THINGS TO DO
The most beautiful white villages near Marbella
Behind the coast, Andalusia's white villages cling to hillsides and gorges. They're made for a car — the drives are scenic and the parking is always on the edge. Here are the ones we'd point you to first.
- 1
Mijas Pueblo
The closest and most famous, with donkey taxis and balcony views over the coast.
Read more - 2
Ronda
Less a village than a clifftop town, split by a gorge and crossed by a breathtaking bridge.
Read more - 3
Frigiliana
Often called Andalusia's prettiest village — a maze of white lanes above Nerja.
Read more - 4
Setenil de las Bodegas
Famous for houses built into and under the rock overhangs along its river gorge.
Read more - 5
Casares
A cascade of white houses below a hilltop castle — one of the best views in the province.
- 6
Gaucín
A quiet mountain balcony with views to Gibraltar and Africa on a clear day.
Frequently asked
For the old town and Puerto Banús you can walk. But the best beaches sit between towns, and the white villages and day trips — Ronda, Mijas, Gibraltar — are awkward by bus. A compact automatic handles the coast road and the climbs comfortably and pays for itself over a few outings.