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Frigiliana is one of the most popular inland white villages in southern Spain, located only a short drive from Nerja. It’s very well known for its narrow whitewashed streets, local gastronomy, and Moorish history and has been given the title of the prettiest village in all of Andalucía by the Spanish tourism board. If you’re looking for a day trip from Málaga to go on then you may want to consider Frigiliana as it takes less than an hour to drive to.
Thanks to its deep rooted history, there are some great things to do in Frigiliana and plenty of points of interest to visit. Frigiliana’s old town is a highlight of the village where you can explore the history of its Moorish past. There are also various places to eat in Frigiliana as well as artisan shops to peruse. This is a very hilly village however, so make sure you wear appropriate shoes and bring a lot of sunscreen if you’re visiting in the summertime.
So, is Frigiliana worth visiting? It’s worth going on a day trip to this white village at least once but there are many other unique white villages in Málaga that you can add to your itinerary as well. If you have the time, take a drive along the Ruta de la Pasa where you can explore even more rural and off the beaten path white villages. But for now let’s focus our attention on the best things to do in Frigiliana.
Calle Hernando el Darra
While there are many beautiful streets in Frigiliana to wander along, Calle Hernando el Darra is one of the most picturesque and easy to locate. It runs off of Calle Real and will lead you right to the heart of the oldest neighbourhood in Frigiliana. The best spot for a photo on Calle Hernando el Darra is at the base of it where the street starts to go uphill so you may have to wait a while for the street to be free of people.
Reales Pósitos
Calle Real is one of the main streets in Frigiliana and is where you’ll find Reales Pósitos. If you’ve been to Frigiliana before you’ve probably walked by this point of interest without realizing it. Reales Pósitos is an old silo that was built in 1767 to store excess grain, and all that remains of the original building from street level are the brick arches surrounding the doors and windows.
Palacio de los Condes de Frigiliana
One of the main things to see in Frigiliana is the Palacio de los Condes de Frigiliana which was built in the 16th century and once belonged to the counts of Frigiliana. In the 18th century the manor house was turned into a sugar factory and today the building stands as the only molasses factory still in use in all of Europe. Visiting Palacio de los Condes de Frigiliana is definitely an interesting thing to do in Frigiliana!
Grab some tapas at El Comendaó
There are quite a few restaurants in Frigiliana to choose from, many of which have lovely views from their patios. If you want something quick and cheap, like tapas, I would recommend eating at El Comendaó. The tapas menu is quite basic but the food is very nice and service is quick. We ordered several dishes to share and it cost us less than €15 in total.
Mudéjar neighbourhood
The Mudéjar neighbourhood of Frigiliana is perhaps the most visited area in the village. Located in the upper part of the village, the Mudéjar neighbourhood is where you’ll find many of the famous photo spots you may have seen online. You won’t find a lot of things to do here in particular, but you’ll enjoy exploring the narrow streets and admiring the Moorish architecture that Frigiliana is so well known for.
La Fuente Vieja
We planned our own walking tour of Frigliana and managed to locate La Fuente Vieja along the route. This ancient water fountain dates back to the 17th century and was originally decorated with the coat of arms of the 1st Count of Frigiliana. It was designed to provide safe drinking water for the town and act as a drinking trough for the animals. If you look closely you can see where the stone has worn down from the animal hooves that have stood on it over the centuries.
Iglesia de San Antonio
Iglesia de San Antonio was built on the site of an old mosque, like many churches in Spain are. It dates back to the time of the Christian reconquest of southern Spain and is a unique blend of Spanish-Muslim architecture. The church sits across from a small courtyard where you can sit and enjoy something to eat or drink at one of the restaurants while admiring the building.
Follow the ceramic wall panels
One of the top things to do in Frigiliana is to follow the trail of ceramic panels that have been placed along the walls of some of the buildings in the old town. These twelve tiles tell the story of an important battle that took place in Frigiliana and have been beautifully presented in words and images.
Calle Zacatin
As you make your way through the streets of the old town you’ll find a number of beautiful places to take photos. One street that you can’t miss is Calle Zacatin. If you enter the street from above you can admire the views of the village below but don’t forget to turn around when you get to the bottom because the view is equally as impressive looking up. Some of the top restaurants in Frigiliana are located in this area as well.
Drive or walk up to the scenic viewpoint
Hiking in Frigiliana and the surrounding area is a very popular activity with both locals and tourists. If you don’t have time for a long hike during your day trip to Frigiliana though there’s a short walk leading up to a scenic viewpoint that’s accessible by a relatively new sidewalk and isn’t too difficult if you don’t mind walking uphill. There’s also the option to drive to the top if you’ve arrived by car. This panoramic viewpoint offers the best view of Frigiliana and is well worth adding to your itinerary.
Whether you’re driving from Málaga to Frigiliana or are planning to hop on a bus from Nerja to Frigiliana, this quaint white village is a fantastic option for a day trip at any time of the year. There are plenty of free parking spaces in Frigiliana if you arrive early, as well as paid parking lots as a last resort. Its location close to the coast and at the foot of a national park also means that there are a lot of places to visit near Frigiliana if you have the time. You won’t regret adding Frigiliana to your southern Spain itinerary, that’s for sure.
Have you visited Frigiliana before? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this white village in Málaga or answer any questions you might have about planning a trip here or where to stay in Frigiliana. Feel free to reach out in the comments section below, by email, or through Instagram where you can also follow along with my latest adventures.
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