10 Things to do in Ronda, Spain

Have you ever heard of Ronda? This picturesque city is a must-visit if you’re in the Andalusia area, so I’ve created a guide to the top things to do in Ronda to help you plan the perfect day trip there.

Just over an hour from Málaga and an hour from Marbella, this picturesque Spanish mountain city in Andalucía is known as ‘The City of Dreams’. It’s easy to see why.

The destination wasn’t on my radar until my press trip exploring the best places to go in Costa del Sol with Jet2, but now that I’ve been, I can’t understand why Ronda isn’t plastered all over Instagram.

One day in Ronda is enough to see the town’s main attractions on a day-trip if you’re staying in Malaga or elsewhere.

I spent one perfect day exploring the most enchanting places to see in Ronda and fell head over heels for the city’s quiet charm, dramatic scenery and pristine white streets.

It’s no wonder that Ronda is secretly known by those who want to keep it for themselves as one of the most romantic places in the world.

Things to do in Ronda, Spain on a day trip

Ronda is one of those cities that doesn’t need a catalogue of tourist attractions to delight visitors. It’s enough to just wander around, taking the place in for what it is – but there are some must-sees and unique things to do in Ronda that you won’t want to miss.

Here’s my little guide to the loveliest things to do in Ronda, including the best things to see and do, plus where to eat in Ronda.

1. Discover Ronda’s pull for creatives

Hemingway came to Spain and fell in love with Ronda, famously describing it as, “where you should go if you ever go to Spain on a honeymoon or if you ever bolt with anyone. The entire town and as far as you can see in any direction is romantic background…”

He wasn’t wrong!

In fact, many famous historic figures have fallen in love with Ronda, and the city has a wall mural dedicated to the 19th century Viajeros Romanticos, or ‘Romantic Travellers’, whose art was inspired by Ronda’s rugged scenery and tranquil ambience.

2. Take in one of most beautiful views in Spain

An ominous, 150m-deep gorge slices Ronda in two, creating an absolutely stunning view from every vantage point. Ronda’s old Islamic-era town sits to the south of the ravine while the newer part of the city is to the north.

On each side, white-painted buildings nestle atop the craggy sandstone peaks in a majestic face-off with one another, high above the Guadalevín River.

A grand bridge spans the gorge linking the two parts of the city, and this bridge has many tales of bloodshed attached to it from the Spanish Civil War.

‘Puente Nuevo’ (New Bridge) is only new by Ronda’s rather laid-back standards – it was built in the 18th century. It’s part of Ronda’s charm to still be calling a centuries old bridge ‘new’!

The not-so-new bridge is one of three bridges that cross the El Tajo gorge. It took more than 40 years to build and is undoubtedly the number one thing to see when you visit Ronda.

3. Get Instagram shots of a white city

Andalucía is littered with ‘white towns’ or ‘pueblos blancos’, but Ronda is the largest of them all.

News to your Instagram-addicted ears? Forget Santorini – you need to visit Ronda to get that grid poppin’! 

It’s almost as if the city’s white buildings are a natural part of the landscape, and the confusion of Arabic and Roman ruins add to Ronda’s visual uniqueness.

4. Climb Ronda’s craggy peaks

Walking around Ronda is a pleasure in itself, and as I peered over the gorge I never would have imagined that you could tackle it with your hands and feet. But you can!

We walked a little of the way down then got rigged up with some climbing gear and had a go at climbing up the ravine.

This has to be one of the most unique things you can do in Ronda and is great fun. Plus, the views of the bridge are unrivalled.

If you don’t fancy climbing, you can just pack a picnic and walk down the gorge’s pathway. Make sure you save some energy for the steep walk back up!

5. Visit one of Spain’s oldest bullfighting rings

Ronda is famously home to the oldest bullfighting ring in Europe, ‘Plaza del Toros’, built in a Neoclassical style by a fraternity in 1785. It holds 5000 people.

Now, attitudes to bullfighting are changing in Spain and today there are only three fights per year in Ronda, with ten per cent less fights in Spain every year.

Regardless of how cruel a sport it is, it’s undoubtedly an important part of Spanish history and so the bullring is an interesting place to visit in Ronda.

The current King of Spain doesn’t use the royal box, which shows just how much opinions are shifting. Ronda’s bullring is now used mainly as a riding school, which coincidentally looks back to the start of bullfighting in Spain, when the fighters were on horseback.

There’s a small collection of artefacts displayed at the bullfighting ring, and among these are some of the costumes worn by Spain’s most famous bullfighters.

Is it just me, or are the jackets all kinds of outfit goals?

This walking tour of Ronda includes entrance to the bullring.

6. Eat delicious Andalucian food

After a day of sightseeing in Ronda, you’re bound to work up an appetite.

The most famous bullfighter in Ronda’s history is Pedro Romero, whose grandfather is credited with penning the modern day rules for bullfighting.

We ate lunch at a cosy restaurant named after Pedro, which is among the best places to eat in Ronda. The small restaurant is filled with locals, has the rather disconcerting head of a bull glaring down at you as you eat, and serves mouthwatering food.

I definitely wasn’t expecting posh restaurant quality food when I sat down, but that’s what I got. The oxtail and cod are both popular local favourites.

7. Drink local wine

The wine scene is growing in Ronda, with 23 small wineries opening around the city in the past 20 years. Wine from Ronda isn’t really served in Ronda restaurants, but you can pick it up in local shops – along with other local delicacies like sausage, olive oil and cheese.

Book a winery tour if you’d like to learn more about wine made in the area.

8. Walk the city’s charming streets

Walking around Ronda is the perfect way to wile away an afternoon. The older Moorish part of the city, La Ciudad, is a rabbits warren of white-washed houses and churches.

The newer part, El Mercadillo, has broader streets and its buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries.

We spent some time getting lost down the city’s arteries after a guided tour.

A walking tour is a great way to get to grips with Ronda.

While I was in Ronda I learned that long before the official bullfighting rings were built, the fights took place in town plazas. Can you imagine?!

If you’re a bookworm like me and Ronda sounds familiar, it might be because Ernest Hemingway wrote about Ronda’s main square in For Whom the Bell Tolls.

It’s hard to believe that around 35,000 people live in Ronda! What I loved is that it’s relatively devoid of tourists, meaning you experience a more local feel.

The few coach tours depart in the early evening, so it would be interesting to really get to grips with the city after sundown.

8. See an extra special view at Casa don Busco

The modernist style house in the heart of old Ronda in Calle Tenorio once belonged to one of Ronda’s wealthy families. Today, the house is a retirement home for priests.

The public can visit the ground floor and gardens, and from this vantage point you can take in sweeping views of Ronda’s canyon.

The garden itself, as well as the house’s interior decor, is beautifully decorated in Arabic style mosaics. These tranquil gardens are a perfect, romantic spot to watch Ronda’s magnificent sunset.

9. Visit the local church

Be sure to peek into another Ronda must-see, Iglesia de Santa María La Mayor in Ronda’s Town Hall square, the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent.

The church was a mosque in the 14th century and is even more beautiful inside.

10. Watch the world go by

Plaza Duquesa de Parcent is one of the best spots for people-watching in Ronda.

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Other things to do in Ronda

• Baños Arabes – Arab baths
• Museum of Bandits
• Ronda Museum
• Museo Lara
• Landscaped terraces of Casa del Rey Moro

How to get to Ronda in Spain

You can fly to Malaga and visit Ronda for a day trip from there. It takes around an hour and a half to get from Malaga to Ronda by car.

You can book day trips from various popular places in Spain on Get Your Guide. Check out some of the options below.

Where to stay in Ronda

Parador de Ronda is the best choice for those seeking luxurious accommodation in Ronda.

Hotel Catalonia Reina Victoria Wellness & Spa offers a little indulgence if you’re after a relaxing break at a lower price.

Hotel Montelirio has an outdoor pool with incredible views of the gorge.

Check out all Ronda hotels and accommodation on booking.com.

Booking.com

See more of Spain

Read my one day guide to  Málaga

Discover the best places to go in Costa del Sol

Magical villages you can visit from Benidorm

Where to eat good food in Benidorm

Where to see the alternative side of Benidorm

Whether you’re looking for a European city break destination that’s relatively off the beaten path, or are staying in a nearby Costa del Sol area like Málaga or Marbella; I highly recommend spending at least one day exploring beautiful, romantic Ronda.

All photographs were taken on my Olympus Pen E-PL7.

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As mentioned at the beginning of this post, I visited Ronda on a press trip with Jet2. Opinions are my own.

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