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Our own Nerja top-10

1. Alhambra (Granada) or Mezquita (Cordoba)

The biggest cultural attraction of Andalusia is the palace complex Alhambra in the beautiful Granada where until the 16th century the Moorish sultans and their ‘harems’ lived in luxury. Even just the journey through the Sierra Nevada (where you can ski most of the year) is amazing. The Mezquita in the old town of Cordoba is the only remaining mosque of Spain which was refurbished into a cathedral. As far as we are concerned the Mezquita is just as beautiful as the Alhambra.

2. Balcon de Europa

When you walk through the historic centre of Nerja you shouldn’t forget to visit the famous viewing point during your holiday, the Balcon de Europa. You can also walk down to the cute little beach of Calahonda, probably the most photographed beach in the whole of Spain, with fishing boats lined up on the sand and a traditional fisherman's cottage nestled into the rocks. The Balcon de Europa is beautiful during the day as well as in the evening! Nice for the children: from here you can take a tour of the town in a horse carriage or catch the little train (behind the church).

3. Las Cuevas de Nerja

Our number 3 attraction in this part of Spain are the lime stone caves ‘Las Cuevas de Nerja’ in Nerja-Maro. Not that big (you’ll be inside for more or less 1.5 hours), but a fantastic sight, well worth a visit, and in the summer, the caves are refreshingly cool. If you drive to Nerja-Maro (you can also walk, it’s 4 km from the centre of Nerja), you can also see the 5-store high beautiful Roman Aqueduct.

4. Frigiliana

Frigiliana is a picturesque white village 6 kilometres from Nerja. It’s one of the best preserved Moorish villages of Andalusia and already won a lot of awards for it’s beauty. White washed house, meandering alley- ways and old cobbled streets, an abundance of flowers everywhere, nice restaurants with roof terraces and spectacular views! For those who cannot get enough of traditional Spanish villages, the wine village of Competa is also worth visiting, with spectacular views across the valleys down to the sea, beautiful plazas, a famous clock-tower and again, a wide variety of Spanish bars offering great value tapas.

5. Feria or cultural festivity

The Spanish love to party! To take advantage of a great atmosphere and to guarantee a really good time, plan your holiday during one of these festivities, which are religion based but open to everyone and very lively and colourful with processions taking place throughout the town. As well as the annual carnival, there are catholic celebrations such as Semana Santa (Easter), the San Juan Festival which takes place on Nerja's Burriana Beach and many others, giving visitors a chance to absorb and join in with some of the Spanish culture. Is there nothing on the agenda at the time you plan to be in Nerja? Then ask at the tourist office in the town hall, there is always something happening (like a feria) in a town nearby in Andalusia!

6. Eating tapas & Bar El Molino

What would a trip to Spain be without going out for tapas? Let them fill your table with a mouth watering selection of delicious tapas and enjoy a nice glass of wine, sangria, ‘tinto de verano’ (wine with ‘casera’) or sherry. Afterwards, you could go out and try one of Nerja's many bars showing live entertainment, such as ‘Bar El Molino’ which is a former mill for olive oil. Here every night a Spanish guitarist-singer performs with beautiful Spanish ‘canciones’. With the right audience and a perfect atmosphere, you can even dance a little. It doesn’t get more Spanish then this…

7. Cerro Gordo (La Herradura)

The coast between Nerja and La Herradura is an officially protected area of natural beauty. Here you’ll find some small, quiet beaches and coves, this route being famous for its spectacular views. Just before La Herradura lies the mountain of Cerro Gordo. If you drive up, you have a great panoramic view over the coast. Halfway up there’s a restaurant with a spectacular view ‘El Mirador de Cerro Gordo’. Otherwise, a little further on, you could go to La Herradura or visit the little yacht harbour ‘Marina del Este’ just after La Herradura (just follow the signs).

8. Ronda

Ronda is a gorgeous historic town which is beautifully situated on a hill in a wide green valley. What is special about this town is the fact that the hill seems to be cut in two which makes the houses stand on a very steep rock edge. The historic town is as beautiful as the surrounding country side. Ronda is not far from famous Seville with its fascinating architecture – but we’d advice to then also spend the night as there are many sights to see in Seville.

9. Beach & Chiringuito

Nerja has more than a dozen beaches which are all different. On some of them you can find ‘chiringuitos’, the typical Spanish beach restaurants where the Spanish eat during siesta (from 14:00 until 17:00). They’re simple restaurants, but after all it’s a perfect place for people who love specialties like grilled fish and paella. You’ll find chiringuitos (sometimes they’re called ‘merenderos’) on Playa Playazo, Playa Burriana, Playa Cantarin and also in La Herradurra and Torrox Costa. One of the most famous is 'Ayo's', on Burriana Beach where they cook paella in pans the size of wagon wheels. Featured regularly on British TV programmes, Ayo is famous locally as one of the original discoverers of the Nerja Caves.

10. Shoppingmall ‘El Ingenio’

It might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but some people appreciate something different after a week of sun, sea, sand & Spanish culture. Especially on rainy days ‘El Ingenio’ in Torre del Mar (20 minutes from Nerja) can be nice for a change. Here you’ll find about 20 big modern stores (also hypermarket Eroski) and the prices generally are much lower than in Northern Europe. People who like to drive a little further, could also go to Plaza Mayor in Malaga (close to the airport and IKEA) for shopping big time. If you don't want to travel that far, just go to one of the local markets in the neighbourhood.