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
EuropeSpainAndalusia
Capileira
Andalusia, Spain · Europe
About Capileira
Capileira is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Pórtugos, 10km from Sierra Nevada National Park.
Capileira is in Andalusia, Spain, with about 585 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Pórtugos, about 5 km away.
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 on the now-closed road in the 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. A bus route connects the village to Granada (via Lanjarón and Órgiva) and Alcútar (via Trevélez and Juviles)as of 2011. The village has restaurants, a market on Saturdays, and hotels, but retains a typical Alpujarran character. Its population in 2005 was recorded as 582 people. The village has a primary school but no secondary school.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Capileira?
Within an hour or so of Capileira: Sierra Nevada National Park (10 km), Pico Veleta Road (11 km), Sierra Nevada road to Pico Veleta (A-395) (15 km), Alhambra (31 km).
Are there any good drives near Capileira?
The nearest famous roads are Pico Veleta Road, Sierra Nevada road to Pico Veleta (A-395) and Puerto de la Ragua.
Where is Capileira?
Capileira is in Andalusia, Spain, about 5 km from Pórtugos.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 585
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Andalusia
- Timezone
- Europe/Madrid
- Coordinates
- 36.9615, -3.3586
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for SpainTags
Worth the detour from Capileira
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
famous road
Pico Veleta 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
famous road
Sierra Nevada road to Pico Veleta (A-395)
Europe's highest surfaced road climbs from Granada toward Veleta at 3,300m; the upper section is closed to cars but the ascent is superb.
15 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Alhambra
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
Puerto de la Ragua
The highest paved pass in Andalusia at 2041m, crossing the Sierra Nevada between the Alpujarras and the Marquesado with arid Mediterranean mountain scenery.
34 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
Caves of Nerja
Spectacular caverns containing the world's largest known stalactite and prehistoric paintings dating back 42,000 years.
49 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Frigiliana
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
Balcón de Europa, Nerja
A palm-lined seafront promenade jutting on a clifftop balcony with panoramic Mediterranean and mountain views.
52 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Capileira
- Right herePico Veleta RoadEurope'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.
- Right hereSierra Nevada road to Pico Veleta (A-395)Europe's highest surfaced road climbs from Granada toward Veleta at 3,300m; the upper section is closed to cars but the ascent is superb.
- 34 kmPuerto de la RaguaThe highest paved pass in Andalusia at 2041m, crossing the Sierra Nevada between the Alpujarras and the Marquesado with arid Mediterranean mountain scenery.
- 52 kmBalcón de Europa, NerjaA palm-lined seafront promenade jutting on a clifftop balcony with panoramic Mediterranean and mountain views.
Driving in Spain
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€4.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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