Axarquía is a region in the Province of Malaga, Andalucia, Spain. The coastal part of Axarquía is often known as the Costa del Sol Oriental (Eastern Costa del Sol). It is one of the sunniest places in mainland Spain, with an average of 320 sunny days a year.

Cities

• 1 Vélez-Málaga — this bustling, inland market town is the most important city of the region, and not dominated by tourism
• 2 Frigiliana — won the award for most beautiful town of Spain multiple times
• 3 Nerja — a beachside resort that isn't dominated by large concrete hotels
• 4 Sedella — a Moorish village where the vine was its main crop
• 5 Torre del Mar — a beachside resort whose beach has been awarded with the Blue Flag
• 6 Torrox — a coastal town of many festivals and traditions celebrated throughout the year

Other destinations

• 1 Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama — a natural park stretching through the mountain ranges between the provinces of Málaga and Granada.
• 2 Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo — a natural reserve located between Nerja and Almuñecar, formed by a series of cliffs and coves.

Understand

Map of Axarquía and its municipalities

Its name is traced back to Arabic الشرقية‏ (aš-Šarqiyya, meaning "the eastern [region]"). Its capital and most important town is Vélez-Málaga.

The economy of the region is based mainly on agriculture, fishing, livestock and the construction sector, as well as the tourism sector. Unemployment is around 17% (2021) and the mean income is slightly lower than that of the rest of the province.

Climate

Axarquía has a coastal Mediterranean and semitropical climate, with warm summers and mild winters. The average annual temperature is 18ºC and temperatures do not generally surpass 35ºC in the summer or drop to less than 10ºC in the winter. It is one of the sunniest regions in mainland Spain. There is an average of only 54 rainy days every year. Extreme meteorological phenomena such as droughts or torrential rains have become more common, but are still quite rare.

Get in

By car

The A-7 highway runs along the coast, connecting all the coastal centres. The A-356, the A-7000 and the A-402 roads run through the region.

By plane

The closest airports are those of Malaga and Granada.

By bus

ALSA and other bus companies operate buses from Málaga, Granada, Marbella, Ronda, Seville, Almería and other Spanish cities to the biggest towns in Axarquía. The most important bus stations are:

• 1 Nerja Bus Station, Av. de Pescia, s/n, Nerja, ☏ +34 902422242. 
• 2 Torre del Mar Bus Station, C/ Pintor Cipriano Maldonado, 7, Vélez-Málaga, ☏ +34 952559100. 

Get around

By bus

Regional buses are operated by ALSA (formerly Alsina Graells), Autocares Valle-Niza, Autocares Carlos and other companies. Lines and schedules can be found in most cases in each town council's website. The biggest bus stations in the region are located in Torre del Mar, Vélez-Málaga and Nerja. They serve as hubs for many lines running to smaller villages.

See

• 1 Caves of Nerja (Cuevas de Nerja). A series of caverns of almost 5 km (3.1 mi). One of Spain's major tourist attractions. Concerts are regularly held in one of the chambers, which forms a natural amphitheatre. Not suitable if you have any walking difficulties, as there are many stairs and no ramps. €12.75. (updated Mar 2022).
• 2 Fortress of Vélez-Málaga (Fortaleza de Vélez-Málaga). Daily 08:00-22:00. A 10th-century fortification with walls and a tower, located on top of a hill dominating the old part of the town. Together with the so-called Puerta de Antequera, it was almost completely destroyed during the French invasion and its remains used as quarry. The Torre del Homenaje was rebuilt in the 1970s and it surroundings were improved. It has views over Vélez and the Mediterranean sea and is sometimes used as a venue for concerts. Free. (updated Apr 2022).
• 3 Mudéjar minaret of Árchez (Alminar mudéjar de Árchez). A Mudéjar-style minaret belonging to a 14th-century Almohad mosque turned into a Catholic church after the Reconquista. (updated Apr 2022).

Eat

Among the dishes of the Axarquia cuisine that stand out are goat fried with spices, fennel stew, the enblanco, the ajoblanco or the chickpeas with tripe.

Drink

The Muscat grape of the Axarquía has been declared a world agricultural heritage by the Fodand Agriculture Organization.

Go next

• Málaga — capital of the province and bustling port city with a broad museum offer.
• Antequera — castle town full of churches located roughly in the centre of Andalusia.
• Alhama de Granada — an old spa village located over a gorge.
• La Alpujarra — a mountainous region south of Sierra Nevada with small and enchanting villages.
• Granada — world-known city, home of the spectacular Alhambra palace.