The 5 Best Hotels in Nerja

The 5 Best Hotels in Nerja.

Nerja is a popular place for visitors to the Costa del Sol. It’s also a place where we lived for 2 ½ years.

So what hotels to stay at in Nerja? I cover that here. I also cover the top things to see and do in Nerja at the bottom of this post.

1. Hotel Balcón de Europa

If you’re only in Nerja for a few days, then I recommend the Hotel Balcón de Europa.

The reason is that it’s the ultimate location: you’re right next to the Balcón de Europa, you’re on the main Plaza, you have the main streets of the old town a few minutes away, you have Nerja’s most popular beaches meters away including the hotel’s private beach. The whole area around the Hotel is pedestrian-only.

You can’t beat the location…and if you’re here on limited time it’s where you want to be.

The Hotel Balcón de Europa is a 4-star hotel with lots of top end amenities that include two restaurants, an outdoor infinity pool, jacuzzi, gym and a sauna. A buffet breakfast is included in the price. Rooms are big and comfortable.

Make sure to book early because this is a popular hotel.

Book here for the Hotel Balcón de Europa

2. Parador de Nerja

If you’ve come to Nerja to relax then it should be Nerja’s Parador. If you don’t know about Paradors, you should read this post: The Best Paradors in Spain.

The grounds of the Parador are unbeatable: it is situated on a bluff above Burriana beach (Nerja’s most famous beach) and you can take an elevator which takes right to the beach. From the Parador you have magnificent views of the beaches below, the sea stretching in front of you, and the mountains to the side and behind. The best views in Nerja.

I wrote a post on the Parador of Nerja here.

The Parador de Nerja has both indoor and outdoor restaurants where you can take it the views. Like all Paradors, the Parador de Nerja has a specialized cuisine unique to the region, in this case typical Malagueño cuisine. It is known for is known for fish dishes such as cuttlefish, prawns and rock fish.

Rooms are spacious and all feature views of the sea. The Parador has tennis courts, swimming pool and a basketball court. It also has its own parking and you can park on the premises.

The location is a 10-minute walk outside the center. But don’t let that scare you: there are lots of restaurants and bars around and the walk to the center is along a promenade with views. The Parador has a tranquil location and that’s a good thing (we used to live right next to it).

Book here for the Parador de Nerja

3. Hotel Puerta del Mar

This is a more affordable place than the above two hotels but with a very convenient location. It gets great reviews.

Hotel Puerta del Mar is located just off the main plaza and is right in the center of things. It’s within the pedestrian zone that encompasses the Balcón de Europa and the main streets of the old town. Everything is feet away.

It is a 3-star hotel with a terrace and pool on the rooftop. Rooms are very comfortable and clean and a very good breakfast is included.

Book here for the Hotel Puerta del Mar

4. Hotel Riu Monica – Adults Only

If you’re looking for a hotel right on the beach and want nothing but peace and relaxation (with no kids around), then I recommend Hotel Riu Monica.

It’s a huge 4-star hotel right on Torrecilla beach. It’s about a 10 minute walk from the Balcon de Europa but there’s lots of entertainment in this area: across from the hotel is a street full of bars and restaurants, there are a string of popular restaurants on the promenade on Parque Plaza de los Cangrejos (2 minutes away), and Plaza Tutti Frutti (where you’ll find a lot of bars) is close by as well. You’re on a seaside promenade so you can walk along the beaches, you’re also close to the tourist-tram that takes you to the Nerja Caves. It’s a very popular area to be.

You’ll find indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, gardens, and a buffet breakfast. The hotel gets excellent reviews with guests.

Book here for the Hotel Riu Monica – Adults Only

5. Mena Plaza

Looking for a real great value hotel in Nerja?

This hotel is on Plaza de Espana (which is nothing to write home about) – but it’ll take you about 1 minute to walk to the Balcon de Europa. So it is in fact a great and very central location with everything you could want within a few minutes walk.

The hotel itself gets great reviews and has a rooftop pool with views of sea and mountains. A nice, clean modern hotel – and the pricing is the best I’ve listed here, a great value for Nerja.

Book here for the Mena Plaza

What to do in Nerja?

See the Balcon de Europa
Walk and see views everywhere. Walk down the steps to Calahonda beach and continue down around the balcon as it looms above you. Continue past Caletilla beach and go up the stairs to the fisherman statue. Walk towards the Parador on Carabeo and enjoy the views from the various miradors along the way. Walk the promenades at Burriana and Torrecilla beaches.
Enjoy the beaches. Burriana is the most famous, Calahonda the most picturesque. But there are many beaches in Nerja.
The Museum of Nerja in the middle of town, especially on a rainy day. Note: if going to the Nerja (which you HAVE to do), the Museum is included. So don’t throw away your ticket.
Outside of town: See the Nerja Caves and hike in the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park (you can join a group with Jon Keo walking tours).

These are the basics. Lot more detail on the above and more in this post: The best things to See and Do in Nerja

More Resources:

Where to Eat in Nerja
Our Top 5 Tapas Bars in Nerja

The Best Rooftop bars in Nerja

3 Great Hikes around Nerja