Casares village
€€€€Traditional, steep, scenic
The historic white village on its ridge: Plaza de España, Calle Carrera with Blas Infante's birthplace, the castle and church at the top, ventas on the approach roads.
Casares (Málaga) · 36.41° N · 5.25° W
Casares
White hill village above a short stretch of coast, with Finca Cortesín below
Population
9,009
Málaga airport
76 min · 93 km
Village to coast
23 min · 14 km
All area guidesPhoto: ZC.Marbella · CC BY-SA 4.0
What it is like
White hill village above a short stretch of coast, with Finca Cortesín below
Casares is two places in one municipality of about 160 km². The old village hangs off a rocky ridge 14 km inland, its white houses stacked below the ruins of a castle at 435 m; the whole village was declared a protected historic ensemble in 1978. Legend says Julius Caesar founded it after curing a skin complaint in the sulphur waters of La Hedionda. It changed hands in 1485 after the fall of Ronda, and Blas Infante, the father of Andalusian nationalism, was born here on 5 July 1885; his birthplace is now a museum.
White houses stacked under a castle on the rock, and a short, quiet coast fourteen kilometres below.
Down on the coast, Casares Costa is a strip of modern urbanisations between Estepona and Sabinillas: Casares del Sol, Doña Julia around its golf course, Bahía de Casares and Marina de Casares by the beach, and the Finca Cortesín resort with its championship golf course. The coast has only a short run of beaches, from Playa Ancha (Blue Flag) to the coves under the 16th-century Torre de la Sal. El Secadero, a small village in the far southwest on the Cádiz border, is the third population centre.
INE counts 9,009 residents (2025), up 6% from 8,486 a year earlier. The village keeps a Spanish rhythm of ventas, goat dishes and fiestas; the coast is far more international, with many holiday and second homes.
In summer the village gets day-trippers and its free flamenco festival in August, while the coast fills up and the Hedionda baths open for booked, free bathing from late June to early September. Winter is very quiet on the coast and fresh up in the village, which is the season for walking in the Sierra Crestellina and the Utrera karst.
Downsides: the village is a winding 20–25-minute drive from the coast, with steep streets and little parking; Casares Costa has few shops of its own and depends on Sabinillas and Estepona; nightlife is close to nil, and a car is essential.
Out of five, against the rest of the coast.
Character
- Beach
Short coastline; Playa Ancha has a Blue Flag (2025 and 2026), the rest are small coves around Torre de la Sal.
- Golf
Finca Cortesín (Solheim Cup 2023) and Doña Julia in the municipality, La Duquesa and Estepona courses next door.
- Nightlife
Essentially none; go to Estepona or the Duquesa marina.
- Families
State primary schools in the village and El Secadero; international schools are in Sotogrande or Estepona.
- Peace and quiet
Village and golf urbanisations are very calm outside summer weekends.
- On foot
The village is walkable but steep; the coast is car-based.
- Value
Average €4,132/m² (Oct 2026), above Manilva but below Estepona's prime areas; prices dipped 1.2% in a year.
- International
International coast, Spanish village.
In numbers
- Population
- 9,009
- (INE, 1 Jan 2025); 8,486 in 2024
- Area
- Over 162 km², from sea level to almost 1,500 m in Sierra Bermeja
- Coastline / beaches
- About 2 km of coast between Estepona and Manilva: Playa Ancha, Playa Chica / La Sal, Playa de la Paloma
- Blue Flag 2026
- Playa Ancha
- (also 2025)
- Málaga airport
- 76 min · 93 km from Casares Costa; 97 min · 107 km from the village
- Village to coast
- 23 min · 14 km
- Train
- None; car or bus
- Schools
- State primaries CEIP Blas Infante
- (village) and CEIP Los Naranjos (El Secadero); nearest international schools are in Sotogrande (see the Sotogrande guide) and Estepona
- Average asking price
- €4,132/m², −1.2% year on year
- (October 2026)
Pictures
Casares in pictures
Homes
Homes in Casares
Ours
Homes we sell ourselves here — our exclusives and the new developments we represent.
On the market now
Live listings in Casares at three very different budgets.
Under €450,000
Townhouse in Casares Playa
€450,000
Casares Playa32135 m²
€450,000 – €1.2 million
Penthouse in Casares
€1,200,000
Casares32160 m²
Prices
What homes cost in Casares
Apartments, per m²
€4,132/m²
municipal average (all homes); Marina de Casares €4,426, Bahía de Casares €4,030, Doña Julia €3,835
October 2026 · asking prices
In the last year
−1.2%
after +30.9% in the year to November 2025
October 2026 · asking prices
Long-term rent
About €1,250–1,300/month
for an 85 m² 2-bed (portal average €15/m², October 2026, −4.1% year on year)
asking prices
Typical price ranges
| Home | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bed apartment, Doña Julia / Casares del Sol (60–90 m²) | €230,000 | €360,000 |
| 2–3 bed beachside apartment, Marina / Bahía de Casares (80–120 m²) | €320,000 | €530,000 |
| townhouse in a golf urbanisation (110–160 m²) | €420,000 | €640,000 |
| detached villa on the coast (250–500 m²) | €1,000,000 | €2,200,000 |
After a sharp rise in 2025 (+31% year on year by November 2025), asking prices flattened in 2026. The cheaper coastal zones are the golf urbanisations of Doña Julia and Casares del Sol (about €3,800–4,000/m²); Marina de Casares by Playa Ancha is the dearest. Village houses vary hugely with condition and access; El Secadero has no published average but is the most rural and affordable part. Figures are portal asking-price averages mixing property types.
The village on the rock
White houses under a Moorish castle
Fourteen kilometres inland, Casares climbs a ridge to castle ruins at 435 metres, and the whole village has been protected since 1978.
Seen from the road, Casares looks stacked rather than built: white houses and terracotta roofs packed up the rock to the ruins of a fortress that has been a refuge since at least the 13th century. Legend says Julius Caesar founded the place after curing a skin complaint in the sulphur waters of La Hedionda, where the domed baths still stand by the Manilva river.
The village changed hands in 1485, after the fall of Ronda, and Blas Infante, the father of Andalusian nationalism, was born on Calle Carrera on 5 July 1885; the house is now a museum. Above it rises the limestone of Sierra Crestellina, protected since 1989, whose trails make autumn to spring the season for walking, while August brings the free Rosa Fina flamenco festival.
- 435 m
- castle above the village
- 1978
- protected historic ensemble
- 1885
- Blas Infante born here
Neighbourhoods
Where in Casares
El Secadero
€€€€Rural, Spanish, very quiet
Small village in the far southwest of the municipality, on the border with Cádiz province, with a municipal pool, padel courts, sports hall and primary school.
Casares del Sol / Casares Golf
€€€€Residential, holiday homes
Urbanisation on the slopes above the coast; one of the more affordable coastal zones.
Everyday life
Schools, doctors and getting around
Schools
02
state · Spanish · Ages 3–12 (Infantil and Primaria)
CEIP Blas Infante
State infant and primary school at the edge of Casares village, named after the village's most famous son.
state · Spanish · Ages 3–12
CEIP Los Almendros
State infant and primary school in Urbanización Sotocolorado, El Secadero, with canteen and after-school activities.
Google Maps El Secadero
International schools within reach
Straight-line distance from the centre of Casares.
- Queens British Grammar Schoolinternational private · British (IGCSE and A level) · Ages 3–184 kmin Estepona
- Colegio San Joséinternational private · Spanish bilingual + IB (Middle Years and Diploma Programme) · Ages 3–1810 kmin Estepona
- Atlas American School of Málagainternational private · American (US high-school diploma track) · Ages 3–1815 kmin New Golden Mile
- Sotogrande International School (SIS)international private (day and boarding) · IB (PYP, MYP, Diploma); A Levels at senior stage · Ages nursery–1816 kmin Sotogrande
- The International School Esteponainternational private · British (primary) · Ages about 2–1221 kmin New Golden Mile
- Mayfair International Academyinternational private · British (English National Curriculum, IGCSE, A level) · Ages 3–18 (directories differ)22 kmin New Golden Mile
Hospitals and clinics
01public GP surgery (SAS)
Consultorio Casares
The village's SAS GP surgery on Calle Peñón Rodado, open 8:00–15:00 on weekdays (951 27 06 99); for urgent care call 951 03 14 37. It belongs to the Estepona health zone, and the reference hospital is Hospital Costa del Sol.
Hospitals within reach
Straight-line distance from the centre of Casares.
- 4 kmin Estepona
- 10 kmin Estepona
- 15 kmin New Golden Mile
From Casares to…
76 min
Málaga airport
car · 93 km from the coast; 97 min (107 km) from the village
40 min
Gibraltar airport
car · from the coast; 55 min from the village (plus border)
14 min
Estepona centre
car · from the coast; 35 min from the village
31 min
Marbella centre
car · from the coast; 52 min from the village
23 min
Casares village ↔ Casares Costa
car · 14 km
34 min
Sotogrande port
car · from the village
Restaurants
Spanish, modern · €€€€
El Jardín de Lutz
Finca Cortesín's main restaurant under chef Lutz Bösing, cooking seasonal local produce on a terrace among ancient olive trees with a view to the sea.
Restaurants
11
Charcoal grill, Andalusian · €€
Sarmiento Brasa Andaluza
Michelin Guide selected 2026
Hilltop restaurant with terraces over the village, run by two brothers in their family house: charcoal-grilled Málaga kid goat, aged beef and Spanish wagyu, plus daily specials. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Asian, Asian-Mediterranean · €€€€
REI
The resort's signature restaurant, mixing traditional Asian dishes with Mediterranean ingredients; it has taken the place once held by Kabuki Raw.
Bars
04Tapas, goat dishes · €
Bar Café Los Amigos
Village bar beside the castle area with a small terrace; carne con tomate and goat dishes, and cold beers. New management in 2026.
Google Maps Casares village
Home-made tapas · €
Antiguo Bar Nuevo
Informal tapas bar on Plaza de España; let the staff choose the tapas, and try the empanadas and grilled meats.
Google Maps Plaza de España, Casares village
Beach clubs
Mediterranean · €€€€
Finca Cortesín Beach Club
The resort's 6,000 m² beach club at Bahía de Casares with a pool by the sea, sunbeds and Mediterranean menu; bookable through TheFork.
The beaches
03
Playa Ancha
Blue Flag 2026
The widest beach in Casares, running from the Arroyo La Parrilla to the mouth of the Manilva river beside Sabinillas; the municipality's Blue Flag beach.
Playa Chica & Playa de la Sal
Small beaches west of the Torre de la Sal with views of the cliffs and the 16th-century tower; the La Sal beach bar serves paella on the sand.
Bahía de Casares (Salto de la Mora)
Cove at Punta Salto de la Mora under the watchtower, with the Finca Cortesín Beach Club and the Bahía Beach restaurant; east of it Playa de la Paloma runs to the Estepona boundary.
Beach clubs and chiringuitos
03
Paella, fish · €€
Chiringuito La Sal
Relaxed beach bar on Playa Chica with a simple menu; the mixed paella with the sea view is the order.
Fish and seafood · €€€
Bahía Beach
Beach restaurant at Bahía de Casares with a good fish selection and beach views; some diners find it pricey for the portions.
Golf courses
18 holes
Finca Cortesín Golf
Cabell B. Robinson design; hosted the Volvo World Match Play Championship and the 2023 Solheim Cup; tee times bookable online.
Clubs
04
golf, footgolf · check with the club
Casares Costa Golf
Golf club on the Casares coast that also runs footgolf and the Sunset restaurant; its website was being rebuilt in Nov 2026, so call for tee times.
municipal sports centre · public
Polideportivo Municipal Los Naranjos
Municipal sports hall in El Secadero, beside the village's padel courts and municipal pool.
municipal pool · public
Piscina Municipal de El Secadero
Open-air municipal swimming pool in El Secadero.
Golf
02
18 holes
Doña Julia Golf Club
Par 71, designed by Antonio Garrido; 2026 green fee €95 high season / €84 low season for 18 holes with shared buggy, 9 holes from €59.
Places to see
nature / gorge
Canuto de la Utrera
Limestone gorge in the Sierra de la Utrera, described by Casares tourism as the southernmost karst in Europe; a short walk from the Hedionda baths.
Places to see
08castle ruins / viewpoint
Castillo de Casares
Ruins of the Moorish fortress on the rock at 435 m above the village, a refuge since at least the 13th century; walk up for the view over the rooftops to the sea and Gibraltar.
church
Iglesia de la Encarnación
The village church in the old walled precinct at the top of Casares, next to the castle ruins.
Things to do
05
food fair, April
Degusta Casares
Food fair in the old village (10th edition 18–19 April 2026): goat-tapa contest, Casares gazpacho, local cheese, morcilla and pan cateto, workshops and fandango music along Paseo de la Carrera.
adventure activities
Aventura Casares (zip line and via ferrata)
Local operator running a zip line, a via ferrata and a mountain refuge for groups; book by phone (696 480 646).
watersports
Municipal paddle-surf school
Casares council's paddle-surf school on the coast (same contact number as Aventura Casares).
Shopping
01
farm shop
Quesos Sierra Crestellina
Goat-cheese dairy that runs cheese-making workshops and visits, the place to buy Casares cheese.
The map
Everything in this guide, on one map
© Esri · HERE · Garmin · OpenStreetMap contributors
Questions buyers ask
Casares, in short
Answered from this guide: its sources and its maps.
- How far is Casares from Málaga airport?
- 76 min — car · 93 km from the coast; 97 min (107 km) from the village.
- Where is the nearest hospital with a 24-hour A&E?
- The nearest public one is Hospital de Alta Resolución de Estepona (SAS), about 4 km away in a straight line; the nearest private one is Vithas Hospital Xanit Estepona, about 10 km.
- Which international schools are near Casares?
- Within reach: Queens British Grammar School (4 km), Colegio San José (10 km), Atlas American School of Málaga (15 km), Sotogrande International School (SIS) (16 km) and The International School Estepona (21 km).
- What do homes cost in Casares?
- €4,132/m² (October 2026 · asking prices). In the last year: −1.2%.
- Which beaches in Casares fly the Blue Flag in 2026?
- Playa Ancha.
- Is there a train station?
- None; car or bus.
- Which are the main neighbourhoods of Casares?
- Casares village, El Secadero, Casares del Sol / Casares Golf, Doña Julia, Bahía de Casares, Marina de Casares and Finca Cortesín.
Along the coast
Next door
Thinking about Casares?
We can tell you which streets suit the way you live, what is on the market there that has not reached the portals, and what it should really cost.
Sources and photo credits
Researched on the web in November 2026; every place was checked as open. Photographs from Wikimedia Commons and Flickr, used under the licences shown, and from the places' own websites and official tourism pages, credited on each card.
- Casares spread over its ridge, white houses climbing to the castle, with hills behind. — ZC.Marbella · CC BY-SA 4.0
- The village silhouetted against a sunset, castle on top. — Aayjay9 · CC BY-SA 3.0 es
- Rooftops of Casares with the limestone peak of Sierra Crestellina behind. — ZC.Marbella · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Close-packed white houses and terracotta roofs of the old village. — Francisco Moreno franciscomoreno · CC0
- A narrow, steep whitewashed street in the village (portrait format). — ZC.Marbella · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castle ruins in the foreground with the village and mountains beyond (2023). — Marina Delgado Arce · CC BY 4.0
- Aerial view of the Sierra Crestellina ridge and the Genal valley. — kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0
- The 16th-century Torre de la Sal above a small sandy cove at Punta Salto de la Mora. — ZC.Marbella · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Torre de la Sal on its rocks by the shore. — Paco Pérez · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old bridge and milky-blue sulphur water of the Manilva river by the Hedionda baths (2014). — 15Gitte · CC BY-SA 3.0 es
- The Bahía de Casares shore with the watchtower (Panoramio upload, date not recorded). — georama · CC BY 3.0
- Stone walls of the Roman town of Lacipo with Sierra Crestellina behind (2011). — Alejandro Pérez Ordóñez · CC BY-SA 3.0 es
- andalucia.com
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- es.wikipedia.org
- es.wikipedia.org
- es.wikipedia.org
- es.wikipedia.org
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- gastroranking.es
- guide.michelin.com
- guide.michelin.com
- malagasecreta.com
- casarescostagolf.com
- donajuliagolf.es
- fincacortesin.com
- fincacortesin.com
- ine.es
- malagacar.com
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- turismocasares.com
- turismocasares.com
- turismocasares.com
- turismocasares.com
- turismocasares.com
- turismocasares.com
- turismocasares.com