Nerja Caves

The Nerja Caves were discovered by accident in 1959, when five local lads squeezed through a crack looking for bats. What they found is today one of the most important karst systems in Europe and the most visited monument in Málaga province.

What you will see

• Cathedral-sized chambers, with ceilings tens of metres high.
• The central column of the Cataclysm Hall: 32 metres tall and 13 across, recognised as the largest stalagmitic column in the world.
• Karst formations of every kind: stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and draperies.
• Cave paintings — not part of the tourist route — dated among the oldest known anywhere in the world.

Getting there

The caves are in Maro, 4 km from the centre of Nerja, with access from the A-7. There is on-site parking and local buses run up from Nerja. Many operators include the visit in day trips from Málaga or from the western Costa del Sol.

Practical details

• Tour length: about 45 minutes.
• Inside temperature: a constant 19-20 °C all year. In August that is a relief; in January, bring a layer.
• Comfortable shoes with grip: there are steps and the floor is damp.
• Buy a timed ticket online: entry is by time slot and they sell out in summer.
• The route is not fully accessible because of the number of steps — check conditions if you have reduced mobility.

The festival

Every summer since 1960 the cave has hosted the Nerja Cave International Festival of Music and Dance, with concerts inside the chamber itself. The acoustics are extraordinary and tickets go fast.

The perfect day

A morning at Maro beach or kayaking through the coves, lunch in Maro or Nerja, and the caves in the late afternoon when it is baking outside and 19 degrees inside. Then finish with sunset at the Balcón de Europa.