VIVA’s Guide to Mijas, Spain - Now with video presentation

Charming whitewashed "pueblo"

Our guide to Mijas, Spain, just got even better! Not just content with giving you a thorough written insight into what you can expect to find in the charming Andalucian town of Mijas Pueblo, plus a load of high-quality photos taken by our professional photographer, we’ve now added a video tour to the mix.

Donkey taxis and panoramic vistas

Perhaps the first thing you’ll read about in any guide to Mijas, Spain, are its iconic donkey taxis. Located in the heart of the town on Plaza Virgen de la Peña and in front of both the Town Hall and Tourist Information Centre, you literally cannot miss them.

While this may or may not be your thing, it’s a curious gimmick and an interesting claim-to-fame for Mijas Pueblo.

Just seconds from the donkeys you can find one of the finest viewpoints on the entire Costa del Sol next to the Virgen de la Peña chapel – a small religious hermitage built into a large rock. From here you can see for miles around… perfect for capturing a panoramic shot on your smartphone or, dare I say it, a “selfie”.

Elsewhere in the town, you can dine in authentic, traditional Andalucian restaurants and get your hands on locally-made handicrafts and quality leather goods, as well as the typical range of souvenirs available in areas where tourist levels are high. 

VIVA’s Area Guide Video

To complement our comprehensive Mijas Pueblo Area Guide, you can now watch our professionally-produced video below:

Roman roots

For me, at least, having an understanding of the history of a place is the key to one’s appreciation of it. And I believe that no guide to Mijas, Spain, would be complete without it. So here goes...

The Romans created the first settlement in Mijas, which they called "Tarnisa" or "Tarmina". As it lay on the main route between Málaga and Cádiz, it would have been prosperous and of great importance in terms of defence, trading and as a civic centre.

Perhaps this is why, to this day, Mijas Pueblo holds great significance as the main administrative centre for the municipality and is one of the largest territories in the province.

The town’s name came from the Arabic “Mixa” – changed after the Moors conquered the area in 714 AD – which was later “hipanicised” to "Mijas" when the Spanish Catholics took back the town in 1487.

**Top Tip!** Check out the “Casa Museo” on Plaza de la Libertad (right in the centre of the town) for a compact ethnological museum with exhibits charting the history of Mijas Pueblo from Roman times to the present day.

The location

Situated under half an hour’s drive from Málaga international airport and just 30 kilometres from the provincial capital of Málaga, this enchanting hillside white village is easily accessible by road for anyone visiting and is a massive plus point for potential home buyers looking to purchase property in the area.

The beachside haven of Fuengirola is just six kilometres down the hill, offering a wealth of opportunities for eating out, going for a drink or simply sunbathing on its wide and long beaches during one of the Costa del Sol’s 320 sunny days.

Have you ever visited Mijas Pueblo? If so, what did you think? How good are the views!? Leave a comment below with your experiences of visiting or living in historic Mijas!