8 Beautiful Beaches in Nerja You Must Visit

Nerja, located 50 minutes’ drive from Malaga, is one of the best towns on the Costa del Sol for a summer holiday.

The diversity of beaches you find in Nerja you won’t find anywhere else in Malaga. From beautiful golden sand beaches like Playa de Burriana to impressive coves and crystal-clear water in Playa de Maro.

Whether you want to top up your tan, enjoy a sunset on the beach while listening to the sound of the waves hitting the rocks or have a water adventure, there’s a beach for you in Nerja.

In this Nerja beach guide, I’m sharing with you my favourite beaches in Nerja and tips from a local so that you can make the most of your time in this pretty coastal town.

This post contains affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click through and purchase something, I receive a small commission on the price at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep the content up to date and make other improvements to the blog.

1. Playa de Burriana

Burriana Beach is the locals’ and travellers’ favourite beach in Nerja. Its crystal-clear water and fine golden sand make it one of the best beaches in Costa del Sol, as reflected by the Quality Seal since 2018 and the Blue Flag.

This is the perfect beach for any traveller as it’s accessible to everyone and has a great promenade with plenty of restaurants, beach bars, and souvenir shops. It’s one of my favourite beaches because it has everything.

Whether you’re spending the full day at the beach or are nearby for lunch, I recommend Restaurante Ayo, where you can enjoy delicious wood-fired paella and typical dishes of Malaga, like espetos (sardine skewers).

📍 Exact location: Camino de Burriana, s/n, 29780 Nerja, Málaga, España

2. Playa de la Calahonda

Calahonda Beach is the most photographed beach in Nerja. Situated on the left side of Balcón de Europa, this small beach is surrounded by impressive rocky cliffs.

You can access the beach through a small entrance called Boquete de Calahonda, located near Balcón de Europa.

It’s a beautiful beach where you can spend the day with family or friends, or take photos. It isn’t surprising to see people taking pictures and videos of Calahonda Beach from Balcón de Europa.

There’s no visit to Nerja without visiting this unique beach!

📍 Exact location: Playa de la Calahonda, 29780 Nerja, Málaga, España

3. Playa el Salón

On the right side of Balcón de Europa, you’ll find one of the most popular beaches in Nerja, Playa el Salón. Its central location makes it so easy to visit it on a day trip to Nerja.

This 200-metre beach has dark sand and a tranquil sea, so you won’t be surprised to find many families on this beach. El Salón Beach has many excellent facilities, too – from showers and sunbeds to a small refreshment stand to grab snacks.

However, if you get hungry, you’re a short walk from Balcón de Europa, home to many restaurants, tapa bars and ice cream shops.

Interestingly, this beach has a library! You can borrow books in different languages, such as English, French or Italian.

4. Playa de la Caletilla

Located between Balcón de Europa and Playa el Salón, Playa la Caletilla is the smallest beach in Nerja.

This beach is often mistaken for Playa el Salón because they are very close to each other. Many travellers believe this beach is private because the Balcón de Europa Hotel offers direct access, but it isn’t.

It’s a tiny piece of paradise in the buzzing historic centre of Nerja – there are beautiful coves you can walk through and enjoy the sound of the waves.

📍 Exact location: Pl. Balcón de Europa, 1, 29780 Nerja, Málaga, España

5. Playa de Maro

A 10 minute drive from Nerja, you’ll find Maro Beach, which I totally think is the prettiest beach in Nerja, and one of the best beaches in Spain for nature lovers. Its lush green surroundings, alongside the sea colours, make you feel like you’re in paradise.

If you also love water activities, this is the perfect beach for you, too. Maro is known for its numerous water activities, such as snorkelling and kayaking. I especially love this kayak tour because you’ll discover beautiful waterfalls and caves along the way.

But even if you don’t fancy doing these activities, its tranquil, crystal-clear water allows you to see the beautiful corals and fish hidden between the rocks.

Despite its more secluded location, Maro Beach gets crowded during the summer. Many people from Malaga City and other towns travel to spend the day on this special beach. Therefore, I highly recommend visiting it early in the morning. There’s no better place to watch the sunrise than in Maro.

Another piece of advice is to book your water activities in advance to avoid disappointment.

📍 Exact location: Playa de Maro, 29780 Maro, Málaga, España

6. Playa el Chucho

Playa el Chucho is a lovely dark sand beach on the west side of Nerja and is located between two beaches: Torrecilla Beach and El Playazo Beach.

It’s a great beach for families because the water is shallow, has good access (including one for travellers with disability), and isn’t as busy as other Nerja beaches, but I’d avoid visiting it on a Sunday in summer.

7. Playa del Carabeo

Not very far from the historic centre of Nerja, you’ll find Playa del Carabeo, a beautiful small sandy beach. Despite being so central, the way it’s built in feels secluded.

It’s a great beach to spend the day with friends or family, but it’s important to know that it isn’t easy to access for everyone, as there are lots of stairs to go down to the beach, and there aren’t many facilities on the beach.

📍 Exact location: C. Hernando de Carabeo, 74B, 29780 Nerja, Málaga, España

8. Playa Torrecilla

Close to Playa el Chucho, another amazing beach to visit in Nerja is Playa Torrecilla. This beach was considered one of the best in Nerja in 2018 and was awarded a Blue Flag.

Torrecilla Beach has a mix of coarse sand and fine pebbles, and a lovely promenade with a few restaurants where you can enjoy a meal.

It’s a beach perfect for everyone because it’s effortless to access Torrecilla Beach. There are not one but five different accesses, including ones for travellers with disabilities.

Another reason to visit this beach is its Biblioplaya (beach library), which you can also find on Salón and Burriana beaches. Borrow and read a book while listening to the sound of the waves.

Tips for visiting Nerja beaches

• Check out the type of sand on the beach you plan to visit. Not all the beaches in Nerja are sandy. Some beaches have lots of pebbles, especially along the shore, so I recommend packing water shoes.

• Don’t visit the beach on a Sunday, unless you don’t have any other option. Beaches, especially in Nerja, are jam-packed on Sundays because many locals don’t work. It’s scorching in summer, and many locals don’t have a pool or prefer the beach, so they head there with their families or friends. I know some people who go very early to take a spot (by putting umbrellas, towels and chairs!)

• Pack snacks and lunch with you. Many beaches have chiringuitos (beach bars) and restaurants or are close to these. However, if you want to save money, packing snacks, drinks and a few sandwiches with you is your best option. Although some beach restaurants are worth trying, they might be a bit expensive for you. Also, if you visit beaches near Nerjas on the outskirts, the chances of finding a meal or snacks are lower.