And Colmenar for a (half) day trip!

Thank you Alvamo. That's exactly the type of information that I needed. I'll look further into Malaga. It looked big and more city-like than village-like. I'll look again though. Great advice on different areas to visit if we're based east of Malaga. We'll look into Colmenar as well :-)

So right, alvamo!

<I would recommend you to visit Malaga and if you stay in Nerja or Almuñecar go to Frigiliana and Competa.> <And Colmenar>

Yes, and perhaps:

"The lost village" Acebuchal with its tragic post Civil War-history, just inland from Nerja: http://eastofmalaga.net/2014/12/22/t...-el-acebuchal/

Maro just east of Nerja (with one of the best beaches in Spain): http://www.nerjatoday.com/maro/
http://www.spain-holiday.com/Maro/ar...-de-maro-nerja

Or Lagos just west of Nerja: http://www.minube.com/fotos/rincon/80314

The small and important fishing village Caleta de Velez, a little further west of Nerja, almost halfway to Malaga city: http://www.absoluteaxarquia.com/areas/caleta.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Hmm. Just looked into Figiliana. Can we reach Frigiliana, Competa and Colmenar by bus or train? (We don't plan to rent a car while there)

Thanks kimhe. Just saw your post. I'll look into all those places. As with the question before, are these accessible by public transporation? If not, maybe a cab (for 5)?

Here you can find the bus timetable from Nerja to the main destinations in Málaga province, Costa del Sol and the rest of Andalucia

http://www.nerja.es/turismo/index.php?apdo=bus


To go to Competa you have to go to Torre del Mar http://competa.es/es/14-articulo/171-horario-autobuses


You can also order a taxi
http://radiotaxisnerja.com/content/7...taxis-de-nerja

No train service from Malaga to the Costa del Sol east.

MyriamC said about Colmenar but I don´t find the pueblo so atractive to visit.

Well I suppose its how far you want to define the coast.

I wouldn't say Competa is coastal, it's a small village but with a huge number of resident Northern Europeans.

We are currently in Conil and drove through the CdS today. Torremolinos has tried so hard to improve itself but the businesses and apartments are still very shabby. We drove the length from Malaga to Gibraltar and its still as overdeveloped as we remember from a few years ago.

Clearing the headlands and dropping into Tarifa you may as well be entering another continent. Rolling farmed hills, abundant migratory bird life and small villages.

Worst news is ... It's raining.

CasperJJ

I'd agree with Frigliana, its close to Malaga and has an active local culture. Gaucin is further inland is stunningly beautiful but again has a probable higher English than Spanish population.

Oops ... it was Comares, not Colmenar!