The best beaches in Nerja range from small, quiet coves to lively sandy bays with every facility you could want. These are the ones we go to ourselves, with how long they take to reach, what they are good for and a few tips on parking and timing.
One of the joys of this part of the Costa del Sol is how different the beaches are. You can have a quiet morning swim in a little cove, a busy family afternoon at Burriana and a snorkelling trip at Maro, all within a short drive.
Playa Vilches is about a minute away by car, and it is our go-to for an easy beach day. It is small and relaxed, with sunbeds, a beach bar and free parking. We recommend ordering a tinto de verano con limón and staying for lunch at the beach bar, where paella and BBQ are popular choices. If tinto de verano is new to you, our guide to Spanish drinks to try in Nerja explains it.
Also about a minute by car, Playa Guilche is a small, cosy beach. There are no facilities directly on the sand, but La Restinga, Mesonera de Nerja and El Mirador de Guilche are nearby for food and drinks, so it is easy to combine a swim with a long lunch.
Burriana is around 10 minutes by car and is the big, lively beach of Nerja. It is large and sandy, with showers, toilets, lifeguards, sunbeds, play areas, beach volleyball, a promenade, water activities and parking. It is a great choice for families. Summer parking can be challenging, so arrive early. Burriana is also home to some of our favourite chiringuitos; see our post on beach restaurants in Nerja.
Calahonda is a small sandy beach right beside the Balcón de Europa, tucked between rocky cliffs. It has showers, toilets, lifeguard services, sunbeds and restaurants overlooking the beach. It is perfect for a swim in the middle of a day exploring the old town. Read more in our guide to the Balcón de Europa.
About 15 minutes by car, Playa de Maro has some of the most beautiful scenery on this coast. It is excellent for kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkelling, and the Maro waterfall is around a 10-minute paddle away. Parking can be difficult, so go early. Our kayaking in Nerja guide has more on exploring the coastline from the water.
About 30 minutes by car in Torre del Mar, Bahia Beach is ideal when you want a full beach-club day: lounging, a long lunch, drinks, tapas or a book by the sea. Book ahead for lunch or dinner. Parking is easy here, which is a nice change from the busier Nerja beaches in summer.
Some days you don't want sand at all. The private pool of Ladera del Mar is not open to the public: it is shared only by the homeowners of this small urbanisation and their guests, so it is always nice and quiet. It is about a 4-minute walk, or a 1-minute drive, from the house, and open from Easter until the end of October.
For an easy day close to home, choose Vilches or Guilche. For families who want everything on hand, Burriana. For a swim in the middle of town, Calahonda. For nature, snorkelling and kayaking, Maro. For a slow, comfortable beach-club day, Bahia Beach in Torre del Mar. If you are looking for more ideas beyond the beach, see our list of things to do in Nerja.
Casa Joya is in Ladera del Mar, just outside the centre of Nerja, with Playa Vilches and Playa Guilche only a minute away by car and beach towels ready for you in the house. If you would like to wake up close to the sea, check availability at Casa Joya.
It depends on what you want. Burriana is the best all-round beach with facilities, Maro is the most beautiful for nature and snorkelling, and Vilches and Guilche are small and relaxed.
Playa Burriana, with lifeguards, showers, toilets, sunbeds, play areas and plenty of space. Arrive early in summer as parking can be challenging.
Most have parking. Playa Vilches has free parking, Burriana has parking that fills up in summer, and Maro is limited, so go early.