Exploring the White Villages behind the Costa del Sol

To truly understand Andalucia, it's often best to venture away from the crowds and explore the peaceful life of its villages.

In "Los Pueblos Blancos," the White Villages, you can escape the hustle and bustle and travel back in time to a place where charming town squares are enlivened by gentle fountains, and the leisurely pace is occasionally interrupted only by children playing or the elderly engaging in lively discussions on their favorite bench.

When you choose to holiday on the Costa del Sol, you'll find a surprising number of delightful, tranquil villages nearby, ready to be discovered. Here's a quick overview of some of our favorite white villages in Andalucia.

1.Casares

Casares is situated fifteen kilometers inland from Estepona, to the west of Marbella, in the Malaga province of Andalucía. Positioned on a mountainside near the Sierra Crestellina national park, it is approximately a twenty-five-minute drive from Estepona.

This charming village resembles ‘sugar cubes’ scattered on the mountainside and is particularly breathtaking when lit up at night by blue and green streetlights. The best view is from the approach to Casares, so be sure to pause and enjoy the scenery before you arrive.

Casares features a remarkable 12th-century Moorish castle, several beautiful churches and chapels, a visitor center, and a fountain. It is also close to the Baths of La Hedionda, Roman baths and sulfur springs said to have cured a skin infection of Julius Caesar! Known as the ‘Hanging Village’ due to its dramatic cliffside setting, Casares offers many excellent restaurants, tapas bars, and village shops to explore. If you're fortunate, you might see eagles soaring above the cliffs surrounding Casares.

Alongside national festivals like Andalucía Day on February 28th, the Easter celebrations, and the Three Kings parades on the evening of January 5th, Casares holds its annual feria in the second half of July and another feria in the first week of August, making it a perfect time to visit.

2.Frigiliana

Frigiliana is situated to the east of Malaga, just a ten-minute drive from the coastal town of Nerja, in the Andalucían region known as the Axarquia.

Recognized as the most beautiful village in Andalucí­a for several consecutive years, its cobbled streets gently wind through the well-maintained white houses of the old town, with vibrant colors from balconies and doorsteps adorned with meticulously kept flowers. The houses are repainted annually, a task traditionally performed by the village women.

Frigiliana offers excellent infrastructure, including numerous shops, bars, and fantastic restaurants, as well as several hotels and a functioning molasses factory in the town center. The streets are hilly, with beautiful mosaic-covered steps leading from the main road to the narrow residential streets.

The renowned Frigiliana festival, Festival de las Tres Culturas, occurs at the end of August each year, drawing hundreds of visitors to enjoy the spectacular concerts and various festivities. Other celebrations take place throughout the year, including Saint Sebastian Day in January, honoring Frigiliana's patron saint. The Day of the Cross is celebrated each May, and the annual Frigiliana feria occurs in June.

3.Gaucin

Located north of Casares and west of Marbella in the Malaga province of Andalucía, the white village of Gaucin is about nineteen kilometers from Casares and a thirty-minute drive from the coast.

Perched around 600 meters above sea level in the Sierra del Hacho, Gaucin provides breathtaking views of Gibraltar and Morocco. The village is surrounded by cork forests, and local shops offer various cork-made products to tourists. The surrounding mountains form a stunning backdrop for the picturesque white village, accentuated by the vibrant hues of wild poppies, orchids, olive groves, and almond blossoms.

At the highest point of the village stands a medieval castle, Castillo del Aguila or Eagle’s Castle, where eagles can be seen soaring over the mountains, as suggested by its name. Gaucin is a peaceful, laid-back town with a few equally relaxed bars and restaurants serving traditional local cuisine. The narrow, winding streets of Gaucin have long been a source of inspiration for artists and photographers, and the village is home to a large artistic community.

Among Gaucin's numerous festivals, the release of two bulls on Easter Sunday is particularly notable. These bulls run through the village, pursued by the more adventurous or daring locals. The annual feria occurs in August, around the fourth, featuring three days of live music, eating, drinking, and dancing.

4.Iznajar

Situated north of the Costa del Sol in the Córdoba province of Andalucía, the charming town of Iznájar is about an hour's drive from both Málaga and Granada.

Iznájar is uniquely perched above the Embalse de Iznájar, Andalucía's largest lake, which features a pristine sandy beach popular in the summer. Families often drive onto the beach, set up gazebos and tables, and spend the day swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying meals. The village is located on a rocky outcrop offering stunning views of the lake below and is dominated by a majestic, though ruined, Moorish castle, a delightful spot to visit with breathtaking views.

The village has bars, restaurants, a lakeside hotel, and a municipal museum. At the lake, visitors can fish, learn to sail, and rent pedalos and kayaks from the campsite right on the beach. The lake is clean and safe for swimming, and several beach bars offer shade from the sun during hot afternoons.

Iznájar's local festivals include a lively carnival in February, featuring parades and costumes. On April 25th, the patron saint of Iznájar, San Marco, is celebrated with a day of countryside picnics. The feria takes place around September 7th each year, typically lasting three days and featuring a candlelight procession through the town.

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5.Jimena

Jimena de la Frontera, located in the province of Cadiz, Andalucía, is about a thirty-minute drive west of Gaucin and is directly north of La Linea and the Gibraltar border.

The village is nestled within the Alcornocales Natural Park and is dominated by a Moorish castle constructed around 750 A.D. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and at the archaeological site of La Laja Alta, you can find cave paintings that are the only known maritime examples from the Bronze Age in Spain.

Jimena is easily reachable from all directions thanks to improved transport links, including an enhanced road and rail network. The area features several beautiful churches and other significant sites. Its proximity to the breathtaking Natural Park makes activities like biking, horse riding, and hill walking popular.

In addition to Spain's national festivals, Jimena hosts several of its own throughout the year. The Carnival, with parades of floats, takes place in February, and the agricultural fair is held during the second week of May each year. An annual music festival occurs in the second week of July, and the Jimena feria usually happens in the first week of September.

6.Mijas

Mijas pueblo (village) is just a twenty-minute drive from Malaga airport in Malaga province and only fifteen minutes from the coast at La Cala de Mijas and Fuengirola.

Mijas is set in the Sierra de Mijas mountains, surrounded by beautiful pine forests. It combines the best of both worlds with its charming white village, winding cobbled streets, breathtaking views, and proximity to the sea. For those interested in bullfighting, Mijas has its own bullring, which is still in use and also hosts horse displays. An auditorium offers concerts throughout the summer, and there are two museums to visit.

Besides being close to the coast, Mijas features excellent infrastructure, including shops and a wide variety of restaurants, along with all the usual supermarkets and other food stores. Perhaps most exciting for children is a chocolate factory!

Special festivals in Mijas include Mijas International Day, a multicultural festival that allows people from around the world to share their culture and lifestyle, typically held in the first week of May. San Juan is celebrated on the night of June 23rd, marking the longest night of the year with festivities such as dancing and fireworks.

7.Ronda

Ronda is located in the Malaga province of Andalucía, about an hour and twenty minutes' drive from Malaga airport. It lies to the north and inland from Marbella and Estepona.

The village of Ronda ranks third in popularity among visitors to Andalucía, following Seville and Granada. It is renowned worldwide for its position on the edge of the El Tajo gorge, offering stunning views and numerous photo opportunities. Known as the modern birthplace of bullfighting, its bullring ‘Plaza de Toros’ now serves as a museum, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

Ronda is accessible by both road and rail, with a spectacular drive from the coast or further inland. The village features two tourist offices and a variety of wonderful shops offering traditional and contemporary Spanish crafts and other items.

The ‘Fiesta de la Virgen de la Paz’ celebrates Ronda's patron Saint on January 24th each year. The feria takes place around May 20th, while the main events occur in the first week of September, featuring the International Folklore Music and Dancing Festival and other festivities. Refer to our Ronda guide here.

8.Viñuela

Viñuela is another picturesque white village located in the Malaga province of Andalucía. It lies inland from Velez Malaga, to the east of Malaga city, and is about a fifty-minute drive from Malaga airport.

The charming village of La Viñuela is nestled in the stunning landscape of the Axarquia and is adjacent to the man-made reservoir of Lake Viñuela, which supplies most of the local area's drinking water. The surrounding hills are dotted with villas that offer breathtaking views of the lake, which features lovely beaches and non-motorized water sports for everyone. Around the lake, there are picnic and barbecue areas, and the nearby pine forests provide shade and a tranquil atmosphere for visitors.

La Viñuela gets its name from the local grape vines used to produce a delicious sweet wine that is still made today. The town is also renowned for its high-quality local olive oil. Numerous arts and crafts shops can be found here, including those specializing in basket weaving and leather goods. Additionally, the village has archaeological sites dating back to prehistoric, Roman, and medieval times.

In May, La Viñuela hosts a pilgrimage from the village to the hamlets of Los Gomez and Los Romanes for the Romeria, a traditional gypsy festival. The annual feria takes place in mid-July, with three additional local ferias occurring in early August, mid-August, and mid-September.

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