Ancient Ronda is enthroned on a mighty rocky plateau in the Andalusian hinterland. The small town with a village character is criss-crossed by a deep gorge – the El Tajo. Impressive bridge constructions connect entire parts of the town and writers such as Hemingway and Rilke have also been enchanted by Ronda. A visit to this romantic place is definitely part of any trip to Andalusia. In this article, I will give you lots of tips for Ronda and tell you what are the best Ronda sights, that you should not miss.
Much of what makes Ronda so special has to do with the city’s imposing history. This goes back over 2,000 years to the Romans. There are also many remnants to be discovered from the period between the 8th and 15th centuries, when the Moors ruled Andalusia.
Ronda is world-famous for the Bullfighting from the Romero brothers’ era and the Bandoleros, who once robbed rich tourists here. In the 20th century, the city also attracted a number of famous writers, such as Ernest Hemingway and Rainer Maria Rilke.
The area around Ronda and the city itself is one of the most beautiful and romantic regions in Andalusia. However, many other tourists know this too. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t skip Ronda, because although there are plenty of visitors here following in the footsteps of the past, this doesn’t detract from the town’s charm – especially if you go exploring a little away from the “lazy tourist spots”.
But first, watch the following video to get an impression of Ronda:
Best time to travel to Ronda
Climate-wise, Ronda is at its warmest from June to September. The probability of rain is also lowest in these months. However, the months of April, May and October are also quite pleasantly warm with relatively few rainy days per month.
The weather shouldn’t worry you too much when visiting Ronda. It’s a different story with the number of tourists:
It’s already late in the evening when I arrive in Ronda. I wander aimlessly through the empty streets of the city. The many empty restaurants and bars give me an idea of how crowded it must be here at peak tourist season. It’s a good thing I came in October. There is still a lot going on, but within a pleasant range. The number of locals outnumbers the tourists.
from my travel notes
In 2023, there were around 12 million tourists in the whole of Andalusia. Ronda is one of the most visited cities. Accordingly, many visitors can be expected. While the whole region is extremely crowded from June to September, the numbers slowly drop again every year in October. Even in April and May, there aren’t that many tourists around.
That’s why I would generally recommend traveling to Andalusia or Ronda in April or October. Because when it gets quite uncomfortable in Germany, Andalusia is the perfect getaway from the bad weather.
City festival Fiesta de Pedro Romero
During the city festival Fiesta de Pedro Romero, which is held every year in the first week of September, Ronda is likely to be extremely crowded. This is when bullfights are held here, during which the toreros perform in traditional dress. This is not only a highlight for tourists from all over the world, but also for many Spaniards.
How much time for Ronda?
Theoretically, you could see all the sights in Ronda in one day, e.g. on a day trip from Malaga or Seville. But I would advise against this. Take 2 whole days to soak up the really special atmosphere of Ronda and relax in the tapas bars or wander around the area at your leisure.
I actually only wanted to stay in Ronda for one day, but was so fascinated by the city that I ended up staying two nights.
Accommodations in Ronda
As Ronda is very touristy, there is also a corresponding range of good hotels.
Journey to Ronda
By car
I went to Ronda by car myself. Driving in the city is a bit complicated, as the city center consists of a network of small alleyways and one-way streets that even the Google navigation system doesn’t always show correctly. On top of this, there are roadworks that can confuse everything. So it’s best to check google maps beforehand to see exactly where you’re allowed to drive, otherwise you’ll end up wasting time taking double routes.
It’s also difficult when it comes to parking spaces in the historic city center. I definitely recommend avoiding the parking garages. In the short term (1-2 hours), the prices are still reasonable, but if you leave your car there overnight, it will be expensive (€30-40).
Instead, look for a parking space in the side streets of the city center or something on the outskirts if you don’t mind walking for 5 to 10 minutes.
By train or bus
Ronda also has a train station and there are many connections with renfe, e.g. from Seville or Malaga.
There are no bus connections from these cities. However, you can book day trips from Seville, Cadiz, Malaga or Marbella if you only have a short time and don’t mind traveling to Ronda with a large group of tourists.
You can find such tours here, for example:
- from Malaga: Ronda & Setenil de las Bodegas trip
- From Seville: Pueblos Blancos and Ronda full-day tour
Ronda tips & sights
On the following map you will find all the Ronda tips mentioned here:
(map in full screen)
1. Walk along the abyss of El Tajo
In addition to its history, the geographical location of Ronda is a highlight in itself. The city was built on a spectacular rocky plateau, which is crossed by an approximately 100-meter-deep ravine called El Tajo. The houses often reach right to the edge and footpaths also run along the precipice.
A good starting point for a long walk with breathtaking views is the Park Alameda Del Tajo. From here you have a great view of the surrounding landscape
- From there, just keep walking south,
- past the bullring,
- to the Puente Nuevo (don’t go over it yet)
- to the Jardins De Cuenca,
- down to the other two bridges,
- then along the other side of the gorge back to the Puente Nuevo
- and on to the Plaza de Maria Auxiliadora
- A staircase leads up to the best spots for photos of the Puente Nuevo.
2. Eat the best tapas in town
Tapas bars are restaurants that serve small appetizers, so-called tapas, in addition to normal dishes. They are usually accompanied by wine and beer. A tapa costs around €1 to €3 and you often buy several different ones and then share them back and forth with the others at the table.
The cool thing about tapas bars in Ronda is…
- Ronda has one of the highest densities of excellent tapas restaurants and bars in all of Andalusia.
- You can also try many of them during a shorter stay, as they are quite close to each other and if you only order 2-3 tapas per tapas bar.
Most tapas bars close between around 3:00 – 4:00 am and 6:00 – 7:00 am. So you should always check the opening hours before you go to a tapas bar. However, there are also many standard restaurants in Ronda with mediocre food, which are more due to the large number of tourists than the Spanish tapas culture. So you should be careful not to fall into one of these tourist traps.
My favorites:
- From the Bodegas San Francisco you can enjoy a direct view of the Arabian Wall. There are also excellent Mediterranean dishes as well as small and inexpensive tapas from €1 for in-between meals.
- The Gastrobar Camelot has lots of different and inexpensive tapas on offer.
- Bodega el Socorro is a typical tapas bar with a traditional look. Here, ham hocks hang from the ceiling. In addition to lots of hot dishes, there are also very tasty cold tapas here.
- The Casa Clemente is located a little off the tourist scene, right next to the Arab baths. The atmosphere here is relaxed and the food is delicious.
- The Tropicana is not really just a tapas bar, but rather a restaurant that serves traditional Andalusian cuisine as well as many unusual dishes for this region, such as vegetarian burgers with homemade burger bread. You can also sip lots of delicious cocktails here. The service is extremely friendly and gives you very good advice.
You can find many more tapas bar recommendations here.
3. Feel like a torero in the “Plaza de Toros de Ronda”
Would you like to feel like a bullfighter and strut across the sandy plaza of one of the oldest and most famous bullrings in the world? Then you shouldn’t miss the Plaza de Toros de Ronda.
In the corridors of the arena there is also a very well-done museum about weapons, Spanish knights and the history of bullfighting.
Admission to the museum and the arena costs €9. You can also visit the indoor riding arena and the courtyards behind the arena.
4. Take a trip to Setenil de las Bodegas.
Ronda is considered one of the Pueblos Blancos – the white villages of Andalusia. But with 35,000 inhabitants, it is no longer a village. Things are more rural in Setenil de las Bodegas, just 30 minutes away by car.
Setenil is famous for the houses that were built directly under monstrous rocks and where inhabitants still live today. A stay of 1-2 hours is enough to walk through the village and see the most famous places. However, from 11:00-12:00, especially at weekends, the large tourist buses arrive and put an end to the otherwise relaxed village idyll.
On the map I have marked the most popular spots in Setenil with brown pins.
If you don’t want to miss out on the secrets of Setenil de las Bodegos, then a guided tour of the town is a good idea.
If you can’t or don’t want to drive to Setenil de las Bodegas yourself, then book a tour from Ronda. you can find an option for this here.
5. Puente Nuevo – Walk over the famous bridges
The Puente Nuevo is the highlight of Ronda, which is probably why most tourists come here. The stone bridge with its three arches was only completed in 1793, after 42 years of construction. It connects La Ciudad, the old town, with the younger district of El Mercadillo.
The best spots for photos are south-west of the bridge.
Somewhere in a side street next to a dark park, a wide but unlit staircase leads downwards. Is this perhaps the way the famous highwaymen – the bandaleros – once descended with their prey? I certainly won’t miss it. I can already hear the rushing water from a distance. After a few minutes of walking, an astonished cat and a few near-slips later, I catch sight of what I actually came here for – the Puente Nuevo. The new bridge from which Ernest Hemingway allowed his Spanish Civil War prisoners to fall to their deaths. Of course, only in his novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (good book, by the way).
She looks very romantic in real life. Brightly lit by the spotlight. The stars twinkle above. The laughter from the neighboring tapas bars can still be heard. My mind is wandering and I don’t even notice the two Japanese women who have now positioned themselves next to me for photos. I guess the staircase here isn’t that secret after all.
The next day I’m back in the same park. The sun is beating down on Ronda. But the trees provide cooling shade. In the middle of the square, Eugen is playing live music next to the splashing fountain. Where yesterday there was silence, today the sound of Spanish folk songs on the guitar echoes through the alleyways.
from my travel notes
For €2.50 you get access to a room below the bridge walkway, where some information is also on display. However, you can save yourself the money and time and visit the two other bridges further east for free instead.
The Puente Viejo was built as early as the 16th century. The Arab bridge right next to it is even older, but has been renovated again and again over the course of time.
6. Walk through the gorge
On the way to the best viewpoints with a view of the Puente Nuevo, a path also branches off down to the gorge, which leads under the bridge. Here you can hike along the river and explore El Tajo from the opposite perspective. You can get to the other side of the gorge from the secret mine described in point 8.
7. Take a look at the Arab baths
Want to find out more about what life was like in Arab Ronda (then known as Runda) around the 13th century? Then you should pay a visit to the Arab baths. It was located on the outskirts of the city at the time, but was the central meeting place for the population.
I have also seen such a bath (hammam) in Palma on Mallorca. But it was nowhere near as well preserved as the one in Ronda. This is actually the best-preserved bath on the entire Iberian Peninsula.
The €4.50 is well worth it. Inside the baths, a video is shown with information about the history.
8. Discover the hanging gardens of the Palacio del Rey Moro
Right next to the Arab baths is the Casa del Rey Moro, the palace of the Moorish king, with its secret hanging gardens. The entrance fee of €10 is also worthwhile here. The palace was built in the 14th century and has been registered as a Spanish cultural asset since 1943.
At first, the hanging gardens seem somewhat inconspicuous. However, the entrance also includes access to an old mine, which leads deep into the rock all the way down to the river. However, the climb from the bottom to the top is definitely not for you if you are not fit enough. It’s a good thing that you can relax afterwards in the adjoining café with a great view and a “Cafe con Lecche”.
9. Walk over the walls of the Puerta de Almocábar in San Francisco
San Francisco? No, we haven’t landed in the Californian city, but in one of the oldest districts of Ronda. Remains of the old city gate and the city wall can still be found here. You can climb the towers here for free and walk along the walls to enjoy the view.
Just next door are also two tapas bars that are popular with locals and tourists alike: Tapas de Locos and Bodegas San Francisco (see point 2).
10. Visit the Palacio de Mondragón
The Palacio de Mondragón is the most famous museum in the city. According to legend, it was once the residence of the Moorish King Malik. The museum has a collection of architectural finds from the region. The gardens of the residence are also well worth a visit.
11. Relax at Plaza Duquesa de Parcent
One of the most beautiful squares in the city is certainly the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, next to which you will also find the town hall and the Convento de Clarisas de Santa Isabel de los Ángeles nunnery.
More cities in Andalusia
Ronda is one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia. But you shouldn’t miss the following places on your visit either:
Have you ever been to Ronda? What other Ronda sights that should be on this list? Write it in the comments.
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