One Day in Ronda: Perfect Day Trip Itinerary

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When I made the decision to study abroad in Seville, Spain, everyone told me to make sure I visit Ronda. Before coming to Spain, I had never even heard of Ronda, but now it’s a place I’ll never forget. Ronda sits between a couple big name destinations, making it a must for any southern Spain itinerary. Whereas it takes a few days to get a feel for bigger cities like Granada and Seville, one day is Ronda is just right to experience this small city.

Here’s my complete guide to one day in Ronda.

Ronda Fun Facts

• Both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles were inspired by Ronda for some of their works (ex. For Whom the Bell Tolls).
• Italian designer Giorgio Armani specifically designed one of the bullfighter costumes for a famous matador here.
• Madonna – the queen of pop herself – shot her music video for “Take a Bow” in the bullring in 1994, where she appeared with Spanish bullfighter Emilio Muñoz.
• Visit La Iglesia de la Merced, a church belonging to a Convent from the 16th century. It still maintains its original structure, octagonal tower and all. Venture inside to supposedly find the preserved relic of the “Uncorrupted hand of St. Teresa.” What?!

When to Visit Ronda

The best months to visit Ronda weather-wise are May and September, which are dry and sunny without being too hot. From June to August it will be unbearably hot, so try to avoid visiting Ronda or any of Southern Spain during these months if you can. Because Andalusia features the lovely Costa del Sol (Sun Coast, oh heck yes), it never gets very cold, so you’d be perfectly fine if you visited Ronda a little outside of May and September, too. It might just be a little chilly at night and in the early morning.

How to Get to Ronda

Much like getting anywhere in Andalusia, you have options open to you when it comes to getting to Ronda. You can take a train from Córdoba, Granada, Seville, and Malaga. If you’re visiting Ronda on a budget, opt for the bus. It’s a little slower, but it’s the cheaper option.

The most popular option is probably a Malaga to Ronda day trip because for about 10 euros you can take a bus and arrive in Ronda in under 2 hours. Los Amarillos runs several buses every day in both directions, starting at 8:00 am with the latest bus coming back at 7:45 pm. You’d have at least 9 hours to visit this quaint little town.

A day trip to Ronda from Seville is a little trickier, as it takes 2.5 hours to get there. However, I went on a guided tour to both Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas with WE LOVE SPAIN, and I had a great time! Wherever you’re coming from, Ronda in a day is super doable.

If you can, try to visit Ronda on a weekday because some attractions close as early as 3:00 pm on weekends. Wear your comfiest shoes, because lots of the streets are cobblestone, a definite love-hate element of small Spanish cities.

Where to Stay in Ronda

For a Ronda day trip, you most likely won’t be staying the night, but Ronda has got you covered in case you do. There are hotels, apartments, and Airbnbs available. Staying in the Old Town typically has a steeper price tag than accommodation north of Puente Nuevo. Keep that in mind if you’re traveling on a budget.

Best things to do in Ronda in a Day

A day trip to Ronda will leave you enchanted by this historic city. All the different lookouts into the beautiful countryside makes this town a true feast for the eyes. But is just one day in Ronda enough? It can be, just follow my Ronda itinerary and you’ll have no problem hitting all the must sees.

Plaza de Toros

A good place to start your one day in Ronda is the Plaza de España and its Plaza de Toros, one of the oldest and most revered bullrings in Spain. The Tourist Office is also here, so you can pick up a map.

I personally am not an advocate for bullfighting, but it is still a significant part of Spanish culture. This eighteenth century area still hosts bullfights and is open for tours. While I can’t appreciate the sport, I can admire the building and the architecture. A small fee will grant you admission so you can wander around.

Upon entering, you’ll notice a small yet decadent chapel where bullfighters take a moment to pray before entering the bullring. This room has a heaviness to it; it’s almost haunting.

Your admission ticket also grants you access to the museums which are separated into two sections: the Real Maestranza de Caballería and the Museo Taurino. The former has artifacts of the calvary training such as antique weapons, uniforms, and armor. The latter displays bullfighting artifacts from past to present, showcasing various prints, costumes, and memorabilia through the ages.

Last but certainly not least, you’ll reach the bullring. Go in the middle to look up at the countless rows of stands, and marvel at the grandness of the area. Although I will probably never attend a bullfight, I like to imagine the intense and invigorating atmosphere that ensues during a fight.

Cross Puente Nuevo Bridge

The Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) is in walking distance from Plaza de Toros, so let’s head there next! Puente Nuevo is the iconic landmark of Ronda, and if you’ve seen pictures of Ronda then they’ve definitely been of this bridge because it’s the most famous site in Ronda. 

Spanning the El Tajo gorge that divides Ronda, this bridge links the New Town to the Old Town. It was completed back in 1793 after over 30 years of work. Although that might not seem very new to many of us, it’s pretty new for European standards! It’s also called the New Bridge because it’s the most recent of Ronda’s three bridges. Crossing the Puente Nuevo is number one on the list of best things to do in Ronda because you’ll get some gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. There are also some great walkways that will lead you to several different lookouts for better views into the rural area surrounding Ronda.

If you don’t want to start at the bullring, this is another great spot to begin your trip to Ronda if you want to walk around the city.

Not so fun fact: The first attempt to unite the old town with the new one was over the Tajo in 1735 with a 35 meter arch built in 8 months, but it shortly collapsed, killing about 50 people.

See Puente Nuevo from Below

Don’t get me wrong, the view from the top of the bridge is amazing, but my favorite view in the city is actually from below Puente Nuevo. It’s the only vantage point where you can fully appreciate just how tall and striking Puento Nuevo is. You can also see the waterfall of the Guadelevín River below, which is the cherry on top!

For this amazing view, head to the Mirador de María Auxiliadora along the south side of the gorge. The path down into the gorge is pretty obvious from there. Keep going down, and you’ll know it when you see it. It’s a long walk down and an even longer one up, but it’s a Ronda must see.

Our descent was blocked by a big fence and barbed wire (maybe it wasn’t barbed wire, but for dramatic purposes we’ll say that it was). We crawled through a tiny hobbit-sized hole in the bottom corner of the fence. Despite the warning signs and whatever punishment you get for trespassing in a foreign country, we somehow squeezed through the fence and continued onward, only to be met by this sign.

Mirador de Ronda

If Ronda sightseeing is what you want, then Ronda sightseeing is what you’ll get. This is another Ronda must see because it’s the best outlook into the stunning countryside. Plus, it’s just a stone throw away from the Puente Nuevo. If you’re lucky, someone might be playing music nearby, which just adds to the romantic atmosphere.

Find Ronda’s Other Bridges

Puente Nuevo is the newest and largest of three bridges that connect the city across the gorge, but it’s not the only one worth seeing! The pull of Puente Nuevo is so strong, most people don’t even realize there are two other bridges across the El Tajo gorge. The other two bridges, Puente Viejo (also known as the Roman Bridge) and Puente Arabe, bring you much lower into the gorge, offering a different perspective.

From what I remember from my tour, the Arab Bridge was built in the Arab era (duh), and this bridge was the entry point for people coming to the city. People coming to the city had to be cleansed, so they took a dip in the best preserved Arab baths on the Iberian Peninsula, which were built between the 8th and 9th centuries. That is a VERY old bathtub!

Explore the Rest of the Old Town

The day’s not over yet! There’s still lots of great Ronda attractions to see. Even with only one day in Ronda, you should have no problem exploring both parts of the city on foot. I would argue that the Old Town is more interesting because it has the quintessential look of Andalusia – beautiful architecture and whitewashed buildings. There’s palaces, museums, and Ronda’s ancient fortification gates and walls, oh my!

You can cross the Puente Viejo to reach the Old Town. You’ll see the Baños Arábes down below, which are well worth the 3.5 Euros admission. These Arab baths date from the 13^th and 14^th century, making them some of the best preserved in Andalusia.

After the baths, you can keep walking along the city walls and climb up to some places for more great views of the countryside and the New Town. If you’re pressed for time, just head back into the medieval Old Town and explore the narrow streets.

The Old Town also has the Church of Santa Maria La Mayor, which used to be the city’s mosque during the Arab era. You can finish your walking tour of the Old Town with a visit to the Museum of Ronda in the Mondragón Palace. The museum covers the entire history of Ronda, but the views overlooking the cliffs from the museum’s gardens are more than worth the small admission fee. EU citizens get free admission on Tuesdays after 3 pm.

Explore the New Town

A central location and a great first stop in the New Town is Plaza del Socorro. In the middle of the square, you’ll notice a fountain with a statue of Hercules. The outer part of the square is surrounded by bars and cafes. The square leads towards the main shopping area with many European brands I have come to love, like Mango and Zara. One day in Ronda isn’t a lot of time, so don’t get lost in the stores! I’ve made that mistake more times than I can count.

Where to Eat in Ronda

There’s countless shops and restaurants near the Puente Nuevo, but as a rule of thumb I try not to eat too close to big tourist attractions. Venture a little farther back to discover where the locals eat, and the prices are usually better, too. Something I love about Spanish cities is that lots of the restaurants have their menus outside, so you can take a peek before you decide. Grab a seat outside so you can enjoy the scenery as you scarf down some tapas.

If you’re in the mood to splurge, opt for a restaurant overlooking the gorge. Some options are Parador de Ronda, Albacara, or Duquesa de Parcent, all of which are near Puente Nuevo.

If You Have More than One Day in Ronda

When most people visit Ronda, it’s a day trip to Ronda from Malaga, Seville, or another nearby city. However if you’re super smitten with Ronda, then you can switch this around and visit these cities as day trips from Ronda. There are also wineries in the surrounding area, so you can go on a wine tasting tour on a day trip from Ronda.

Setenil de las BodegaS

As I mentioned, I visited Ronda as part of a day tour, but that day tour also included the even smaller and more adorable town of Setenil de las Bodegas. Seriously, this town is tiny with only about 3000 inhabitants.

Setenil is famous for its dwellings built into rock overhangs. Many of the stores, restaurants, and cafes have ceilings and walls that are just parts of the mountain. It’s insanely cool because it always feels like you’re in a cave.

We weren’t in Setenil for very long, but we were there long enough to catch a glimpse of a sing-off between a group of males dressed as vikings and a group of females who honestly looked like they were dressed up as milkmaids, maybe? Nevertheless, it was very entertaining! Whereas Ronda is in the province of Málaga, Setenil is actually in Cádiz, and apparently they were still celebrating Carnaval. Lucky for us because this tiny town was especially lively for a Sunday afternoon!

Fun fact: Setenil is the exact antipodal of Auckland, New Zealand. That means that Auckland, New Zealand is the point on the Earth’s surface which is diametrically opposite to Setenil. Two points that are antipodal to each other are connected by a straight line running through the centre of the Earth. There’s your vocab lesson for today!

Don’t forget to bring your special someone to this adorable photo op!