Mijas

• Andalucian charm: Mijas enjoys the best of both worlds – shiny modern Cala de Mijas on the coast and traditional Mijas village sitting in the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas.
• Golf: La Cala Golf takes in 54 holes, over three different course with each course offering a different set of challenges to keep any golfer interested. See our guide to Costa del Sol golf courses.
• Unique setting: Mijas Pueblo has some of the best views of the Costa del Sol. Looking down from Parque La Muralla, the Mediterranean Sea glistens in the sunlight.
• Lots of hikes and cycle routes from the village taking you into nature.
• Culture: Village life is slow. With a leisurely coffee here and a long lunch there, it’s impossible not to succumb to the laidback pace. With village life there’s ferias and fiestas…
  • Visit Mijas during Easter with atmospheric processions being held every day the week up to Easter Sunday.
  • During June there’s a Blues festival in Mijas Pueblo, and on June 23rd Midsummer’s Day is celebrated all along the coast.
  • During the summer (July and August) there’s a flamenco festival and Vive Mijas de Noche, when a craft market, live music and other events are held in Mijas Pueblo.
  • July 16th is the Feast of Carmen on the coast where fishermen celebrate the saint with a procession at sea.
  • Around 8th September, don’t miss feria when the village comes alive with music, dance and general frivolity.
• Playa Cala de Mijas. Is a great option for families as there’s plenty of restaurants and sunbeds and parasols for hire. The beach is sandy, has crystal clear water (so don’t forget the snorkel) with a shallow access and deepens slowly.

Mijas is famed for its mix of hearty mountain soups and grilled fish and seafood from the coast.

Some of the common local dishes include:

• Maimones: a warm garlic soup.
• Cachorreñas: a warm soup made with cod and seafood.
• Mijenas salad: potato salad with cod, oranges, chives, green olives and olive oil.
• Leche frita: fried milk with cinnamon and sugar.
• Gachas: savoury or sweet, it’s like a porridge cooked with honey or condensed milk or chorizo.

You’ll see sardines being cooked along the coast on skewers over hot coals. On May 1st a festival celebrating grilled sardines takes place in La Cala de Mijas; over 1000kg of grilled sardines are given out free. There are, of course, restaurants offering international cuisine too: be sure not to miss beach clubs like Olivia’s La Cala and Florida Mijas Beach.

The main shopping centre in Mijas is Miramar with 140 high street stores.

Mijas Pueblo itself has independent shops selling art, giftables and leather goods. We love Tamisa on Plaza de la Constitucion, a family business holding art, objéts and jewellery from Spanish artists.

Slightly further afield – and ideal for designer shopping – is Puerto Banus and Marbella centre.

Outdoor activities are plentiful, from diving to buggy tours and canyoning to cycling, as well as tennis and climbing.

There are several hiking routes from Mijas Pueblo into the Sierra de Mijas for all levels including the Pico de Mijas at 1150 metres.

Along the coast there’s the Senda Litoral Mijas, a coastal path in the form of a boardwalk that runs the entire length of Mijas.

Aside from the countryside, there are many children’s attractions in the area from the Mayan Monkey Chocolate Factory to Butterfly World and Mijas Waterpark.

For the less active, and those who want to get to know the rich history of the area, there’s the Mudejar church, hermitage and bullring to visit in Mijas Pueblo itself. (See more in our guide.)