Wondering if Júzcar in Southern Spain is worth visiting? As the first and only official Smurfs Village in the world, this place looks quite unique in photos, but is it really worth the hype?

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Is Juzcar in Southern Spain worth visiting?

Where is Juzcar

Juzcar is located in the province of Málaga, within the stunning Sierra de las Nieves mountains of Southern spain. It is often called as one of the most colorful places in the entire country. It’s a fun stop, especially for families, and a great way to introduce kids to a quirky side of Spain. There’s not much to do in terms of traditional sightseeing, but the village is perfect for a relaxed visit where you can enjoy the Smurf-themed atmosphere and take photos of the vibrant surroundings.

Blue Smurfs Village Juzcar Andalusia
Juzcar andalusia spain blue smurfs village

What is Juzcar known for

Júzcar, located in Southern Spain, is famous for its blue walls, inspired by the Smurfs movie. Before 2011, Júzcar was one of many traditional white villages in Andalusia. However, after Sony Pictures launched the idea of “The Blue Smurfs Village” as part of their promotional campaign for The Smurfs movie, the locals decided to join in and painted their traditional “pueblo blanco” in bright blue. The project was initially intended to be temporary, but the blue color quickly became Júzcar’s trademark. This fairy-tale transformation significantly boosted tourism in the area, and it’s no surprise that the locals voted to keep the blue color. Colorful villages in Spain are impressive, but those that reinvent themselves, like Júzcar, Fanzara, and other graffiti villages, continue to surprise with their modern new identities. It’s amazing when locals embrace such a radical change to reinvent their hometown. Besides its unique blue buildings, Júzcar is deeply rooted in the history of Southern Spain, dating back to the 16th century. It has retained much of its traditional Andalusian charm – only the blue color is relatively new.

Blue Smurfs Village

How to get to Juzcar

Júzcar can be visited from both Ronda (30 minutes) and Málaga (1 hour). This Blue Smurfs Village is very Instagrammable and rarely gets crowded, although its popularity has definitely grown due to social media. When I visited, the village had just one local bar, so there wasn’t much to do in the area. One drawback is that part of the road from Ronda to Júzcar is very narrow, though it might be fixed soon. While we didn’t encounter much traffic along the way, meeting a bus on that road could be a bit stressful.

Is Juzcar worth visiting?

Júzcar is worth visiting for travelers who have already explored the most impressive landmarks of Southern Spain and its famous white villages. It’s also a charming spot for Smurfs fans or those traveling with kids, as you can stroll through the blue-painted streets inspired by the cartoon. However, in my opinion, Júzcar can’t compete with some of the most impressive white villages of Andalusia, like Frigiliana or Mojácar. While Júzcar is a quirky, picture-perfect location, I wouldn’t consider it an absolute must-stop in Southern Spain.

Read more about Southern Spain:

  • An Epic 7-day Southern Spain Road Trip with Kids (read it)
  • One Day in Seville with Seville City Pass (read it)
  • Best time to visit Seville: My Perfect Seville Weekend (read it)
  • The Most Stunning Seville Gifts For All Occasions (read it)
  • Tarifa Beach Getaway in Southern Spain (read it)
  • 16 Best Places to visit in Andalusia (read it)
  • Top Things to see in Cadiz (read it)
  • The Prettiest of Andalusia´s White Villages – Mojacar (read it)
  • Wild West Town experience in Almeria (read it)
  • The Ultimate Almeria Holiday Guide (read it)
  • How to spend an epic one day in Cordoba, Southern Spain (read it)

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Juzcar Blue Smurfs Village in Spain

For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.

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This post is linked up with The Weekly Postcard and Feet Do Travel