Spain has no shortage of beautiful towns and villages, and many British tourists return year after year because they love the food, the sunshine and the relaxed pace of life. People visit the coast, the countryside and the mountains, and each area has places that look almost too perfect to be real. But there is one small village in Andalucía that often comes up as a favourite.

It is regularly described as one of the prettiest villages in Spain, and travellers say it stands out even when compared with the country’s other famous whitewashed towns. The village in question is Zahara de la Sierra. It sits high on a mountain in the province of Cádiz, right on the edge of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.

From the top you can see a turquoise reservoir, valleys and hillsides, and the white houses leading up towards the remains of a Moorish castle. 

Zahara is part of the well-known “pueblos blancos”, a group of white towns famous for narrow streets and white buildings. 

The road into the village winds through the mountains and crosses the dam below, giving visitors an idea of how steep the hill is before they even arrive. 

At the top is the old castle, which dates back to Moorish rule and once helped guard the route between Seville and Ronda.

There is plenty to see in a short visit. Tourists can walk through the steep streets, stop at the viewpoints around Plaza Mayor, visit the Church of Santa María de la Mesa or climb up to the castle for views over the lake.

The square has cafés, a tourist office and a mirador (look out point) where people gather to take photos. 

Zahara is small enough to explore in a few hours, although many choose to stay overnight to enjoy the quiet evenings and the sunset.

There is also an artificial beach at the reservoir, popular in summer, and walking routes around the natural park for those who enjoy hiking. 

Zahara is known for traditional local produce too, including olive oil, pastries and handmade leather goods from nearby towns.

Those who visit often fall in love with the village, and many have left raving reviews on TripAdvisor.

One person said: “We have travelled all over Spain visiting many beautiful villages. None of them compare to the sheer and unbelievable beauty of Zahara de la Sierra. For us, it’s the most beautiful village in the whole country by a distance.”

Another added: “It’s quite safe to say that most people would probably never have heard of Zahara de la Sierra. After all, it’s only a village in the Andalusia hills. On a day trip from Seville to visit the pueblo blancos or ‘white towns’, this village was our first stop. 

“Nestling within the Sierra de Grazalema Park and boasting a beautiful lake (which is really a water reservoir) in its foreground, this whitewashed town is often featured as one of the prettiest villages in Spain, and I definitely wouldn’t disagree with that. 

“It doesn’t take long to cover the grounds of the entire village. There’s something truly magical wandering through the winding alleys amidst all the whitewashed buildings.”

A third wrote: “We visited from Britain and we couldn’t believe our eyes. This charming village is so peaceful and really pleasant. The viewpoint from the medieval village is stunning.”

Someone else commented: “So glad we spent the night here – did an evening walk up to the castle and the authentic Moorish castle/complex which is well worth it. 

“The town itself is beautiful and perched up on a hill. It won’t take long to see the whole town but with views down to the lake and the spectacular drive on the local highway through the mountains, it was worth it!”