Mijas: a day trip from Málaga

About Mijas

Mijas is a municipality on the Costa del Sol, and its historic centre, Mijas Pueblo, is a white village on a mountainside at about 430 metres. The height keeps it a little cooler than the beaches, and from the edge of the village you see the whole coast from Fuengirola to Málaga.

The municipality has three centres: the mountain village, the seaside resort of La Cala de Mijas and Las Lagunas near Fuengirola. Visitors come mainly for the village, its white streets, flowers and views, surrounded by golf courses and villas.

What to see in Mijas

• Calle San Sebastián — the most photogenic flower-filled lane.
• Virgen de la Peña chapel — carved into the rock.
• The chapel viewpoint — sea and coast views.
• Church of the Immaculate Conception — at the top of the village.
• Muralla Gardens — a park on the old walls with views.
• La Cala de Mijas — beaches by the sea below.

White lanes and the rock chapel

The heart of the village is Calle San Sebastián, a narrow, steep lane whose white walls are hung with blue pots of geraniums, the classic Mijas photo. Around it are lanes of ceramics, leather and souvenir shops, small squares and terrace restaurants.

At the edge of the village is the Virgen de la Peña chapel, carved straight into the rock, a small grotto with a statue of the Virgin, candles and flowers. Beside it a viewpoint looks over the coast and sea, and on a clear day you can make out the mountains of Africa on the horizon.

The Muralla Gardens and views

Above the village rise the remains of the old walls, now topped by the Muralla Gardens, with flowers, cacti and benches. This is the widest panorama: the village's white houses on the slope, the valley, golf courses and the sea to the horizon.

Nearby stands the Church of the Immaculate Conception with its bell tower, one of the oldest buildings in Mijas. In the evening, the garden walls are the best place to watch the coast light up from Fuengirola to Málaga.

Tips for your trip

Wear comfortable shoes, as the streets are steep and cobbled, and bring water and a hat, since the viewpoints have little shade. Mijas has plenty of souvenir shops; local craftspeople sell ceramics and leather, but compare prices in a few places.

Mijas pairs easily with the beach: the village and views in the morning, then a bus down to Fuengirola or La Cala for an evening by the sea, a pleasant, unhurried day.

Children enjoy the gardens on the walls, spotting flowers on Calle San Sebastián and peeking into the rock chapel. Buggies struggle on the steepest streets.

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How to do it right

• Morning or sunset.
• Comfortable shoes.
• Views from the Muralla Gardens.
• Evening by the sea.

Questions