Best White Villages of Spain in a Day

36 Comments / Europe, Spain / By

Road-Tripping Spain and Southern France Plus Ibiza in 12 Days – Day 2

A captivating world of Moorish glamour awaits visitors in the Andalusian region of Spain. Andalusia is a large autonomous region of farmlands, hills, and rivers bordering Spain’s southern coast. You can find Moorish architecture in the famous landmarks of this region, such as, the Alcázar castle in Seville, Cordoba’s Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral, and Granada’s Alhambra palace showcase Moorish style. These are popular, and hence touristy places of this region. For something different and more authentic, travel off the beaten path to the picturesque Pueblos Blancos (White Villages) of Andalusia. They are a wonderful addition to an Andalusian tour, but the best way to explore is by car. So, we rented a car and started our road trip in Spain from Seville.

Highlights of the Day

  • Rental Car Pick-Up
  • Arcos de la Frontera
  • Grazalema
  • Setenil de las Bodegas
  • Dinner in Ronda

Rental Car Pick-Up at Seville

Roadtrips are the best, as it gives you freedom of stopping wherever you want, whenever you want, and gives you the possibility to go offbeat or to remote places.

Spain is one of the most popular destinations in the world to explore by road. So we planned for the same. We rented a VW Golf or similar from Europcar for the two of us – me and Richie. The roadtrip would start in Seville and after covering most of the country, it would end in Barcelona.

On our first day in Spain, we explored Seville by foot. There was no need for a car as the must-see places are pretty close to each other. On our second day, after finishing breakfast at the rooftop of our pretty guesthouse – Hostal Callejon del Agua – in Seville, we checked out. We took a taxi to the railway station to pick our rental car up.

Seville Railway Station
The other option to pick up the rental car was Seville International Airport, but to us, railway station was more convenient, as it was just 2 km away from our guesthouse in Seville

There is a different parking area for rental cars at the station. The office of Europcar was inside the station. We went there and finished all the formalities for picking up the car. We just needed to show our passports, driving licenses, and the credit card we used to book the car. There was a great news – we could upgrade our car from VW Golf to VW Beetle! I was actually looking for a convertible car but it was not available during the time of booking. Luckily, it was available on spot and we got it.

VW Beetle at Seville Train Station
Look at the beautiful sporty convertible coupe – VW Beetle commonly known as “The Bug” was the best for two of us

Lunch at the Station

Before leaving for the roadtrip, we filled ourselves with appetizing pasta from a cafe in the Seville-Santa Justa railway station. There was no intention for us to stop anywhere in the middle of the trip for food, and head straight to the white villages later. We left Seville at around half past noon.

Lunch at Seville Railway Station
We somehow managed to make the chef understand to veganize our pasta – we got some delicious plant-based pasta for our lunch

Seville to Arcos de la Frontera

The first village we planned to visit was Arcos de la Frontera of Cadiz province. It is the gateway to the route of the white villages. This beautiful village is a national historic site. It is only a little more than an hour away from Seville, around 90 km.

Richie driving so well in Spain
In a country like Spain, where one drives on the right-hand side of the road, the cars are built so that the driver sits on the left-hand side of the car – in India, we have the opposite style, but still Richie picked up driving like a pro in Spanish roads in just few minutes after getting his hands on the steering wheel
On our way from Seville to Arcos de la Frontera
This route reveals one of southern Andalusia’s secrets to us – the white villages
Seville to Arcos de la Frontera
We enjoyed natural surroundings of great beauty on our way to Arcos de la Frontera

Arcos de la Frontera

It was a bright afternoon when we reached the beautiful white village located on a cliff-top by the Guadalete river – Arcos de la Frontera. We did not find a specific parking area. Richie parked our car close to the top of the village. From there, we explored the white village by foot for around 2 h.

Stairway in Arcos de la Frontera
Arcos de la Frontera is a picturesque town full of small reminders of its Arab inheritance
Whitewashed walls of buildings of Arcos de la Frontera
The whitewashed arches of this beautiful white village glide above a web of slender, twisting alleys
Restaurants in Arcos de la Frontera
There are small yet beautifully decorated restaurants lined up on the streets of Arcos de la Frontera
Strolling on the streets of Arcos de la Frontera
The houses in Arcos de la Frontera have whitewashed walls, grills, and tiles of similar characteristic features resembling Andalusian architecture
Charming houses of Arcos de la Frontera
The charming whitewashed houses arranged in a semicircle on the cliff-top are influenced by Moorish architecture
Alleys of Arcos de la Frontera
It is a hypnotic old town full of mystery – a dreamy white town
Alley next to St. Mary's Church in Arcos de la Frontera
The white village has several fortified mansions and two exquisite churches – St. Mary’s Church (Basilica of Santa Maria de la Asuncion) and St. Peter’s Church (Iglesia de San Pedro)
St. Mary's Church
We visited St. Mary’s Church – a rich and uninhibited combination of Mudejar, Gothic, Plateresque, Renaissance, and Baroque styles
Gold-leaf altarpiece at St. Mary's Church, Arcos de la Frontera
The ornate gold-leaf altarpiece was carved at the end of the 16th century
St. Mary's Church, Arcos de la Frontera
This church is an important site in Arcos de la Frontera, which rises up between the pure and simple whitewashed houses of the village
Plaza del Cabildo, Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
Plaza del Cabildo is located right in the center, which has some of the most notable buildings in the city
View from Plaza del Cabildo
The viewpoint from Plaza del Cabildo offers exquisite panoramas over the Guadalete river

Arcos de la Frontera to Grazalema

Grazalema is a sparsely populated high mountain white village, nestled in a valley and surrounded by the gorgeous landscape of the Sierra de Grazalema National Park.

It was around 3.45 PM, we left Arcos de la Frontera and headed to Setenil de las Bodegas – the cave village. We had booked our overnight stay in a beautiful homestay there. But on the way, we thought of doing a small detour and head to another beautiful white village – Grazalema of Cadiz province. It took only an hour to reach there from Arcos de la Frontera.

On the way to Grazalema from Arcos de la Frontera
We came across this beautiful view of the high-mountain village with Guadalete river flowing by – the area is ideal for nature walks and hiking

Grazalema

We just intended to enjoy the views of the white village and not spend much time inside the village. It was already 5 PM, and we were getting a bit late for Setenil.

Beautiful viewpoint in Grazalema
The maze of pedestrian streets leads to hidden spots and stunning viewpoints of the mountains – we parked our car in a spot that gave us the best views of the white village
View of Grazalema
This ancient Moorish village is a jumble of tightly packed whitewashed houses, quiet squares, and narrow alleysT
The look of Grazalema
The white village looks perfect with its shiny whitewashed houses sporting rust-tiled roofs and wrought-iron window bars, dotted on the steep, rocky slopes of its titular mountain range
Sierra de Grazalema National Park surrounding Grazalema
With hikes fanning out in all directions, Grazalema is the most popular base for adventures into the Sierra de Grazalema National Park

If you have time in hand, you must visit the historical center of the village. The main square is Plaza de Espana, where you would find the gorgeous 18th-century Iglesia de la Aurora (Church of the Aurora) and a beautiful medieval fountain. Also, do not forget to check out the magnificent view of the white village from Mirador de Grazalema.

Grazalema to Setenil de las Bodegas – the Most Appealing White Village

The most interesting white village to us is Setenil de las Bodegas of Cadiz province. It is a village where there are no roofs, no sky, there is just mountain and their rock. The rocks form the main characters of the daily life in Setenil de las Bodegas. History says that Christians had tried attacking the village for 7 times from the Muslims but they could never conquer it. This was because of the unique rock-cut architecture that had protected the village. Since it has got its name from  Latin “septem nihil”, which means seven times nothing.

On the way to Setenil de las Bodegas from Grazalema
It took less than an hour to reach Setenil de las Bodegas from Grazalema through this beautiful Spanish landscape
Unique rocky architecture of Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain
This unique white village grew out of a collection of cave dwellings, and many of the present-day dwellings were cleaved from rock
Strange houses in Setenil de las Bodegas
Entire rows of whitewashed buildings seem to be plunged under massive rocky overhangs
Cave-dwellings of Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain
The whitewashed houses in Setenil de las Bodegas were built taking advantage of the spaces in the rocks created by the wind’s and water’s erosion
Posing in front of our guesthouse
The picture is clicked in front of Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol – our cavehouse for the night in Setenil de las Bodegas

Casa Rural Cuevas Del Sol – Our Accommodation in Setenil de las Bodegas

We had booked Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol – a typical cave house built into the rock – for the night. It is located in the center of the town of Setenil, nestled in the rock. The house consists of 3 bedrooms, living room with TV, fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, dining area, and terrace. You can find tapas bars and restaurants in line just outside the house. It also has a parking area in the same door.

Master bedroom of Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol, Setenil de las Bodegas
This was my peaceful place for the night after such a long tiring day
Bedroom 2 of Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol, Setenil de las Bodegas
If you have fancied staying in a cavehouse, this is it – the place has 2 additional bedrooms and this is one of them
Bedroom 3 of Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol, Setenil de las Bodegas
The other bedroom is this one – all equipped with private bathrooms
Drawing hall of Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol, Setenil de las Bodegas
The place also has a sitting area with a flat-screen TV and a dining area
Kitchen of Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol, Setenil de las Bodegas
The kitchen is fitted with a microwave, a toaster, refrigerator, water heater, and also a coffee machine
Bathroom of Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol, Setenil de las Bodegas
Every unit has a private bathroom with a bidet, along with towels
Terrace of Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol, Setenil de las Bodegas
The terrace at the top gives beautiful views of the cave-dwellings on the upper side of the village

Dinner in Ronda

There were many restaurants and bars right next to our accommodation in Setenil de las Bodegas, but we were restless. We have heard of another popular village located in Malaga province, just 20 min away from Setenil de las Bodegas. It is Ronda – the name comes from its position surrounded by mountains. So we drove there for having dinner.

Ronda is one of Spain’s oldest towns. You can feel the history all around you in its old mansions, cobbled streets, and stone churches.

Ronda is popular for best-preserved Arab Baths of the region, one of the most picturesque bullrings of Andalusia (something that we were completely not interested in), and lots of churches and museums. But the most popular landmark of Ronda is Puente Nuevo (New Bridge). It is a bridge that connects the two parts of the city that is divided by 100 m Tajo Gorge through which river Guadalevin flows. Do not miss clicking some memorable pictures here.

Puente Nuevo during day
This is how Puente Nuevo looks during the day
Puente Nuevo during evening
This is how Puente Nuevo looks during the evening
Ronda at night
We loved Ronda at night – the wrought iron lamps lighting the narrow streets and tapas restaurant tables spilled out onto the pavements – all was just magical
Dinner in Casa Mateos, Ronda, Spain
We loved the grilled mushrooms in dark sauce in Casa Mateos in Ronda – glad the chef got us something vegan, it was a little difficult for us to get vegan stuff in Ronda

We had an amazing day today exploring the traditional, picturesque white villages, locally known as “pueblos blancos”. The squashed-together old whitewashed houses, narrow alleys, great views of the surroundings of the villages – everything was so shamanistic. Getting to stay in one of the best white villages was cherry on the top. Next day, our destination was Granada – a city in Andalusian region, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, known for grand examples of medieval architecture. So we had to hit the bed soon. The bed was so comfortable, we slept off in no time.

NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN EUR)

Let us have a look at the expenses of Day 2 in Spain – White Villages.

  • Stay at Casa Rural Cuevas del Sol for twin sharing (1 night): 30
  • Taxi to Seville Station:  5
  • Food at Seville and Ronda: 20
  • Fuel: 15
  • Miscellaneous: 10

Total expense (roughly): 80 EUR

For a more customized itinerary, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page.

If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!

36 thoughts on “Best White Villages of Spain in a Day”

  2. Alexander Popkov

    These white wall villages are lovely. Never seen thouse, and actually there are so many. Maybe I should cover them during my next visit to Spain

    Reply
  3. sumit

    i was drooling at the visuals while going through the well described villages , i think this has been an awesome blog post though i guess it will take some time to figure all the names of the villages on a map 🙂

    Reply
  4. Thelittlelai: Beyond limits

    Wow, this is such a lovely tour to really enjoy. The white wall villages are actually really interesting and I love how they construct them in great pattern. The road scenery as well is stunning and would love to get down and take a photo of myself with that scenery as a background. I haven’t been to Spain, and this will surely included on my list. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

    Reply
  5. traveloptician

    It looks amazing! Since I’m living in Spain I’m thinking to do the same as you did, I’m planing my little adventure on the same way for the end of April, but it will be on the south of Spain.

    Reply
  6. AlwaysCarryOn.com

    Your convertible Bug was just perfect for the two of you and your little road trip 🙂 looks and sounds like you had a fantastic time exploring Spain – I’m so jealous of all the sunshine! I’d love to be sat in the sun, sipping on a jug of Sangria right now x

    Reply
  8. bye:myself

    Gosh, I thought I was organized and fast – but you guys beat me! It looks like a great road trip, though, the views of the mountains and valleys are amazing. I love these white South European villages you find mostly in Spain and Greece.

    Reply
  9. Kris

    This is such a detailed and informative post not just about the itinerary but as well as the experience along the way. I torally agree on what you say about roadtrips, it gives you the liberty to stop on great places along the way. The white village was awesome, visiting a place rich in tradition, culture and style is worth the travel. Love the panoramic view that you shared too! Lastly, the car you rented was a great pick!

    Reply
  10. Neil Alvin Nicerio

    I have always dreamt of visiting Spain but all I have is an itinerary for Madrid. Thanks so much for this wonderful article that shows the picturesque White Villages in the Andalucian Region. Will surely add them up to my itinerary.

    Reply
  11. Neha Verma

    These villages are not just white, but rather, flawlessly white. I particularly like the look of Grazalema. The houses are so symmetrical as well, they create a kind of harmony at the foot of the hill. Adding to my bucket list.

    Reply
  12. ryetalkstotheworld

    I’m so jealous now. Spain is my ultimate dream destination. I was drawn to the al fresco seating at the tapa bar near Arcos de la Frontera. That’s my idea of Spain – including late afternoon chats with friends while drinking hot chocolate. The white villages sitting in the valley reminded me of my favorite Spanish crime series.

    Reply
  13. anitakataria

    Thanks for writing such a good post to motivate the world to do some better things. Everyone have a cheap and but comfort zone where they feel relaxed. But there are rare people in the world accept the challenges and give something different what people looking for. I am sure people will enjoy your tips.

    Reply
  14. Marjorie G.

    I have a dream of going to abroad, renting a convertible car, going on a road trip, the wind blowing my hair like what we see on movies. But the thing is I don’t know how to drive haha… So you’re basically living my dream for me with this post, except for the top-down part. The White Village does look amazing but what really got me interested is the fact that the streets are clean! Coming from a country where garbage is a common sight, clean places fascinate me. That top view photo of the village is impressive by the way.

    Reply
  16. Daytrip4u

    ANDALUCIA – COSTA DEL SOL – We offer private, exclusive day trips to Ronda and Mijas Pueblo. Hotel pick up and drop off. Your group only (no wasting your day picking up at other Hotels) Air Conditioned Mini Bus. Full walking tour with English Guide plus time on your own for lunch / shopping. The day tailored totally to you – http://www.daytrip4u.eu
    #costadelsol #ronda #spanishwhitevillages #mijaspueblo

    Reply

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