6 Unmissable Beaches in Nerja – A Guide (+ Map)

The town of Nerja, Spain is located a 50-minute drive from Malaga. It is an extremely popular tourist town for Northern Europeans and Spaniards. Its quaint small-town feel is home to 35,000 year-round residents.

With incredible restaurants and excellent hotels, Nerja is a foodie paradise. With many of the ingredients local to the region, Nerja’s culinary scene improves with each year. And dotted around the coastline of Nerja are some of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol. 

For such a small town, Nerja Spain has an extraordinary amount of excellent beaches. This coastal town in Southern Spain is dotted with quaint little coves and sandy beaches. Visitors will be spoiled for choice when it comes to sunning themselves and plunging in the crystal waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

During the height of the summer months, the beaches get busier and those with cars should plan on arriving early to claim a parking space. But with such a variety of beautiful beaches in Nerja, there will be a sandy beach for everyone. 

However one thing you should note when visiting any of the beaches in Nerja is the amount of sellers armed with football shirts, ‘designer’ handbags, beach towels etc that will come up to you several times throughout the day. They’re lovely guys, but it does get quite tiring saying no. You’ll also be approached for massages that are excellent value, but again it does get quite tedious the 14th time you’ve said no.

Burriana Beach Nerja (Playa Burriana)

Burriana beach is a beautiful beach for a number of reasons. It’s the longest sandy beach in Nerja being almost a kilometre in length. Lined with some of the best restaurants in Nerja, you can also find the usual seaside shops selling snorkels and towels. It is one of the best sandy beaches in Nerja. 

For beachgoers who love to be active, Burriana beach has two volleyball courts, kayak and paddleboard rental and jet ski rental. The popular kayak tour departs hourly and an adult ticket costs €20, the tour is 2.5hrs in length.

The kayak tour visits Cerro Gordo, a waterfall and the cliffs of Maro. Verano Azul was a popular Spanish TV show that was filmed during the 70s in Nerja and the kayak tour visits some of the filming sites. 

Sun loungers on Burriana Beach generally cost €6 per bed. Depending on the section of the beach they typically include the umbrella in the price. It’s worth noting that some places offer drinks service to the sun loungers.

There is a lifeguard tower during the summer months. There are usually free showers placed all across the beach so you can wash off the sand and salt before heading for a sundowner at the many bars and restaurants by the beach.

Eating & Sleeping at Burriana Beach

Burriana beach has the best selection of restaurants to choose from of all the beaches. The most famous restaurant on the beach is the Chiringuito Ayos. What makes Ayos so famous is their paella.

Getting a table in this restaurant during the afternoons can be difficult, but if you arrive between 12.30 and 2 pm you can easily get a table. The paella in Ayo’s is incredible, but it’s not only the taste but the experience of seeing seasoned staff turn over the tables at an impressive rate.

For early risers, a lot of the restaurants on the beach start operating from 9 am onwards and you can find some of the best breakfasts in Nerja on the Burriana beach.

The beach has a variety of ice-cream parlours, tapas restaurants and beach bars. It can be hard to leave Burriana beach as it offers so much for its visitors.

Staying near Burriana beach is easy as there are so many aparthotels in Nerja, and this section of the beach has plenty of accommodation choices. Guests staying in the Parador de Nerja hotel can make excellent use of the elevator which provides guests with direct access to the beach and hotel.

For such a large beach there is not a lot of parking available, so do make sure you arrive very early if you are coming by car. 

Calahonda Beach Nerja (Playa Calahonda)

Located right beside the Balcon de Europa, Calahonda Beach is a favourite for those staying in the centre of town. Its direct access from the Balcon de Europa makes this beach very popular during the high season.

Sun loungers and umbrellas are available to rent for the day and cost €6 per sun lounger. There is ample room on this beach and due to its proximity to the centre of town, you can easily do some shopping and grab food at the nearby restaurants before accessing the beach via the Balcon de Europa.

To access this beach, there is a small archway and a large walkway down to the beach. It is not wheelchair friendly. Playa Calahonda is a wonderful beach and has some of the best sunsets in town. It’s the perfect beach to spend an afternoon on after walking around the town of Nerja and exploring.

Carabeo Beach (Playa Carabeo)

Only if you happened to be walking along the pedestrianised Carabeo street would you stumble upon this small beach. Parking is available in the enormous town parking lot, a stone’s throw away. Carabeo Beach is perfect for those who love an uncomplicated beach.

There are no sun loungers here, nor restaurants. It’s simply sand and crystal clear sea. The simplicity of this beach is not to be understated, it’s beautiful and surrounded by high cliffs which make it feel very private and sheltered.

Walking back up the stairs of the beach, you can easily walk 500m into Nerja town and have lunch or grab snacks to bring back to the beach. 

Playa la Caletilla 

Playa la Caletilla is located on the other side of the Balcon de Europa. A smaller beach, Playa el Salón is right next to it and visitors used to be able to walk from one beach to the next and around the Balcon headland to Calahonda.

Due to coastal erosion and rockfall that is no longer possible. Playa el Salón is only now accessible via the Hotel Balcon de Europa and a small footpath at the end of the Balcon de Europa.

Playa la Caletilla can be accessed by walking down a steep hill and has a small shop for drinks and snacks. There are facilities such as showers and you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas.

Lined with quaint fisherman’s huts which have now been transformed into summer accommodation, Playa la Caletilla is a large beach in the heart of Nerja town. While there are no restaurants on the beach, a quick stroll back up the hill will give visitors many restaurants and cafes to choose from. 

Playa La Torrecilla

Located in front of the enormous Hotel Riu Monica, Playa La Torrecilla is a large city beach that has a fantastic promenade in front of it.

It’s not one of Nerja’s prettiest beaches but if you’re looking for a beach that is near Hotel Riu Monica or the surrounding area you’re in luck. However, walk a short distance towards Playa la Caletilla and you’ll be rewarded with a much better experience.

If you’re looking to visit the Nerja Caves, you’ll find the little red train bus departs nearby Playa La Torrecilla.

Beaches near Nerja

Maro Beach Nerja {Playa de Maro}

Maro is technically the next town over, but its beach is quite different to that of Nerja’s most famous Burriana beach. Playa de Maro makes an excellent spot for those wanting a beach to snorkel, with its crystal clear waters and excellent visibility.

The water at Maro beach is very calm and there is a large number of sea creatures to be discovered in these waters. Kayak rental is available on the beach and is worth experiencing the waterfalls off the cliffs of Maro. Kayak rental starts at €8 per hour. 

Playa de Maro offers a smaller selection of sun loungers and umbrellas. There is a small parking lot but you will probably end up parking on the side of the road that leads to the beach. It is possible to travel by bus from Nerja, visitors will need to walk through the town of Maro and down to the coast. 

If you are looking for a quieter beach that offers excellent snorkelling and water-based activities then Playa de Maro is the beach for you. 

Canūelo Beach

Canūelo is a secret beach that tourists rarely venture to. Technically not in Nerja, this beach is fantastic thanks to its location. Accessible by car, you can park at the top of a large steep hill. A small shuttle bus (€2) will bring you down to the beach.

The beach is a stoney at parts and sea shoes are recommended when visiting. There is a small section of sun loungers and umbrellas available to rent. It is the restaurant, Chiringuito Las Piedras, that draws a lot of visitors and for good reason.

Some of the freshest fish is served here, with locally produced olive oils and wines. Reservations are needed during the high season. Excellent snorkelling is recommended and for those who scuba, there are sea caves that can be explored. Canūelo is a magnificent beach and worth visiting for the excellent restaurant – Chiringuito Las Piedras. 

Nerja Beaches Map

To view a list of each pinned location, click the icon at the top-left corner. For an expanded view, click the button located at the top-right. To save to your personal Google Maps account, simply click the star icon. Once saved, access the map by opening Google Maps on your device, clicking the ‘Saved’ button, selecting the “Maps” icon on the bottom of the screen, and then choosing you’ll find this map listed.

Beaches of Nerja

Nerja is fortunate to be blessed with so many fantastic beaches in its vicinity. Most of the beaches are located in the centre of Nerja and do not need any additional forms of transport to access them.

If you are planning on staying in Nerja town, you will have many beaches within walkable distance. Whichever beach in Nerja you end up visiting, it’s sure to be memorable when exploring some of the best beaches in the Costa del Sol.

Meet Missy…

Missy spent the first 2 decades of her life living in her native Dublin, Ireland. Before a life living overseas called to her, and she spent the next decade living in China, Laos & Belgium. She now splits her time in Antwerp, Belgium, and wherever the sun is currently shining. You can follow Missy’s real-time travels on her Instagram.