The Andalusia region is probably one of the most diverse in Spain when it comes to what we can visit! We are either in big cities (like Seville, for example), or we are in a small ‘pueblo’ (village) in the middle of nowhere. Andalusia is well known for its pueblos blancos (which translates to white villages), so I want to show you what you can visit in my 5 must-see pueblos blancos in Andalusia 😊
What are pueblos blancos?
Pueblos blancos are generally small villages located in more secluded places and known for their white-washed houses. They are just the perfect place to lose yourself exploring streets and alleys.
Mostly located in the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga, when you are planning a trip to Andalusia make sure you include some pueblos in your itinerary. There are a few dozen pueblos blancos, but in this blog post you can find information on:
- Arcos de La Frontera
- Frigiliana
- Setenil de las Bodegas
- Zahara de la Sierra
- Mijas
On this map you will find a list of the main points of interest to visit in each of these pueblos blancos.
What is the best time of the year to visit pueblos blancos?
Being located in the Andalusia region, the climate in the pueblos blancos is very pleasant almost all year round. Summers are quite warm and the winter, although colder, is not too extreme, with temperatures not dropping much below 5ºC – 8ºC.
Anyway, in order to make the visit more pleasant and to try to escape the crowds during the high season, I would say that the best time of year to visit Andalusia’s pueblos blancos is during spring and autumn.
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Pueblos Blancos of Andalusia – What to visit: Arcos de La Frontera
Arcos de La Frontera was the first pueblo blanco I visited, and I felt like it was an excellent choice 😊 I quickly forgot about the heat that day and got lost in its narrow streets looking for the main points I wanted to visit in Arcos de La Frontera.
Apart from the streets with vases on the walls, I especially liked the 3 viewpoints in this pueblo blanco: Peña Vieja viewpoint, Abades viewpoint and Peña Nova balcony.
💡 EXTRA TIP: Typically pueblos blancos have quite narrow streets and for those who are not used to them, it can be difficult to drive in some of these streets. Therefore, I suggest you park your car in Plaza del Cabildo or alternatively at the entrance of the historical centre (next to Plaza Modesto Gómez).
What to visit in Arcos de la Frontera
- Peña Vieja Viewpoint
- Abades Viewpoint
- St. Peters Church
- Mayorazgo Palace
- Boticas Square
- Arcos de la Frontera Castle
- Santa María Basilica
- Cabildo Square
- Peña Nova Balcony Viewpoint
- Cuesta de Belén Street
How to get to Arcos de La Frontera
- By car: Cádiz (40min); Sevilha (1h20); Málaga or Córdoba (2h20)
- Bus from Cadiz: 1h20 with the company Transportes Comes (tickets cost between 3€ and 8€)
- Bus and train from Seville: RENFE train from Seville-Santa Justa to Jerez de la Frontera and bus by Transportes Comes from there to Arcos de La Frontera (the journey takes about 2h30 and costs between 13€ and 17€)
It is also possible to travel from Málaga to Córdoba by train/bus, but the trips are very long (5h50 from Málaga and 3h25 from Córdoba).
Accommodation in Arcos de la Frontera
I didn’t have the chance to stay overnight in Arcos de la Frontera, however, if you are looking for accommodation in this pueblo blanco, I leave you some suggestions:
Pueblos Blancos of Andalusia – What to visit: Mijas
Mijas isn’t as small as the other pueblos blancos and doesn’t have that many narrow streets, but it’s a real delight as well! There are several walls decorated with flower pots, which almost mentally transport us to Córdoba 😊
I visited Mijas on a late afternoon and didn’t have the chance to spend that much time there (which I deeply regret now)! I came back with the feeling that this pueblo blanco deserved more of my time, and promised I would return one day.
It is a very busy pueblo, as it is also merely a 30-minute drive from Málaga. Perhaps, for this reason, there is plenty to do in terms of shopping and also several restaurants (some of them with breathtaking views!)
Also, don’t be surprised if you pass several donkeys. Mijas is known for its “donkey taxis” and this is one of the biggest tourist attractions of this pueblo blanco. In my opinion, this is another one of those cases of animal abuse and, the best option (as cute as it might sound), is really not to condone this type of situation.
💡 EXTRA TIP: For parking, I suggest you leave the car in the covered car park in Plaza Fuente de La Seda. The car park costs 1€ for the whole day and has plenty of spaces available.
What to visit in Mijas
- Virgen de la Peña Square
- Virgen de la Peña Hermitage (has a viewpoint)
- Málaga Street
- Bullfighting arena
- San Sebastian Hermitage
- Fonte dos 7 Canos
- La Constitución Square
- Muro Street
- Church of the Immaculate Conception
- Paseos de la Muralla
How to get to Mijas
- By car: Málaga (30 min); Córdoba (1h55); Cádiz (2h15); Seville (2h25)
- Bus from Málaga: trip takes 30 min. and is operated by the company Avanza Grupo
- Train from Málaga: journey takes 40 mins. operated by RENFE
- Train from Córdoba: trip takes 1h50 and is operated by RENFE
- Train from Seville: RENFE train with transfer in Málaga and journey takes around 2h45
- Bus from Cádiz: transfer in Málaga and journey takes around 3h (operated by Socibus)
Accommodation in Mijas
Given the proximity of Mijas to Málaga (only 30 minutes by car or bus), a good option to visit Mijas is to stay in Málaga. This was my option and I stayed 2 nights at Málaga City Breaks.
Apart from an excellent location in Málaga’s historical centre, the flat was very modern and also had a very well-equipped kitchen.
Anyway, Mijas is a perfect pueblo for a cosier experience away from the hustle and bustle of Málaga. Here are some suggestions for accommodation in Mijas:
Pueblos Blancos of Andalusia – What to visit: Frigiliana
Frigiliana was the pueblo blanco that disappointed the most, despite being one of the most recommended and talked about on the Internet.
Don’t get me wrong… if you have some free time in your itinerary, I think it’s a great option to visit this pueblo blanco. I’m just saying that it’s not one of my favourite pueblos blancos!
This pueblo blanco is the perfect excuse to disconnect from the world for a little while! One hour is more than enough time to wander its narrow streets and dead ends, searching for the most photogenic corners in Frigiliana.
The streets of Frigiliana are particularly photogenic, with coloured doorways and flower pots on the facades, making them just the cutest houses.
💡 EXTRA TIP: If you are driving, you can try finding a free parking place near Plaza das 3 Culturas. If you can’t get a free place, you can always use the (paid) car park available.
What to visit in Frigiliana
- Plaza das 3 Culturas
- Callejón del Estanco (street)
- Callejón del Torreón (street)
- El Garral street
- Amargura street
- Alta street
- El Peñón Viewpoint
- Palace of the Counts of Frigiliana
- Church of Saint Anthony of Padua
- Zacatin street
- Lízar Castle
How to get to Frigiliana
Unfortunately, the only possible way to reach Frigiliana is by car: Málaga (45 min); Granada (1h15); Córdoba (2h15) or Seville (2h45). It is possible to combine some buses and/or trains, but none of these take us directly to Frigiliana.
Alternatively, if you do not have a car available, you can opt to buy a tour departing from Málaga or Granada.
Accommodation in Frigiliana
Like Mijas, given Frigiliana’s proximity to Málaga, Málaga is an excellent starting point to visit this pueblo blanco.
Frigiliana does not seem to have a great offer in terms of accommodation (at least at relatively affordable prices!) So, Málaga might even be an excellent alternative to save a few bucks and stay somewhere with better conditions.
In my case, I opted for Málaga City Breaks, but here is a list of other suggestions:
Pueblos Blancos of Andalusia – What to visit: Setenil de Las Bodegas
Setenil de las Bodegas is probably the most different pueblo blanco of them all. It is known for its houses built on rocks.
The town follows the course of the Trejo River and the existing gorge, with many houses embedded in the gorge itself. The construction of these houses is absolutely stunning! In many cases, the rock serves as the roof or wall of the houses.
A visit to Setenil de Las Bodegas is not complete without passing through its two most famous streets – Calle Cuevas de Sol and Calle Cuevas de la Sombra. But what really made me fall in love were the views from the El Carmen Viewpoint, from where we can observe Setenil’s Castle.
💡 EXTRA TIP: Like most pueblos blancos, it is not very easy to drive on the narrow streets of Setenil de las Bodegas. In this case, I suggest parking for free on the road CA-4223 (36.861572, -5.178586).
What to visit in Setenil de Las Bodegas
- Castle
- Nuestra Señora de Encarnación Church
- San Sebastian Hermitage
- Cuevas de Sol Street
- Cuevas de la Sombra Street
- Andalucía Square
- El Lizón Viewpoint
- El Carmen Viewpoint
- Bésame en este Rincón
How to get to Setenil de Las Bodegas
The easiest way to get to Setenil de Las Bodegas is by car: Málaga (1h20); Seville (1h40); Cádiz (1h40); Granada (2h) and Córdoba (2h).
In terms of transport, there is no direct option from the big cities near Setenil de las Bodegas but you can check out some of the tours available.
Accommodation in Setenil de las Bodegas
I visited Setenil de las Bodegas on my road trip through Andalusia, so I did not stay in any accommodation in this pueblo blanco. However, I leave you with two suggestions that seem to me to be good value for money:
Pueblos Blancos of Andalusia – What to visit: Zahara de la Sierra
Visiting the pueblo blanco of Zahara de la Sierra was one of my favourite parts of the road trip in the Andalusia region. It was one of those cases of love at first sight 😉
I spotted Zahara de la Sierra right on the road that led me there from Ronda. Located on a hilltop, we immediately saw the white houses and its castle, which was of significant importance during the Muslim occupation of this region.
But what also steals all our attention is the turquoise blue water of the artificial lake that exists next to this pueblo blanco.
I spent a morning visiting this pueblo blanco and had more than enough time to get to know its main points of interest. For lunch, I had some mushroom croquettes and deer meatballs at the Bar Restaurant la Era. A place with a nice terrace, right in the centre of Zahara de la Sierra.
💡 EXTRA TIP: If you are driving, I suggest you look for a free parking space in the existing car park at these coordinates: 36.837110, -5.390142.
What to visit in Zahara de la Sierra
- Castle
- Santa Maria la Mesa Church
- Lepanto Square
- San Juan de Letran Chapel
- Watch Tower
- Ronda Street
- Zahara de la Sierra’s Viewpoint
- Zahara de la Sierra “beach”
💡 EXTRA TIP: For the more adventurous, there is a very famous trail that you can hike near Zahara de la Sierra – La Garganta Verde Path. Despite its distance of 2,5 km (linear), the trail is quite difficult. You can find more information about it here.
How to get to Zahara de la Sierra
Zahara de la Sierra is a “few” kilometres by car from some of the main cities of the Andalusia region: Cádiz (1h20); Seville (1h20); Málaga (2h); Córdoba (2h20) and Granada (2h30).
However, it is also possible to get there by transport from Cádiz. There is a bus operated by the company Transportes Comes from Cádiz with a transfer in Algodonales, and the journey takes around 3h45.
From the other cities there is no direct transport, so it is necessary to take a taxi from a certain point on the route.
Accommodation in Zahara de la Sierra
I can’t give you any recommendations for accommodation in Zahara de la Sierra, but I will leave you with some suggestions in nearby areas:
- [Algodonales] Alojamentos Andalucia
- [Algodonales] El Palomar
- [Montecorto] El Horcajo
Pueblos Blancos of Andalusia – More places to visit
The pueblos blancos I visited and told you about above are just a tiny part of those you can visit in this region. I must mention Ronda as well, also a pueblo blanco, and certainly my favourite on this trip 😊 I liked it so much that I even wrote a blog post with all the details of what you can visit in this pueblo blanco. Ronda really looks like something out of a movie, with truly passionate landscapes.
Apart from these 5 pueblos blancos that I visited (6 if you count Ronda), in my initial itinerary I had some more that I ended up not being able to visit:
- El Bosque
- Grazalema
- Olvera
But you are wrong if you think that this is the end of the list! A simple google search is enough to check out some other pueblos blancos you can also visit (Vejer de la Frontera, Algodonales, Benaocaz, …) in Andalusia.
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