Pueblos Blancos Tour from Seville

I love Andalusia, I think it has picturesque places and the route of the White Villages is part of this group. Here you will learn how to visit them, routes, prices and the best offers.

Carla Yaquer

Carla Yaquer

10 min read

Pueblos Blancos Tour from Seville

White Villages | ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie

In the centre of Seville there are monuments, bars, monasteries, tablaos, good food and crowds everywhere, but if you want to enjoy the best viewpoints in the middle of a protected nature reserve, one of the things to see and do in Seville is to take an excursionto the Pueblos Blancos.

In this post you will discover the best excursions with private route or guided tours, and prices. In short, everything you need to know to organise your trip you will find below.

Excursion route to the White Villages: Ronda

In Puerta Del Viento| ©RaidhoR
In Puerta Del Viento| ©RaidhoR

This is the most popular plan among the White Villages you can see in Seville. The trip includes a guided visit to the highlights of Ronda such as:

  • Puerta Del Viento.
  • Gate of the Mills.
  • The House of the Moorish King.
  • The Bullring of the Real Maestranza de la Caballería de Ronda.
  • The Romantic Travellers' Viewpoint.
  • The Walls of Ronda.
  • The Tagus and much more.

As you stroll through the historic city centre, your expert guide will explain the historical events, main monuments and curiosities of the city. You will also have time to explore independently, with some recommendations to help you get the most out of your visit.

  • Duration: Between 8 and 10 hours, depending on the tour you choose.
  • Prices: From €71.
  • What it may include: Pick up at the meeting point, guided tour in Spanish to the Aguzaderas Castle: and to the Oil Mill of Zahara de la Sierra, the passage through the forests of Pinsapos until heading to the mythical city of Ronda. At each stop we visit the emblematic monuments and viewpoints of the city.

Book an excursion to Ronda

Excursion to El Coronil, Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema and Ronda

Aguzaderas Castle| ©Sebastián Aguilar
Aguzaderas Castle| ©Sebastián Aguilar

Once you start your tour to the Pueblos Blancos you won't want to leave. Its contrasts between mountains, forest and mountains provide a warm welcome, so if you are looking for a complete and cheap excursion to the White Villages of Seville, this is the alternative you were looking for. Make it one of the 10 things to do in Seville in spring.

First section: El Coronil
Here your guide will take you on a tour of the Aguzaderas Castle. During the walk around this six-towered fortress, the expert will share the importance of the unconventional location, the history of power and the use of water for more than five centuries in this area.

**Second leg: Zahara de la Sierra
**The excursion will continue through the Sierra de Cádiz until you reach Zahara de la Sierra. The guide will take you to the Iglesia Mayor, a must-see in this white village. Its transformation from mosque to church and the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament are cornerstones of the regional history. Finally, the group will visit the Molino El Vínculo mill, the only old olive oil mill still producing olive oil in the region.

Third section: Sierra de Grazalema
The penultimate stop is one of the biospheres protected by UNESCO, the Sierra de Grazalema. The whole area is a visual delight for nature lovers. The picturesque streets, La Manga de Villaluenga, the Salto del Cabrero and El Saltadero, will not go unnoticed. Then the group will move on to the final stretch at the Necropolis of the Giants.

Fourth section: Ronda
To close with a flourish, the coveted Ronda. You will be amazed, there you will find:

  • The New Bridge Interpretation Centre.
  • The Church of Santa María La Mayor.
  • The Bandolero Museum.
  • Viewpoints such as the Wind Viewpoint and Hoya del Tajo.
  • The Arab baths.
  • The Palace of Mondragón.
  • The bullring of the Real Maestranza de la Caballería de Ronda.
  • The sculptures of Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles.
  • Duration: 1 day, depending on the tour operator.
  • Prices: From 79 €.
  • What may be included: private transport round trip, travel insurance and specialized guide.

Book a complete excursion to the Pueblos Blancos

Excursion to Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema and Ronda

Zahara de la Sierra| ©Sigalice
Zahara de la Sierra| ©Sigalice

If you are thinking about what to see and do in Seville in 2 days this could be the ideal plan for you. Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema and Ronda stretches between the sierra and its forests full of cork oaks, plateaus and oaks.

This walk allows you to take the time to explore spectacular cliffs, enjoy the surroundings of the Guadalevín river, traditions and Andalusian cuisine in the three villages along the route. For its complete route, comfort and included accommodation this is the executive choice among the White Villages of Seville excursions.

When you arrive in Ronda, your guide will take you to visit a real olive oil mill, you will walk through El Bodegón, the full-day spots like the Maestranza de la Caballería de Ronda and many other surprises so that you will know in detail the reasons that give the mystic and romantic accent to the second most populated city in the province.

  • Duration: Between 36 and 38 hours, depending on the tour you choose.
  • Prices: From 179 €.
  • What it may include: Expert guided tour in Spanish, private transport to and from Seville, access to a traditional oil mill, the Aguzaderas Castle, walk through the white villages of Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema and Ronda, one night's accommodation in a 3 or 4 star hotel.

Book your excursion to the White Villages

Excursion to Zahara de la Sierra, Setenil de las Bodegas and Ronda

Setenil de las Bodegas| ©Jeremy Thompson
Setenil de las Bodegas| ©Jeremy Thompson

This three-leg tour offers the advantage of visiting the peculiar village of Setenil de las Bodegas, the only one among the White Villages of Andalusia with houses in caves. In addition, the tour is guided by a historian and expert guide. The tour route passes through:

First section: Zahara de la Sierra.
A walk of approximately 2 hours through the picturesque streets of the town will take you to the famous Molino El Vínculo while the mountainous landscape is outlined in the background.

Second section: Setenil de las Bodegas
The small group will witness the traces left by the Celts, Moors and Christians among castles, caves, churches, caves and towers. The landscape drawn by the plateaus and romantic corners is enchanting. You can add this destination as one of the things to do in Seville in winter, when Valentine's Day arrives. Take your picture under the sign "Kiss me in this corner" for a souvenir.

Along the Calle del Sol you will reach the Castle of Setenil de las Bodegas where the Tower, the Keep and the Aljibe summarise the history of the village inside. The guide will take you to visit the Aljibe where the Damita de Setenil, a female Chalcolithic symbol of the town that was built 3,000 years B.C., will welcome you.

Third section: Setenil de las Bodegas
The penultimate stop is one of UNESCO's protected biospheres, the Sierra de Grazalema. The whole area is a visual delight for nature lovers. The picturesque streets, La Manga de Villaluenga, the Salto del Cabrero and El Saltadero, will not go unnoticed. Then the group will move on to the final stretch at the Necropolis of the Giants.

  • Duration: 1 day, depending on the tour operator.
  • Prices: From 300 €.
  • What may be included: private transport to and from the hotel, travel insurance and a historian as a specialised guide.

Book a complete excursion to the White Villages

Why is it advisable to take a guided tour to the White Villages of Seville?

Sunset in Pueblos Blancos| ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie
Sunset in Pueblos Blancos| ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie
  • The guides are experts in the area and know the main attractions of the town. When the sites of interest are numerous these specialists offer different packages and routes adjusted to your plans.
  • Unlike other cities in Europe, the Pueblos Blancos tour guides have the best rates on the market. For less than 80 € your services will be covered, not bad right?
  • The sites of interest show a summary of the history of each monument but only a guide can put that information together and tell the story of a village. Stories, curiosities, anecdotes and urban legends are only shared by an expert guide.
  • They provide attention in different languages such as English, Italian and French. This is valuable for multicultural groups. Check with your operator and get a guide in your language.
  • In the Pueblos Blancos changes in agenda are the order of the day. Your tour guide will design the plan without haste or stress. You can consult Hellotickets with any of our operators to design your itinerary.

How to get to the Pueblos Blancos from Seville: Means of transport

By car| ©Vladimir Proskurovskiy
By car| ©Vladimir Proskurovskiy

By train
The best way to get to Cadiz is by train. The railway company operates two trains to Cádiz each day, both of which are classified as "Media Distancia".

In the first option, the journey time between Santa Justa in Seville and Cadiz is 1:28 minutes.

The second alternative for the same 102 km train journey is 1:42 minutes.

Tickets can be purchased from 7,55 €.

**By plane
**Jerez de la Frontera airport in Cadiz can be reached by domestic and international flights. From Seville there are direct flights and from there you can connect to the Pueblos Blancos from 130 €.

**By bus
**Tour the Pueblos Blancos by bus! This is a great opportunity to get away from the coast and travel through green landscapes ending at the picturesque white houses.

The Service of the Junta de Andalucía consists of the websites of the Metropolitan Transport Consortium of Cadiz-Huelva-Cadiz and the Andalusian Transport Consortium of Seville-Malaga. Through its maps, it will provide you with all the information you need about transport routes, timetables, stations and contact details, for less than 20 €. You will have arrived at the Pueblos Blancos from Seville.

**By private car
**Cádiz is easily reached by car. From the centre you can take the A4 motorway, which connects the south of the peninsula. You also have the southern motorway AP-4, now toll-free all the way.

Which municipalities should I visit on a route through the Pueblos Blancos?

Setenil Castle| ©MANUEL ZALDÍVAR
Setenil Castle| ©MANUEL ZALDÍVAR

The truth is that with time and budget to do the complete route of the White Villages would be ideal, however, a group stands out for its stories, mills, natural parks, castles and styles, they are:

  • El Coronil. It is a kind of gateway to the Pueblos Blancos. In this town you will find the famous Castillo de las Aguzaderas, where these fortresses were strategically placed to protect the water spring of the local fountain. The construction is impressive and its history combines the traces of the Arabs with the Christian vision of the Middle Ages.

  • Cádiz. Here you will find the villages of Zahara de la Sierra, Olvera and Setenil de las Bodegas as part of the Sierra de Grazalema. Its most characteristic natural surroundings are the caves and grottoes formed by the erosion of the plateaus.

In these villages you can walk through their medieval towns where the Clock Tower, the Setenil Castle, the Moorish Castle, the Chapel of San Juan de Dios Letrán, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación and the small artificial beach in Arroyomolinos are the main attractions.

  • Grazalema. At an altitude of 800 m, Grazalema has been home to several civilisations. At the foot of the Veleta Peak, it exhibits an important environmental wealth. Grazalema has the highest rainfall in Spain (1,200 mm per year). In this village, mountains and valleys contrast. It is home to numerous pine forests, such as the famous Pinsapos, as well as oaks, holm oaks or junipers in contrast to its arid or lime-rich environments.

  • Ronda. The tour of the White Villages would be incomplete without the most popular of them all: the village of Ronda. In the heart of this mountain range you will witness impressive monuments such as: the Paseo de Los Toreros, the Casa del Rey Moro, La Alameda, El Tajo, the Puerta del Viento, its famous Arab baths from medieval times and the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge).

Why are they called Pueblos Blancos?

Arcos de la Frontera in White Villages| ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie
Arcos de la Frontera in White Villages| ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie

The zigzagging roads in the south of Andalusia are hot lands and rainfall is rare. In summer the temperature reaches 40° so the locals of these picturesque villages found a cheap, efficient and quick way to minimise the effects of the sun by covering their facades in white.

As a curiosity it is not merely a matter of painting but of whitewashing or stuccoing.

  • Whitewashing. This is a combination of water, sand or plaster and lime that takes on the colour of the latter component.
  • Stucco. Used by the more affluent neighbours. Marble powder was (or is) added to the whitewash mortar, thus refining the final finish.

**Benefits?
**

  • The white colour reflects the sun's rays, reducing the temperature of the house and of the village itself, and providing hygienic protection. Lime has bactericidal, fungicidal and antiseptic properties.
  • It is breathable. Considering that adobe, masonry and stone are the materials used in these houses, it is useful to adapt the breathability of the structure.
  • Finally, these materials are available in every corner of the peninsula and their price is affordable.

**Map of the White Villages of Andalusia
**
The route through the White Villages of Andalusia includes more than 20 municipalities from Arcos de la Frontera through Zahara de la Sierra and Ronda until Castellar de la Frontera.

An expert knows the localities, however, in case you decide to plan a self-guided visit, you can be guided by the route demarcated in GoogleMaps, this way you will know how to get around the White Villages of Seville without missing any of these charming towns.

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