3 Best Hotels in Arcos de la Frontera, Andalusia

Perched atop the cliff behind the town parador, this tiny hotel in a former 17th-century convent shares the amazing view of another hotel in town, its swish neighbor (La Casa Grande). Though the rooms here are smaller and very slightly cheaper, most have private terraces and all are furnished tastefully with period artwork and sculptures. In addition, guests have the use of a large rooftop terrace on the edge of the cliff. There is no restaurant, but breakfast is available for purchase.

Built in 1729, this extraordinary 18th-century mansion encircles a central patio with lush vegetation and is perched on the edge of the 400-foot cliff to which Arcos de la Frontera clings. Inside, Catalan owner Elena Posa has restored each room, and the artwork, the casually elegant style, and the inventive bathrooms are all a delight. The breakfast terrace allows you to look down on hundreds of swallows circling over the riverbed below. The rooftop rooms, El Palomar (the Pigeon Roost) and El Soberao (the Attic), are the best, but the Cuarto Bajo and Cuarto y Mitad rooms have large terraces.

Expect a spectacular view from the terrace, as this parador clings to the cliffside, overlooking the rolling valley of the Río Guadalete. Public rooms include a popular bar and restaurant, Mesón del Corregidor, which opens onto the terrace and an enclosed patio, and the best rooms are Nos. 6–9 and 15–18, which overlook the valley (well worth the €40 premium). Spacious guest rooms are furnished with dark Castilian furniture, reed rugs, and abundant tiles.