national park
Sierra Nevada National Park
Mainland Spain's highest peaks, with the Pico Veleta road climbing past alpine lakes to nearly 3,400m near Granada.
10 km · about 20 min drive
Andalusia, Spain · Europe
Capileira is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Pórtugos, 10km from Sierra Nevada National Park.
Capileira is a town located in Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 585, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Capileira sits in Spain, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Madrid time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Capileira to your route.
Capileira is the highest and most northerly of the three villages in the gorge of the Poqueira river in the La Alpujarra district of the province of Granada, in Spain. It is located at latitude 36° 57' N and longitude 3° 21' W, about 1 km north of Bubión. Its altitude is officially recorded as 1436 metres, thoughRead more
there is a considerable altitude difference between the oldest part of the village, which is at the lower, southern end, and the highest part, where tourist-oriented development is currently concentrated. The area of the municipality is 57 km2.
Although the Sierra Nevada Highway runs through Capileira and out across the Sierra Nevada towards the city of Granada, motor traffic is no longer permitted to continue across the mountains; Capileira is therefore the highest village that public traffic can reach, although you can continue to a car park where the national park begins and the road is barred to normal traffic. The national park runs a limited bus service on the now-closed road (reservations handled by office in the village) in summer. A track leads northwards from the village to the abandoned settlement of La Cebadilla, built to house the workers who developed the hydro-electric installation at the upper end of the Poqueira Gorge.
Capileira has developed a significant tourist trade, acting as a centre for walking and for accessing the mountains especially Mulhacén, generally treated as a two-day climb from Capileira with an overnight stop at a mountain refuge en route. A bus route connects the village to Granada (via Lanjarón and Órgiva) and Alcútar (via Trevélez and Juviles); as of 2011 there were 3 services per day in each direction. The village has good facilities for visitors including a number of restaurants, a market on Saturdays, hotels and apartment blocks, but retains a typical Alpujarran character especially away from the main road. Its population in 2005 was recorded as 582 people, of whom 35 did not have Spanish nationality, most of them being citizens of other European Union countries. The village has a primary school but no secondary school.
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Capileira.
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Capileira.
Capileira offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
Plan your road trip to Capileira with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Capileira as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Capileira is located in Andalusia, Spain, Europe. The coordinates are 36.9615 latitude, -3.3586 longitude.
Capileira has a population of approximately 585 people, making it a town in Spain.
Add to your itinerary
Start planning your road trip with Capileira as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Start Road TripDiscover destinations like Tinder
Swipe through stunning destinations near Capileira. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.
Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for Spain7 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Mainland Spain's highest peaks, with the Pico Veleta road climbing past alpine lakes to nearly 3,400m near Granada.
10 km · about 20 min drive
famous road
Europe's highest paved road climbs from Granada past the Sierra Nevada ski station toward the 3,396 m Veleta summit, with hairpins above the clouds and views to the Mediterranean.
11 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Stunning Moorish palace and fortress complex in Granada showcasing the finest Islamic art and architecture in Europe.
31 km · about 35 min drive
mountain pass
The highest paved pass in Andalusia at 2041m, crossing the Sierra Nevada between the Alpujarras and the Marquesado with arid Mediterranean mountain scenery.
37 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
Spectacular caverns containing the world's largest known stalactite and prehistoric paintings dating back 42,000 years.
49 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Repeatedly voted Spain's prettiest white village, a steep tumble of geranium-draped lanes above the Costa del Sol.
51 km · about 60 min drive
scenic viewpoint
A palm-lined seafront promenade jutting on a clifftop balcony with panoramic Mediterranean and mountain views.
52 km · about 60 min drive
April to October
Other places to explore near Capileira.
Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.
Start Planning