Guide to visiting the Axarquia

In the latest of our day trip series, we head east to discover the fascinating area of the Axarquia, a land of Moorish heritage, picture-perfect villages and a ton of stunning mountain scenery. The guide answers your questions, suggests the best things to do when visiting the Axarquíi and plots a 4-day trip to the area.

What is the Axarquia?

It’s the name given to the area to the east of Malaga city, stretching to Nerja on the coast and reaching the Granada province. The magnificent Sierras Alhama, Tejeda and Almijara mountain range (and natural park) make up the northern border.

The Axarquia consists of 31 villages and 67 hamlets, ranging from little more than a few houses to lively small market towns.

The town of Vélez-Málaga is the capital of the Axarquia.

Where is the Axarquia in Spain?

It’s in the south, and makes up the eastern part of Malaga province in Andalusia. Think of it as the east side of the Costa del Sol after Malaga city.

Why is it called the Axarquia?

The name originates from the Arabic, Ash-sharquía, meaning ‘region in the east’.

How do you pronounce Axarquia?

At a glance, it doesn’t look like an easy word to say, but divide it into three syllables and it’ll roll off your tongue!

axe-are-kia
(place the stress on the last syllable)

How far is the Axarquia from Malaga?

It depends on where you go. Here’s a rough guide:

Nerja, Frigiliana and Cómpeta – allow an hour in the car.

Vélez-Málaga – is around 30 minutes away.

Alfarnate, Periana, Sedella and Alcaucín – expect to spend over an hour in the car, 70 to 90 minutes.

How do you get to the Axarquia?

Public transport: There are reasonable bus services to the larger municipalities from Malaga. For example, buses to Nerja are frequent and quick, and there’s an OK service to Vélez-Málaga and Riogordo.

However, bus travel isn’t quick and there’s a reduced service at weekends.

Buses from Malaga to Nerja leave from the main bus station in Paseo de los Tilos (next to Maria Zambrano train station. Buses from other villages leave from Muelle Heredia bus station, just outside Malaga Port and opposite Plaza de la Marina.

By car: we think the best way to explore the Axarquia is to hire a car in Malaga. Having your own wheels allows you to explore wherever you like and in your own time.

Discover Cars lists all reputable care hire companies and allows you to compare rates and cover easily. Click to find out more. (Note that Guide to Malaga is an affiliate partner of Discover Cars and if you book through these links, we receive a small commission that helps us keep this site free for you and costs you nothing.)

Private tours: coach companies offer tours to Nerja and Frigiliana, and there are private companies that provide tours to other parts of the Axarquia.

Can you take a day trip to the Axarquia from Malaga?

Yes, you can, and if you make an early start, you can see plenty. However, we think the Axarquia merits an overnight stay – the scenery is so pretty and the villages so charming, you won’t do it justice in just a day.

Apart from the easy A7 highway, driving in the Axarquia is usually via twisting mountain roads. Be prepared for sharp bends, winding ascents and narrow passing places. And take it in turns to do the driving so you can all enjoy the amazing views!

When’s the best time to go to the Axarquia?

Like Malaga, any time of the year is good for visiting the Axarquía:

Spring is the prettiest season, when the countryside blooms in wild flowers and the grape vines have their first shoots. Temperatures are great for hiking.

Summer is the hottest season, and the inland villages swelter in the midday heat. However, it cools down at night, and late August/early September is the grape and raisin harvest.

Autumn is refreshingly cool – nights can be cold and you’ll welcome the open fires in restaurants and hotels – and pretty as the countryside takes on its fall mantle.

Winter is the coldest season, but the countryside is pretty with almond blossom. Hiking to La Maroma, the Axaraquia’s highest peak, is best in December and January to avoid the heat.

What’s the weather like in the Axarquia?

As part of the Costa del Sol, the Axarquia enjoys 320 days of sunshine a year. Rainfall is usually scarce and confined to the late autumn and winter, but don’t expect much. It can snow in the highest points – La Maroma peak is often snow-capped in January and early February, and Alfarnate village usually sees snow in winter.

Things to do in the Axarquia

The area offers plenty to do and see, and for all ages.

Explore the white villages in the Axarquia

Villages like Frigiliana, Comares, Canillas de Aceituno, Salares and Cómpeta are among the prettiest. Wander through the narrow streets and alleyways, take in the views, admire the traditional architecture and try the local food.

Don’t miss the trio of Árchez, Corumbela and Daimalos, all with unique Mudéjar minarets on their churches.  

Hike the villages and mountains

The Axarquia is crisscrossed with stunning walking routes, ranging from a leisurely stroll to a seriously challenging hike. One of the highlights is the Cómpeta-Canillas de Aceituno Trail, recognised as the Best Certified Hiking Trail in Spain in 2024. Known as the Caminito del Rey de la Axarquía, the 24k walk includes a stunning suspension bridge.

For information on walking trails in the Axarquia, read this.

Try the local foodie treats

As well as cheese, kid goat meat and fresh fish, the Axarquia also produces the following deliciousness:

Wine

The Axarquia is one of the official wine areas in Malaga, with many local wineries producing innovative and excellent wine. Several villages make up the official wine route (download a leaflet in English via this page).

Grapes are grown on bush vines in the Axarquía to protect the grapes from the fierce sun and strong Mediterranean winds.

Raisins

Pasas de Málaga (muscat raisins) are one of the area’s delicacies and have SIPAM status (recognition from the Important World Agriculture Heritage Systems). They are picked, dried and selected by hand using artisan methods that haven’t changed for generations.

Three villages make up the Corazón Moscatel (muscat heart): Almáchar, El Borge and Moclinejo, all on the west side of the Axarquia .

Raisins are dried on slate-lined slopes, known as paseros. They always face south to get maximum sunlight.

Tropical fruits

All that sunshine and the slate soil make ideal growing conditions for avocados, mangos, custard apples, medlar fruit and guavas. You’ll see avocado and mango orchards dotting the hills in most of the southern Axarquia . The village of Sayalonga is the capital of medlar fruit.

Alfarnate is famous for its cherries – visit the village in early spring to see the orchards in spectacular bloom.

Read about the best autumn fruits (and how to eat them)

Olive oil

You’ll also see acres and acres of olive groves that produce delicious oil.

Look out for small shops selling local produce.

Relax on the beaches

If you like a day by the sea, the Axarquia has something for everyone:

• Large stretches of sand with child-friendly bathing and excellent amenities at Torrox Costa and Torre del Mar.
• Isolated coves with pebbles and few amenities on the Maro coast to the east of Nerja. Note that there’s no car access to these beaches, so you need to walk down (and back up again) unless it’s the summer season when a shuttle bus operates (daily June to mid-September; €2.25 return (cash only)).
• Picturesque coves with coarse sand in Nerja, ranging from tiny patches of sand to the longest beach at Burriana.

Festivals and fiestas

Take the Spanish love of a party and the Axarquia’s 31 municipalities and you have a year-round calendar of festivals and fiestas. In fact, there are around 250 a year, so you can almost guarantee you’ll catch one or two when you’re visiting the Axarquia!

Religious festivals

Every village has a procession during Holy Week. Vélez-Málaga has the most spectacular, but you’ll get a taste for the solemnity of the occasion almost everywhere. During Easter week, Riogordo celebrates its famous Paso, a live reactment of the Easter story with locals playing all the parts.

In addition, all villages celebrate their patron saint’s day with processions, live music and dancing, and celebrations.

Historic festivals

Several places celebrate the area’s Moorish and Jewish heritage. For example, Alfarnate reacts the Christian conquest of the village with locals playing the parts of both sides in September. Frigiliana has a festival of three cultures in the early summer and the Burning of Algarrobo commemorates the War of Independence

Fun festivals

Let your hair down with the locals at Carnival in Nerja and Vélez-Málaga before Lent and the Water Party in Alcaucín in August (perfect for cooling down).

Foodie festivals

Name a local product and there’s a day celebrating it. From the black pudding festival (Fiesta de la Morcilla) in Canillas de Aceituno to Muscat Grape Day in Iznate via Wine Night in Cómpeta and Medlar Day in Sayalonga.

The Axarquía has its own music, known as Verdiales. This traditional music, song and dance form is deeply-rooted in the area and there’s a special festival in Benalgabón in September. You can also see verdiales during Malaga Fair and at Christmas in Malaga.

Read this guide to festivals in the Axarquia (pdf download)

A 4-day trip to the Axarquia

The following route (by hire car) allows you to experience the best of the area:

Day 1 – Vélez-Málaga & Comares

• Morning (Vélez-Málaga):
  • Visit La Fortaleza castle ruins and enjoy the views.
  • Stroll the Barrio de la Villa, old convents, and the Museo de Vélez-Málaga (MVVEL) for a taste of history and art.
• Afternoon (Comares):
  • Explore the “balcony of the Axarquía”, one of the highest villages, with Moorish heritage and ceramic-tiled walking routes.
  • Enjoy sweeping views at Mirador de la Axarquía.
  • Optional: For adventure seekers, try the Comares zipline or a via ferrata route.

Day 2 – Frigiliana & Nerja

• Morning (Frigiliana):
  • Walk the Moorish quarter, winding streets, whitewashed houses, and artisan shops.
• Afternoon (Nerja):
  • Explore the Cuevas de Nerja — vast chambers with prehistoric cave art.
  • Stroll through Nerja old town and relax at the Balcón de Europa.

Day 3 – Mountains & Villages (El Saltillo & Raisin Route)

• Morning (Canillas de Aceituno):
  • Hike the El Saltillo trail, part of the Gran Senda de Malaga provincial trail, with its suspension bridge and dramatic gorge views (3–4 hours).
• Afternoon (Raisin Route):
  • Drive through El Borge, Almáchar, Moclinejo, seeing vineyards, olive groves, and traditional paseros (sun-drying racks for grapes).

Day 4 – Lake Viñuela & White Villages

• Morning (Lake Viñuela):
  • Scenic walk around the reservoir or paddle/kayak if you want a mix of activity and calm.
• Afternoon (Arenas & Bentomiz Castle / Cómpeta):
  • Visit Bentomiz Castle ruins near Arenas — a historic Moorish site with sweeping views.
  • Or explore Cómpeta, known as the “wine capital of Axarquía,” with lovely views and an annual Art Walk in September.

Where to stay in the Axarquía?

There are many great places to stay when you’re visiting the Axarquía, ranging from beachfront hotels to rustic farmhouses. Below are some of our personal favourites:

Almáchar – La Lipa Suites: modern self-catering apartments overlooking the village and mountains. All are well-equipped, and some have plunge pools on the terrace. Book your stay.

Cómpeta – Malaga Hills Hotel: a boutique establishment (with just 5 rooms), with uber comfortable accommodation, lovely pool and stunning views to La Maroma, Canillas de Aceituno and the sea. Book your stay.

La Viñuela – B Bou Hotel Cortijo Bravo: an oasis of peace and tranquillity with its sweeping views of the countryside (miles of avocado and mango groves) and sea on the horizon. Typical Andalusian features include the central patio, courtyards and gardens (with pool). Book your stay.

Nerja – Parador de Nerja: on the clifftop over Burriana beach (easy to reach via the hotel lift) and with amazing views of the Nerja coastline and Mediterranean. Rooms are spacious and comfy – the best have terraces with sea views or direct access to the gardens, where there are plenty of quiet spots for relaxation and a good-sized pool. Book your stay. Note that the Parador is closed for refurbishment until early 2027.

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