Weather lowdown
June is the start of the Mediterranean summer and nowhere is this more noticeable than in Nerja, on Spain's most beloved Costa del Sol. Sunny, mild and temperate all year long, Nerja truly comes to life in June. Luckily, while it may be the start of the high season, Nerja is not at full summer madness just yet.
June is ideal for sunbathing lizards, as the sun may be hot but lacks the real bite of August. According to some, this is indeed the ideal beach month. Don't forget the sun cream, though, because you will need it nonetheless. Unsurprisingly, this is the time of year where you'll start to notice sweltering crowds. Luckily, however, Nerja is home to so many beaches and so many restaurants and bars, that there will still be plenty of room for everyone.
The average daily temperature for this month in Nerja is 22°C which with highs reaching 27°C. It is not uncommon to have 36°C days in June (usually during the last half of the month) yet any uncomfortable heat is usually tempered by a cool Mediterranean breeze. On the other side of the scale, you'll find lows starting in the teens for the first week of June, where the temps can drop as low as 18°C, and slowly creep up a degree or two by the end of the month.
With an average of 11 hours of sunshine each day, and average sea temperature of 20°C, spending long lazy days on the shores of Nerja's premier beaches is beyond divine. Sporadic showers in June are not all that rare, yet with only 12 mm of rainfall spread over 5 days of the month, you'll barely notice them at all.
Where to stay
Nerja is awash with hotels, hostels, B&Bs and boutique guesthouses, so finding one which suits your budget, needs and desires will definitely not be a problem, particularly in June.
If you're planning to spend the whole summer here, and driving down to the costa with your camper, do note that the closest campsites to Nerja is Camping El Pino (in Malaga) which has over 400 hundred pitches and almost 50 bungalows to choose from. This is in fact, quite a lovely rustic choice even if you're not coming down by camper. The in-house restaurant and bar are great and serve up delicious, locally produced food. The small shop and swimming pool also make this ideal if you wish to spend at least some of your time relaxing 'at home'. Thanks to the easy of public transport, getting and out of Nerja daily is never really an issue for many.
On the other end of the spectrum you will find arguably one of the best and most centrally located digs of all: the Hotel Balcon de Europa. Views from the ocean front rooms are absolutely spectacular, the pool and garden area delightful and the option to add meals to your room rate makes it a wonderful option indeed.
Another brilliant option, which is especially great for holidaying families, are the Apartamentos Playa Torrecilla, a block of self-catering apartments just minutes from the beach and all amenities. The waterfront complex boasts lovely gardens, apartments with ocean views and all are spacious and well equipped. What makes them particularly popular is the fact that they are centrally located yet very quiet and offer great value for your holiday dollars.
Eating & drinking out
Although Nerja is home to a healthy amount of delicious foreign eateries (from Indian to Italian and good ol' British fare) it would be a pity if you went home without sampling the very exquisite Andalucian cuisine. Here are just a few local specialties which we think you should try:
Churros con chocolate- mouth-watering, tube-shaped doughnuts which are fried to a crisp and dipped in a thick and super rich chocolate sauce.
Gambas al ajillo or Pil Pil: simultaneously sweet and spicy, these fried prawns are cooked in abundant garlic infused olive oil and are addictive to a fault. Order an extra serve of crusty home-made bread to dip to your heart's content.
Paella: this most famous of Spanish dishes may have originated in Valencia, but considering the fact that best rice is grown in Seville and best seafood originates from this coastline...we can safely name paella as an Andalucian specialty. If you don't know what paella is then you, above all others, need to order one. Buen provecho!
Jamon Serrano: Andalucía's most beloved cured ham is, in fact, an internationally renowned specialty. Salted and aged to perfection, this most delectable ham is found served in salads, atop delicious salmoreijo soups, wrapped around asparagus in main meals and even included in vegetarian dishes! Probably best flavoured on its own or atop an olive oil infused slice of pan del pueblo.
Coquinas: clams fished out along the Costa del Sol are said to be among the tastiest in the whole Mediterranean and that's why the most popular way to cook them here is with an abundant splashing of white wine, garlic and parsley and topped with, you guessed it, a generous serve of olive oil!
Sardinas al espeto: sardines caught just off the coast of Malaga are small, tasty beyond words and utterly scrumptious. In Nerja, you'll find them skewered, grilled and simply topped with olive oil.
Things to do
Nerja is a popular beach resort and it's easy to see why, with a number of beaches all offering white sand and warm, crystal clear waters. Each of the beaches in the area offers a different scene, so whether you want a quiet and secluded spot on a space of untouched sand, a more commercial spot with shops and cafes nearby, or a more family oriented beach, in Nerja you will be able to find the right one for you.
Playa Burriana is arguably the most famous beach in Nerja, just a 15 minute walk away from the Balcon de Europa viewpoint. Although all the beaches in town are just lovely, due to the town being essentially a collection of coves none of them are particularly long, except for Burriana. So this where people come for morning strolls, evening jogs or just enjoy a little more space during the day. Burriana is also beloved for daylong visitors and families, as the beachside promenade is lined with great cafes, restaurants and bars, making it a very convenient choice.
Playa de Carabeillo, on the other hand, is much more secluded (and quieter) due to the fact that to reach it, one must negotiate a considerable rock-hewn staircase. The picturesque setting of this beach makes it one of the most special in Nerja, so if you don't have mobility issue do look for it between Burriana and Carabeo Beach. The latter is one of the shortest beaches in Nerja (only about 120m long) and also only accessible via a long staircase. Its angled location, however, offers some of the most splendid coastal views of all. Considering Carabeo is only 15m wide, it would pay to get there early in the morning even in June, to secure a prime position. Amenities here are limited, but you will find basic refreshments.
