Ronda city is located on the Andalusian mountain plateau just over an hour’s drive from the beach resorts of the Spanish Costa del Sol. It’s a white city – Pueblos Blancos floats over the El Tajo cliffs, with the best views of the hills and olive plantations.
When is the best time to go to Ronda
The climate of Ronda is slightly different from the general climate of Andalusia. The fact is that it is not as hot in summer as, for example, in Cordoba and Seville. Therefore, in summer, you can travel here safely, but plan so that daytime walks can be reduced. This time can be spent, for example, in the hotel or pension pool – there are many such options in Ronda.
Spring and autumn are the perfect time to walk along the Ronda. We were there in May and it was already a bit hot. In March and April, it’s still green, with lots of water in the Guadalevín River. In the fall, it is almost without water after a hot summer.
Spring and fall are also the time for festivals that are worth seeing, such as the Romantic Ronda in May and the Goyesca bullfight in September.
It can rain in Ronda in winter, but the tourist flow does not stop even at this time of year. But in winter time there are much fewer tourists, and housing prices are much cheaper.
What to see and do in Ronda
Ronda is one of the oldest cities in Spain. It was originally inhabited by the Celts and later by the Romans and Moors, and you can feel its history all around you in its cobblestone streets, old mansions, and stone churches.
Even though scientists have found cave paintings of ancient people dating back more than 12,000 years, the first inhabitants of Ronda are considered to be the Celts, who settled here in the 6th century BC. They called this area Arunda. Maybe that’s why this city is now called Ronda. Then, in 200 BC, the city was turned into a Roman fortress. And over the next 2+ millennia, it was Roman, Visigothic, Berber, and Christian.
And now it’s a city with a tourist gem. This diverse history is the reason why Ronda’s Old Town is so wonderful, with ancient monuments on every corner. There are also great restaurants, picturesque places to enjoy a beer on the terrace. It’s very exciting, really.
1.Ponta Nuevo Bridge
The Ponta Nuevo Bridge is Ronda’s visiting card. It appears in almost all the photos and postcards advertising the city. Puente Nuevo translates as “new bridge” – it was built for over 42 years and completed in 1793.
The Ponta Nuevo Bridge is one of many in Ronda, but very impressive. The observation decks over a 100-meter gorge where the Guadalevín River flows. In the spring, the river under the bridge turns into a real waterfall, and in the summer it turns into a stream due to the heat.
It was the river that over millions of years cut through the gorge that separates the old Arab neighborhoods of the Medina from the New Mercadillo (Small Market) district of Ronda.
This bridge offers an unforgettable view of El Tajo Gorge. And near this bridge is one of the most famous hotels in Spain the Parador. This is one of the hotels of the Parador, which are located in all the famous cities of Spain and in ancient palaces and even monasteries. If you don’t stay there, you can at least order a glass of wine at the bar with an unforgettable view.
The best viewpoints overlooking the Ponte Nuevo Bridge
There are four most interesting points of view. You can admire the bridge from different angles and sides:
- Go down a few steps and walk along a sandy path for about 10 minutes to see the bridge from a stunning viewing angle(this is the place). From this place you can also see a beautiful waterfall under the bridge.
2. Take a look at the Porte Nuovo Bridge from the free Jardines De Cuenca garden – it’s a different view of the bridge, and it’s also nice to wander through the gardens where roses bloom.
3. Or the Mirador de Aldehuela observation deck, which you have to walk through the entire Moorish part of the Old Town and bypass along the Ctra. de los Molinos. There is a very nice view of the bridge, by the way, if you don’t have time or desire to walk here on foot, you can take a taxi.
4. If you have more time, go down to the gorge along the Camino de Los Molinos. The views from here are also the best. In spring, the whole valley is covered with flowers. Entrance fee: 2,50€
2.The square and the Church del Socorro
Until 1981, Plaza del Socorro was named after dictator Franco. Today it is a nice and cozy square in the new part of Ronda surrounded by beautiful houses. It’s a great place to have a morning coffee or a glass of wine in the evening.
While you sitting in the cafe, you can admire the white and yellow facade of the church Iglesia del Socorro. In the center of the square, there is a fountain with the Coat of Arms of Andalusia. This fountain is a gathering place for tourist groups during the day. And in the evening it is nice to sit on warm stone benches near the cool fountain.
3.Garden Jardines De Cuenca
Directly on one side of the cliff, on various ledges of Tajo Canyon, you will find the Jardines de Cuenca (Cuenca Gardens). The gardens were dedicated to Ronda’s sister city, Cuenca (Ecuador). They have similar geographical locations, albeit on different continents. Stroll through the beautiful rose gardens, admiring the fantastic views of all three bridges and the valley of the river flowing below, hiding in the shade between the rocks.
Garden opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 22:00, free admission.
4.Felipe V Arch
Felipe V Arch is located directly next to the Jardines de Cuenca. This is a stone arch that is part of the city walls of Ronda. The arch was named after Felipe V, the first Bourbon king of Spain. This happened because he helped to restore the Spanish economy after the War of Succession in the 18th century.
From here you get to the La Ciudad district, the oldest and most beautiful part of the city, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.
5.La Casa del Rey Moro
On the other side of the cliff, opposite the Jardines de Cuenca, there is a beautiful estate overlooking the valley. This is the house of the Moorish king – La Casa del Rey Moro. The grounds of this estate consist of hanging gardens with a couple of fountains. Peacocks feel very good here, roaming freely in the garden of La Casa del Rey Moro.
Despite its name, this legendary palace was never actually home to a Moorish king. In fact, the only real relic the house has from the Moorish occupation is a 14th-century underground water mine. You can also visit it.
Opening hours: Monday through Sunday from 10:00 to 21:30.
6.Arabian baths
Arab baths in Ronda are located in the old Jewish quarter. Despite their extraordinary architectural designs, they were abandoned (Christian morality did not allow certain practices of body purification). Frequent flooding of the Guadalupe River eventually buried them under layers of time.
Modern excavations have allowed us to see these unique structures again. Three baths are now open – a cold, warm, and hot bath with barrel-vaulted roofs and star-shaped skylights connected by arches. Boilers and water transportation systems have also been partially preserved.
The Arabian Baths in Ronda are the largest and best preserved on the Iberian Peninsula.
7.The old Moorish city
A quiet stroll along the Ronda is a good idea if you do it in the morning or after siesta in the evening (if you come here in the summer). This way you can appreciate every detail of the city center, and there are a lot of these details.
Of course, it is necessary to visit the Plaza de la Duquesa de Parcent, located in the Old Town, where the Real Colegiata de Santa María de la Encarnación la Mayor stands out, as well as to see the City Hall with its magnificent double arched facade. The square is closed by the Santa Isabel de los Angeles Monastery.
Find the church of Santa Maria la Major – during the Moorish period it was the largest mosque in the former Medina. Before it was a Roman temple. Catholic monarchs built a Gothic-style church on the site of the mosque.
Espírito Santo Church is worth a look inside to see the main rococo altar.
8.Bullring
I highly recommend going to see the Bullring of the Royal Cavalry of Ronda and the Bullring Museum, which is located near the green Alameda del Tajo Park. It is one of the oldest and largest arenas in the world. In fact, Ronda is considered to be one of the cradles of modern bullfighting, which emerged in the eighteenth century.
The stone structure of the bullring, a double amphitheater with arches and columns, with a gable roof made of Moorish tiles, is worth a visit. It was here in 1954 that the world-famous Goya bullfighting center (Goyesca), was created in honor of the world-famous artist Francisco Goya. In 1815, Goya created a series of engravings called Tauromachia, which became the source of inspiration for the style and concept of this bullfight.
By the way, this year the Bullring of the Royal Cavalry in Ronda turns 450 years old, a jubilee year.
In the first week of September, Ronda celebrates Pedro Romero’s feria. One of the main events in bullfighting these days is Goyesca. The Goyesca in Ronda includes not only the bullfight itself, but also the preceding costume show, when the “Dama Goyesca” (Ladies of Goyesca), dressed in 18th-century-style dresses, ride through the city on elegant carriages, catching admiring glances from fans.
Ticket price for the Arena and the museum: 8 Euros
9. Viewpoints overlooking the Ronda Valley
The city of Ronda seems to be flying over an abyss. You can see the best views of the neighboring mountains from its cliffs. In addition, there are many observation decks. One of the most popular and free is Mirador de Ronda near the openwork gazebo.
The other one is on the Old Town side, located on the Pl. de María Auxiliadora square – it has very nice views, and in the evening it’s nice to sit by the fountain or in one of the restaurants or cafes.
10.Tapas bars and restaurants in Ronda
A must-visiting part of Ronda’s program is her incredibly delicious and atmospheric tapas bars. The tapas culture in Andalusia is very developed – there is a wide variety of snacks, and sometimes it is impossible to stop – you want to try everything!
Tapas – (translated as a lid), Spanish appetizers that are added to a glass of wine or beer. Sometimes tapas is included in the price of this glass. But more often than not, it’s individual small sandwiches, small portions of salad, fried seafood or rolls with it, fried potato croquettes with jamon, and many different others.
After or while walking around and visiting palaces and museums, you will definitely feel hungry. But Ronda is a great place to satisfy it in tapas bars. The city has a great gastronomic tradition, especially about jamon and incredibly tasty tomatoes. They are huge and very crooked, but so sweet – I ate them only in my childhood. At Ronda, they even display tomatoes on the bar – it’s a source of pride and a sign that you can order the Tomate aliñado salad, which is sliced tomatoes drizzled with a delicious balsamic sauce and marinated anchovies.
Ronda has its own street with many restaurants – Calle Nueva. There are purely tourist pizzerias, as well as good taverns.
We lived nearby, on a street with tapas bars called C. Virgen de los Remedios. There are many good places to eat and experience the atmosphere of such establishments:
- Bodeguita El Coto – good prices, delicious tapas and beer.
- Taperia La Flamenka is our favorite taproom, where the food is delicious, inexpensive, and friendly.
- La Abacería Ronda – was under the windows of our room, it’s always fun in the evenings.
- Los Caracoles is the best tapas bar in Ronda, where you should try their specialty – snails (caracoles), and the restaurant is named after them.
Festivals in Ronda
We didn’t plan to go to any festival, and even I hadn’t heard of Ronda’s fiestas. But we were very lucky to see one of the most famous festivals, Ronda Romantica.
During this fiesta in Ronda, you can enjoy parades. During Ronda Romántica, residents and visitors of the city dress in typical costumes of the Romantic era – the 18th century of Napoleon’s time. There are also performances on horseback, which dance together with flamenco riders.
I was impressed by the fact that every year local people take part in the festival. And they make their costumes-not for tourists, but primarily for themselves. And they enjoy the process, from parading through the city to a party near the fortress, where they enjoy listening to music, drinking wine and beer, and dancing in the streets.
Where to stay in Ronda
I recommend staying in Ronda for two nights. This way you will have time to see not only this city, but also to visit the neighboring white villages – Setenil de las Bodegas and Juscar (Smurfs’ village).
We lived in the center of the Old Town , two blocks from the Puente Nova bridge. There were a lot of taverns and tapas bars on the street, which didn’t bother me, on the contrary, I didn’t have to come back for a long time at night after a delicious dinner.
- Catalonia Ronda≫ – is a beautiful hotel in the city center with a rooftop pool. The view from the pool to the bullfighting arena and fantastic views around Ronda.
- Ronda Hotel Polo≫ – is a nice hotel with affordable prices in the city center.
- Apartamentos Avanel≫ – apartments in Ronda’s old town with a private pool – are a good option in summer.
How to get to Ronda
We visited Ronda during our trip to Andalusia – it was the first point of our route. In order to get to Andalusia, I advise you to look for flights. The closest airports are Malaga or Seville. Or fly with cheap tickets to Madrid and from there you can get by car or train to Malaga, from there you can get to Ronda
What you will need to travel to Andalusia
- The first of all you need a car that will help you drive this entire route, and maybe more, across Spain in a week. Rent a car right after your arrival and travel the beautiful roads of this country. By the way, expressways are tolled, with the same payment system as in Italy. That is, before entering the toll road, you take a ticket in front of the barrier, and at the exit, you pay for the kilometers you have traveled. I recommend looking for a car on Rentalcars.com – here you can find budget and more comfortable car options.
- Book your accommodation in advance – prices in the high season in Spain, as in other countries, rise. Booking.com allows you to find discounted options, as well as book accommodation with the possibility of free cancellation.
- If you don’t want to drive a car, you can use buses or trains. I buy bus tickets in Spain on the website of the Spanish carrier Alsa
- Train tickets in Spain – on the website of the Spanish railway company Renfe .
Useful articles and links:
- Venice – a small trip for three days
- Rome in winter – what to see in three days
- Winter in Portugal – go to Lisbon!
