Andalucia is famous for its white villages. Ronda is a great base to explore some of the finest and also some of the most underrated. After spending a lot of time in the area over the years, I’ve visited my share of white villages near Ronda, Spain.
From the villages in Bosque de Cobre, which are popular for the fall colors in mid-November, to Setenil de las Bodegas, which is famous for its streets and houses carved through caves. And have you heard about the open museum village, Genalguacil?
There are so many unique and wonderful villages and towns near Ronda, and here I’ll share some of my absolute favorites!
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Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
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Looking for a white village and Ronda tour? Here are my top picks:
- From Malaga: Group Tour Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas
- From Seville: Group Tour White Villages and Ronda
- From Seville: Private Tour Ronda and White Villages
- From Cadiz: Private Tour Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas
- From Marbella: Private Tour Ronda & Setenil De Las Bodegas
- Cycling (Self-Guided) Genal Valley White Villages
White villages near Ronda
Casares
One of the most popular villages near Ronda is Casares. It is about an hour’s drive away toward the coast and boasts sweeping views. Casares is a hilly town with narrow streets, so expect to work your booty.
Among the best things to do in Casares are to visit the castle ruins and the Church of La Encarnación on the top of the village. Besides, when arriving or leaving the village, make sure you stop at the iconic viewpoint to snap a picture of the whitewashed houses crowned by the old castle.
Casares was the birthplace of Blas Infante, the Andalusian political leader and artist. You can visit the house where he was born, where there is a little house museum now.
There are also many lovely hiking routes near Casares, and the magnificent natural thermal baths of Hedionda are not far from town.
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Zahara de la Sierra
Zahara de la Sierra is a charming white village near Ronda. The village itself hugs a rock crowned with the ruins of an old castle.
The Zahara de la Sierra Castle, which dates back to the Nasrid period, was once accessible free of charge, but now, the entire area is improved with a small museum, and you must purchase tickets at the entrance.
The walk to the top is well worth it for the views of the turquoise lake below, surrounded by rolling hills. You can also climb the humble Torre del Homenaje, which is the only actual remnant of the castle besides the walls.
On the main square of the village, you find the Church of Santa Maria de la Mesa and some restaurants and bars where you can enjoy local food and drinks.
Join this tour from Ronda to visit Zahara de la Sierra and Grazalema (I’ll get to this village further down in the post!)
Gaucín
At the beginning of the Serrania de Ronda region, you’ll see Gaucín, another stunning white village. Ronda’s artistic town.
This is where you can visit small art galleries and shops of artists who have been inspired by Gaucín’s charm. Among Ronda’s white villages, this is the one with the most international influence, in my opinion.
On top of the village, you can visit Castillo del Aguila, which overlooks the coastline and even Africa on a clear day. There are several restaurants and bars, and even some nice bakeries in the village where you can grab a bite.
Setenil de la Bodegas
Setenil de las Bodegas is one of the most unique villages near Ronda. It’s literally cut into the rock with a road with shops cut as a tunnel.
As cool as it sounds, it’s also very small and can easily be explored in an hour or so with lunch at one of the restaurants. There are also some cute shops where you can purchase fresh produce like local olive oil and wines.
I highly recommend this Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas tour from Malaga if you don’t have a car.
Genalguacil
Genalguacil is by far one of the best-hidden gems in Andalucia. Locally known as Pueblo Museo (Museum Village), the village is actually a free-to-visit outdoor museum with more than 200 art pieces scattered around streets, squares, alleys, and walls.
From paintings to quirky sculptures, this is a lovely village to walk around. The easiest way to get there is by driving the narrow hairpin roads into the deep valleys of Serrania de Ronda.
Parauta
Parauta is a lovely little white village nestled in the Bosque de Cobre region of Serrania de Ronda. This is where the chestnut trees turn golden in mid-November, and it is a popular hiking area.
The main attraction in Parauta is the Bosque Encantado, a nice trail of a couple of kilometers created for kids with sculptures and carved fairytale figures.
But the village in itself is incredibly charming and recognized for the colorful chairs hanging on the whitewashed houses.
Juzcar
Juzcar is the one white village near Ronda that isn’t white but blue. The Smurf-themed little village is ideal for families with smaller children.
There are Smurfy playgrounds, Smurfy wall paintings, and Smurf-themed activities for the kids on the weekend.
Juzcar is actually more frequently referred to as the Smurf Village and is a fun addition to the rest of the places to visit near Ronda, Spain. White villages turned blue isn’t an everyday sight, so why not take the trip?
Igualeja
Also set in the Bosque de Cobre, Igualeja is a fantastic white village surrounded by nature and is a hiker’s paradise.
It’s no secret that I stumbled across Igualeja because of hiking. But I quickly fell in love with the village and have been back several times.
The narrow streets hide nice squares and open up to sweeping views everywhere. There are a couple of small churches worth visiting and a recreational area with a little artificial duck pond where the “birth of the river” is located.
Grazalema
Another epic town near Ronda is Grazalema. In the heart of the natural park of the same name, Grazalema is an oasis for hiking enthusiasts.
Home to the near-extinct Pinsapo trees (Spanish Fir), Grazalema Natural Park is a unique destination to go hiking with impressive hikes like Garganta Verde and El Torreón Peak.
The village itself is full of quaint squares, niche shops, and hiking shops. The town’s churches, Iglesia de la Encarnación and Iglesia de la Aurora are also worth visiting.
Join this tour from Ronda to visit Grazalema and Zahara de la Sierra.
Olvera
Finally, one of my favorite villages around Ronda is Olvera. Mainly recognized by its hilltop castle, which is one of the most beautiful castles in Andalucia.
But there are other things to do in Olvera beyond visiting the castle. Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación proudly overlooks the village below and is worth visiting not only for its views but also for its bright interior and ornate chapels.
But the true charm of Olvera is the labyrinth of narrow streets all leading to wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.
Reflections on Ronda’s white villages
Summing up, the white villages near Ronda are nothing short of charm and beauty. The surrounding areas are all jam-packed with epic hiking routes, making these destinations popular among nature lovers.
But each white village Ronda is surrounded by, has its own personality. I recommend visiting Ronda during winter and the shoulder seasons, as it gets very hot in the summer – that goes for the surrounding villages too.
With these epic places to visit near Ronda, I’m sure you’ve found a few that resonate with you so you can start planning your trip, whether you’re off on an Andalucia road trip or a day trip from Malaga, Seville, or Ronda itself.
Happy travels!