Area tips

Enjoy the peace and quiet, the sun, the views and the wonderful food in our region. To help you get started, we've put together our personal favourites — from towns and beaches to groceries, food and special places.

Málaga

Málaga is the city where our Spanish adventure began. This is where we fell in love with the Costa del Sol: with the pleasant climate, all year round, with the city, the people, but especially with Andalusía. From Málaga we kept discovering more beautiful places, and eventually we found Casa La Fuente in Arenas.

Málaga itself is a lively and complete city, where old and new blend together beautifully. Historic buildings, lovely squares, the harbour, the boulevard and the beach are all close together. That makes Málaga perfect for a day out, but just as good for a whole weekend.

Our tips

And to be honest, we're far from done exploring it ourselves. Málaga has so much to offer that there's always something new to discover on every visit.

Our favourite tapas spots

Our favourite breakfast spot

Vélez-Málaga

Vélez-Málaga is the town closest to our house. You'll almost always pass through it, whether you're driving up to the villa or heading down from the house towards the coast and the boulevard. It's the capital of the La Axarquía region and has a fairly old historic centre, with Moorish influences, narrow streets, squares and remnants of the old fortifications. Above the town stands the old fortress with its distinctive tower, which you can see clearly from various spots around Vélez.

We mostly come to Vélez-Málaga for practical things. There are plenty of supermarkets and shops, so you can find pretty much everything you need here. That said, for restaurants, shops, a terrace or just a bit of atmosphere, we ourselves lean much more towards Torre del Mar. To us, Vélez-Málaga is mainly the town you drive through often and where you do your groceries, while Torre del Mar is more the place we go to eat, drink, or head to the boulevard and the beach.

Torre del Mar

Torre del Mar is a place we always end up visiting a lot during a stay. From Casa La Fuente you're there in 10-15 minutes. A quick trip to the beach, lunch by the sea, a stroll along the boulevard, or dinner in the evening: Torre del Mar is close by and there's pretty much always something going on.

The town sits right on the Mediterranean and has a lovely wide beach with a long boulevard. Along the coast you'll find plenty of chiringuitos, restaurants, terraces and ice cream parlours. It's lively, yet feels a lot more relaxed than the big resort towns on the Costa del Sol. Even outside high season there's plenty to do, and Torre del Mar stays a place the locals themselves love to visit.

What we especially love is that you can combine everything here. A morning at the beach, then a leisurely lunch with fish or tapas, a stroll through the centre, and finishing with a drink on the boulevard. There are lots of lovely little restaurants, from simple Spanish places to more modern restaurants and beach bars.

Torre del Mar might not be the place to wander historic little streets for hours, but for a relaxed day by the sea it's one of our favourite spots nearby. Nice and close, a good beach, a beautiful boulevard, and always something happening. That's exactly why we're there so often.

Food & drink

Nerja

We think Nerja is one of the loveliest towns on the Costa del Sol. It's about half an hour's drive away and is absolutely worth setting aside a morning, afternoon or full day for. The centre is picturesque, with white houses, narrow streets, small squares, little shops and, above all, lots of lovely terraces and restaurants. Nerja's best-known spot is without doubt the Balcón de Europa, a beautiful viewpoint above the sea. From here you have a breathtaking view over the Mediterranean, Nerja's beaches and the surrounding mountains. It's especially beautiful late in the afternoon and around sunset.

From the Balcón de Europa you're right at the edge of the old centre, where it's lovely to wander the little streets without much of a plan. Nerja has a cosy, lively atmosphere and, despite the many tourists, still feels genuinely Spanish. There are loads of lovely little restaurants, from small tapas bars to places with a terrace and a sea view.

Nerja is also great for a day at the beach. The best-known beach is Playa de Burriana, a fairly large sandy beach with a boulevard, restaurants and all kinds of water sports. In summer you can also rent a kayak from Burriana and paddle along the impressive rocky coastline towards Maro. Along the way you'll pass small coves, tall cliffs and the well-known Cascada de Maro, a waterfall that drops straight from the rocks into the sea. One of the loveliest ways to see this stretch of coast.

If you have a bit more time, the Cuevas de Nerja are also worth a visit. These enormous caves were discovered in 1959 and lie just outside Nerja, near the village of Maro. Inside you'll find gigantic chambers full of stalactites and stalagmites. It's one of the region's best-known sights and a lovely change of pace, especially on a hot summer day.

In short: Nerja really has everything for a great day out. A beautiful old centre, the Balcón de Europa, lovely beaches, good food and plenty to do on and around the water. We love coming here ourselves, and wouldn't skip Nerja during a stay at the villa.

Activities

Food & drink

Frigiliana

One of Spain's most beautiful white villages, and a great combination with Nerja. Everything is walkable — you can skip the little tourist train, unless you actually fancy it.

Granada

In winter you can even ski here — everything can be hired, including the ski pass. Do visit the world-famous Alhambra (open all year round); booking in advance is essential. Allow around 1.5 hours travel time.

Marbella

Known for its glitz and glamour, but also just lovely for a stroll or a day at the beach. It's a bit further from our house — drive along the coast to avoid the tolls.

Mijas

A charming white mountain village overlooking the Costa del Sol, known for its whitewashed houses, narrow streets full of flower pots and sweeping sea views. Wonderful for aimless wandering, with the odd terrace café and craft shop along the way.

La Carihuela (Torremolinos)

A little slice of the Netherlands in Spain: croquettes, cheese sandwiches, even kale stew and Dutch sing-alongs.

You can shop almost any time, and late (usually until 9–10pm). On Sundays and public holidays you may run into surprises, so keep that in mind.

A hidden gem inland, 40 minutes' drive away. Small-scale, and the owners have become friends of ours. Madelon cooks everything herself, fresh — three to four small dishes per person is a great way to go. Fantastic food in a lovely atmosphere. Do book ahead, and expect Dutch-level prices, but absolutely worth it.

• Friday & Saturday: dinner.
• Sunday: lunch only.

In the rebuilt village of El Acebuchal, where hikers, cyclists and locals come for lunch. Combines well with Frigiliana, as you usually pass through it anyway. Allow 45 minutes' drive; the last 15 minutes are off-road, so slow going.

• Hot kitchen until 4pm, closes at 6pm.
• A bit pricier, but worth it in our book.
• Their homemade bread is legendary.

A beautiful way to explore the coast near Nerja: you paddle out from the beach, past impressive rock formations and hidden caves, all the way to a secluded waterfall. Educare Aventura takes care of the whole trip, including kayak, vest and instruction, so it's doable even without experience. Allow around 3 hours and €25-30 per person. Best to go in the morning, while the sea is still calm.

One of Spain's most impressive caves, with a cave system stretching some five kilometres and enormous, high chambers full of stalactites and stalagmites. The surrounding rock is dolomite, and the cave was only discovered by chance in 1959, by a group of boys from the village. Part of it is open to the public via a fixed route; thanks to its remarkable acoustics, one of the chambers even hosts concerts and ballet performances in summer. Allow about an hour for the visit.

A spectacular walk along high cliffs and deep gorges. Perfectly doable without a guide. Impressive. About an hour's drive. Book your tickets through the official site (caminitodelrey.info) — otherwise it can go wrong.

In Torre del Mar: a large, family-friendly water park with slides and pools. Only open in summer; tickets around €25 per person.

Cycling along the coast

You can hire good bikes in Torre del Mar, including e-bikes. It can get windy along the coast, so an e-bike is a good idea.

Mountain biking in the mountains? For off-road routes and e-mountain biking. You cycle beautifully through the National Park — very manageable for beginners too.

• E-mountain bike tours in the Axarquía. Solo or with Jan as your guide.
• Drop-off and pick-up service from two rental bikes.
• Helmet, water bottle and spare tyre included; guide optional.
• About €40 per day.

A landscape that feels almost otherworldly, shaped by millions of years of erosion. You walk along marked trails between jagged limestone towers and layers — one of Andalusía's most extraordinary landscapes. The short route is very doable; wear walking shoes and come in the morning or late afternoon for the best light. About an hour's drive.

Waterfall hikes

You can walk upstream along the rivers on your own and eventually reach a waterfall. This is possible near Frigiliana, and between Torrox and Cómpeta along the Rio Patamalara. The latter is about 9km there and back and isn't for everyone — allow a full day, around 6 hours. Travelling with children? You can also just do a short stretch. Interested? Feel free to ask us for the Google Pin with the exact starting point.

Yoga on the beach

Are you a yoga lover? On Monday and Wednesday mornings, our friend Evelien organises sessions on the beach. Want to join? Feel free to message her via tanzanite-hearts.com. She also gives massages at her own place in Alcaucín.

Sail for 2 hours by catamaran from the harbour of Caleta de Vélez, along the coast towards the bay of Torre del Mar. Along the way there's time for a swim out at sea, and if you're lucky you might spot wild dolphins. From €25 per person, book via catamarantours.es.

Horseback rides through the mountains of the Axarquía, in small groups or individually, also suitable for beginners. Contact them via Instagram (@hipica_el_molinillo).

A large outdoor fun and jump park of 13,000 m² with more than 30 attractions, including the popular climbing net 'Mar de Redes'. Especially fun for younger kids. The park is right next to Plaza Mayor in Málaga. Check current opening hours and tickets via junglefamily.es.

Málaga is Pablo Picasso's birthplace, and this museum is well worth it for art lovers. It's housed in the Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista, right in the historic centre, close to the Alcazaba and the Roman theatre. Book your tickets in advance, as it's often busy.

Spain means football culture. If Málaga CF are playing during your stay, it's a fun outing — a unique experience, even if you're not a diehard fan. Buy tickets through the official website: entradas.malagacf.com

Watch the speed limits carefully: especially in and around Málaga, but also on the way to our house, there are frequent mobile speed checks. Heading towards Marbella and Estepona (also lovely!) you may end up on toll roads: you can pay by card, but it's always smart to carry some cash too.