Places to see | Where to stay | Where to eat and drink and me merry | How to get to Mijas
One of the jewels of the Costa del Sol is the beautiful little white village of Mijas, only 30 km from Malaga. Mijas, with it’s 7.500 population, nestles comfortably in the mountainside at 428 meters above sea level; it is a superb choice for a holiday with a difference.
When you wander through the narrow cobbled streets of this Andalucian village, you can understand what has attracted foreigners to settle here over the years. Many artists and writers have made it their home, enjoying the benefits of an excellent all year round climate, without being part of the busier, more commercial coastal towns just 7 kilometres down the mountain side.
Despite its huge popularity with tourists, Mijas Pueblo (Pueblo means village) has quite unexpectedly managed to retain much of its traditional Andalucian way of life, the locals displaying their unabashed passion for all things festive and an unmistakable relaxed 'mañana' outlook on anything that can be put off for another day. 
At the entrance to the village there are several squares with lots of craft shops and restaurants, the craft shops have some wonderful hand made pottery and often affordable paintings and prints by acclaimed local artists.
As you walk further into the village, you get to the historical “Barrio Santa Ana” , barrio 
meaning neighbourhood, where Cascada Studio, easy to recognize with the blue door, is situated in one of the historical protected
older village houses,just off a charming little square,
Plaza Francisco Jimenez Alarcon.
Here the local teenagers and grandmothers congregate on a warm summer night to chat, or tourists, daring to go that bit further sit down to just breathe in the time old atmosphere of “real” Spain.Just around the corner from Cascada Studio is Bar Nino, the perfect place to meet for tapas, eat lunch or just have a glass of local wine in the noisy bar.
Places to See:
In Mijas , your walk about would start next to the Tourist office where the Donkey taxis are "parked", you can ride your own donkey or you can take a donkey-cart taxi.
Shrine Virgen of the Rock: The shrine holds the image of the patroness of Mijas, the Virgin of the Rock. The shrine is set IN the rock, the legend surrounding the image says that it was hidden for 5 centuries until it was rediscovered in 1586 by a builder who was led to the hiding place by a dove. In front of it you will find a little square where you can sit to have a cold drink and enjoy the panoramic views.
"El carromato de Max": A museum of miniatures, one of the most important of its kind with works from over 50 countries exhibited in a caravan. The most astonishing piece? A reduced skull by an Indian tribe.
The Constitution square.
The Casa Museo: For those curious to have a peek into the life of the Andalucians, since 1995 the Casa Museo offers the opportunity to discover local traditions and it even recreates a traditional village house.
Casa Museo also has a permanent exhibition by local, well know ceramist,
Carmen Escalone, her depictions of village life, the bull ring and other typical Spanish scenes, can help but delight you in every way.
Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepcion: Located in the Plaza de la Constitucion it was built in mudejar style on the site of an ancient mosque. Built in 1541, during restoration works in 1991 a series of Frescos of the apostles were discovered there dating back to 1632.
Fortress walls: Here you will find the most amazing viewpoints in Mijas. The gardens surrounding the walls have flowers all year round.
Malaga Wine museum, on Calle San Sebastian, offers a lovely drop of local and reginal wines from all over Spain.
Town Hall: This building is worth seeing for its beautiful marble patios and fountains.
The bullring: Unlike other bullrings, Mijas bullring built in 1900 is oval, almost rectangular in shape. You can visit there the bullfighting museum.
A visit to the Tourist Office to find out what is happening in Mijas during your visit is a must!
The Mijas Village Tourist Office, (Plaza Virgen de la Peña)
Tel: + (00 34) 952 58 90 34
Fax: + (00 34) 952 48 66 94
Opening Hours:
Winter: 09:00 - 19:00 Weekdays
Summer: 09:00 - 15:00 and 16:00 - 20:00
Saturdays: 10:00 - 14:00
What happens during the year in Mijas:
July, August and September: Free night guided walks every Wednesday at 7:30pm. You can discover the most beautiful rural areas of Mijas with a local rural guide completely free. There are several routes available lasting from 2 to 5 hours. The length of the walks vary from 5 to 12 km. All you need to join one of the walks is comfortable clothing, a bottle of water, hiking boots and of course: sunscreen!
Every Wednesday: Why not enjoy a free glass of Malaga wine, courtesy of the tourist office, while enjoying the free Flamenco Show. The show takes place at midday in the main square in Mijas village.
On the 6th of January there is the Three Kings parade for the whole family. Colourful floats parade through the narrow streets throwing sweets to the many children -and adults- on the streets. This is a very important date for the Spaniards as it is traditionally the day when the children receive their Christmas presents brought by the Three Kings.
February:The Carnival celebrations are always fun to be in.
Easter week:There are small processions in the town. For the biggest processions and parties -afterwards- you need to go to Malaga city.
May: The town hall organizes an International day where people from all representative nationalities on the Costa have a chance to show to others something about their culture. There are stalls for each country where you can try traditional food and drink, dance, listen to music or just have a chat and meet new friends.
June: On the 24th of June, Mijas celebrates the night of San Juan with a big fireworks display.
July : There is a Flamenco Dance Festival and The "Theatre Festival" which takes place on an open theatre where you can enjoy chilled drinks while watching the night's play.
August: The Latin night has become a favourite for the locals. For a night, the main square is transformed into a giant dancing square where you can enjoy yourself to the rhythm of Salsa, Merengues and Bachatas.
September: The annual Mijas Fair which lasts a whole week. This is a big celebration during both day and night with various stalls and bars set up on the main square. There is plenty of food and drink as well as a lot of traditional dancing.
December: Christmas Carols Concerts.
Where to Stay:
Please note that all information is updated regularly, but please ask to be sure that prices etc are correct.
Mijas Village has a nice variety of places to stay, here I recommend places that are all good value, and offer some different perspectives on your printmaking holiday.
At Cascada Studio, we help you with all your accommodation queries, to find the right place for you.
Mijas is a very safe place to live, we are lucky and blessed to be able to walk any where we want, without feeling in any way unsafe, especially important to know, when booking your accomodation!
My Favorites are (not in order):
Right next to the church, LA CASA DE LA IGLESIA, http://www.casaiglesia.comoffers a very friendly and cosy environment which makes you feel right at home. This former village house was recently renovated to provide modern facilities yet retain most of it's original features.
La Casa de la Iglesia has 4 rooms, rates are from 60 E/night in low season. Breakfast can be included. Casa de la Iglesia is a 2 minute walk from Cascada Studio.
On the ground floor is a lovely lounge with an open log fire for cool winter evenings, here you will find the TV with SKY satellite (free to view) & a DVD player; next to the lounge is the dining room with a beautiful traditional wooden ceiling. The kitchen is fully equipped with an oven, hobs, microwave, large fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, kettle, toaster, coffee maker etc.
The restaurant/bar Alarcon is one of the best tapas bars in Mijas Pueblo & is located less than 100 meters from Casa Iglesia .
Hostal la Posada
Hostal Posada Mijas
Dirección: C/ Coin , 47 y 49. 29650 Mijas Pueblo
Teléphone: 952 48 53 10
This family run Hostal is very nice and clean, some of the rooms and apartments have a fantastic view and without a doubt, the Hostal boasts the best prices in town, a single room for 25 E/night in low season!
It is situated almost at the centre of Mijas, within easy walking distance of both great bars for breakfast and ( 5 minutes) Cascada Studio.
Hostal La Posada, does not have a website, please ask us for photos of the rooms and help with booking!
El Escudo de Mijas http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/es-escudo-de-mijas.en.html
A cosy small family run hotel, situated on a hill, right in the centre of Mijas, the hotel enjoys stunning views of the coastline and the incomparable peace and quiet.
All the 10 rooms are different and pretty, with very nice en suite bathrooms. Prices range from 50 E/night in low season
El Escudo is a nice 10 minutes walk to Cascada Studios, right through town, past the indoor market, and super breakfast at Bar Boveda.
La Casita is situated outside of Mijas, on the road to Alhaurin el Grande, but so close that you can easily walk in to the village, it is an adorable small house, (guesthouse) owned by a Norwegian artist couple, and you have access to their garden and pool area with barbecue. This is a great alternative if you come as a small group of friends! Or a luxury stay for you on your own.... Mijas in winter is sometimes a bit dismal, but in this house, SO WHAT, it is so cosy!!
go to http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p497806 and see lovely pictures and arrange to book it!
Hotel Mijas TRH http://en.hoteles.es/mijas_hotel_trh_mijas.htm
Hotel Mijas is more of a regular, quite large hotel, with great amenities, including pool, bar, sauna, massage etc….. and tennis courts and gym.
It has 204 roms and a fantastic view over the coast. Prices range from 50e/night in low season
Hotel Mijas is situated at the entrance to Mijas, super places for breakfast are very near by , and Cascada Studio is a nice 20 minutes walk away.
I have also found a couple of Bed And Breakfasts, that are close to or in Mijas, as in the case of
Casa Caleta bed and breakfast www.casacaleta.com , please go to their webpage and you get great photos and all the information you need.
A little bit outside of Mijas, but still within walking distance, (2 km) is
Montes de Almachada, also a bed and breakfast, very luxurious, I might add...they have a great website you can visit at:
www.montesdealmachada.es to get all the info you need.
Another really nice bed and breakfast alternative is Villa Serrana, it is outside of Mijas, going down to the coast, but close enough to the main road, that you can take the bus up to the village, buses are very frequent.
Go to www.villa-serrana.com to see all the great photos and lots of information!
And last but not at all least, great holiday apartment alternatives, I have chosen to show some small apartments, on the general websites that theses apartments are on though, you can easily find much more, I have opted for these 2 as they are great in price and look very cosy.
1) A very nice right in the village alternative, very close to my studio, is a cute little apartment, with a nice balcony, at a great price, suitable for 2 people, you can have a look and book it at:
2) Cath and Ian Mills rent out their very nice little apartment in Mijas, it is located on the other side of the village from the studio, so you get a bit of exercise in the morning! I have chosen it because it looks great and is so very reasonable in price. Located right next door are some super restaurants and a yoga studio! Click on the link and you can see photos and contact Cath and Ian.
If you have any questions, or need help, or just want to know where in Mijas something is, just get in touch, I am here to help you!I would also very much like to know if you find someplace really nice, so I can add it to my list! :o) Mariann
A bit more about Costa del Sol and Andalucia:
Unfortunately, Costa del Sol has a bit of a tired reputation, I think all of us who live and work here, would like to have a serious chat with the person who came up with the sun, sex and sangria label, because this person obviously did not move more than the 5 metres between beach and bar. I can think of a couple of choice words to tell this person ;o)
During your stay in Mijas, take the opportunity to find out from us, who do live and work and rear our kids here, that the Costa del Sol, is also Spain, real and unadulterated, find out, from us, about great places to discover, not least a trip to Malaga City to see the Picasso Museum, and the surrounding narrow streets that are just a delight.
A trip to lovely Marbella with a walk round the old town and a look in the Miro Museum, and then a glass of wine in the Orange Square, a bit touristy, sure, but still, so beautiful and with really nice small shops around for a bit of really fun shopping.
One advantage of the tourism here, is that all year round, you have a lively and very happy atmosphere, with lots of choice in restaurants and bars!
Venture just a little way inland to uncover the delights of the 'Real Spain' with breathtaking mountain views, unspoilt white villages nestled in rolling mountains and many 'Ventas' - the typical Spanish restaurant. One of my favourites is Venta Morenos, just 10 minutes by car on the Coin road. It's great for Sunday lunch - very cheap, very Spanish, very noisy - why not give it a try!
Lively Fuengirola is just 10 minutes away (8 km) and boasts many fine restaurants, water sports, beaches, a marina and an aquapark.
From Mijas, you can take the bus to Fuengirola, and from Fuengirola travel by train or bus to all other parts of the coast. Or rent a car for some days, an advantage of lots of tourist is that car rental is very competitively priced, not so say down right cheap! Ask us at Cascada Studio to help you with car rental.
For the more adventurous, Mijas is not far from Granada and the Alhambra Palace, Cordoba and the famous mosque, and Seville with so much to see it leaves you breathless. Daytours to all 3 cities leave from Fuengirola. You can of course, also visit Morocco, whilst you are here. Hmmm, I can see I'll have to make the printmaking courses VERY interesting to keep you all in the studio!
Where to eat and drink and be merry!
One of the joys of eating out in this region is the sheer sociability of the Andalucians. Family and friends, often with children in tow, start early with tapas and continue eating until well after midnight. Some of the best restaurants have grown from ventas and tapas bars serving food based on fresh produce and home cooking; all give excellent value for money.
In the Mijas area there are many, many restaurants to choose from and there's something to suit all pockets. The Restaurants below are just a few of the many for you try during your stay!
El Mirlo Blanco
For authentic Spanish cuisine with an emphasis on dishes from Northern Spain. This is a wonderful place in the summer to sit outside on the terrace overlooking the Plaza de la Constitution in Mijas Village centre. In the winter you move inside to a snug room with the smell of burning olive wood ... Choices on the menu is caracoles (snails in a stew) followed by leg of lamb (but only if you like garlic) and you must finish off with the house speciality Soufflé (order for 2 ... will satisfy 5!). Bookings essential in the summer season but not so much in the winter.
For reservations tel. 952 48 57 00
Alcazaba in Mijas village
The views to the coast from the Alcazaba are nothing short of spectacular. For under 18€ Euros a head the menu del dia (a 3 course menu of the day) is excellent value for money. It is available at lunch time and in the evening on request. There is also an extensive a-la-carte menu. The Moorish decor and attentive service make for a memorable meal. Ask for a window or terrace table with a view.
For reservations tel. 952 59 02 53
El Padrastro
Occupying the highest point in the centre of Mijas Pueblo, you can see this famous restaurant perched on a cliff above the Plaza Virgen de la Pena from miles around. This is one of the finest restaurants on the costa and features dishes such as duck magret smoked in tea with flambé fruit on the menu. A place for a special night out.
For reservations tel. 952 48 50 00
Restaurante Meson El Olivar
Located in Mijas Pueblo next to the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), excellent value and consistently good ... frequented by many locals. In the summer I can recommend anything from the bbq but in particular the pork chop which is very cheap. It can get pretty busy in July & August so be patient and chill with a glass of tinto verano! Closed on Saturdays.
For reservations tel: 952 48 61 96
Fiesta Restaurante-Bar
The Fiesta Restaurante-Bar is situated on the way into Mijas village. It has recently had a major face lift and is very popular with the locals. Reservations are essential. The meat is exceptional, especially the entrecote ; they also serve the best home made flan con nata (creme caramel with cream) around.
For reservations tel. 952 48 57 67
Bar Alarcon
Located in Calle de Lasta, the Barrio district of Mijas Pueblo. Without doubt this is the best view for evening outdoor dining in summer ... it's where all the locals come ... so get practising your Spanish! Fantastic choice and all cooked fresh at the bar. If you feel like something a little more substantial full meals are served on the roof terrace in the summer months.
For reservations tel. 952 48 52 45
Asador de Pollos - (the chicken shop!)
Some nights you just don't feel like going out and you certainly don't want to cook so the next best thing is a take-away ... and they don't get much better than a roast chicken stuffed with herbs and garlic from the 'chicken shop'! ... you can even order the chips too. Located at the edge of Mijas village, a few doors down from the Fiesta Bar. Double-park outside ... everyone else does!
Pre-order tel. 952 48 67 74 (Spanish only)
Bar Nino
Located right around the corner from Cascada Studio,
Bar Nino is a busy friendly neighbourhood bar that has served the people living in the barrio for generations.
Tapas and meals are generous and very good, a daily lunch menu,
Menu del Dia is available for 8 Euros.
Noisy is the word here, but go upstairs to the “dining” room and it all calms down!
For reservations call: ahh, nobody calls for reservations, you pop in at lunchtime :o)
How to get to Mijas
Mijas is about 30 km from Malaga International airport, it is easy and affordable to find a flight to Malaga with Easyjet, Spanair, Ryan Air, Vueling, Norwegian Airlines, and of course all the regular airlines, BA, SAS, KLM, Malaga is EASY to get to.....
From the airport, it takes about 30 minutes in a taxi, and costs around 35 euros one way to get to Mijas, talk to us at Cascada Studio about being picked up at the airport.
You can also take the train from the airport to Fuengirola, and then the bus up to Mijas, this is a little bit more cumbersome, depending on if you are a small or large suitcase kind of person ;o) but very easy and not difficult at all to find.