Playa Burriana: Nerja's best beach

Playa Burriana is the main beach in Nerja and one of the best on the entire Costa del Sol.

It sits at the base of the cliffs below the town, a wide stretch of golden sand backed by restaurants and beach bars with the Balcón de Europa visible on the headland to the west.

The water is calm, there are plenty of food options, and on a clear morning before the sun peaks it's one of the most beautiful places on this stretch of coast.

Where Playa Burriana is

The beach is below the eastern end of Nerja's town centre, about a 10 minute, mostly downhill walk from the Balcón de Europa.

It's the most developed beach in the area, with a wide promenade and a long strip of restaurants and chiringuitos behind the sand.

How to get there

On foot: From the Balcón de Europa it takes around 20 to 25 minutes on foot, mostly downhill going there and uphill coming back.

By taxi: Worth it for the return trip if you don't want the climb back up. Inexpensive from anywhere in town.

By car: There is a paid underground car park, Burriana Parking, near the beach entrance with 240 spaces including disabled bays. It fills by mid-morning in July and August. Arrive before 9am if driving in summer.

By bus: Regular ALSA buses connect Nerja to Málaga, Almería, and other coastal towns. The beach is a 20-minute walk from the bus station. See getting around Nerja for current routes and stops.

What the beach is like

The sand is golden and coarse, about 800 metres long and reasonably wide.

On most days the sea is calm and clear, sheltered by the natural headlands on either side. It also maintains its Blue Flag accreditation year after year, which gives you a reasonable guarantee on water quality.

The water visibility here is also noticeably better than the city beaches in Málaga. Snorkelling around the rocks at the eastern end is one of my favourite things to do.

Behind the sand, a strip of restaurants and chiringuitos runs almost the full length of the beach. It's busier and more developed than Nerja's smaller coves, but the setting, with the cliffs behind and the Mediterranean in front, is hard to fault.

Where to eat

Ayo's is the most famous restaurant on the beach, and where we last ate. It's not a sit-down restaurant in the formal sense: they cook large communal pans and serve until it runs out.

For a quieter lunch with a view, walk to the eastern end where it's less crowded. For restaurants beyond the beach, see where to eat in Nerja.

Facilities

• Lifeguards: yes, June to September
• Showers: free, at regular intervals
• Toilets: yes
• Sunbeds and umbrellas: available for hire along the beach
• Disabled access: ramp access from the promenade
• Water sports: kayak, SUP, and pedalo hire available on the beach
• Snorkelling: good around the eastern rocks; diving centre on the beach offers PADI courses and snorkel trips
• Restaurants and beach bars: multiple options along the full length of the beach
• Parking: paid underground car park (Burriana Parking, 240 spaces) near the beach entrance

Best time to visit

June, September, and October are the best months. The sea is warm enough to swim comfortably, the water is clearer than in the height of summer, and the beach doesn't fill to capacity.

July and August are the peak months. Burriana is popular with Spanish families on holiday as well as international visitors, and it shows. Arrive before 9am for a good spot, or come after 5pm when the numbers thin.

For the full picture on when to come, see best time to visit Nerja.

Is Playa Burriana good for snorkelling?

Yes, and I never get tired of it.

The rocks at the eastern end of the beach are the best spot, with decent visibility and a variety of fish even close to shore.

A diving centre operates on the beach and runs guided snorkel trips to the Maro nature reserve cliffs, which are around 4 kilometres east by kayak or boat.

If you want to go further, hiring a kayak from the beach and paddling along the cliffs towards Maro is one of the best things to do in the area.

Is there parking at Playa Burriana?

There is paid underground parking at Burriana Parking, directly below the beach promenade, with 240 spaces.

It fills quickly on summer weekends and public holidays, however we've never battled to find a spot.

If you arrive after 10am in July or August you may find it full, in which case paid surface parking is available on the Paseo Marítimo Antonio Mercero.

We also wrote a guide on where to park in Nerja with all the options.

What's nearby

Playa de Calahonda is the sheltered cove below the Balcón de Europa. Cala del Cañuelo is a hidden cove accessible via a rough track, about 20 minutes from Nerja by car.

If you're planning a stay, see where to stay in Nerja and things to do in Nerja.

For the full guide to beaches in the area, see beaches in Nerja.