Ultimate Guide to Soportujar: The Haunted Village in Granada

Andalucia is home to many beautiful whitewashed towns, but if you’re looking for the most unique village, Soportujar is your best option.

This small town in La Alpujarra de Granada ticks all the boxes regarding uniqueness. It’s probably one of the oddest places I’ve ever visited in my county. 

You’ll come across witches’ statues, spider sculptures, and shops selling all superstitious things, among other things you won’t see anywhere else in Southern Spain. 

If you’re up for a fun day trip from Granada or Malaga, you’ll love visiting Soportujar, Granada.

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About Soportujar, Granada

You might wonder why Soportujar became a place of superstition, legends and all things witches. It all started after the battle of the Alpujarras in 1571. The Moorish civilizations left, and the village needed to be inhabited.

Families from Galicia, the north of Spain, came to Soportujar and told locals about their witches’ stories and pagan legends. Because of this, the village became a place of superstition and witchery.

This was forgotten for a while, and soportujeros (people from Soportujar) had to come up with a plan to attract tourists and support local businesses, and they did.

Proyecto Embrujo is the name of the project that supports the development of the economy and tourism in Soportujar by showcasing the village’s natural, cultural and architectural beauty. This has led to new cultural events and attractions like Hansel and Gretel House.

Soportujar is now known as the witch town in Spain.

Things to do in Soportujar

Are you ready to explore the most enchanted attractions in Soportujar? Here is a list of all the places you can’t miss:

1. Look inside Cueva del Ojo de Bruja

Situated outside the town, Cueva del Ojo de la Bruja is one of the oldest attractions in Soportujar. It dates back to 2012, and many legends tell strange things happened in this place and nearby paths around the Alpujarras region.

You can’t get inside this cave, but you can have a peek-a-boo view of what’s inside through the window. You’ll see the statue of a witch, cauldrons, spiders, a skeleton and much more. Just pay attention.

Next to this cave, head to the right-hand side to see another witch statue, leave the place, and head to the heart of the village.

2. Take a photo of Bruja Baba Yaga

The next stop is the statue of Bruja Baba Yaga’s head. It’s at the very beginning of the village.

This huge statue is difficult to miss, and yes, it’s a bit scary. Baba Yaga is a supernatural being in Slavic folklore. It’s said that she likes eating humans, especially misbehaving children, and if you ask her something, she’ll get older.

It’s a popular place for people to sit down, and you can also see a small fountain a few metres from the statue.

If you visit Soportujar on a Sunday, you might find a few stalls selling souvenirs next to the statue.

3. Visit the Witchery Museum

After checking out the Baba Yaga statue, you’ll see this peculiar building. As you walk in, you’ll see a tiny office on the left side where you can get a ticket to the museum and book a guided walking tour around Soportujar.

I didn’t take the guided walking tour because I wanted to explore other towns on the same day, and they only run tours at specific times, so I didn’t want to wait around for a tour. Also, I had a map with all the places I wanted to see.

However, taking the tour can be a good idea if you want to learn more about the legends and spooky stories of Soportujar.

The museum itself is small. I was expecting more for a 2-euro entry ticket. However, there are some interesting objects and displays to see. It’s also a good place to take pictures.

4. Discover Fuente del Dragón legend

Another unique attraction is the Dragon Fountain, located in Calle Estación. It has a small poster that tells you the fountain’s water has aphrodisiac properties and improves fertility, so you’ll see a few people drinking from this fountain.

5. Take a photo with Casa de la Bruja Baba Yaga

Casa de la Bruja Baba Yaga is one of the most popular spots to take photos in Soportujar. It’s Baba Yaga’s house (yes, the witch you saw at the beginning of the town).

It’s a wooden house held by two chicken legs, which made Baba Yaga travel quicker from place to place. The legend tells that she could travel long distances in her home country, Russia, thanks to the chicken legs.

Apart from taking the photo, check out the fountain; there’s a riddle next to it.

6. Enjoy the views from Mirador de Soportújar

Mirador de Soportujar is next to Plaza de Abastos. The viewpoint has a beautiful fountain with a cauldron and the statue of two witches. It seems they’re preparing a potion and casting a spell!

On top of this, this is one of the best places to contemplate the beauty of the natural surroundings and other small villages.

7. Buy a unique souvenir

When you wander around the town, especially at the very beginning of the town, you’ll find lots of souvenir shops with all sorts of magical objects, from crystals and gemstone necklaces to witches’ figurines and brooms.

My family and I couldn’t resist buying a few things in some shops. I was amazed by how many interesting things they sell.

8. Find the picturesque Casa de Hansel y Gretel

Hansel and Gretel House is the newest attraction in Soportujar, and it’s become so popular that many people know the village because of this house. It’s unsurprising when it appears many times on social media.

I didn’t time it well because I arrived at the Hansel and Gretel House when a guided tour was going on. Of course, I couldn’t take a photo without people, but I listened to the guide while trying to get the best photo.

You can’t get in the house now; you can only see its beautiful facade, but the town hall is discussing building a chocolate shop inside. Also, have a good look at the decoration of this house. There’s an element that isn’t suitable for children. See if you can spot it!

9. Check out El Pozo de los Deseos

A bit hidden from other attractions, you’ll find the wishing well. However, despite its name, this well isn’t the one to ask for a wish. Apparently, it’s more of a bad luck well. Whether this is true or not, don’t throw a coin.

10. Walk the narrowest street in Spain

Did you know you can find one of the narrowest streets in Spain in Soportujar? Calle Zanjilla is only 48 centimetres.

It looks very narrow; however, it is not as narrow as it looks. You can easily walk the street without problems.

11. Take a photo with La Escoba Mágica

La Escoba Mágina, or Magic Broom in English, is one of the most instagrammable locations in Soportujar. Don’t be surprised if you see a queue of people waiting to take a picture with it.

12. Look for the snake statue

Serpiente Maléfica, or Evil Snake, is on Calle Real, on one of the beautiful tinaos (traditional passages in La Alpujarra region).

The statue is quite impressive and in a pretty spot, perfect for taking photos with this not-so-friendly snake!

Also, pay attention to the stairs. They have colourful tiles that read “I love Soportújar.”

You can also see Calderos Mágicos (the Magic Cauldrons) near the snake statue.

13. Go on a hike to reach the O Sel Ling Centre

Last but not least, you can visit O Sel Ling Buddha Centre. Although it’s officially considered to be in Soportujar, the truth is that it isn’t close. You must go on a 6-kilometre (2.5-3 hour) hike to reach this Buddhist meditation centre. Alternatively, you can also visit it by car.

From O Sel Ling, you can contemplate beautiful views of Poqueira Cliff and Orgiva Valley. Also, you can see other beautiful Buddha statues and the impressive stupa.

The centre offers fantastic group retreats if you want to learn about Buddhism.

14. Explore Pampaneira

Soportujar is such an interesting village to explore. However, you don’t need a whole day to visit all its attractions. Therefore, it’s worth discovering other towns in La Alpujarra region.

You have a few lovely places to visit: Bubión, Capileira and Pampaneira. The latter is my favourite, and if you don’t have much time in this region if I were you, I would choose Pampaneira over others.

Pampaneira is among Spain’s most beautiful towns (Pueblos más Bonitos de España). It’s only a 12-minute drive from Soportujar and offers a different experience.

Wander its picturesque cobblestone streets, stop by Abuela Ili Chocolates to try delicious chocolate, relax at Plaza de la Libertad, and if you haven’t eaten in Soportujar, enjoy a meal at Restaurante Ruta del Mulhacén.

Overall, Pampaneira is a fantastic place to taste La Alpujarra’s gastronomy. The town is home to shops where you can buy the best local products (olive oil, honey, jams and more!)

Map of Soportujar, Granada

Click on the map below to open it in Google Maps. You can access directions to each of the locations mentioned in this article.

Traditional events in Soportujar

Apart from Easter and Christmas events celebrated everywhere in Spain, Soportujar has unique events throughout the year, which you might want to experience during your time in this haunted village.

These are some of the most peculiar events:

Fiesta de Maio Embrujado (6-7th May)

This event has only been celebrated a few times. It commemorates the Galician people who moved to Soportujar after the battle of the Alpujarras, but it also welcomes spring.

The town’s square is decorated with flowers, and the locals dressed up as witches and wizards dance and cast spells to celebrate the beginning of spring.

And if all these things aren’t cool enough, there’s also a Holi Run!

Fiesta del Embrujo (7-13th August)

Fiesta del Embrujo is one of the most significant events in Soportujar. It’s celebrated for 7 days, and you can expect many different activities – from dances and rituals to concerts and fancy dress competitions. It’s a lot of fun.

You can also try the famous queimada, a traditional Galician alcoholic drink that resembles a witch potion! It’s made with aguardiente, coffee, sugar, lemon and orange peels, cinnamon sticks, and coffee beans.

Lastly, don’t miss the fancy dress competition on the Witches Night (Noche de Brujas). It’s one of the highlights of this event.

Halloween (31st October)

Soportujar is one of the best places to experience Halloween. After all, it’s a haunted village, so if you spend Halloween there, you’ll definitely have a good one.

Noche de Brujas (4th November)

Noche de Brujas is often on the first Saturday of November. It’s a day full of magic, witches, spells and other spooky things!

It’s a magical evening in which locals dress up and gather around Soportujar’s main square. There are many exciting activities – live performances (some based on real stories), fancy dress competitions, and much more.

On top of these fantastic activities, you can also check out the stalls with unique souvenirs and delicious food and sweets.

What to eat in Soportujar

You’re lucky if you’re a foodie because Soportujar and the Alpujarra region have terrific traditional dishes. You’ll love them, especially if you like comfort food and meat. I can guarantee that you won’t be hungry after eating Granada’s typical dishes.

The most popular in the whole region is Plato alpujarreño. It consists of a dish with pork loin, chorizo, black pudding, eggs, fried peppers and chips. They also sometimes serve it with pisto (Spanish-style ratatouille).

Another meaty speciality is Lomo a la orza (see photo above): marinated pork loin with chips, fried egg, pepper, and pisto.

Other typical dishes are Puchero de hinojos, Sopa de ajo con jamón, Truchas con jamón and Papas a lo pobre.

If you’d like to try some of these dishes, Taberna Romero is the most popular restaurant and bar. Soportujar has few places to eat, so you might want to head to other towns to enjoy a meal. I loved eating at Ruta del Mulhacen in Pampaneira.

Where to stay in Soportujar

As happens with the lack of restaurants, Soportujar doesn’t have many accommodations to choose from. Therefore, you might consider staying in a nearby town with a broader selection. For example, Lanjarón, Pampaneira and Órgiva have more options.

These are some of the best places to stay in Soportujar:

• Apartamento Beck – Tierra. A lovely apartment with beautiful views of Soportujar and natural surroundings. The apartment has 3 bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, a bathroom, free WiFi and flat-screen TV.

• Los Llanos- Soportújar – This is a beautiful holiday home outside Soportujar. It has a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen with a fridge and microwave. Some of the highlights of this house are its lovely garden with a swimming pool, BBQ facilities and views.

How to get to Soportujar

The best way to get to Soportujar is by car. It’s a small town behind the famous Sierra Nevada mountains and ski resort, so you won’t be able to reach it by public transport from many Andalusian cities.

How to get to Soportujar from Granada

The fastest way is to drive. The car journey is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. However, it might take longer because some roads are windy, and you must drive slowly.

Another way to reach Soportujar from Granada is by bus. You can take the ALSA bus to Soportujar (ALSA – Gra-Trev) from the Granada bus station. It takes 2 hours and 20 minutes.

How to get to Soportujar from Malaga

The only direct way to travel to Soportujar from Granada is by car. Depending on the road you take, it takes between 1 hour and 50 minutes and 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Frequently asked questions about Soportujar, Spain

Conclusion on Soportújar

Soportújar is an enchanting place to visit, so it’s worth spending a few hours seeing all its attractions, taking in the beautiful views and trying its local dishes.

It’s one of the most unique white villages near Granada, so it won’t disappoint you.

Enjoy your trip to Soportújar!

Cristina xx

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Read more about Granada and Andalucía

• Is Granada Worth Visiting? 14 Top Reasons to Visit It
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• Granada or Seville: Which City Is Best To Visit?
• Granada vs Malaga: Which City Is Better?
• Pampaneira, Granada: A Guide to the Alpujarra’s Pretty Town
• The Ultimate Andalucia Road Trip, 7 to 14 Days Itinerary
• Incredible Reasons To Visit Andalucia

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