How would you fancy a stroll through a traditional Andalusian village?
Sounds good? Let me take you for a stroll!
Today, we will venture into the picturesque villages of Mijas, stretching 430 meters above sea level and – as you would guess – offering amazing sea views all around.
Don’t get confused though – there is also Mijas residential area of Fuengirola town, Mijas Costa which is by the coastline and Mijas Pueblo, or the ‘old town’ up in the hills.
From Fuengirola, it’s a short drive up the hills and you will find yourself at the pretty grand square with horse carriages and donkeys parked on the edges.
Mijas Pueblo is a super easy day trip from Fuengirola, you can get here with a local bus from main station or with a short taxi drive that would cost you around 10-15 eur.
The village was the very first one I visited with my family post lockdown and it certainly didn’t dissapoint – I only heard praises about it.
We found it relatively empty as we visited on a Monday, with square completely quiet, horse carriage drivers snoozing under the trees and most restaurants closed (as its quite common on Mondays) .
After a quick look-around the main square, we headed towards the edge of the village to check out the park and Plaza de Toros (even such a small village has Plaza de Toros!).
A short 10 minutes walk from the main square will lead you straight to this gorgeous view at Parque la Muralla (location here).
The park is quite big and feels more like Botanical garden, with lots of plant and flower varieties and butterflies buzzing around.
There was nobody around, and the trickling stream under the trees makes you feel like you’ve found a bit of paradise, complete with a breath-taking view.
The gardens stretch along the side of village and offer a much welcomed retreat from the burning sun in the middle of the summer.
Close to the park is also Plaza de Toros which was closed during my visit (location here).
As you approach the end of the park, you can join the road leading back to one of the small village squares, where you would find my favourite food place – Blue Coffee Bike Restaurant (location here).
The restaurant was among the very few that were opened on Monday during lunchtime and both me and my husband were amazing with the quality of the food.
The salad he ordered was a giant size that would satisfy two people and my Patatas Bravas and smoked salmon sandwich were to die for.
As I mentioned before, most restaurants open for lunch around 1pm and for dinner as late as 8pm, so plan accordingly.
On Mondays a lot of places are closed as they remain open during the weekend, so you will have very limited options for eating out.
Below is one of the restaurants I wanted to visit, unfortunately also closed on Mondays.
In this complex of buildings you will find a variety of restaurants with gorgeous views and catering to all sorts of tastes.
There are also bars to enjoy a drink at sunset (next on my wish-list!).
The village is a wonderful place for a bit of shopping – there are lots of traditional craft shops and ceramic shops where you can get unique hand-crafted gifts for friends or decorations for your home.
I got a little carried away and spent a small fortune in one of the local ceramic shop.
It was like being Alice in Wonderland, lost in the sea of beautiful hand-painted ceramics.
There is also a small shop that offers chocolate making classes for parents and kids.
Right next to the ‘donkey parking lot’ you will find this little chapel with beautiful little park oasis.
The chapel is called Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña (location here) and while it wasn’t open, it was one of the prettiest places in the village.
Grab an ice cream from the kiosk and enjoy it in the park while watching dragonflies chase each other over the ponds.
Directly opposite is a local restaurant where you can grad a lunch under the shade of the trees.
If you’re planning a visit to Mijas Pueblo, I can’t recommend it enough.
Despite its popularity, it has retained the charm of an old Andalusian village, with the modern perks in form of shops and restaurants.
Thanks to proximity to Fuengirola, its perfect for a full day trip for a change the scenery during your holiday. If you’re looking for holiday villas, you will get much more for your money in Mijas Pueblo than in the coastal areas.
There is a big expat community in here, so chances are you will always bump into someone who speaks English.
I am planning another weekend visit very soon, to see it in full swing during the weekend and discover more of what it has to offer.
If you have any specific questions about Mijas, drop them in comments as I will be adding a few more tips and inspiration for the village in next posts!
PS – A word of warning – please do not use the donkey taxi.
There have been some reports that the animals are not treated well. Seeing tourists riding the animals while taking selfies also makes for a really sad picture for anyone.
