Northern Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical: Top things to do

When planning your next visit to Spain, make sure to explore the northern part of Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical. Here, you’ll find a perfect mix of culture, natural beauty, and beachside relaxation. Both the Costa Tropical and Northern Costa del Sol ensure plenty of things to do for kids. Don’t miss out on these must-see destinations in the the northern part of Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical during your next trip with children.

Visit Nerja in Northern Costa del Sol

Nerja is the most well-known and touristy town in the northern part of the Costa del Sol. It is a seaside resort with many hotels, (touristy) shops, and restaurants. Especially in the evening, it can get very lively in the center of Nerja. You’ll find a lot of shops selling souvenirs or artisans, the streets are nicely lit, the terraces are full, and people gather on the promenade. The highlight of this promenade—and the most famous attraction of Nerja—is the ‘Balcony of Europe.’ This is a grand viewing point located on one of the many cliffs along the Nerja coastline. From the ‘Balcony of Europe,’ you can enjoy beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea and the coastline.

Nerja has several beaches. Most of these are small beaches located in the bays between the cliffs along the Nerja coast. The two most famous beaches are ‘Playa Calahonda’ and ‘Playa la Caletilla,’ which are located on both sides of the ‘Balcony of Europe.’ Additionally, Nerja also has a large city beach, called ‘Playa de Burriana.’ This city beach is a bit of a walk from the center but is very lively. It has a large promenade, playgrounds, many restaurants, and several beach clubs.

Must-see Costa del Sol: Nerja Caves

The Nerja Caves are the most famous attraction in the northern part of the Costa del Sol. These caves are very popular because of the giant stalactites and stalagmites you can admire inside. You can also see prehistoric tools and cave paintings in the caves.

The walking route through the Nerja Caves takes about 45 minutes to an hour. The path is uneven with many steps, so it is not suitable for families with strollers. If you’re visiting the caves with small children, it’s a good idea to bring a baby carrier. Especially in the summer, many people want to visit the caves. Therefore, it is advisable to book your tickets and time slot in advance.

Visit La Herradura Costa Tropical

For a lovely day at a city beach on the Costa Tropical, you should visit La Herradura. This is a small town on the border between the Costa del Sol and the Costa Tropical. La Herradura has a bit of a hippie vibe: it doesn’t have a harbor, not really a center full of tourist shops, and no wide promenade like you see in many other Spanish beach towns. However, the beach at La Herradura has several bohemian beach clubs, a playground for children, and places where you can rent canoes or other water sports equipment. Compared to other typical city beaches in Spain, we found La Herradura wonderfully peaceful.

Beaches to visit in northern Costa del Sol

If you’re going on vacation to Nothern Costa del Sol, you can’t miss the beaches. This section of the coast is quite rocky, with beaches in the (small) bays. The stretch between Nerja and La Herradura is especially beautiful. We recommend driving along the coast and stopping regularly for the beautiful views.

In this area, you’ll also find one of the most beautiful small beaches on this part of the Costa del Sol: Cala del Cañuelo. This beach is located in a bay, a bit off the road. You’ll need to walk about 15 to 20 minutes, or you can take a shuttle bus. Because this beach is a bit harder to reach than a typical city beach, it’s nice and quiet here. Since the beach is in a bay, the water is calm and not too cold. There are also plenty of facilities on the beach: you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas, and there are two restaurants. It’s a pebbly beach, but that’s the case for many beaches in the northern part of the Costa del Sol.

Frigiliana: must-see mountain village Costa del Sol

Frigiliana is a beautiful white mountain village near Nerja. The village has many charming, narrow streets with lots of details. There are many plants (in colorful pots), cheerful-colored doors, and the streets are made of stones that form patterns. Because it’s such a lovely place, it is quite touristy. There are several restaurants and various tourist or artisanal shops. The fact that Frigiliana is the closest and most accessible mountain village near Nerja adds to its popularity.

Still, it’s nice to take a stroll here, have lunch in one of the many lovely restaurants, and enjoy the views over the mountains. It’s a great thing to do with your kids during your vacation, as you can explore most of the village in 1 to 2 hours. After that, you can head back to the pool or the beach.

Mountain village to visit: Cómpeta

Cómpeta is another mountain village with typical white Andalusian houses. However, Cómpeta is not as frequently visited as Frigiliana because it’s located farther from the coast. Also, its center is less pedestrian-friendly. While most streets in Frigiliana are car-free, this is not the case in Cómpeta. As a result, Cómpeta has a much less authentic feel. Still, Cómpeta has its charms. Especially the square around the church is nice to take a look at. Even though Cómpeta is not very touristy, you won’t hear much Spanish here. There are many Dutch and English people living in this village and the surrounding area.

Cómpeta is about 15 km from the coast, and it takes at least 20 minutes of mountain roads to get there. But despite being further into the mountains, you can see the sea from several spots in the village. So, you get beautiful views over the mountains and the coast. Cómpeta is also often used as a base for various hiking trips in the nearby mountains.

Must-see Costa del Sol: Malaga

Malaga is the largest city on the Costa del Sol and is a great destination for a day trip during your vacation with children in this area. It’s a lovely city: it’s lively, the terraces are full everywhere, but not in a touristy way. Additionally, Malaga has many impressive sights, such as the old cathedral and the Moorish palace Alcazaba. It’s also wonderful to visit one of the parks or beaches in the city with children.

Do you want to discover more about Malaga? Find here the best things to do for families when visiting Malaga with children.

Things to do Costa Tropical: visiting tropical fruit plantations

The Costa Tropical is known for cultivating tropical fruits. There are many plantations where fruits like mangoes or avocados are grown. You can visit some of these plantations on a tour, where you can learn about how these fruits are grown. Of course, you can also taste the fresh fruit during the tour. You can choose between day tours, where you also visit other towns and have lunch at a restaurant, or 2-3 hour tours that focus only on the plantations. With kids, we opted for the latter.

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