Planning a trip around Andalusia and hoping to visit some iconic villages? If so, I got 5 unique pueblos blancos you won’t believe are real! From Soportujar, a witch village, to a real life Smurfs village, these unique villages are nothing like the typical, but stunning, white villages of Andalusia.
To reach most of these destinations, you will need a car, as they are nestled in the mountainous areas of Andalusia. In this small guide you’ll discover the best things to see and do in each village and tips, which will help you decide which of these Andalusian hidden gems you want to visit.
Without further ado, here are 5 most unusual towns in Andalucia!✨👇
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5 Unusual Towns in Andalucia
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Soportújar | The Witch Village of Andalusia
Located in the the Alpujarra region within Granada, Soportujar is a small, witch-themed white village full of magical legends and fantastical statues. When the Reconquista happened and the Moors were kicked out from Andalusia, many people from Galicia moved into this small town.
In Galicia there were many legends about witches and other magical creatures, so they brought their stories with them to Soportujar. In 2001, to promote tourism, Soportújar became the Proyecto Embrujo, “Project Bewitchment”. Through this project, Soportujar began adding statues, murals, and art works that were all witch and magical creature themed.
As you walk around the small town, you will encounter something magical at every corner. Two of the most iconic attractions are the Chocolate House of Hansel and Gretel, and the Casa de Baba Yaga. Some other fun attractions are the Cueva del Ojo de La Bruja, Witch Fountain, and the Dreamweaver Spider.
The best restaurant in Soportujar is Taberna Romero, in which you will find traditional Alpujarran food and gluten free options, if needed. I strongly recommend ordering the plato alpujarreño, Alpujarran dish. This plate includes several delicious meats from this region, with egg and potatoes. It’s hearty, but so delicious!
The best way to reach Soportujar is by driving, as that’s the fastest way. Another great option is the bus. The commute is a bit longer, but it allows you to sit back and relax. Book your tickets with Omio!👇
Soportujar Insider Tips
- Driving to Soportujar can feel quite chaotic, as there are tight and curved streets the closer you get to the Pueblo. With that said, make sure that you are comfortable with constant curves, or that your partner/friend is. If you’re not comfortable, get a bus!
- The restaurant Taberna Romero has long wait lines, make your reservation as soon as possible!
- Plan for this to be more of a half-day trip.
Júzcar | Smurfs Village in Andalucia
Located in the region of Malaga, Júzcar is the “blue intruder” of the Pueblos Blancos of Andalusia. Known as the Pueblo Pitufo, “Smurfs Village”, Júzcar is exactly that – a real life smurfs village filled with blue homes and Smurfs.
Back in 2011, Sony España painted this once-white-village blue as a PR stunt for the launch of the new Smurf’s movie. Along the blue paint, they added all sorts of Smurf-related and cartoon graffiti, and statues. The plan was for the village to eventually turn back to its original look, but to promote tourism the locals adopted the new look.
Something fun about Júzcar is that it has a map, when you first arrive, that shows three different routes to follow. There is the Graffiti Route, the Hiking Route, and the Adventure Route – allowing everyone to have a route or two to enjoy.
One of the best things to do is visiting the three, 6-foot-tall Smurf statues spread around the village. Make sure to also keep an eye out for the endless, small Smurf dolls hiding on balconies, buildings, and more.
The best restaurant in Juzcar is the Bar ParribaPabajo, where I strongly recommend ordering the Parillada – a mixed dish of grilled meats. Júzcar is a very small town, and is more of a half-day-trip. Only a 30-minute car ride from Ronda, you could make Ronda your home base for a couple of days and take a day trip from there.
Additional Information
Because of its mountainous location, Juzcar is perfect for nature lovers, bird watchers, and mushroom lovers (regular mushrooms that is)😂. There are all sorts of activities in this small pueblo – check them out!
Setenil de las Bodegas | Living Under a Rock
Located in the region of Malaga, Setenil de las Bodegas is one of the most beloved and unusual towns in Andalusia. Why is it unusual? Because it sits under a rock… sort of!
As a fun fact, Setenil derives from latin and means “seven times nothing”. This refers to the amount of times Christians tried to reconquer this town from the Moors. Starting with the Moors and continuing with the Christians, people built houses within the rock formations. This explain’s the town’s unique look with the overhanging rocks.
The best thing to do in Setenil is visiting the town itself and walking around it’s mesmerizing streets. Three of the must-visit streets are Calle Cuevas del Sol, Calle Cuevas de la Sombra, and Calle Herrería. A cute spot to visit is a graffiti that says Bésame en este rincón, “kiss me in this corner”.
One of the best restaurants to eat at in Setenil de las Bodegas is Bar Frasquito. This is an authentic Spanish bar/restaurant where you will find many Andalusian must-eats and tapas. From steaks to croquetas and gambas al ajillo, let yourself go wild!😍
The best way to reach Setenil de las Bodegas is via car. An alternative way to reach this town is by taking a train, or bus, to Ronda. Being only a 20-minute car ride from Ronda, you can easily grab a taxi or bus! A taxi from Ronda to Setenil da las Bodegas is between $40 to $50.
If you’re in Malaga and don’t have a car, this tour may be just the perfect solution for you! This day-long tour will bring you to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas. With this experience you can select to have a local guide and walking tour, or if you simply want to walk around freely. This experience sells out quickly, if you want in – book your tickets now!👇
Genalguacil | The Museum Village
Known as the “Museum Village”, Genalguacil is another unique hidden gem of Andalusia. This quaint village is home to more than 200 art works, all of which are out in the open and scattered around the town. Genalguacil is another pueblo blanco that receives the title of “most beautiful villages in Andalusia“.
Something really cool about Genalguacil is that every two years, new or repeat artists come back to the town and add new works of art. With that said, the best thing to do in Genalguacil is walking around the town to find and admire all the incredible works of art scattered around. If you’re a nature and hiking lover, Genalguacil has beautiful hiking and trekking trails.
One of the best restaurants to eat at is Restaurante El Refugio. Whenever you are in a mountainous area of Andalusia, meat dishes, soups or stews, and fried foods are always great to try!
The only way to reach this village is via car, and it’s a fairly long commute from all the main Andalusian destinations – the closest being Malaga. From Malaga, your car ride will be around 2 hours.
Frigiliana | Most Beautiful Pueblo Blanco
Frigiliana, known as one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, is a quaint pueblo blanco 30 minutes from the coast of Malaga. This town is surrounded by luscious and mountainous greenery, bright-colored flowers, and has the most lovely cobblestone streets.
Besides eating and sight-seeing, there is not too much to do in the town itself. However, if you are a nature lover, you should definitely go hiking in the beautiful surroundings. You could also take a guided tour to learn more about the rich history of this town.
Something else you could do is visit during one of the many festivities – the most famous being Fiesta de las Tres Culturas. Some other festivals include the Feria, and the Miel de Caña, “chestnut honey” festival.
In Frigiliana there are many artisans, so make sure to visit the local businesses. This town is also famous for its honey, making it a must-try or must-purchase. With that being said, I strongly recommend ordering Berenjenas fritas con Miel, “fried eggplants with honey” – this is a typical Andalusian dish, and is to die for. One of the best restaurant bars to eat at is El Granaino Bar Mesón.
Frigiliana is roughly an hour away from both Granada and Malaga, making a perfect day trip. The best way to reach Frigiliana is via car, as there are no buses that go there. If you’re in Malaga and don’t have a car, you can take a bus to Nerja and then take a taxi to Frigiliana. Nerja is a 15 minute car ride from Frigiliana.
My personal tip, whether you’re coming from Malaga or Granada, is to split your day trip between Frigiliana and Nerja. Nerja is an incredible coastal town with some of the most spectacular blue waters and nature.
If you are in Malaga and want to travel to Frigiliana hassle-free, this best-rated day tour is perfect for you. During this day tour you will discover the incredible Caves of Nerja, Nerja, and Frigiliana. Book your tickets now before they sell out!👇
More Information on Spain
- Most Beautiful White Villages in Andalucia
- The Best of Andalusian Food
- 15 Best Day Trips from Granada
- 16 Unique Places to Visit in Andalusia
- One Day in Cordoba Itinerary
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