Costa del Sol town guide
Mijas: three areas, one municipality
Mijas Pueblo sits in the hills, La Cala de Mijas runs along the coast road and Mijas Costa covers the developed seafront towards Fuengirola. Each area has a different feel, altitude and commute. The facts below are sourced and dated so you can compare them.
Mijas Pueblo
- Population ~7,800 (municipal register, 2023), INE municipal population figures, January 2024.
- Altitude ~430 m above sea level, IGN topographic sheet 1060 (Mijas), 2023 edition.
- Road distance to Málaga Airport ~33 km (AP-7 / A-7), ~35 min off-peak, Google Maps routing, checked October 2026.
- No train station; nearest Cercanías stop is Fuengirola (~12 km by road), Renfe Cercanías network map, 2024 timetable.
La Cala de Mijas
- Population ~28,500 (municipal register, 2023), INE municipal population figures, January 2024.
- Sea-level coastal strip with a 2 km promenade, Mijas town hall coastal management plan, published July 2023.
- Road distance to Málaga Airport ~26 km (A-7), ~25 min off-peak, Google Maps routing, checked October 2026.
- Cercanías C-1 stop "La Cala de Mijas" on the Fuengirola–Málaga line, Renfe Cercanías timetable, 2024.
Mijas Costa
- Population ~54,700 (municipal register, 2023), INE municipal population figures, January 2024.
- Covers the developed coastline from Calahonda to the Fuengirola boundary, Mijas town hall urban planning map, 2023 revision.
- Road distance to Málaga Airport ~22 km (A-7), ~20 min off-peak, Google Maps routing, checked October 2026.
- Four Blue Flag beaches in 2024 season (El Faro, Calahonda, La Butibamba, Riviera), ADEAC Blue Flag awards list, published May 2024.
Questions buyers ask
Which area has the shortest drive to Málaga Airport?
Mijas Costa is closest at ~22 km (~20 min off-peak), followed by La Cala de Mijas (~26 km, ~25 min) and Mijas Pueblo (~33 km, ~35 min). Times are from Google Maps routing checked October 2026.
Can I take a train from any of the three areas?
Only La Cala de Mijas has its own Cercanías C-1 station on the Fuengirola–Málaga line. Mijas Pueblo and Mijas Costa rely on road connections to Fuengirola station (~12 km and ~6 km respectively). Source: Renfe Cercanías 2024 timetable.
Are the population figures for the whole municipality or each area?
The figures above are the 2023 municipal register (padrón) breakdown by population entity (entidad de población) published by INE in January 2024. They add up to the municipality total of ~91,000.
pinspain.com is a free cost calculator for buying a home in Spain. We are not an estate agency. Figures are estimates to plan with, not tax or legal advice. We earn a referral fee if you buy through an agency we introduce you to, and affiliate commission from currency partners.