europe.
