Looking for things to do in Nerja when it rains? Grey days are not common on this part of the Costa del Sol, but when they come there is plenty to fill them: the Nerja caves, an indoor trampoline park for children, shopping centres with cinemas, a game of padel, or simply a slow day at home.
Nerja is made for outdoor living, so a rainy day can feel like a disappointment at first. In our experience it often becomes one of the nicest days of a trip, because it gives you permission to slow down.
The Cueva de Nerja is our first suggestion for a grey day. The caves are enormous and a completely different experience from the beaches, and they are worth visiting at least once whatever the weather. They are about 14 minutes by car from the house and easy to combine with Maro. Check tickets before you go. Our Nerja caves guide has the details.
If you are travelling with children, Happy Jump in Vélez-Málaga is a great option. It is an indoor trampoline and activity park where kids can burn off energy while parents relax and watch. It is especially useful on a rainy or cooler day when you want to get out of the house without planning a full day trip.
About 20 minutes by car, El Ingenio in Torre del Mar is a convenient choice for a relaxed afternoon. It has a wide range of fashion, beauty, sports, electronics and home shops, plus restaurants and the Cinesur cinema. With well over a hundred shops, it is particularly handy on a less sunny day or with children.
For a bigger day out, Plaza Mayor in Málaga has a large selection of shops, restaurants and cafés, as well as a Yelmo cinema. Combine shopping with lunch or dinner and finish with a film. It is close to Málaga airport and easy to reach by car, so it also works well on your arrival or departure day. Our supermarkets in Nerja post covers both shopping centres alongside the everyday shops.
If the rain clears for a few hours, or it is simply too cool for the beach, La Raqueta Nerja is about 10 minutes by car and has courts you can rent for tennis or padel. Padel is hugely popular in Spain and easy to pick up, so it is a fun thing to try with friends or older children. Contact the club to book a court.
Some of our favourite rainy days are spent at home. The living room has two sofas, a TV and a stack of board games, and the large family table is perfect for a long lunch or an afternoon of cards. Cook something comforting, open a bottle of Spanish wine and watch the weather over the sea.
A rainy afternoon is the perfect excuse for a long lunch or an early tapas crawl in the old town, moving from one small bar to the next. Our guides to wine bars in Nerja and free tapas in Nerja list the places we like to sit and stay a while, and for a slow morning, try churros in Nerja with a cup of hot chocolate.
The weather can change quickly here, and a wet morning often turns into a bright afternoon. Keep a flexible plan: an indoor activity in the morning and something outside, such as a walk to the Balcón de Europa, if it clears up later. If you have a car, a short drive along the coast can also find you better weather.
We designed Casa Joya to be just as pleasant on a quiet day indoors as on a sunny one, with a comfortable living room, board games, a well-equipped kitchen and sea views from the terraces. If you would like a holiday home that feels like a home whatever the weather, check availability at Casa Joya.
Visit the Nerja caves, take children to Happy Jump indoor trampoline park in Vélez-Málaga, go shopping and to the cinema at El Ingenio or Plaza Mayor, or play padel at La Raqueta Nerja.
Yes. El Ingenio shopping centre in Torre del Mar, about 20 minutes by car, has the Cinesur cinema, and Plaza Mayor in Málaga has a Yelmo cinema.
Yes, they are one of our favourite rainy-day options and about 14 minutes by car from the house. Check tickets before you go.