The Nerja Caves are one of the easiest big sights on the Costa del Sol: there are no tight quotas like at the Alhambra or the Caminito del Rey, and you can almost always get in on the day. What does change is the price, depending on where you buy and when you go, and the logistics if you are coming from Málaga without a car. Everything here was checked on the official website on 4 November 2026.
Which option suits you?
| If you want… | Option | From |
|---|---|---|
| To go on your own with an audio guide | Nerja Caves entry ticket with audio guide, 4.6★ (2,107) Book | €15.50 |
| Transport from Málaga | Nerja Caves, Nerja and Frigiliana day trip, 4.6★ (3,192) Book | €69 |
| Just your group | Private day trip to Nerja and Frigiliana with the caves Book | €700 per group |
2026 prices: online is cheaper
Official tickets are sold at entradas.cuevadenerja.es. There are two price periods: period 1 (most of the year) and period 2 (June to September, Christmas, bank-holiday weekends and Easter, from the Friday before Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday).
| Ticket | Online P1 | Online P2 | Ticket office P1 | Ticket office P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General (14 and over) | €16 | €18 | €18 | €20 |
| Over-65s, large families, European Youth Card, disability | €14 | €15 | €14 | €15 |
| Junior (12-13) | €13 | €14 | €13 | €14 |
| Child (6-11) | €12 | €13 | €12 | €13 |
| Mini (3-5) | €5 | €6 | €5 | €6 |
| Babies (0-2) | Free | Free | Free | Free |
- General admission is €2 cheaper online. The other fares cost the same either way.
- The audio guide is a free download in the official app. A handset costs €2 at the cave.
- The Nerja Museum is included. It is on Plaza de España in town, next to the Balcón de Europa, and your cave ticket gets you in free. The virtual reality room is included too.
Opening hours and closing days
- Period 1: 9:15 to 16:30. Last entry 15:30.
- Period 2 (summer, Christmas, bank holidays and Easter): 9:15 to 17:30. Last entry 16:30.
- Closed on 1 and 6 January, 15 May (a local holiday) and 25 December.
The visit takes about 45 minutes along a route with steps and walkways. It is cool inside all year and the floor can be damp, so wear closed shoes.
Do Nerja Caves tickets sell out?
Rarely. What happens in summer, at Easter and on bank holidays is that the ticket-office queue grows mid-morning, when the tour coaches arrive. To avoid it:
- Buy online before you go: you save €2 and skip the queue.
- Go first thing (doors open at 9:15) or after lunch.
- Don't turn up at last entry. At 15:30 (16:30 in summer) the entrance closes, not the cave.
Getting there from Málaga
By bus. ALSA runs buses from Málaga bus station (Paseo de los Tilos) to Nerja. The journey takes between one hour and almost two, depending on the service and its stops. The bus ends at Nerja bus station, about 4 km from the caves. From there, ALSA buses run to Maro and stop at the junction for the cave road, or you can take a short taxi.
By car. It is about 60 km along the A-7. The caves have their own car park, charged by the minute.
On a day trip. The easiest option without a car: the Nerja Caves, Nerja and Frigiliana tour€69 · 4.6 includes transport from Málaga and the cave ticket, and adds the Balcón de Europa and Frigiliana on the same day. For a family or a small group, the private day trip€700 costs €700 for 1 or 2 people and €880 for 4.
What else to see nearby
- The Balcón de Europa, the clifftop viewpoint in the centre of Nerja, and Burriana beach.
- Frigiliana, one of the prettiest white villages in the Axarquía, 7 km away.
- Maro and its coves, right next to the caves.
To compare Nerja with Ronda, Granada or the Caminito, see our day trips from Málaga, and for which works out cheaper for your group size, private or group day trips from Málaga.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying at the ticket office mid-morning in summer. You pay €2 more and queue.
- Going on 15 May. It is a local holiday and the caves are closed.
- Skipping the Nerja Museum. It is included and explains the paintings and remains found in the cave.
- Wearing flip-flops. There are lots of steps and damp sections.
In one sentence
Buy your ticket online at entradas.cuevadenerja.es (€16, or €18 in high season), go early and use the free Nerja Museum entry; without a car, the day trip from Málaga with Frigiliana sorts out the whole day.
