Parking in Frigiliana: Where to Park (Free & Paid Options)

Frigiliana is one of Spain's prettiest villages, but that popularity comes with a trade-off: limited parking.

The good news is that once you know where to go, parking is straightforward. The village has one main road in, one obvious place to park, and everything else is walkable from there.

The bad news is that most visitors make the same mistake: parking too early in the residential stretch, then walking further than they needed to.

Let me save you the trouble.

Can You Park in Frigiliana?

Yes, and it's easier than you might think.

Frigiliana has a free public car park near the Cofradia building, paid parking at Plaza de las Tres Culturas, and various free street parking spots throughout the lower village. The old town itself is pedestrianised, so you'll park at the bottom and walk up.

The key is knowing which spots are actually useful and which ones just add unnecessary walking.

Understanding Frigiliana's Layout

Before I tell you where to park, let me explain how the village is laid out.

The road from Nerja winds up the mountain and enters Frigiliana through a long residential stretch. This part has houses on both sides, some street parking, and not much else. Tourists often park here, thinking they've arrived, then discover they still have a 10-15 minute walk ahead of them.

Don't be that tourist.

Keep driving. The residential stretch eventually opens up into the actual village centre, where you'll find the Cofradia building, the main square, and the entrance to the old town.

Park here, and you're a 3-5 minute walk from everything.

My Recommended Parking Spot

If you want the easiest experience, park at the Cofradia de Frigiliana car park.

This is free public parking, it usually has space, and it puts you right at the entrance to the village. From here, you can walk to the main square in about three minutes and reach the top of the old town in fifteen.

The car park is open-air with space for maybe 30-40 cars. It fills up on Thursday market days and busy summer weekends, but on a normal day, you'll find a spot without any trouble.

This is where I park every time.

Paid Parking: Plaza de las Tres Culturas

If the Cofradia car park is full, head to the main paid car park at Plaza de las Tres Culturas.

This is Frigiliana's largest car park, located on the rooftop of the municipal building at the village entrance. The bus stops here too, so if you've seen photos of Frigiliana, you've probably seen this spot.

It costs around €1-1.50 per hour, or roughly €11 for a full day. The car park is covered, which is nice in summer, and it's open 24 hours.

One thing to know: there's a 2.2m height limit. If you're driving a campervan or anything taller, you won't fit. Use the free parking areas instead.

From here, it's a 2-3 minute walk to the old town entrance.

Free Parking Options

Beyond the Cofradia, there are several other free parking areas if you don't mind walking a bit further.

Calle Llanos de la Molineta

This is on the outskirts of the village, in a quieter residential area. The walk to the centre takes about 7-10 minutes, but you'll almost always find space here, even on the busiest days.

Some spots have shade, which is a bonus in summer.

Avenida Carlos Cano

Running parallel to the main road, this street has free white-line parking and several stairways that lead directly into the old town. It's about a 5-minute walk to the centre.

Local guesthouses often tell their guests to park here, so it fills up early. If you arrive before 10am, you should be fine.

The Residential Stretch (Not Recommended)

Yes, there's free street parking all along the residential stretch as you enter the village. But as I mentioned, this adds unnecessary walking.

Unless everything else is full, keep driving to the Cofradia or the main car park.

Where Should You Avoid Parking Your Car?

A few places will get you a fine or worse.

Don't drive into the old town. The streets are pedestrianised, steep, and far too narrow for cars. You physically cannot get through, and you'll create an embarrassing situation trying to reverse out.

Don't park in green zones. These are resident-only spaces, marked with green lines. Enforcement is immediate, and fines are issued on the spot.

Don't block narrow alleys or doorways. Residents need access, and if you're blocking them, you'll get towed. Look for yellow zigzag lines and "vado permanente" signs.

Don't overstay in blue zones. Blue-line parking has a strict 2-hour limit. The ticket inspectors are efficient, and you'll get a fine if you're even a few minutes over.

Blue Zone Street Parking

Blue-lined spaces are scattered around the lower village, mainly near the old town entrance and along Calle Real.

They cost €1.20-1.40 per hour with a 2-hour maximum. Pay at the nearby ticket machines.

These are useful for quick visits, but the 2-hour limit makes them impractical if you want to explore properly. You're better off using the free Cofradia car park or the paid Plaza de las Tres Culturas and taking your time.

Blue zones are usually free on Sundays and public holidays, but check the signs to be sure.

Motorhomes and Campervans

The main car park has a 2.2m height limit, which rules out most motorhomes.

If you're travelling in a larger vehicle, there's a designated parking area on the MA-5105 road as you approach the village. Some spaces on Calle Llanos de la Molineta may also accommodate larger vehicles, but check the restrictions before you park.

Alternatively, consider staying at a campsite in Nerja and taking the bus up to Frigiliana.

Is There Free Parking in Nerja?

If you're staying in Nerja and visiting Frigiliana for the day, you might wonder about parking in Nerja instead.

Nerja has more parking options than Frigiliana, including several free areas. The car park near the Balcón de Europa can get busy, but there's usually space in the streets around the bus station or near the beaches.

That said, if you're driving from Nerja to Frigiliana, there's no real advantage to parking in Nerja. The drive up takes 10-15 minutes, and you can park for free at the Cofradia.

The bus is the better alternative if you want to skip driving entirely.

Can You Walk from Nerja to Frigiliana?

Technically, yes. But should you?

The walk is about 6km, mostly uphill, on a mountain road with no pavement for significant stretches. In summer, it's brutal. Even in cooler months, you're looking at an hour to an hour and a half of walking along a road with car traffic.

There's no scenic trail connecting the two; it's the same road cars use.

My advice: take the bus. It costs €1.20, takes 15 minutes, and drops you right at the village entrance. Save your energy for walking around Frigiliana's steep cobbled streets.

Skip the Car: Take the Bus from Nerja

If parking sounds like hassle, the bus from Nerja is the simplest option.

It runs about 9 times on weekdays and 7 times on weekends. The journey takes 15 minutes and costs around €1.50 each way. The bus stops at Plaza de las Tres Culturas, exactly where you'd park anyway.

On Thursday market days, this is by far the best option. The car parks fill up early, parking is chaotic, and you'll spend more time looking for a spot than exploring the village.

Check the return times before you head up, though. The last bus back to Nerja leaves earlier than you might expect, especially on weekends.

Tips for Parking in Frigiliana

Arrive early on busy days. The Cofradia car park and the main paid car park both fill up by mid-morning on Thursdays (market day) and summer weekends. If you're coming during these times, aim to arrive before 10am.

Skip the residential stretch. Keep driving until you reach the actual village centre. Parking early doesn't save you anything; it just adds walking.

Don't stress about walking. Even from the furthest free parking areas, you're looking at a 10-minute walk to the centre. The walk itself is pleasant, and Frigiliana is so compact that once you're there, everything is close together.

Check for events. During the Festival de las Tres Culturas (August) and other local festivals, parking becomes much harder. Consider the bus or arrive very early.

Final Thoughts

Parking in Frigiliana is easier than it looks once you know the options.

My advice is always to head straight to the Cofradia car park, enjoy the free parking and central location, and walk everywhere from there. If that's full, the paid car park at Plaza de las Tres Culturas is right next door.

On really busy days, skip the car entirely and take the bus from Nerja.

Just don't park in the residential stretch and walk further than you need to.

Now go enjoy one of Spain's prettiest white villages. And if you haven't planned your visit yet, check out my guide to the 15 best things to do in Frigiliana and how to get around the village.