Travel Guide To Frigiliana, Spain
We’ve recently returned from a trip to Frigiliana, a true gem in Andalusia. In this guide, I’m sharing the best things to do, where to stay, and a few restaurant recommendations in Southern Spain’s prettiest white village.
By: Lesley Stewart | March 2025
From its rich history reflected in its white-washed houses, enchanting churches and cobblestoned streets to the modern comforts found in its stylish hotels and beautiful boutiques, the village of Frigiliana in Southern Spain offers a special blend of the past and present. One of my favourite towns from our trip, this is a complete guide to visiting Frigiliana.
Every time I visit Andalusia, I’m reminded how many beautiful gems are to be discovered - and the postcard-perfect village of Frigiliana is no exception.
Best known as one of Southern Spain’s most beautiful pueblos blancos, gleaming white Frigiliana has long been an awe-inspiring sight for those travelling across Andalusia. Each corner of the hilltop village offers a new discovery - narrow streets wind uphill in a maze of immaculate alleys, with heaps of charming plazas and calles to discover.
It’s a jewel box of picturesque vistas and photogenic streets.
After visiting Frigiliana on a day trip and lunch stop from nearby coastal hotpost Nerja, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular places in Southern Spain; this enchanting spot more than lives up to its reputation as one of Spain’s most beautiful villages.
Frigiliana’s historical and cultural journey is evident in its Moorish castle, ancient architecture, and the panoramic views that sweep across the countryside to the Mediterranean Sea. While local boutiques and traditional restaurants bring the village’s rich heritage to life.
About the area
If you’re wondering if Frigiliana is worth visiting, the answer is a resounding yes. This enchanting Andalusia village, with its roots stretching back to the 8th century, offers unique natural beauty, historical richness, and modern-day charm, making it an ideal destination for those seeking an authentic Spanish day trip or weekend away.
Alongside equally pretty villages Mijas and Benalmadena Pueblo, Frigiliana is easily one of Spain’s most beautiful villages.
Read on for my tips for exploring Frigiliana, how to get there, memorable places to eat, and the prettiest streets.
Frigiliana’s Best Hotels & Boutique Getaways
We stayed on the coast and took a day trip to Frigiliana from Nerja; I recommend Hotel Puerta del Mar. However, if you’re looking for a weekend getaway or overnight in a traditional hotel, Frigiliania has a great choice of exceptionally stylish stays.
A selection of our favourite stays; all are located in the village centre and within easy walking distance of Frigiliana’s best sights, eateries, and bars:
Hotel Villa Frigiliana: for the best old town boutique hotel.
Ana Mari's Studio: for the best old town apartment (sleeps 2).
Casa Jazmin: for the best old town apartment (sleeps 4).
Posada Morisca Hotel: for the best stylish countryside hotel.
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Travel tip: The best way to explore Andalusia is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our car rental in Spain, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Hertz, Enterprise, or Sixt. Renting a car in Spain is easy, and driving in Southern Spain is safe and comfortable. Book your car with Discover Cars here.
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How to get to Frigiliana
By car: Frigiliana is an easy 20-minute drive from Nerja and you’ll find paid parking here (around €11 per day). You can also park in the residential streets towards the bottom of the village, though be warned this can be incredibly busy during summer and at weekends.
By bus: It’s also easy to take this bus service from Nerja to Frigiliana; it runs regularly and costs €1.20 per journey.
Tour: If you’re visiting from other parts of the coast and don’t want to drive the mountain road, sadly public transport is a little more complicated. So, I suggest booking a combined Frigiliana and Nerja coach tour. We did this on our second Frigiliana trip and had the comfiest, air-conditioned bus, a friendly guide, and heaps of time to walk around. It also saved us worrying about parking, which can be super busy.
Book: I highly recommend this tour, which picks up from all major coastal towns and includes a stop in the charming coastal town Nerja.
FRIGILIANA TRAVEL GUIDE
Things to do in Frigiliana
Wander the old town
Like any of Southern Spain’s pueblos, the best thing to do in Frigiliana is walk around its historic centre, getting happily lost in the charming streets.
Frigiliana’s Moorish layout is a maze of narrow alleys, little passages, cobblestone steps, and archways. I’d advise you start with a camera in hand at Calle Real and meander slowly upwards. You won’t go too far until you find a little street to explore or a viewpoint with serious “wow” factor.
Frigiliana is a tiny village but along the way you’ll cross paths with a few sights worth exploring and this pueblo, much like Mijas and hidden gem Casares, combines charming, white-washed streets with beautiful old churches such as Cofradía de Frigiliana and Parroquia de San Antonio.
Towards the bottom of the town, one more place worth visiting is the Santa Fiora Botanic Gardens. The peaceful gardens feature colourful mosaic sculptures depicting local wildlife and history and benches under shady spots.
Visit the Moorish castle
Towards Frigiliana’s highest point you’ll find Castillo de Lízar, an ancient Moorish castle that once stood guard over the village. Today, only a tiny amount of the once imposing castle remains, the remains of Frigiliana’s long history. The walk to the castle is steep but worth it for the views.
And just beyond the castle, Molino de Lizar, a walkway and ancient bridge dating back to Frigiliana’s Arab era. This area was once an irrigation channel for sugar mills, and the walk and views are quite special.
Shop local boutiques
Frigiliana boasts a handful of boutique shops, and resisting the temptation to pop into at least a few is impossible. One of those that I fell in love with was Almagra. This store's beautifully curated homewares and accessories could easily have filled my suitcase.
Some other stores we loved were the beautiful women’s wear at Frida and local wines at Lola la de Los Vinos.
Enjoy the views
The views from Frigiliana are reason enough to make a trip there. You’ll find incredible vistas from the miradors and observation decks, which offer 360-degree panoramas of the surrounding countryside to the Med. You have a gorgeous view over Frigiliana’s white facades and orange-tiled roofs from here.
We think it's perfect for watching the sunset, so visit at golden hour if you can. The best Frigiliana viewpoints are:
Where to eat in Frigiliana
Food lovers will love the town’s cafes and restaurants, and the best Frigiliana restaurants tend to be those which combine authentic and traditional Andalusian dishes with gorgeous vistas from outdoor terraces.
We only had a day but our favourite places to eat in Frigiliana are:
Restaurante La Taperia (for beautiful small plates in a stylish setting)
Cafetería Faes (for speciality coffee)
Churreria Chocolateria Alexis (for crispy churros)
Caravansar’s Coffee (for a delicious brunch)
However, we also loved the menus and terrace restaurants at Restaurante El Mirador (for grilled meat dishes with a view), El Adarve (for rice dishes and seafood), Restaurante El Olivo (for a more formal dining experience) and Pura Cepa (for tapas and plates of iberico).
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Lesley x
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