Best Villages in The Pueblos Blancos, Andalusia Spain
The Pueblos Blancos are a must see when visiting the region of Andalusia in Spain. Located on the rolling hills of the Sierra de Grazalema these white villages are a beautiful sight. The villages all look quite similar, however, some do stand out over others due to its surroundings, the quaint narrow streets, lookouts, churches or rock formations.
These white villages are conveniently located in close vicinity of each other. If you want to get the most out of visiting these pueblos, I highly suggest going on a little road trip adventure from Seville, Granada or Malaga which are all located near the white villages. If you have the time, I suggest spending the night in one of the villages. However, it is possible to see (most) of what the pueblos blancos have to offer in just 1 day.
RONDA
One of the most famous towns in this area is Ronda. The mountaintop village is located in the Malaga province. It is most famous for its dramatic gorge and amazing views. The town is practically cut in half by the El Tajo river which created a 100m deep canyon. When visiting make sure to walk down the main pathway to get the views of the bridge Puente Nuevo. Another famous landmark in the city is the bullring. The city is nice to explore however in a few hours you have seen most it has to offer. Despite being one of the most famous places to visit, crowds are usually not too bad. I suggest starting your day in Ronda in order to avoid the crowds from coming in.
SETENIL DE LAS BODEGAS
Another pueblo that is worth visiting is the city under the rocks: Setenil de Las Bodegas. The city is quite literally located underneath the rocks. It is a very unique city and definitely worth a visit. If you have the freedom of traveling by car I recommend heading over to this town in the late afternoon early evening. As most tourist busses leave around this time, you have the city for yourself to explore. At night there is not a lot of life in the city, but you can still find a decent restaurant to eat at until around 10-11pm.
GRAZALEMA
Although Grazalema is only a very small town, it has quite a nice atmosphere and enjoyable views. The main reason you should visit Grazalema (and maybe even spend the night here) is because of its amazing location. It is super centrally located in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. If you have more time and want to hike around the national park, this should be your home base for the trip. Make sure to head to the tourist office (yes, it does have a tourist office) to check which hikes you are able to do, as most places require you to have a permit to visit.
ZAHARA DE LA SIERRA
My personal favorite village in the pueblos blancos is by far Zahara de la Sierra. It was this place that inspired me and my friends to go on a road trip around the pueblos blancos in the first place. It is truly one of the most beautiful of the white villages out there. Located on the top of a mountain it overlooks the valley and man-made lake. I highly suggest driving from Grazalema to Zahara de la Sierra and stop at some of the viewpoints to get the magnificent views over the lake & mountains. There are many spots marked along the road (& on google maps) where you can stop and park your car safely. So no need to stop at unmarked spots, as this can be a bit more dangerous.
Pueblos Blancos 2 Day Road Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: Ronda + Setenil de las Bodegas
Morning in Ronda
Pick up your car from the car rental space & head on over to Ronda in the morning. Once you have arrived, stop for a quick coffee & tostada to fill you up before heading down to the gorge. Take up the magnificent views from down below overlooking the waterfalls, the Puento Nuevo bridge and stunning landscapes before making the hike back up.
Lunch in Ronda
Lunch Rec: Restaurante Las Maravillas
After lunch, make sure to walk around the town of Ronda, explore the shops and visit the bullring in the center of the city. If you are looking for a unique place to visit in Ronda, head to the Baños Arabe, which are located below the city. Unfortunately you cannot enjoy an original bath anymore but you can still see all the facilities.
Drive to Setenil de las Bodegas
I suggest driving to Setenil de las Bodegas around 3.30-4pm. By this time, most tour busses have left the city and you get to explore the village in all calmness. It is also the perfect place to catch a great sunset. The unique thing about this village is that the people build their houses under the rocks.
Dinner rec: Bar Frasquito
DAY 2: Grazalema + Zahara de la Sierra
Morning in Grazalema
This city is a small town centrally located in the National Park around the pueblos. If you are very courageous, wake up before sunrise and go to the viewpoint in Grazalema. Or just head over to the city center by a (normal time) and go for a visit at the local tourist office. They can help you out to determine where you can go for a walk. If you decide to stay close to the city, I suggest heading back there for lunch. Otherwise, it might be best to bring some food for lunch.
Lunch Rec: La Maroma Grazalema
Driving in the mountains
After finishing your hike in the morning, you can enjoy the beautiful drive over to Zahara de la Sierra from Grazalema. The views are magnificent and there are many stops marked on google maps as a (safe) stop to admire the views. That's where we got some of the most beautiful shots of our trip to the pueblos blancos.
Afternoon & Evening in Zahara de la Sierra
To end your road trip in the white villages, head over to Zahara de la Sierra. This municipality is located in the cadiz province and is perched on the mountains. Walk up to the castles, enjoy the views, and eat some delicious tapas.
Dinner Rec: Meson Oñate
Road Trip Map
Find all the places mentioned above on this interactive map.
Continue your road trip in the rest of Andalusia by visiting Seville, Granada or Malaga. This region of Spain is one of the best to visit during spring and fall as temperatures are nice. Don’t forget to check out our other Andalusia posts or other Spanish Adventures.
