Grazalema is a white village on a mountainside in the province of Cádiz, on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos. It gave its name to the Sierra de Grazalema, declared a natural park in 1984 and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1977. Andalusia's tourist board describes it as having the highest rainfall in Spain, with winters cold enough to whiten the rooftops; the park as a whole receives more than 2,000 mm of rain a year by some estimates.
The village: Plaza de España and its churches
Plaza de España is the centre of the village, and the place Andalusia's tourist board suggests for tapas in the evening. On the square, the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Aurora is the village's baroque landmark. It dates from the 17th century, was damaged by fire in 1936 and was later restored.
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación was built after the Christian conquest of 1485, on the site of an earlier Mudéjar building; the church you see today is classed as 17th century. The Iglesia de San José, from the 18th century, belonged to the former Carmelite convent.
Viewpoints surround the village: end the day at one of them.
Wool and payoyo cheese
Grazalema has a long tradition of wool blankets, the mantas de Grazalema. The textile factory has a museum that you can visit free of charge; check the opening days at the tourist office.
The other local product is payoyo cheese, made in the area and praised by Andalusia's tourist board as one of the best in the world. Buy a piece to take back to Ronda.
Walks from Grazalema, with a permit
Grazalema is the base for some of the park's best-known walks, but several need a permit from the Junta de Andalucía.
The Pinsapar, in the Sierra del Pinar, is a forest of Spanish firs, the pinsapo, a Mediterranean fir found nowhere else in the world, according to Andalusia's tourist board. The trail is in the park's reserve area, the number of walkers is limited, and you need an authorisation before you go. El Torreón, a steep climb that starts about 5 km from the village on the road to El Bosque, also requires a permit.
Request permits online through the Junta's booking system, up to two months ahead. Some trails close partly or fully in summer because of the fire risk, so check before you plan it.
- Permits: Junta de Andalucía online booking, up to two months in advance.
- Season: some trails close in summer because of the fire risk.
Lunes del Toro
In July, Grazalema holds the Lunes del Toro, a bull run through the streets, on the Monday after the feast of the Virgen del Carmen on 16 July. The date changes each year: check it with the town if you plan to come, or to avoid that day.
How to get from Ronda to Grazalema
The car is the practical way. Leave Ronda on the A-374 towards Algodonales, then take the A-372 to Grazalema: about 30 to 35 km and 40 to 50 minutes on a winding mountain road, narrow in places. Coming from Zahara de la Sierra, the CA-9104 crosses the Puerto de las Palomas pass to reach Grazalema.
Park in one of the open-air car parks, at Plaza de los Asomaderos or El Tajo, and walk into the centre. The tourist office is on Plaza de los Asomaderos too.
A bus service between Ronda and Grazalema appears on the ticket platforms, run by Damas, but we could not find a reliable timetable. Check with the operator before relying on it.
- Route: A-374 towards Algodonales, then A-372.
- Distance and time: 30 to 35 km, 40 to 50 minutes.
- Parking: Plaza de los Asomaderos or El Tajo.
- Tourist office: Plaza de los Asomaderos 3, +34 956 13 20 52, Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 to 14:30 and 15:00 to 17:30.
Grazalema and the white villages around Ronda
Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra and Setenil de las Bodegas are all within an hour of Ronda by car. Grazalema and Zahara pair naturally, linked by the road over the Puerto de las Palomas.
For everything to see in Ronda itself, see what to see in Ronda, and our selection of hotels in Ronda if you are making Ronda your base.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit to walk the Pinsapar?
Yes. The Pinsapar trail is in the reserve area of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, where the number of walkers is limited, and you need an authorisation from the Junta de Andalucía. Request it online through the Junta's booking system, up to two months ahead, and check whether the trail is closed in summer because of the fire risk.
When is the Lunes del Toro in Grazalema?
On the Monday after the feast of the Virgen del Carmen, on 16 July, so the date changes every year. In 2027, that should be Monday 19 July; confirm it with the town hall before you plan around it.
Is it easy to park in Grazalema?
Use the open-air car parks on Plaza de los Asomaderos or at El Tajo, or the parking area at the entrance to the village, opposite the Ermita de la Virgen de los Ángeles, and walk into the centre. We did not find a public underground car park.
