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The short answer
The pueblos blancos are the whitewashed hill villages of southern Andalusia. The most famous are on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos in the Sierra de Grazalema, between Ronda and Arcos de la Frontera, in the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga.
If you only see three: Zahara de la Sierra, Setenil de las Bodegas and Arcos de la Frontera. They fit in one day by car from Seville, Ronda or Málaga.
Map and route
The classic route runs Arcos de la Frontera → El Bosque → Grazalema → Zahara de la Sierra → Olvera → Setenil de las Bodegas → Ronda: about 150 km on mountain roads, 3–4 hours of driving plus stops. Do it in one long day or, better, with a night in Grazalema, Zahara or Ronda.
The list
Sierra de Grazalema and around Ronda
- Zahara de la Sierra. Houses stacked below a Moorish castle tower, above a turquoise reservoir. Climb to the castle for the view.
- Setenil de las Bodegas. Streets built under huge rock overhangs, with bars and houses tucked into the cliff. Unique in Spain.
- Grazalema. A mountain village in the natural park, with good walks and a famous local blanket tradition. One of the rainiest places in Spain, which keeps it green.
- Olvera. A castle and a church on top of a hill, visible from miles away. The start of the Vía Verde de la Sierra, a cycling and walking path on an old railway.
- Arcos de la Frontera. On the edge of a sandstone cliff, with a maze of lanes and a viewpoint over the plain. Closest to Jerez and Cádiz.
- Ubrique. Known for its leather workshops.
- Júzcar. A tiny village in the Genal valley, painted blue for a film in 2011 and blue ever since.
- Ronda. Not a village but the capital of the area, on both sides of a deep gorge. See the Ronda day trip.
Near the coast
- Vejer de la Frontera. One of the most beautiful towns in Spain, on a hill above the Costa de la Luz, with Moorish lanes and good restaurants. Near the beaches of Zahara de los Atunes and Bolonia.
- Frigiliana. Above Nerja, east of Málaga: flowers, cobbles and Moorish history.
- Mijas Pueblo. Above the Costa del Sol, easy to reach from Málaga, busy with day-trippers.
- Casares. A white cascade of houses on a hill above Estepona.
Further afield
- Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira in the Alpujarras (Granada): Berber-style flat-roofed villages on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada.
- Montefrío (Granada): a town under a fortress church, often named among the best views in the world.
- Mojácar (Almería): a white hill town above the sea.
If you only have one day
From Seville: Arcos, then Zahara and Setenil, and back via Olvera (about 5 hours of driving in total, or a guided tour). From Málaga: Setenil, Zahara and Ronda. Or join a tour:
How to get there
- By car: the best option. Hire in Seville or Málaga (see car hire in Andalusia), and park at the entrance to each village: streets are narrow and steep.
- By bus: buses link Ronda, Arcos and some villages, but services are few, so you can see one or two villages a day.
- On a tour: the easiest way from Seville or Málaga.
Where to stay nearby
Ronda, Grazalema, Zahara or Arcos for the mountain villages; Vejer for the coast.
The white villages fit perfectly into our Andalusia road trip.
FAQ
Which is the most beautiful white village in Andalusia?
Zahara de la Sierra and Setenil de las Bodegas are the most photographed; Vejer de la Frontera is often called the most beautiful town. It depends on whether you prefer mountains or the coast.
Can you visit the white villages without a car?
Some, by bus, but connections are limited. A hire car or a day tour is much easier.
How many days do you need for the white villages?
One full day covers three or four villages. Two days with a night in the mountains is better.
Why are the villages white?
The houses are whitewashed with lime, which reflects the sun and keeps them cool. The tradition goes back centuries and is kept up by the villages today.