Ronda: what to see and how to get there from Malaga

Ronda stands on either side of the Tajo, the gorge carved into the rock by the River Guadalevin. The Puente Nuevo connects the old town with the Mercadillo district and is the starting point for many visits to this inland town in Malaga province, in the heart of the Serrania de Ronda.

Alongside its bridges and viewpoints, Ronda has town walls, Arab baths, palaces and an 18th-century bullring. A full day gives you time to visit the main sights; staying overnight leaves more time to explore the historic neighbourhoods and visit wineries or other towns and villages in the Serrania.

History of Ronda

The Serrania preserves evidence of human occupation dating back to prehistoric times. One of the best-known sites is the Cueva de la Pileta, in the municipality of Benaojan, discovered in 1905 by José Bullón Lobato. Its paintings and engravings include depictions of animals from the Palaeolithic period.

In Roman times, Arunda, now Ronda, existed alongside Acinipo, a separate town elsewhere within the present-day municipal boundaries. Acinipo’s archaeological site preserves a Roman theatre, together with the remains of houses and baths. As Acinipo declined, Arunda became increasingly important in the region.

During the Middle Ages, Ronda developed into a fortified town in al-Andalus and later became an important stronghold of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. Much of the old town’s street layout, the walls, the Arab baths and buildings such as the Casa del Gigante survive from this period.

The forces of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, captured Ronda in 1485. Churches and convents were subsequently built, and the Mercadillo district grew to the north of the Tajo. Two of the town’s best-known landmarks were built in the 18th century: the bullring, inaugurated in 1785, and the Puente Nuevo, completed in 1793.

In the 19th century, the accounts of Romantic travellers introduced Ronda and tales of the Serrania’s bandits to readers across Europe. That past is remembered today in celebrations such as Ronda Romantica.

What to see in Ronda

The Puente Nuevo links the two main areas to explore on foot: El Mercadillo, home to the bullring and the Alameda del Tajo, and La Ciudad, the old town. From La Ciudad, you can walk down towards the Puente Viejo and the Arab baths or continue to the town walls and the San Francisco neighbourhood.

• Puente Nuevo and Interpretation Centre: the bridge spans the Tajo and connects the two parts of town. Its interpretation centre explains the bridge’s construction and surroundings. View the Interpretation Centre on the map.
• Palacio de Mondragon and Municipal Museum: explore the courtyards and gardens and visit the exhibition on the region’s history and archaeology. View the Palacio de Mondragon on the map.
• Museo Lara: collections of art, antiques and historical objects housed in a mansion in the old town. View the Museo Lara on the map.
• Casa Museo Don Bosco: an early 20th-century Modernist mansion with reception rooms, a tiled courtyard and a garden overlooking the Tajo. View the Casa Museo Don Bosco on the map.
• Bullring: inaugurated in 1785, it belongs to the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda. Its two tiers of stone arches are among the building’s most recognisable features. View the bullring on the map.
• Casa del Rey Moro: a complex comprising a neo-Mudejar house, a historic garden and a medieval water mine descending to the river. View the Casa del Rey Moro on the map.
• Arco de Felipe V: this gateway stands on the climb from the Puente Viejo to the old town and can be included in a walk through this part of Ronda. View the Arco de Felipe V on the map.
• Arab baths: beside the Puente Arabe, the surviving chambers of the bathhouse show how these spaces worked in the medieval town.
• Santa Maria la Mayor and Plaza Duquesa de Parcent: the church was built on the site of the former main mosque. The town hall stands on the same square.

The bridges and viewpoints of the Tajo

The Puente Nuevo is 98 metres high and connects La Ciudad with El Mercadillo. Crossing it gives you a view down into the gorge. To photograph the bridge itself, head to one of the nearby viewpoints, each offering a different perspective on its arches and the walls of the Tajo.

Further down are the Puente Viejo and the Puente Arabe, also known as the San Miguel bridge. You can include them in a walk through the Jardines de Cuenca, the Arco de Felipe V and the Arab baths. This route involves slopes and steps, so it takes more effort than a walk around the Puente Nuevo.

In El Mercadillo, the Alameda del Tajo park and the Paseo de Blas Infante offer open views across the Serrania.

Camino del Desfiladero del Tajo

The Camino del Desfiladero del Tajo takes you into the gorge and past the base of the Puente Nuevo. The full route connects the area around Plaza de Maria Auxiliadora with the Arab baths, following paths and a walkway beside the Guadalevin.

You need a ticket for this walk. Children under eight, pushchairs and wheelchairs are not permitted. Wear comfortable shoes with a good grip. You can check the entry conditions and book tickets on the official Desfiladero del Tajo website.

La Ciudad, El Mercadillo and San Francisco

These three neighbourhoods will help you find your way around:

• La Ciudad: the old town, south of the Tajo. Here you will find the Palacio de Mondragon, Santa Maria la Mayor, the Casa del Gigante and other historic buildings.
• El Mercadillo: north of the gorge, this district grew particularly after the conquest of 1485. It includes the bullring, the Alameda del Tajo, Plaza del Socorro and the Carrera Espinel shopping street.
• San Francisco: south of the town walls, beside the Puerta de Almocabar. Ruedo Alameda and the surrounding streets are popular places to stop for food or a drink after visiting the walls.

The Casa del Rey Moro and its water mine

The Casa del Rey Moro brings together structures from different periods. The water mine is medieval, while the neo-Mudejar house incorporates later buildings. The garden was designed in 1912 by landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier for the Duchess of Parcent.

You can visit the garden and the water mine; the house is closed for restoration. A long staircase cut into the rock descends through the mine to the Guadalevin. You return up the same staircase, so bear the climb in mind before going down, particularly if you are visiting with young children or have limited mobility.

Festivals and celebrations in Ronda

Ronda’s celebrations include religious processions, the annual fair and re-enactments of life in the Serrania in the 19th century. These are some of the best-known events:

• Feria de Pedro Romero: this traditional fair usually takes place in early September, with specially decorated fair venues, music and other festivities. One of its best-known events is the Corrida Goyesca, a bullfight in which participants wear costumes inspired by the time of Goya.
• Semana Santa: during Holy Week, religious brotherhoods carry images on processional floats through the streets. It falls in March or April, depending on the date of Easter.
• Ronda Romantica: usually held in late May, this event recreates the atmosphere of the 19th century, with Romantic travellers, muleteers and bandits. Residents of Ronda and surrounding villages take part in period dress, with parades, music and stalls selling food and crafts.
• Carnival: includes carnival groups, fancy dress and community celebrations, with a programme that changes each year.

The Turismo de Ronda website publishes dates and programmes for these celebrations, alongside markets, exhibitions and other cultural activities.

What to eat and drink in Ronda

Ronda’s cooking is rooted in the surrounding mountain countryside, with stews, game, pork and seasonal vegetables. In the town’s bars and restaurants, you can try anything from migas, fried breadcrumbs with chorizo, to lamb dishes or a platter of local cured meats.

Traditional recipes include gachas, a flour-based porridge, broad beans with tomato, garlic and ham, beans with black pudding, and almond or artichoke soups. Other dishes include gazpacho a la serrana, tortilla a la rondeña, lamb stew, Ronda-style rabbit, pork loin stuffed with pine nuts, fried lamb and stewed pig’s trotters.

Products from the Serrania include cured ham, cured pork shoulder and loin, alongside meats such as chorizo, salchichon, bondiola and morcon. Honey, chestnuts, mushrooms and extra virgin olive oil also feature in the local larder, with seasonal produce playing an important role.

Wineries in and around Ronda produce white, rosé and red wines, including wines covered by the Sierras de Malaga designation of origin. Several offer tours and tastings by prior arrangement, giving you the option of combining a walk around town with a visit to the vineyards.

For something sweet, try yemas del Tajo, made with egg yolk and sugar, pestiños, wine-flavoured roscos de vino, gañotes, mantecados or cakes made with olive oil or honey. Other traditional sweets include almond-based quesos de almendra, rosquillas de alfajor, suspiros, batatines and roscos de San Antonio.

How to get to Ronda from Malaga and the airport

Allow around an hour and a half to two hours to drive from Malaga Airport, depending on the route and traffic. One usual route follows the A-357 towards Ardales and then the A-367. From the western Costa del Sol, the A-397 starts in San Pedro de Alcantara and climbs towards Ronda along a winding mountain road.

Driving from the airport

A hire car lets you travel from the airport to Ronda and visit Acinipo, the Cueva de la Pileta or villages in the Serrania during your stay. You can choose where to stop along the way and plan your return to the airport around your own schedule.

car hire Malaga airport

Taxi or private transfer to Ronda

A private transfer takes you from the airport to your accommodation in Ronda without changing transport. It is a convenient option if you are travelling with luggage or would rather avoid driving on the roads through the province’s interior.

Book a transfer to Ronda

*No advance payment is required and cancellation is free. We therefore recommend booking ahead to secure your vehicle and price.

Buses and Renfe connections

Damas runs buses between Malaga bus station and Ronda. To travel by public transport from the airport, first head into Malaga and then take the intercity bus. You can check departures and buy tickets on the Damas website.

Ronda station is on the railway line linking inland Andalusia with Algeciras. Before buying a ticket, check the connections available for your travel date with Renfe and whether any sections are covered by replacement buses because of engineering works or disruption to the line.

Ronda railway station is on Avenida de Andalucia, a few minutes’ walk from the bus station.

Driving routes from the Costa del Sol

As well as the route through Ardales, you can drive from Malaga via Coin, Yunquera and El Burgo, following the A-366. This is a slower route, suitable if you want to spend part of the day visiting villages and stopping in the Sierra de las Nieves. From Marbella and San Pedro de Alcantara, the A-397 takes you directly up to Ronda.

Tourist information for Ronda