Ronda & White Villages Travel Guide
The beautiful Puente Nuevo
Ronda 2 Day Itinerary
Day 1
Promenade Kazunori Yamauchi
Puente Nuevo
Walk across it, and descend to the lower viewpoint beneath it. There is a small cost to do this.
Plaza de María Auxiliadora
Arco del Cristo
Palacio de Mondragón
Explore the rest of La Ciudad (Old Town)
Take a break at Plaza del Silencio
Rhonda Bridge Best Viewpoint Sunset
Day 2
Mirador de Aldehuela
Jardines de Cuenca
The walk back is steep but the views here allow you to do it slowly
Puente de las Curtidurí
Muralla Arabe de Ronda
Arab Baths
Casa Del Rey Moro
Puerta de Cijara
Minaret of San Sebastian
Plaza de Toros
If you only have one day, combine the days, but avoid going into some of the attractions so you can fit everything in.
Travel Tips
Málaga is the closest airport, about 105km away, roughly an hour and 15 minutes by car. From Seville it's around 130km, and from Granada about 178km.
Renting a car gives you the most freedom to explore Andalucia at your own pace. However, Ronda's roads are narrow and street parking is limited, though there are several underground car parks and most major hotels have parking or can point you to the nearest option. If you're driving, arriving early gives you the best chance of finding a free spot particularly in high season.
The shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October are the sweet spots. Everything is in bloom in May, the weather is perfect, and crowds are manageable. The one time to avoid is July and August, when temperatures regularly rise over 38°C.
Most people visit Ronda as a day trip, but it's worth more than that. It's a city best enjoyed at a slow, leisurely pace, and the bridge and gorge take on an even more magical character when the day trippers have left. If you can spare the time, there's plenty to keep you occupied for at least two days.
The bridge is the reason most people visit Ronda and it gets very crowded. Stay overnight so you can see it at its quietest, or at sunset when it's most beautiful. For views of the bridge rather than from it, cross over to the new side of town and follow the path down to Mirador de Puente Nuevo.
Ronda actually has three bridges crossing the canyon. The Puente Viejo dates to the early 1600s, is pedestrian only, and offers great views of the countryside and gorge below. Most visitors only see the Puente Nuevo, seeing all three gives you a much richer sense of the town's layered history.
The Palace of the Moorish King has beautiful terraced gardens and over 200 steps leading down to a secret mine that brings you out at the river at the bottom of the gorge. One of the more memorable physical experiences in town.
Wear comfortable shoes, Ronda's cobblestone streets and steep paths around the gorge require sturdy footwear.
Staying in the central area is ideal, you can walk to all the main attractions easily, and the car can stay in the garage the entire time you're there.
For the best photos of the bridge, aim for early morning or late afternoon, midday light is flat and the crowds are at their worst.
Walk 20 minutes in any direction from the centre and you'll find yourself out in open countryside, Ronda rewards those who wander beyond the obvious tourist circuit.
Ronda has a genuine local food scene that isn't entirely overrun with tourist menus. La Abacería Ronda is a standout tapas spot, and Confitería Daver is worth a visit for its small chocolate-topped cookies, take them over to Plaza del Socorro to eat. Mesón Carmen de la Ronda near Plaza Duquesa de Parcent has outdoor tables set up in the square, a lovely spot for lunch.