Mijas is a charming municipality in the province of Malaga on the Costa del Sol next to Fuengirola. It’s a coastal municipality and the touristic activity is the main economic engine of this locality.
The majority of the area that covers Mijas is mountainous and has 2 urban cores, one increasing on the coast and the other on the hillside of the mountain range at about 428 metres above sea-level with a typical character of an Andalusian white village.
With its narrow streets and whitewashed buildings, Mijas is a picturesque destination that offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and golfing. The town also has a rich history and culture, with several museums and historic sites to explore.
Mijas belonged to the turdetan people, Iberian people who lived mainly in the Guadalquivir valley, to the south of the Iberian peninsula. The turdetans were direct descendants of the Tartessians, who had a great Greek influence. The turdetans were considered by the romans as the most cultured people in the Iberian peninsula, with their own writing, laws and historical chronicles that dated back to 6000 years back then.
The Phoenicians and Greeks also passed through Mijas, attracted by the abundant mining in the area. When the Romans arrived, they named it Tamisa and the place was an important trade focus till the fall of the empire, which was when they entered the area of the Visigoths.
With the Muslims’ conquest of Malaga in the year 714, these allowed the inhabitants of Mijas to keep their goods and customs. As from then onwards, it was known as Mixa and its economic growth lasted until the Christian armies’ invasion in 1487, when they ended up surrendering and its population was sold as slaves. The houses and lands were reassigned to the Christians that were brought down from the north to repopulate the area.
Due to the high piracy activity in the area, as from 1492 they built the watchtowers which alerted the population to fight them. These towers still stand today and can be visited at any time.
Throughout its history, agriculture and fishing have been important for Mijas' development, as well as mining and cattle exploitation to a lesser extent. However, what really improved Mijas was the arrival of tourism thanks to Costa del Sol’s international fame. Today, Mijas is a popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world with its rich history and culture.
Tourist attractions in MijasThe municipality of Mijas offers a great number of tourist attractions that we can visit; throughout the year they also celebrate numerous festivals in the open air during the summer months.
Museums in Mijas
Max’s Wagon: A unique collection of miniatures that includes a reduced human head.
Historical-Ethnological museum: An ancient collection of tools that provides insight into the history and culture of Mijas.
The Watchtowers centre: Located in the ‘Torre Nueva’ (New Tower) in La Cala del Moral and exhibits the history of the towers and of Mijas.
Monuments in Mijas
The majority of monuments that can be visited in Mijas have a religious origin as from the influence of the Catholic Conquistadors:
Mijas is a privileged place of great beauty and top-quality beaches. If you like to enjoy the sun and the sea, in Mijas you’ll be able to enjoy several well-known beaches such as:
If we want to get to Mijas from any other place, we can use our own way of transport, a transfer or a bus. There is no train service to Mijas, although sometime in the future it is planned on its way to Marbella.
The bus lines in Mijas:
Burrotaxis (Donkey Taxis)
This way of transport appeared around 1950. The ‘burrotaxi’ is preserved today as a tourist attraction and they even have their own special donkey taxi rank. It's a unique and fun way to explore the town and its surroundings.
Mijas is situated approximately 22 kilometres away from Malaga airport and it takes about 20 minutes to get there if we travel in our own car. If you need a vehicle, you can check out our prices for a car hire in Malaga or a taxi transfer to Mijas. Alternatively, you can also take a bus from Malaga airport to Mijas. The bus lines M-112 and M-320 connect Malaga and Mijas and the journey takes about 45 minutes.
On the map below you can see the route to get to Mijas from Malaga by car:
Town council: Plaza Virgen de la Peña, s/n. 29650.
Phone: +34 952 58 90 34
Official website: Mijas city council
Credit cards accepted
