Days With the Mays

If you’re looking for a simple, easy break from the bustle of Málaga, a day trip to Nerja is a great option. We caught a coastal bus after breakfast, it’s an easy ride, about an hour and a half, and arrived feeling like we’d slipped into a quieter corner of the Costa del Sol.

Caves, Gardens, and a Pleasant Surprise

We started at the Fundación Cueva de Nerja, where we toured the caves and wandered through the Jardín Botánico. The caves are beautiful and well worth seeing, but the surprise hit of the morning was actually the playground nearby. As family friendly as Spain is, there are not a ton of playgrounds (at least ones like what we’re used to in Minnesota). Our kids loved it, there were plenty of picnic tables for a snack, and the sea views made it a peaceful place to linger.

There’s also a small café and gift shop with ice cream and popsicles, perfect for a quick break. After the caves and playground, we took the little tourist train into town. It’s not something I’d ride for the full sightseeing loop, but it was an easy, inexpensive way to get back toward the old town.

Old Town Nerja & The Balcony of Europe

Once in the center of Nerja, we visited the Balcony of Europe, the town’s well-known viewpoint. From there, we walked down to the small beach to the east (Playa Calahonda). The water was too cold for swimming during our visit, and by late afternoon the cliffs cast quite a bit of shade, but it was still a nice spot for the kids to climb on the rocks and sift through the smooth pebbles.

A Simple, Good Meal

After walking around the old town we were hungry by early evening and ended up at La Fuente da Paolo. It’s close to the main tourist area, but the swordfish was excellent and it turned out to be a good choice for a family meal.

By the time we caught the bus back to Málaga around 8 p.m., we were comfortably tired from a full but relaxed day. If you’re visiting Málaga and want an easy getaway that feels manageable with kids, Nerja is a lovely, approachable option.