Hotels in Nerja

Nerja was a quiet fishing town before the 1980s TV series Verano Azul made it a household name across Spain, and it has since grown into one of the more polished resorts on the eastern Costa del Sol. The Balcón de Europa, a clifftop promenade jutting out over the sea, remains the genuine centrepiece and gives the town a sense of place that many coastal resorts lack.

Beaches like Burriana are decent stretches of sand backed by a strong run of chiringuitos serving fried fish, and the Nerja Caves nearby are a proper attraction rather than a tourist trap. Be honest: high season brings serious crowds and traffic into a town with narrow streets never built for the volume, and prices climb accordingly. It's also a fair drive from Malaga airport, an hour or so, so it suits a longer stay more than a quick break.