A Guide to Trevélez, the Highest Village in Spain

Last Updated on 25th March 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Nestled within the Sierra Nevada mountain range you’ll find a whitewashed village by the name of Trevélez. This is (allegedly) the highest town in Spain (at a staggering height of 1486 metres above sea level) and is listed as one of Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España (one of the most beautiful towns in Spain). Here’s how to visit Trevélez and the best things to do in town.

Trevélez is split into a higher, middle, and lower town due to its position nestled into the cliff face above the glittering Trevélez river. The inner parts of the town are all pedestrianised cobbled lanes (which are still repaired by hand when needed) and steep staircases.

The local population is under a thousand residents and the patron saint of the town is St Anthony of Padua. The town probably finds its origins in Roman times and there are nearby ruins which date back to the 3rd century CE. No one is quite sure where the name Trevélez came from, but one theory suggests that it comes from the Latin ‘velex,’ meaning valley.

Is Trevélez the highest town in Spain?

Once you get to the upper town in Trevélez, you’ll find a sign that says ‘welcome to the highest and most enchanting town in Spain’ (in Spanish). Indeed, many guides will tell you that this is the highest town in Spain. Unfortunately, this is not entirely accurate, though the town is in the top 10!

Pueblos Blancos de Granada

The town is one of the white towns (pueblos blancos) of the Alpujarras, which is a small pocket of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Not much has changed in these villages in over 500 years as these small settlements were the last place where the moors lived before being driven out of Spain in the 16th century.

Today, these villages remain frozen in time and the kind of architecture you see wouldn’t look out of place in Morocco. Each village has its own speciality such as ham or honey and that of Trevélez is ham!

Jamon de Trevélez

As soon as you step foot in the town, it will soon become clear that ham is the theme of the village! Trevélez is renowned for its air-cured hams as the dry cool climate of this mountainous town make for the perfect conditions for curing meat. This local delicacy can be purchased from a number of vendors scattered across town.

From little replica ham legs decoration fence posts to a rather macabre and graphic depiction of a butcher’s shop opposite a church, there’s no shortage of ham-themed decor across the town. There’s even a ham museum where you can learn more about the drying process and see a ham room.

The tradition of ham has been in place for quite a while already as, even during the 19th-century, Queen Isabel II, granted suppliers from the town the distinction of being able to serve the Royal Household.

Best things to do in Trevélez

See Fuente Virgen de las Nieves

If you want to see an example of a typical wash station from the region, then you need only to head up to the top of the town and see the fountain of the virgin of the snow. Nearby, you’ll find an excellent lookout point from which you can admire the town from above.

Spy the little statues

All around town, there are various sculptures and statues, including one of a life-sized horse next to the town hall. Rather curiously, there are also little booths with anthropomorphised pigs all over town. There are also various other animals depicted, including an eagle and a donkey.

See the ham fountain

One of the most unusual water fountains I’ve ever seen can be found in Trevélez and is essentially a fountain decorated with two larger than life ham legs! You can snap a photo with this unique water feature in the lower town.

Go hiking

There are many hiking trails which begin in Trevélez. Some are easier than others but there’s plenty of useful information on panels at the start of various hikes on the fringes of town. If you do choose to hike, do be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks, especially in the summer.

See the churches

Like most mid-sized villages in the region, Trevélez is home to a handful of churches. The main place of worship in town is dedicated to Saint Benito and dates back to the 16th-century. In the middle part of town, you’ll find a hermitage dedicated to Saint Anthony, which is close to the town hall.

On the top of the Sierra Nevada mountain, there’s a small hermitage (ermita) dedicated la Virgen de las Nieves.

When is the best time to visit?

We personally visited during the end of February, which is firmly during the off-season. At this time it was pretty nice as we had most streets entirely to ourselves. The downside of this was that none of the churches were open and most of the restaurants were closed for the winter.

Peak season is between the end of June and beginning of September and is certainly the most lively time to visit. If you’re planning to visit at this time, then be sure to reserve your accommodation well in advance as there isn’t a great deal available in the area and the best places fill up fast.

Celebrations

The main festival takes place on June 13th and 14th when San Antonio is celebrated. In November, a 2 day long ham festival is held in the town.

Things to know before visiting

Wear comfortable shoes: The town is set on a steep slope and there are lots of steps and steep winding hills which join up the different levels. As such, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes to get around!

Know a little bit of Spanish: Something which particularly surprised me when visiting the town is that no one really spoke any English and so we had to use our Spanish to get directions and even buy things in the shops! Don’t worry too much though as the internet signal is great and so you can use Google translate and search if needed!

Have some cash handy: If there’s one thing I wish I had known before visiting Trevélez, it would be to have some cash handy. Most of the bars, restaurants, and even some of the convenience stores only accepted cash. There’s one ATM in the lower part of town, but this unfortunately charges €1.50 for withdrawing cash (even for European bank cards).

Getting to Trevélez

Unfortunately, Trevélez isn’t entirely well served by public transportation and there’s just one bus company which departs from Granada. Your best option is to rent your own car so that you can travel around the region at your leisure. Check car rental comparison prices here.

Free parking is available at multiple spots in the village, though my preferred spot to park would be in the middle part of town as, from there, you have easy access to the upper and lower towns.

Your other option (if you would like all of the transportation details taken care of for you) is to book a guided tour like this one. This way, you’ll be transported to multiple towns in the region such as Lanjarón and Capileira. Check tour prices here. Another tour which will take you to Trevélez only from Granada is this one.

Where to stay in Trevélez

If you’re looking for a secluded and rural retreat in the Alpujarras, then you might want to consider booking an escape to Trevélez. To be honest there’s only a few places to stay in town so you’ll want to book well ahead of time as places fill up fast in the summer. Here are some of the best places to stay in town (based on location and web-reviews):

Hotel Rural Pepe Alvarez: This no-frills hotel is located within the village and has amenities such as a shared lounge, a terrace and a bar onsite. Check prices and availability here.

La Maestra: This cosy holiday home is set within the heart of the village and includes 3 bedrooms and a kitchen with a toaster and a coffee machine. Check prices and availability here.

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