Guidebook for Gaucín
Food Scene
Tapas Bar: Antonio opens his restaurant from breakfast through to dinner most days, this is an informal tapas bar with good food. Wed-Fri is good for fish as he goes to the coast to buy on his days off. He has a well-stocked bar and also serves cocktails!
Pajuelo Bar
62 Calle ToledilloTapas Bar: Antonio opens his restaurant from breakfast through to dinner most days, this is an informal tapas bar with good food. Wed-Fri is good for fish as he goes to the coast to buy on his days off. He has a well-stocked bar and also serves cocktails!
Tapas Bar: Antonia's is on Plaza Santa Nino, the main square in the village. There is plenty of space to sit outside and food is reliable. Good for people-watching.
8 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Casa Antonia
10 Calle Santo NiñoTapas Bar: Antonia's is on Plaza Santa Nino, the main square in the village. There is plenty of space to sit outside and food is reliable. Good for people-watching.
Another of Gaucin's tapas bars, the food here is good, and the fountain square is a great place to sit for breakfast, lunch, drinks or dinner. Paco Pepe serves a good variety of typical Spanish tapas.
6 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
BAR PACO PEPE
3 C. los BancosAnother of Gaucin's tapas bars, the food here is good, and the fountain square is a great place to sit for breakfast, lunch, drinks or dinner. Paco Pepe serves a good variety of typical Spanish tapas.
Excellent food - restaurant rather than tapas bar. Book to avoid disappointment. Run by Elisa and her son Javier, this is possibly the best restaurant in Gaucin, and it is in a great location, overlooking Plaza Santo Nino. Great for lunch and dinner. Romantic. Ask to sit on the terrace if the weather is good.
6 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Azulete Restaurante
13 Calle ToledilloExcellent food - restaurant rather than tapas bar. Book to avoid disappointment. Run by Elisa and her son Javier, this is possibly the best restaurant in Gaucin, and it is in a great location, overlooking Plaza Santo Nino. Great for lunch and dinner. Romantic. Ask to sit on the terrace if the weather is good.
Great food, a restaurant rather than a tapas bar, and a bit more expensive (like Azulete). The terrace has great views over the mountains towards Ronda.
6 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Restaurante La Raiz
6 Calle los BancosGreat food, a restaurant rather than a tapas bar, and a bit more expensive (like Azulete). The terrace has great views over the mountains towards Ronda.
Sightseeing
If you are happy to have a short hike uphill, you must walk up to the Castle - there are wonderful 360 degree views of North Africa, the coast, and the Serrania de Ronda. Take a map and try to identify the other pueblos blancos of the lower Genal Valley.
The castle has different winter and summer opening hours. Check on the sign by the entrance, the summer hours are typically 10.30-1.30, and 6.00-800pm. In the winter hours the afternoon hours are earlier: 4.00-6.00pm.
The castle is closed all day on Monday and Tuesday.
6 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Castillo del Águila
s/n Cam. al CastilloIf you are happy to have a short hike uphill, you must walk up to the Castle - there are wonderful 360 degree views of North Africa, the coast, and the Serrania de Ronda. Take a map and try to identify the other pueblos blancos of the lower Genal Valley.
The castle has different winter and summer opening hours. Check on the sign by the entrance, the summer hours are typically 10.30-1.30, and 6.00-800pm. In the winter hours the afternoon hours are earlier: 4.00-6.00pm.
The castle is closed all day on Monday and Tuesday.
You'll find stunning views at the end of an easy walk when you visit the Roman ruins of Lacipo. Read up on the history of this location, and how to get there, on the house blog. Take a picnic - it's the perfect spot. About 20 minutes drive from the house, near to Casares.
Ciudad Romana de Lacipo
1 Diseminado la AlqueriaYou'll find stunning views at the end of an easy walk when you visit the Roman ruins of Lacipo. Read up on the history of this location, and how to get there, on the house blog. Take a picnic - it's the perfect spot. About 20 minutes drive from the house, near to Casares.
This amazing cave, complete with paintings dating back 40,000 years, is family-run and open all year round. Phone in advance to make a reservation to view, there are several options each day. We were shown round by Tomas, the latest generation of his family to show this world-class cave system which was discovered by his great-grandfather. It's a constant 15 degrees Celsius all year round, and great when is raining or scorching hot!
47 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Cueva de la Pileta
s/n Cueva de la PiletaThis amazing cave, complete with paintings dating back 40,000 years, is family-run and open all year round. Phone in advance to make a reservation to view, there are several options each day. We were shown round by Tomas, the latest generation of his family to show this world-class cave system which was discovered by his great-grandfather. It's a constant 15 degrees Celsius all year round, and great when is raining or scorching hot!
Where to start? Food, sightseeing, shopping, and views. This historical hill-top town is our local large town and has an old bull-ring (still running and with fascinating museum), beautiful old streets, churches, town hall square, parks, and its famous and iconic Puente Nuevo. Once home to Hemingway and Orson Wells, there is masses to see and do, something for everyone!
1006 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Ronda
Where to start? Food, sightseeing, shopping, and views. This historical hill-top town is our local large town and has an old bull-ring (still running and with fascinating museum), beautiful old streets, churches, town hall square, parks, and its famous and iconic Puente Nuevo. Once home to Hemingway and Orson Wells, there is masses to see and do, something for everyone!
Parks & Nature
The Camino de Gibraltar (Calle el Pino) is the starting point for several hikes from the village. See Patrick Elvin's book 'Walks Around Gaucin' for further details. From here you can walk to the Ermita (the country chapel of the village - the villagers have several festivals here each year). There are great views of the coast on the way down, and great views of the village on the way back up. You need a map and/or clear directions to find the Ermita. 2-3 hours walk, and approx 300-400m down, and then back up :-) Take water. Recommend long trousers for walking in the campo (country), there are lots of thorns and thistles.
Calle el Pino
Calle el PinoThe Camino de Gibraltar (Calle el Pino) is the starting point for several hikes from the village. See Patrick Elvin's book 'Walks Around Gaucin' for further details. From here you can walk to the Ermita (the country chapel of the village - the villagers have several festivals here each year). There are great views of the coast on the way down, and great views of the village on the way back up. You need a map and/or clear directions to find the Ermita. 2-3 hours walk, and approx 300-400m down, and then back up :-) Take water. Recommend long trousers for walking in the campo (country), there are lots of thorns and thistles.
The route up El Hacho mountain leaves from behind the 'gaso'. Follow the map / directions in Patrick Elvin's book 'Walks Around Gaucin'. You can walk around the mountain, or climb to the top and walk between the peaks. Take water. Recommend long trousers for walking in the campo (country), there are lots of thorns and thistles.
E.S. Santa Isabel
The route up El Hacho mountain leaves from behind the 'gaso'. Follow the map / directions in Patrick Elvin's book 'Walks Around Gaucin'. You can walk around the mountain, or climb to the top and walk between the peaks. Take water. Recommend long trousers for walking in the campo (country), there are lots of thorns and thistles.
If you want a flat run, the road from the village towards San Pablo is very flat with views to the coast along its length, before dropping steeply downhill. Shortly after the right-hand turning to El Colmenar (MA-512) you'll find the excellent 'Smugglers' walk (part of the old smugglers' paths from Algeciras to Ronda). The access to 'Smugglers' is on the left, by the pylons with blue bases, a few hundred metres after the El Colmenar turning.
Café-Bar 'EL HACHO'
A-369If you want a flat run, the road from the village towards San Pablo is very flat with views to the coast along its length, before dropping steeply downhill. Shortly after the right-hand turning to El Colmenar (MA-512) you'll find the excellent 'Smugglers' walk (part of the old smugglers' paths from Algeciras to Ronda). The access to 'Smugglers' is on the left, by the pylons with blue bases, a few hundred metres after the El Colmenar turning.
I challenge you to find a more beautiful beach. Famous for its sand dunes and with a sprinkling of great fish restaurants by the beach, this location also has extensive Roman ruins. There is something for everyone. It can be windy - nearby Tarifa is famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing - so you may not want to lie around for long in your bikini!
154 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Bolonia, Spain
I challenge you to find a more beautiful beach. Famous for its sand dunes and with a sprinkling of great fish restaurants by the beach, this location also has extensive Roman ruins. There is something for everyone. It can be windy - nearby Tarifa is famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing - so you may not want to lie around for long in your bikini!
This is our nearest beach (Costa del Sol) and is about half an hour's drive from the house. The town of Sabinillas can get a bit busy; if you like it quieter, drive a short distance south and check out the beaches between La Duquesa and Torreguadiaro
47 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
San Luis de sabinillas
This is our nearest beach (Costa del Sol) and is about half an hour's drive from the house. The town of Sabinillas can get a bit busy; if you like it quieter, drive a short distance south and check out the beaches between La Duquesa and Torreguadiaro
Getting Around
El Colmenar is the location of 'Estacion de Gaucin', our train station. From here you can catch a train to Cortes de la Frontera (walk uphill to the village of Cortes, or walk through the Guadiaro valley back to Gaucin - you'll need good directions!), to Ronda, and onwards to Granada (the end of this line). It takes about 20 minutes to drive to the station, downhill on a very narrow road.
El Colmenar
El Colmenar is the location of 'Estacion de Gaucin', our train station. From here you can catch a train to Cortes de la Frontera (walk uphill to the village of Cortes, or walk through the Guadiaro valley back to Gaucin - you'll need good directions!), to Ronda, and onwards to Granada (the end of this line). It takes about 20 minutes to drive to the station, downhill on a very narrow road.
Entertainment & Activities
You can pay a day rate to lie by the pool at this charming hotel. Have lunch on the terrace, and enjoy the peaceful vibe.
Hotel Banu Rabbah
You can pay a day rate to lie by the pool at this charming hotel. Have lunch on the terrace, and enjoy the peaceful vibe.
Shopping
La Posada
30 C. los BancosAn upmarket deli/store stocking typical Spanish food and drink. Good for gifts.
Essentials
This is the main supermarket in the village, it is open ever day except Sunday, and is well-stocked: toiletries, kitchen equipment, fresh and frozen food, fruit and veg, wine, beer, etc. If you are doing a big shop, you can drive there - leave the village by the Gaso (turning right), drive over the bridge, and turn back into the village at the far end of Calle Jacobo Real - there is plenty of parking here.
There are other stores closer to the house. Super Gaucin is the nearest, it is next to Chaparro Tapas bar, near the junction of Calle Cerro la Joven (our street) and the A377 running up to the Gaso. (It isn't saved as an option as part of this system, so I can't pin it on the map).
Supermarket Ruiz Galán
This is the main supermarket in the village, it is open ever day except Sunday, and is well-stocked: toiletries, kitchen equipment, fresh and frozen food, fruit and veg, wine, beer, etc. If you are doing a big shop, you can drive there - leave the village by the Gaso (turning right), drive over the bridge, and turn back into the village at the far end of Calle Jacobo Real - there is plenty of parking here.
There are other stores closer to the house. Super Gaucin is the nearest, it is next to Chaparro Tapas bar, near the junction of Calle Cerro la Joven (our street) and the A377 running up to the Gaso. (It isn't saved as an option as part of this system, so I can't pin it on the map).
This 'shopping experience' is a 15-minute drive from the village in the direction of Ronda. It is where many locals stock up - do a large grocery shop. It is known by the ex-pat community - jokingly - as 'Tescos'. The front section is a slightly shabby, corner shop, 7-11, with a large cash-and-carry warehouse type unit behind. It is quite a bizarre place, and almost worthy of a mention in the 'sightseeing' section.
IT IS USUALLY OPEN ON SUNDAY MORNING!
NB - if it's a holy feast day, nothing will be open. At Easter, Christmas or Tres Reyes, even the big stores in Malaga will be shut.
Super Valle Del Genal
19 A-369This 'shopping experience' is a 15-minute drive from the village in the direction of Ronda. It is where many locals stock up - do a large grocery shop. It is known by the ex-pat community - jokingly - as 'Tescos'. The front section is a slightly shabby, corner shop, 7-11, with a large cash-and-carry warehouse type unit behind. It is quite a bizarre place, and almost worthy of a mention in the 'sightseeing' section.
IT IS USUALLY OPEN ON SUNDAY MORNING!
NB - if it's a holy feast day, nothing will be open. At Easter, Christmas or Tres Reyes, even the big stores in Malaga will be shut.