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Spring and autumn are the best times for walking and sightseeing, with mild weather. Summer is hot, and the village is busiest in the middle of the day. Winters are mild.

The Feria de Mijas in September and the Semana Santa processions are the biggest events.

• Mijas Pueblo is the hill village, with whitewashed lanes, shops, viewpoints and small squares.
• The Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción is the parish church, in the village center.
• The Ermita de San Sebastián is a small chapel in the village.
• The Centro de Artes is a gallery and cultural center.
• The Plaza de Toros is a small square bullring, one of the few that is oval.
• Bioparc Fuengirola is a zoo in nearby Fuengirola, about 8 km away, with a focus on conservation.
• Mijas Costa has beaches such as La Cala de Mijas, with a promenade and an old watchtower.

• Walk the lanes and viewpoints of Mijas Pueblo.
• Have tapas in a village square.
• Hike in the Sierra de Mijas.
• Spend a beach day at La Cala de Mijas.
• Visit Bioparc in Fuengirola.

• Málaga (about 30 km): the Picasso Museum and the Alcazaba.
• Marbella (about 30 km): an old town and the marina at Puerto Banús.
• Ronda (about 90 km): a town above a gorge.
• Benalmádena (about 12 km): a coastal town with a hill village.
• Antequera (about 90 km): dolmens and churches.

Other places nearby:

• Costa del Sol: Málaga, Marbella, Benalmádena and Estepona.
• Andalusia: Ronda and Antequera.

• By air: Málaga airport is about 20 km from Mijas.
• By train: The Cercanías line C1 runs from Málaga airport to Fuengirola, about 8 km from Mijas Pueblo. Book long-distance trains on Renfe.
• By bus: A bus links Fuengirola and Mijas Pueblo, and buses go from Málaga.
• By car: The A-7 and AP-7 motorways serve the area.

• On foot: Mijas Pueblo is compact but hilly, with steps and slopes. The coast and the village are far apart.
• Bus and taxi: The local bus links the village, Fuengirola and La Cala.
• Donkey taxi: A tourist tradition in the village.

• Is a car worth it?: Useful to combine the village, the coast and nearby towns.
• Parking: A paid car park is at the entrance of the village. On busy days it fills up.
• Roads: The village road is steep and winding.

The food is Andalusian, with a focus on seafood on the coast. Try espetos (grilled sardines on skewers), pescaíto frito (fried fish), gazpacho, porra antequerana and ajoblanco. In the village, look for local sweet wine and raisins from the Axarquía.

Mijas is a safe area. Take care of valuables in busy tourist spots. The village streets are steep and can be slippery, and in summer the heat can be strong, so carry water.

The hill was settled by Phoenicians and Romans, and in the Moorish period it was a fortified town. The Catholic Monarchs took it in 1487. For centuries, it was a farming and mining village known for raisins and esparto grass.

In the 1960s, the Costa del Sol tourism boom began, and the village was developed as a tourist attraction while retaining its whitewashed look.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: