Balcon de Europa

The Balcon de Europa is a paved terrace projecting from the old town of Nerja on a rock spur that once carried a fortress, destroyed in the early nineteenth century; the name is credited to Alfonso XII, who visited after an earthquake in 1884 and is said to have called it the balcony of Europe, and a statue of him leans on the railing at the end. Palms line the promenade, and below on either side lie the small beaches of Calahonda and El Salon reached by steps and a tunnel. The view runs along the coast toward the Maro cliffs and inland to the Sierra de Almijara. Cafes fill the square behind, and the church of El Salvador stands at the entrance.

What you actually see

• The projecting terrace - a paved promenade on a rock spur over the sea.
• The Alfonso XII statue - a figure leaning on the railing at the point.
• The beaches below - Calahonda and El Salon reached by steps.
• The coastal view - the Maro cliffs east and the sierra inland.

When to go

Spring and autumn for comfort; summer brings heavy crowds along the whole promenade. Early morning and late evening are the quietest and the light is best at either end of the day.

Honest expectations

It is a short promenade seen in twenty minutes, crowded through the day in season with buskers and touts. The cafes on the terrace charge a premium for the position. Access to the beaches below involves steps.

Nearby

The Nerja Caves are four kilometres east; Frigiliana sits in the hills above the town.