The sea temperature at Nerja today is 20.4 °C (69 °F) – cold to refreshing water, better for a short swim. The usual October average is 19.9 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 23.8 °C to 20.4 °C. Swimmable from June to October, when the sea averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.2°C / 57.6°F | 14.6°C / 58.3°F | 15.0°C / 59.0°F |
| February | 14.2°C / 57.6°F | 14.6°C / 58.3°F | 14.9°C / 58.8°F |
| March | 14.5°C / 58.1°F | 14.9°C / 58.8°F | 15.2°C / 59.4°F |
| April | 15.4°C / 59.7°F | 16.1°C / 60.9°F | 16.6°C / 61.8°F |
| May | 17.1°C / 62.8°F | 17.9°C / 64.3°F | 18.8°C / 65.8°F |
| June | 19.3°C / 66.8°F | 20.3°C / 68.6°F | 21.8°C / 71.2°F |
| July | 21.3°C / 70.3°F | 23.0°C / 73.3°F | 24.2°C / 75.6°F |
| August | 23.5°C / 74.2°F | 24.5°C / 76.0°F | 25.5°C / 77.9°F |
| September | 20.8°C / 69.5°F | 22.3°C / 72.2°F | 23.2°C / 73.8°F |
| October | 19.3°C / 66.7°F | 19.9°C / 67.8°F | 20.7°C / 69.2°F |
| November | 15.2°C / 59.4°F | 16.9°C / 62.4°F | 18.4°C / 65.1°F |
| December | 14.9°C / 58.8°F | 15.5°C / 59.9°F | 16.3°C / 61.3°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.3°C / 52.3°F | 12.2°C / 54.0°F | 13.7°C / 56.7°F |
| February | 12.0°C / 53.6°F | 13.0°C / 55.5°F | 14.3°C / 57.8°F |
| March | 12.8°C / 55.0°F | 13.9°C / 57.0°F | 15.1°C / 59.1°F |
| April | 14.5°C / 58.1°F | 15.8°C / 60.4°F | 17.0°C / 62.6°F |
| May | 17.1°C / 62.7°F | 18.6°C / 65.4°F | 19.9°C / 67.8°F |
| June | 20.7°C / 69.2°F | 22.2°C / 71.9°F | 23.6°C / 74.5°F |
| July | 23.7°C / 74.6°F | 25.3°C / 77.5°F | 26.9°C / 80.3°F |
| August | 24.3°C / 75.8°F | 25.7°C / 78.3°F | 27.3°C / 81.1°F |
| September | 21.2°C / 70.2°F | 22.4°C / 72.3°F | 23.6°C / 74.6°F |
| October | 18.7°C / 65.6°F | 19.7°C / 67.4°F | 20.9°C / 69.5°F |
| November | 14.6°C / 58.3°F | 15.6°C / 60.1°F | 17.0°C / 62.7°F |
| December | 12.4°C / 54.3°F | 13.4°C / 56.0°F | 14.8°C / 58.6°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Nerja holidays
Nerja is a whitewashed town on the eastern Costa del Sol, about 50 km east of Málaga, where the hills of the Axarquía run down to cliffs and small coves. At its centre is the Balcón de Europa, a palm-lined promontory above the sea, and just east of town lie the Caves of Nerja, discovered by a group of local boys in 1959.
Beaches
Burriana is Nerja's main beach: a long stretch of sand and fine shingle east of the centre, with a promenade of restaurants and beach facilities that make it popular with families. West of the Balcón, Playa Torrecilla has its own promenade, and between the two, small coves such as Calahonda and Carabeillo are reached by steps from the old town. Further east, below the cliffs of Maro, the beaches are quieter and the water is clear enough for snorkelling.
Things to do
The Caves of Nerja are a vast cavern of stalactite halls, and the summer concerts of the Cave Festival are held in an open-air auditorium in the cave grounds. Along the coast, the cliffs between Maro and Cerro Gordo are a protected natural area, explored on kayak and paddle-board trips to a waterfall that falls straight into the sea. Frigiliana, a white hill village of steep lanes, is about 7 km inland. Fans of the 1980s TV series Verano Azul visit its park, with a replica of Chanquete's boat.
Weather and best time to visit
The sea at Nerja warms fastest from June to July, by about 3 °C (5 °F) in one month.
July and August are the busiest weeks, when Spanish families arrive; spring and autumn are better for walks in the hills. Atlantic water flowing in through the Strait of Gibraltar keeps this part of the Mediterranean fresher than the sea further east.
Hotels and where to stay
A room in the old centre puts the Balcón de Europa, the evening paseo and most restaurants on foot. Apartments line the hill above Burriana close to the sand, and the villas and urbanizaciones on the slopes around town offer more space, often with a pool.
Signature hotels: Hotel Balcón de Europa
Airport and getting there
Málaga airport is about 70 km away by road, roughly an hour by car on the A-7 motorway; ALSA buses from Málaga take around an hour and a quarter. Nerja has no railway station, so a car helps for exploring the white villages of the Axarquía.