This beautiful former fishing village on the Costa del Sol has retained its traditional seaside charms, yet welcomes holidaymakers to modern hotels featuring every facility that they could possibly desire while relaxing on this sunny strip of Spain's magnificent Mediterranean coastline. 

Miles of beaches can be found where the sea meets the land in Nerja, which is at the eastern end of the Costa del Sol. Here, the wide stretches of sand provide crash-spots for weary visitors and water sports for the adrenaline-hungry, while the small rocky coves offer the chance to unwind in peace, with only the sound of the sea to interrupt your snooze in the sun. And surrounding it all are the Sierra Almijara mountains, which have helped to shelter Nerja from high-rise developments that can often be seen elsewhere on the popular Spanish Costas.

Nerja is not sleepy though, despite being quieter than many of the neighbouring resorts on this part of the Spanish coast. In fact, the delightful town centre is a hub of life, where Spaniards sup drinks at pavement cafés and visitors take snaps of amazing, cliff-top views and cute, white-washed homes adorned with bright flowers. There are also plenty of cool bars and live-music venues around Nerja, with the majority centred on the wonderfully named Plaza Tutti Frutti.

Daytime activities for visitors looking for an alternative to a day at the beach include taking a tour of the marble promenade called the Balcon de Europa, for views of the coastline and the chance to get your bearings and visiting the Caves of Nerja (Las Cuevas de Nerja), which are well worth seeing on Nerja holidays. The five-million-year-old caves are full of wonder and intrigue and attract visitors year round, as well as for July's International Cave Festival.

When the sun drops behind the mountains, meanwhile, it is time to explore the restaurants of this smart town. Seafood is, of course, a speciality - there's nothing like tucking into fresh fish to the soundtrack of folding waves. But you'll find much more besides, with a good range of international cuisine available.

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Visitors come to Nerja for the sun in the summer, when daytime averages hover around 30C. Spring and autumn see warm days of just above 20C, but you can expect cooler evenings at this time of year.

If you're looking for a sunshine bargain, spring is a good time to find cheap holidays to Nerja.

Carnival; February: The Spanish love celebrating carnival (carnaval) time, and Nerja's inhabitants are no exception. Watch the parades of locals in fancy dress and join in the party atmosphere.

International Festival of Music and Dance; July: The Caves of Nerja provide a spectacular backdrop for this annual event, which focus on classical music and ballet.

Nerja Festival; October: If you're on a family holiday to Nerja and you have a daughter, be prepared to spend a few euros to buy her a flamenco outfit. They're widely available and she'll want to look as pretty as all the other little girls enjoying the party.

Relaxing: Explore the cliffs to find easy pathways down to lovely coves and then reward yourself with a dip in the clear waters.

Grown-up families: When the temperature soars, there's nothing more pleasant than sitting with an ice cream on the Balcon de Europa and gazing out to sea.

Kids & teens: Youngsters will be amazed at the rock formations in the Caves of Nerja.