These are the most important towns in the Alpujarras, though there are a number more. To visit them all would require two days. And that's without any hiking or real exploration of the countryside around these villages.
These villages are listed in the order you will pass them when coming from Granada. For pictures, see Pictures of the Alpujarras.
Lanjarón
Home of the water of the same name, Lanjaron has a good health spa, with five natural springs in the town.
Orgiva
Pampaneira
Bubión
Bubión is a great base if you want to go walking - it is on the GR7 hiking route. Read some immigrants to the area gushing about the town on this Article on Bubión.
Capileira
Portugos
Trevélez
Bérchules
Cádiar
Orgiva is one of the larger towns in the area and has relatively good public transport links with Granada and Malaga. There is a Buddhist retreat 5km from here (open for visitors from 3pm till 6pm).
Shares the Río Poqueira gorge with Bubión and Capileira, Pampaneira is one of the prettiest villages in the Alpujarras. The stream that flows through its streets is especially cute.
The highest of the three Río Poqueira towns, it is a good starting point if you intend on climbing the mountain Mulhacén.
Not an especially exciting town, but it is home to the Fuente Agria, a natural spring with very high iron content. The water tastes of sparkling water that has gone flat and, though completely clear, leaves an orange residue where it flows.
Trevélez is the biggest ham-producing town in one of the biggest ham producing regions in Spain. Even if you didn't like Spanish ham before, you will now. It also produces good wines.
A small town remarkable only for its New Year's Eve in August festival.
Village very close to Bérchules, where they fill the fountains with wine each October.
