Hotels in Arcos de la Frontera

Arcos de la Frontera is the westernmost of the Pueblos Blancos, a whitewashed town stacked on a sandstone ridge above a bend in the Guadalete river, with a clifftop old quarter of narrow lanes barely wide enough for a car. The Plaza del Cabildo, perched right on the edge of the crag with views over the reservoir and farmland below, is the obvious draw, along with the Basilica of Santa María and a warren of Moorish-era streets that reward aimless walking.

Be honest: there's little to occupy more than a day or two, the steep cobbled streets are hard going for anyone with mobility issues, and parking in the old town is a genuine headache. It's a popular stop on Andalusian road trips between Seville, Cadiz and Ronda rather than a long-stay base.