Andalusia, the southernmost region of Spain, is home to endless wonders and hidden gems. From its breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites to vast nature, historical cities, and pueblos blancos – the list simply goes on. When traveling in a place as “rich” as Andalusia, it’s hard to not want to do and see it all. To travel deeper, it’s important to slow down and appreciate your surroundings; however, there are times when visiting three places in one is simply a must. If you are in the Cadiz, Malaga, Cordoba, or even Granada provinces – here is the ultimate day trip you can take from there!
The Ultimate Day Trip to 3 Pueblos Blancos
On the map, Ronda sits (almost) perfectly in the middle between Setenil and Juzcar – 20 minutes car ride from Setenil de las Bodegas, 30 from Juzcar. If you are traveling by car, I recommend starting with Juzcar or Setenil de las Bodegas and making your way up or down depending on your location.
Ronda
This is one of the most iconic pueblos blancos in Andalusia, as well as one of the oldest villages in Andalusia. Ronda sits on top of a gorge and is famous for its Puente Nuevo (“New Bridge”) – a bridge that connects the old town of Ronda to the new. Puente Nuevo dates back to 1735, when it was first proposed as a project and is 120 meters deep (390 ft).
Ronda is the birthplace of bullfighting and one of the oldest and most majestic bullfighting rings in Spain. The Plaza de Toros is a heritage site and is one of the most visited cultural complexes in Andalusia. It has now become a museum and can be visited!
In Ronda, three to four hours will be more than enough for visiting!
If you go to Ronda by car and want to have someone guide you through the village, check out this amazing Get Your Guide Experience!👇
Setenil de las Bodegas
This is one of the most unique and picturesque hidden gems in Andalusia. Setenil de las Bodegas’s most iconic feature is the architecture and how the village quite literally lives “under a rock”. Most of the houses and buildings are built into rocky cliffs, making it the unique and picturesque village that it is. Overall, there isn’t too much to do or visit in Setenil, apart from admiring the beauty of it and its surroundings; a couple of hours will suffice!
As a small fun fact, “Bodegas” comes from its once flourishing wineries.
Juzcar (Pueblo Pitufo)
The biggest hidden gem of this ultimate day trip? The only SMURF VILLAGE in the world!!🌎
Juzcar, also known as Pueblo Pitufo or Aldea Azul, was a traditional white village that turned blue in 2011. The pueblo blanco was painted in beautiful shades of blue as a PR move by SONY ES for the release of the new Smurfs movie. More than a decade later, Juzcar continues to keep its blue homes, endless Smurf graffiti, and three, 7-foot-tall Smurf statues.
This small village offers various activities and is the perfect place for Smurf lovers, families, and hikers. When entering the Aldea Azul, you will find a map with three routes: Graffiti, Adventure, and Hiking.
Being such a small village, you will see everything in under 3 hours.
Tips: How to Get There
Depending on which Andalusian city you are traveling from, you will have a couple of options in terms of transportation. These towns are located in a very mountainous area, causing some of the roads to be narrow or with too many curves. Due to this, the overall best way to visit all three of these hidden gems is by renting a car.
If you cannot rent a car, the second best option will be a guided tour. The pro of a guided tour is not having to worry about driving and figuring out where to go/what to see. The con of a guided tour is you won’t have the flexibility and freedom to visit hidden gems like Júzcar; the guided tours usually only do Ronda and Setenil. If you choose to go for the guided tour – here are some amazing options:
The bus is another method but is not as recommended due to the commute being much longer and trickier.
I have to ask…
Will you be adding this day trip to your future Spain travels?
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If you’re in Granada and want to consider other day trips destinations, here are the best day trips to take!
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