Province of Malaga in Spain is full of beautiful places. So far we’ve spent 4 months there and enjoyed every second of it! During that time we had an opportunity to visit quite a large part of this beautiful region and today we’ll show you our subjective ranking of the most beautiful white villages near Malaga, Spain. All of them charmed us and stayed in our memories for longer. Each listed pueblo blanco is no further than 100km from Malaga and is perfect for a day trip from it! Add them to your Spain bucket list – you won’t regret it.
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Most Beautiful White Villages Near Malaga, Spain
About the Province of Malaga
Province of Malaga is a beautiful and diverse region located in southern Spain in Andalusia, on Costa del Sol, with Malaga as its capital. It’s home to many stunning beaches, mighty mountain ranges, serene natural parks, beautiful small white villages, as well as vibrant big cities. It’s a very popular tourist destination, perfect for those seeking a mix of relaxation, nature, culture, history, and adventure. The region is also famous for its cuisine, particularly its seafood, and is home to many traditional tapas bars.
Interesting fact. Malaga is the birthplace of the famous painter Pablo Picasso, as well as actor Antonio Banderas.
Learn more: Things To Do In Malaga Old Town In One Day
What is the white village in Spain?
White villages, or pueblos blancos in Spanish, is an expression that refers to small towns and villages in the Province of Malaga and the Province of Cadiz in Andalusia. These places are characterized by whitewashed buildings often decorated with colorful flowers, cobbled narrow streets, and usually stunning hilltop locations with views of the surrounding countryside. White villages offer visitors a glimpse into traditional Andalusian life.
Without further ado let’s go and explore the most beautiful white villages near Malaga, Spain. Vamos!
TOP5 Most Beautiful White Villages Near Malaga, Spain
Benalmadena Pueblo
Benalmadena Pueblo is located only 30 km from Malaga, which means you won’t need a lot of time to get there. This town very quickly stole our hearts and became our favorite white village near Malaga. Benalmadena Pueblo retained the authenticity of a typical Andalusian village. It’s full of narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses generously decorated with colorful flowers.
Benalmádena Pueblo without a doubt is most famous for Castillo de Colomares, a building that looks like a fairy-tale castle but in reality, it’s a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus and his discovery of America. Unfortunately, many visitors start and end their visit to the town there – don’t make that mistake and go on a walk in the charming Benalmadena Pueblo old town.
Learn more: 7 Things To Do In Benalmadena Pueblo, Spain
Estepona
Estepona is located about 90 km from Malaga, and it just couldn’t be missed in our ranking of the most beautiful white villages near Malaga. This charming town is a hidden gem of Andalusia because so far it isn’t as popular and crowded as other places on the Costa del Sol. In the 60s, not that long ago, it was a little fishing village and since then it developed into one of the biggest cities in the area. Nonetheless, the old town kept its charm, and strolling along it feels like stepping back several dozens of years back.
Learn more: 15+ Things To Do In Estepona, Spain In One Day
Ronda
Ronda is located about 100 km from Malaga, which means that only about an hour by car is needed to get there from the busy Costa Del Sol and to feel like you’ve moved to a completely different world. It is one of the oldest towns in Spain – it was first inhabited by the Celts in the 6th century BC, and later by the Romans and Moors, and declared a city in the 1st century AD by Julius Caesar.
The town is located on higher terrain, at 739 m a.s.l, and from many places offers spectacular views of the nearby areas. During your visit stroll through the beautiful narrow streets and take your time to admire beautiful houses, small shops, and hidden alleys. Then for sure you’ll understand why we consider Ronda as one of the most beautiful white towns near Malaga.
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do In Ronda, Spain On A Day Trip
Iznajar
Iznajar is located 85km from Malaga. It’s a hidden gem white village yet unknown to most travelers – and it’s a shame as it’s a truly delightful place worth exploring! Iznajar is perched on a small hill overlooking a blue reservoir, offering a mix of history, spectacular views, tranquility, and traditional Andalucian charm. So if you’re looking for a peaceful place away from the crowds with scenic views, Iznajar is the place to go! Without a doubt, it’s one of the most picturesque white villages near Malaga.
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do In Iznajar, Spain – Hidden Gem in Andalucia
Frigiliana
Frigiliana is located about 60 km from Malaga. This charming little pueblo blanco is located at 320 m a.s.l. It is squeezed between the Mediterranean Sea and Parque Natural de Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama. Frigiliana is one of the best-preserved villages in the whole province of Malaga.
While wandering through narrow cobbled streets, passing white houses adorned with bright flowers and colorfully painted doors you can feel as if you have stepped back in time to Moorish times. The village was named by the Spanish Tourism Board the most beautiful village in Andalusia, which doesn’t surprise us at all. Frigiliana just couldn’t be missed in our ranking of the most beautiful pueblos blancos near Malaga, Spain.
Learn more: Things To Do In Frigiliana, Spain In One Day
Discover more beautiful places in Andalusia ❤️
Other beautiful white villages near Malaga, Spain
Do you want to see more pueblos blancos than our TOP5? We are not surprised! After all, they are really charming, and visiting them is a pure pleasure. No problem! Here are more white villages near Malaga that we’ve seen and liked (but they just didn’t steal our hearts like the above ones).
Antequera
Antequera is located about 60km from Malaga, at an altitude of 575m among the beautiful mountainous landscapes. Thanks to its central location (among the four big cities: Malaga, Seville, Granada, and Cordoba) the town is known as El Corazón de Andalucía (“The Heart of Andalusia”). Despite this, Antequera still isn’t a popular destination, and it can most certainly be called an Andalusian hidden gem.
The charming old town, Alcazaba, dolmens, Lovers Rock, El Torcal de Antequera, and more churches per inhabitant than anywhere else in Spain… There are many interesting things to do in this beautiful white village near Malaga.
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do In Antequera, An Undiscovered Gem In Spain
Setenil de las Bodegas
Setenil de las Bodegas is located 95km from Malaga. It’s one of the most unique white villages in Andalucia, and what makes it stand out are the picturesque cave-like houses, restaurants, and small shops built directly into the cliffs! It’s a truly fascinating blend of nature and architecture. But don’t worry, there are more things to do in Setenil de las Bodegas that will make the trip worth taking. Winding streets, vibrant squares, historic landmarks, and breathtaking viewpoints await!
Learn more: Things To Do In Setenil De Las Bodegas, Spain
Nerja
Nerja is located about 55km from Malaga and just 7km from Frigiliana which we mentioned earlier. Once it was a sleepy fishing village, now it’s a popular holiday resort whose old town thankfully kept its traditional Andalusian charm. Besides a nice stroll among narrow cobbled streets full of whitewashed houses, Nerja can offer you a relaxing time on one of its sandy beaches with amazing mountain views behind your back. What’s more, it has impressive caves to discover!
Learn more: 10+ Best Things To Do In Nerja, Spain
Mijas Pueblo
Mijas Pueblo is located only about 35km from Malaga. It’s another typical Andalusian village, packed with a maze of narrow cobbled streets, lots of charming corners, and whitewashed houses decorated with flowers in colorful flower pots. Mijas Pueblo is located at an altitude of 430 m a.s.l, at the foot of Sierra de Mijas. Thanks to that it offers spectacular views over the nearby areas. The village definitely is one of the most beautiful white villages on Costa del Sol, and you won’t regret visiting it.
Learn more: 10 Things To Do In Mijas Pueblo, Spain
Torrox Pueblo
Torrox is located about 50km from Malaga and only 15km from Nerja thanks to what you can easily combine visiting these two towns. It’s a small, charming Andalusian hidden gem, yet not discovered by many. The oldest part of the town is located at about 145m a.s.l and like most of the white villages it’s full of narrow streets and whitewashed houses generously decorated with flowers. Also, Torrox claims to have the best climate in Europe, with an average annual temperature of 18°C!
Learn more: 7 Best Things To Do in Torrox Pueblo and Costa, Spain
Casares
Casares is located 100km from Malaga. It’s a white village unknown to many travelers who visit Costa del Sol, a beautiful hidden gem. And it’s a shame as it’s a delightful place worth exploring! Casares is a hilltop village, perched on a small hill. It offers a mix of history, stunning views, tranquility, and authentic Andalusian charm. So if you’re looking for a peaceful getaway from the crowds with scenic views, Casares is the place for you!
Learn more: 10 Things To Do In Casares, Spain
Most beautiful white villages near Malaga, Spain – Summing up
Wow, that’s a lot of white villages near Malaga to discover, right? If you’re staying longer in the area you definitely won’t be bored! We hope our post was helpful, and now you’re one step closer to choosing the perfect spots to explore on your own. Enjoy the time during your trips to white villages and share your experiences in the comments. We’re curious about the white villages you chose!
Our opinion about white villages near Malaga
So far we’ve spent 4 months living right next to Malaga. First time in Mijas, and second in Benalmadena. And during that time we had a great opportunity to explore quite a lot of white villages nearby. It was low season so there were no wild crowds anymore and we explored most of the places in peace. And we really enjoyed most of them! Cons? Many shops, restaurants and sometimes even attractions are closed for the winter break.
One more tip for the end: traveling by car, without a doubt, is the best and the fastest way of getting to all white villages. So if you’re not traveling by car, we recommend you rent one via RentalCars.
