The 10 Most Beautiful Villages in Andalusia

We present the 10 most beautiful villages in Andalusia where the protagonists are their history, the place where they are located and the colorful white houses and the decoration with pots and flowers on the facades.

Andalusia has many attractions and a myriad of landscapes including high mountains, sierras, semi-desert landscapes, dunes and sea. In addition to the great history that surrounds the most important cities of the region such as Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz and Malaga, there is also the brilliance of the inland villages.

It is in these villages where the characteristic white color present in all the facades of the houses together with its location high in the mountains or in very particular enclaves such as caves or cliffs give it that special charm.

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Below, we show you what we consider to be the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, whether you want to spend a weekend or a whole day. Let’s discover them!

1. Mojácar, gateway to Cabo de Gata

In the province of Almeria and next to the limit that marks the beginning of the natural park of Cabo de Gata, Mojacar is one of the most beautiful white villages of Andalusia. Its network of streets, which highlights the iconic Enmedio street with its facades full of flowers, and places to eat in the squares of Parterre and Nueva give it that special atmosphere.

In the tour you can not miss the Arrabal neighborhood, one of the oldest places and where the Jewish quarter was settled, the church of Santa Maria and the Mora fountain, rectangular building, with its countless water spouts to drink a good sip. You’ll see how the locals carry their water bottles here all the time!

The viewpoints to the sierras are also a must. Next to the Plaza Nueva there is a large platform to see the surrounding mountain ranges, and at the top of the village where the old castle used to be, there are also views of the surroundings.

📷 Enjoy the coves of Cabo de Gata with a yacht ride. Departures from the port of Carboneras.

🏨 Recommended hotel in Mojacar: Hotel Mamabels. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Mojácar.

🔝 Looking for more ideas? Read this article about things to do in Cabo de Gata in 3 days.

2. Frigiliana and its alleys

On one of the edges of the Sierra de Amijara this village dazzles everyone who sets foot in it. Frigiliana is characterized by its small alleys surrounded by low buildings of a pristine white and with many stairs that save the slopes where the village is settled.

The main walking street is the Real, surrounded by restaurants, plazas, stores selling handicrafts and fountains. It originates in the palace of the Counts of Frigiliana, currently a sugar cane honey factory, and extends for about 600 meters. At the intersection of this street with Hernando el Darra is one of the most Instagrammable places most Instagrammable, the cuesta del Apero. Its ascending staircase with the decorated floor and the surroundings of the white houses colored by flowers give it a great beauty.

📷 Tour the magical places of Frigiliana for free with an expert guide. Book here the free tour of Frigiliana.

Along the way you will find many ascending alleys such as Garral, and viewpoints to appreciate the town and the roofs of the houses from the top as the viewpoint in the alley of Peñón. If you dare you can continue climbing and reach the foot of the ruins of the castle where you can see a wider panoramic view of the white village of Frigiliana.

🏨 Recommended hotel in Frigiliana: Los Caracoles. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Frigiliana.

3. Ronda, one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia.

Ronda will make you fall in love at first sight. Its location on a rocky elevation more than 100 meters above sea level differentiates it from the rest of the Andalusian villages. The historical part of the city is separated in two by the Guadalevír river, which forms a deep canyon as it passes through Ronda. To bridge this canyon, the New Bridge was built during the 18th century, surely the postcard you will remember most from your visit to Ronda.

With its almost 100 meters high and large arches at the bottom, the new bridge is the symbol of Ronda. You can walk on it and also see its imposing construction from the viewpoint that is down several steps.

📷 Discover Ronda from different perspectives with some of these free tours: free tour of Ronda, free night tour of Ronda and free tour of legends and mysteries.

In Ronda there are also other attractions to visit such as the bullring, the Arab baths, one of the best preserved of the Muslim legacy in Spain, the church of Santa Maria la Mayor and the palace of Mondragon.

If you want to see the sunset over the sierras, then the viewpoint next to the Blas Infante promenade is ideal to contemplate the entire environment surrounding the city.

Looking forward to touring Andalusia? Check out this article about things to do in Andalusia in 10 days.

🏨 Recommended hotel in Ronda: Los Pilares. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Ronda.

4. Setenil de las Bodegas, among caves.

Setenil de las Bodegas is another of the best towns in Andalusia that will captivate you from beginning to end. The reason? Basically the place where the town was built, on both sides of the Trejo riverbed and excavating the rocky walls. The houses with their white facades have a rock roof.

There are several pedestrian streets to observe this phenomenon: the two main ones are Cuevas del Sol and Cuevas de la Sombra, where you will find these rock formations that often form a natural roof over the street. This is the place where most of the restaurants and bars of the town are located.

📷 Tour the cave streets and the main attractions with the free tour of Setenil de las Bodegas. It’s free!

There are also other places to see the houses built inside the rock such asCalcetas Street. As for viewpoints, one of the best is located on the hermitage of Carmen, ideal for observing the white houses from above and the remains of the castle.

🏨 Recommended hotel in Setenil de las Bodegas: Casa Rural Las Bodegas. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Setenil de las Bodegas.

5. Zahara de la Sierra and its reservoir

In the province of Cadiz, Zahara de la Sierra is one of the most beautiful white villages in Andalusia. Its houses built in staggered form on the mountain range and the reservoir of Zahara-el Gastor located in the lower part give it the perfect atmosphere. There are many places of interest in Zahara de la Sierra starting with the viewpoint to the reservoir from the Plaza del Rey.

During the tour of the town, one of the buildings that catch the eye is the church of Santa María de la Mesa, not only for its history but also for its pink color that contrasts with the white color of the houses.

📷 Get to know the history and the corners of this beautiful white village of Cadiz with the free tour of Zahara de la Sierra.

At the top of the village are the remains of the castle of which the keep is preserved. Climbing up to the castle guarantees one of the best views of the surroundings where Zahara de la Sierra is located. In addition, the ascent is on a stone path and does not require great physical effort. The prize is worth it!

🏨 Recommended hotel in Zahara de la Sierra: Marques de Zahara. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Zahara de la Sierra.

6. Capileira, the heart of the Alpujarras

At the foot of the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the Alpujarra of Granada is home to white villages that are perched on the mountain. Among them, three stand out, located a few kilometers from each other: Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira. Capileira is the highest village of the three, located at about 1500 meters above sea level.

Its narrow streets surrounded by white houses, the viewpoints towards Sierra Nevada and the cool climate to escape from the hot summer make it an ideal destination. In addition, the three towns are known for their handicrafts, where the jarapas, colorful carpets that serve as protection from the cold, heat and insects and are placed on the doors and windows of the houses, stand out.

If you visit the Alpujarra Granadina during the winter the landscape will change completely due to the presence of snow. It seems that everything is dyed white, since the characteristic color of the houses is added to the snow present on the mountain.

🏨 Recommended hotel in Capileira: Real de Poqueira. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Capileira.

7. Arcos de la Frontera, one of the most beautiful villages in Cadiz.

On the top of the cliff and surrounded by the Guadalete river that flows through the lower part, Arcos de la Frontera is one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia. The Arab legacy is noticeable in every step you take through the town. Of its ancient walled enclosure, today only one of the original gates that connected the fortified enclosure with the outside, the Matrera gate, is still standing.

One of the most outstanding historical buildings in Arcos de la Frontera is the basilica of Santa Maria de la Asuncion with its large bell tower that dominates the upper part of the landscape of the village. Behind the basilica is the Plaza del Cabildo next to the viewpoint, an ideal place to contemplate the riverbed from above and the olive groves that surround the site.

📷 Tour the main attractions with an expert guide and free of charge. Book the free tour of Arcos de la Frontera.

Finally, one of the things you have to do in Arcos de la Frontera is to buy some of the sweets made by the sisters of the convent of Mercedarias Descalzas. They make cookies, muffins, almonds, nuts, pastries and the typical Easter buns. They are a delight!

🏨 Recommended hotel in Arcos de la Frontera: Posada de las Cuevas. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Arcos de la Frontera.

8. Olvera, the church and the castle surrounded by white houses.

Not as renowned as the previous ones but just as beautiful, the town of Olvera sits on the Sierra de Cadiz. From the road before arriving you can already appreciate the beauty of the place, the staggered white houses on the mountain range in the lower part, and the remains of the castle and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación in the upper part with its yellowish and brownish color that differs from the white of the rest of the buildings.

To contemplate the views from the village from above there are two essential sites: the viewpoint that is located on the church square and the highest part of the castle, which is accessed by stairs. From both places the view is perfect with the mixture of the reddish roofs of the houses and the mountains in the background.

One of the most emblematic corners of Olvera to take pictures is the stairway over Calzada Street. This small alley is surrounded by houses with their white facades and pots with flowers of different colors. In the background, the silhouette of the church Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación appears.

🏨 Recommended hotel in Olvera: Olive Tree Bed&Breakfast. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Olvera.

9. Almonaster la Real and its ancient mosque.

On the Sierra de Aracena and in the province of Huelva, Almonaster la Real is another of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia. Its Arab traces are found in the buildings of the houses that conserve their Mudejar architecture. The maximum exponent of the Muslim culture is the old mosque located at the top of the village, built in stone and surrounded by the ancient walls.

The interior of the mosque is preserved in perfect condition with its large brick arches, which on a smaller scale is reminiscent of the mosque of Cordoba. Next to the mosque is the bullring, the remains of the castle and a small museum dedicated to ancient pieces of rural origin.

In the historic center stands the church of San Martin with its mixture of Gothic and Mudejar styles and the chapel of the Holy Trinity. If you have time, you can go to the viewpoint Camino Llano, where the panoramic view of Almonaster la Real is perfect, with the white buildings at the bottom and the mosque, castle and bullring at the top.

🏨 Recommended hotel in Almonaster la Real: Hotel Luz. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Almonaster la Real.

10. Zuheros, on the Sierras Subbeticas

Zuheros is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Located in the province of Cordoba on the edge of the Natural Park of the Sierras Subbeticas is an enclave surrounded by rock formations and olive plantations. Its narrow streets climb the mountainside between white houses.

The most important site to visit in Zuheros is its castle, built on a rock. The fortification also acts as a viewpoint towards the surroundings of the village and the mountains. Among the museums are the Municipal Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Customs and Popular Arts Juan Fernández Cruz.

📷 Get to know all the historical jewels that this Cordovan village keeps with the guided tour of Zuheros.

Next to the village is the Cueva de los Murciélagos, a subway gallery where you have to descend more than 300 steps to find stalactites, stalagmites and cave paintings of Neolithic origin.

🏨 Recommended hotel in Zuheros: Hacienda Minerva. Want to see more options? Find here the best hotels in Zuheros.

Map of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia