The Province of Malaga is a beautiful part of Andalusia to explore, rich in both history and culture. For many people, Malaga is a place to go to get some sun, relax on the beach, and have some much needed relaxation. As far as day trips from Malaga go, nearby white villages are definitely a first resort for a lot of visitors. And while there are many white villages in Malaga that are along the coastline, there are even more inland white villages to explore that most tourists never get to see, such as Gaucin.
If you’re planning on staying in Malaga’s city centre, and are renting a car in Malaga, you’ll have more than enough pueblos blancos at your fingertips to keep you busy for a while.
The origin of white villages in Andalusia can be dated back to the Moorish period, which is why the layout of the villages reflect traditional Muslim ones with their winding narrow streets and whitewashed houses. The streets are designed to offer shade and protect the houses from the heat of the sun. Many of these white villages were originally built as fortresses to protect the Muslim occupied areas from the Christian armies and other would-be attackers.
You’ll quite often still be able to see the remains of medieval walls, towers, and Arab arches dotted around the white villages in Andalusia. Hopefully while you’re in southern Spain you’ll have time to visit at least one of the many beautiful must-see white villages in Malaga. If you’re having trouble deciding which ones to see, here are my recommendations.
White villages in Malaga
Almogia
Almogia sits just north of Malaga and is definitely an underrated destination in southern Spain. If you’re not wanting to drive too far from the Costa del Sol, Almogia is a great option for a half-day trip from Malaga since it takes only 40 minutes to drive to. This village isn’t one of the most popular white villages in Malaga to visit, but nonetheless it’s very picturesque to walk around and has an interesting history.
While you’re in Almogia don’t forget to check out Torre de la Vela for a perfect view of the village, as well as Plaza de la Constitucion. Almogia is a typical white hill town in Spain that’s definitely worth exploring for a couple of hours.
Alora
One of the best white villages in Malaga that I’ve been to so far is Alora. It sits not far from the famous Caminito del Rey hike, and is certainly one of the more unique places to visit in the Province of Malaga. Alora has a history pre-dating the Phoenicians, and was used as a Muslim stronghold for centuries, up until the 15th century when the Christians gained control of it.
As well as visiting the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnacion and the Castillo Arabe, make sure you drive a little outside of the village centre. Santuario Nuestra Señora de las Flores is a convent dating back to the 16th century with amazing views of the mountains, but you’ll need to drive to it. Alora is one white village in Malaga you can’t miss.
Archidona
One of the most unique white villages in Malaga is Archidona. We spent 4 nights in this area and had a fantastic time walking around the village and visiting other nearby points of interest such as El Torcal and Antequera. Archidona sits less than an hour from Malaga, in the foothills of the Sierra de Gracia, and is home to the award winning Restaurante Arxiduna.
Other points of interest include Iglesia de Santa Ana and Plaza Ochavada which are both equally as beautiful to take photos at. Although it’s not set along the Andalusian white village route, Archidona is worth adding to your itinerary and is one of the best white villages in Malaga to explore.
Casares
Hidden gems near Malaga don’t come much better than Casares. Legend says that its name came as a result of a visit from Julius Caesar, but it can also be linked to the Moorish word for castle. Either way, there are a lot of great things to do in Casares and it’s definitely one of the must-see white villages in Malaga.
Casares is only a short drive inland from Manilva, and you can even see Gibraltar from Mirador de Casares as well. While you’re exploring this village, don’t forget to hike up to see Castillo de Casares and Iglesia de la Encarnacion which are some of the village’s main attractions. You’ll also be treated to some rare bird sightings, such as the Griffin Vultures, as the area surrounding Casares is protected due to its various species of birds.
Comares
If you love driving as much as I do, and are interested in hitting up one of the many driving routes in southern Spain, the Ruta de la Pasa (Route of the Raisin) is a good one to start with. Even if you aren’t a fan of raisins, this route is perfect if you want to see a lot of very unique white villages in Malaga in a short period of time.
One of my favourite stops along the route is Comares, which is the highest village in the Axarquia region and has been very heavily influenced by Arab culture. This is still evident today in places such as Calle Real and Puerta de Malaga. Comares is a fascinating village to walk around and the views of the surrounding landscape are incredible too. It’s one of the most beautiful places near Malaga to visit, and is often overlooked by tourists so you may have it all to yourself.
El Borge
There are a total of 7 white villages along the Ruta de la Pasa, but if you don’t have time to see them all I would also recommend stopping at El Borge. This village is known as the raisin capital of the region, as it’s one of the largest raisin producers in Spain. Apart from raisins though, this pueblo blanco is also known for its rich Arab history which is worth learning about before you visit.
El Borge is easily accessible by foot, so you can explore its main points of interest such as Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario and Arco de la Pasa all within a few hours. El Borge may not be one of the most popular white villages in Malaga to visit, but if you’re after hidden gems in Andalusia it’s a great choice.
Frigiliana
Frigiliana is considered by many to be one of the best Andalusian villages to visit. Although it doesn’t rank among my favourite white villages in Malaga, it’s certainly worth driving to if you’re staying near Nerja. It also makes for a great stop if you’re planning a road trip around Andalusia.
This white village is most famous for its narrow whitewashed streets and Moorish old town, and the views you get of the coastline aren’t bad either. If you’re looking for picturesque places to visit from Malaga for the day and have exhausted all of the white villages along the Costa del Sol, maybe you should give Frigiliana a try.
Marbella
When most people think of Marbella, they immediately associate it with either beaches or nightlife. But Marbella also has a charming old town to walk around, filled with boutique shops, traditional restaurants, and the odd historical point of interest. If you’re visiting the city of Malaga, it would be well worth your time to plan a day trip to Marbella as it’s one of the more unique pueblos blancos in Andalusia.
I would recommend starting the day off at Plaza de los Naranjos, before continuing on to Calle Carmen, Iglesia Mayor De La Encarnacion, and the narrow shopping streets surrounding it. You can always end your day with a trip to one of the nearby beaches in Marbella around sunset too.
Mijas Pueblo
One of the most popular day trips from Malaga is Mijas Pueblo. This Andalusian white village is definitely more catered to tourists than other more inland ones, but it has some very interesting points of interest to visit as well.
On top of being home to one of the many castles in the Province of Malaga, Mijas Pueblo has some fantastic shopping streets and other unique attractions to visit like Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña and Plaza de la Constitucion. This is one white village in Malaga that you can visit at any time of the year and still enjoy yourself.
There are plenty more white villages in Malaga to visit, and these are just some of the many options you can choose from in terms of day trips from Malaga. Hopefully the next time you visit the Costa del Sol you’ll have time to explore the areas around Malaga. If you’re travelling to the Province of Cadiz during your trip to southern Spain you’ll be overwhelmed with the amount of dramatic pueblos blancos there, such as Arcos de la Frontera. However, Malaga has some pretty impressive ones too!
Have you visited any white villages in Malaga that aren’t on my list? Let me know which one I should travel to next in the comments section below. You can always follow my travels on Instagram too and keep up to date with my latest adventures.
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