A guide to the town of Ronda - Malaga province

A trip to Ronda is such a memorable experience

Ronda

Despite being a growing town, Ronda retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the rio Guadalevín through its centre. Visitors make a beeline for the 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge, which straddles the 100m chasm below, before taking in the views from the Alameda out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains.

LA Almazara, is a contemporary olive oil mill and museum designed by the French artist Philippe Starck. © Michelle Chaplow

LA Almazara Olive Oil Mill, Ronda - by Philippe Starck

The LA Almazara Olive Oil Mill just outside Ronda is designed by Philippe Starck to provide an immersive experience that captures the essence of extra virgin olive oil.

It is well worth staying over in Ronda and enjoying the fabulous sunsets and sunrises over the valley.

Hotels in Ronda

Ronda is a historic town which draws visitors to its stunning gorge, beautiful buildings and famous bullring. Many of its hotels are located on the cliff edge, with spectacular views over the… More →

Ronda is one of the most beautiful towns in Andalucia.

Main sites in Ronda

Ronda is one of Andalucia's loveliest towns, steeped in history. There is plenty to see beyond the view from the bridge over the plunging gorge which divides the town. Below are the main… More →

A trip to Ronda is such a memorable experience

Ronda

Despite being a growing town, Ronda retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge… More →

Ronda is one of the most piquresque towns in Andalucia

Tours around Ronda

See below a selection of excellent tours in and around Ronda town, perfect opportunities to see some of the interesting monuments and things to see in Ronda without the hassle of having to… More →

Bodega Gonzalo Beltrán, Ronda

Ronda Wines

The area of wine production known as the Serrania de Ronda forms part of the DO Sierras of Malaga, producing what are popularly known as 'the Ronda Wines'. Here modern bodegas at over 750m… More →

Hacienda Los Olivos Ronda

Holiday Villas near Ronda

Ronda is home to some of the most beautiful villas in Andalucia. Usually located in the scenic countryside surrounding the town, villas in Ronda offer spectacular views and often come with private… More →

Ronda's Feria Goyesca is pure historic pageantry

Ronda's Feria Goyesca

Ronda is an ancient mountain town of scenic vistas, omantic plazas, and historic treasures. Once a year, Ronda also sees a return to tradition with its annual Feria Goyesca. A fairly recent… More →

There are charming apartments and town houses to rent in Ronda

Apartments to Rent in Ronda

Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaga province due to its dramatic setting and historic and cultural heritage, it is no surprise that Ronda has an abundance of self-catering… More →

Andalucia by bus

Ronda Bus Timetables

Ronda bus station is located in the new part of the town, only four blocks along the Avenida de Andalucia from the train station and about 5 minutes' walk from the historic town centre. It is… More →

Puente Nuevo in Ronda — a breathtaking 18th-century stone bridge spanning the deep El Tajo gorge © Michelle Chaplow

History of Ronda

Somewhere along the way, Ronda became known as "the Eagles' Nest". There was deliberate irony in the name. On the one hand a simple, mildly poetic reference to its perch high in the mountains… More →

Casa Ortega, Plaza Socorro 17, Ronda

Restaurants

Ronda has no shortage when it comes to finding a place to eat. There are restaurants and tapas bars located all around the town, some with terraces that provide an idyllic place to sit and enjoy… More →

Bullfighting in Ronda

Bullfighting History

Pedro Romero did not "invent" bullfighting. The origins of Andalucía's strange, compelling ritual are lost in time, and are almost certainly rooted in some forgotten rite of passage of the shadowy… More →

The spectacular setting of Ronda situated on top a of deep gorge spanned by a magnificent stone bridge

Ronda - Five Fascinating Facts

Best-known for its spectacular setting atop a deep gorge spanned by a stone bridge, Ronda has a rich cultural and literary tradition, and is the home of modern bullfighting. Every September, the… More →

Bullring

Ronda is also famous as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, today glimpsed once a year at the spectacular Feria Goyesca. Held at the beginning of September, here fighters and some of the audience dress in the manner of Goya's sketches of life in the region. Legendary Rondeño bullfighter Pedro Romero broke away from the prevailing Jerez 'school' of horseback bullfighting in the 18th century to found a style of bullfighting in which matadores stood their ground against the bull on foot. The bullring, Plaza de Toros, is now a museum, and visitors can stroll out into the arena.

Townhouse in Ronda town

Townhouse with unspoilt views, two pools and a Finnish sauna located around the corner from Ronda's historical old town. Sleeps 6 people.

Rustical Luxury Villas

A selection of hand picked holiday villa rentals in beautiful countryside around Ronda from Rustical Travel.
All with private pools and grounds.

COBBLED STREETS

Across the bridge, where an elegant cloistered 16th century convent is now an art museum, old Ronda, La Ciudad, sidewinds off into cobbled streets hemmed by handsome town mansions, some still occupied by Ronda's titled families. The Casa de Don Bosco is one such, its interior patio long ago roofed in glass against Ronda's harsh winters. Its small, almost folly-like gardens lose out, however, to the true star, a few minutes' walk to the furthest end of the Ciudad, the Palacio Mondragón. Clumsily modernised in parts during the 1960s, this still has working vestiges of the exquisite miniature water gardens dating from its time as a Moorish palace during Ronda's brief reign as a minor Caliphate under Córdoba in the 12th century.

The cobbled alley to the Mondragón leads naturally on to Ronda's loveliest public space, the leafy Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, which boasts a convent, two churches, including the toytown belltower of the iglesia Santa Maria de Mayor, and the handsome arched ayuntamiento (council) building. Nearby calle Armiñan leads down to the spacious plaza of the traditional workers' barrio, San Francisco, with excellent bars and restaurants. Back from the Mondragón, the Plaza del Campillo overlooks steps that zigzag down to a dramatic eye-level through the Puente Nuevo.

The town's pedestrianised 'high street', calle Espinel, opposite the bullring, is nicknamed 'La Bola' and is where Rondeños go for virtually everything and is interesting to r those visitors who like old fashioned shops.

The Camino del Desfiladero del Tajo

The Camino del Desfiladero del Tajo, which opened to the public for the first time on the 18th April 2024, offers new persepctives and breathtaking views of the Ronda Gorge (Tajo de Ronda) by taking visitors to the very bottom of the gorge and also right up next to the bridge's foundations. Across its first two days of opening, the Desfiladero del Tajo proved to be popular amongst tourists with 1,300 people visiting. The current first phase of the pathway is 250 metres long but plans are already in place to extend the route to 750 metres taking visitors to the Arab baths.Tickets cost a flat rate of five euros per person for the first phase.

Self-Guided Audio Tour in Ronda

Andalucia's City Of Dreams: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Ronda

EUR

Looking for a way to see Ronda’s miradors, bridges and history without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this walking tour: All in 75 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish. Unlimited use before your booking date and after it. Use the virtual tour option at home.

More info, prices and booking →

Walking guide books by Guy Hunter Watts

Buy walking guide books by Guy Hunter Watts

"Walking in Andalucia" by Guy Hunter Watts

Walking in Andalucía is a 260 page full colour guide to some of the very best walks in southern Spain, taking the walker on 34 routes - all starting and most finishing in beautiful villages - in the Natural Parks of Grazalema, La Alpujarra, Cazorla, Los Alcornocales, Aracena, and La Axarquia. Many of the full and half day walks are virtually unknown even though they are a short drive from the Costa del Sol. Even though more and more people are beginning to walk Spain's southern sierras, most of the routes remain blissfully undiscovered. Guy says, 'If you decide to head for the hills with my guide you can be sure of two things: you will be walking through areas of great natural beauty and you will meet with other walkers.'
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Walking in Andalucia.

"The Andalucian coast to coast walk " by Guy Hunter Watts

A stunning 21 day, 435 kilometre trail that links the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. The walk passes through six of Andalucia's Natural Parks and protected areas via its most beautiful mountain villages. Far more than a long walk, this on-foot odyssey can lead you to the heart of southern Spain's magnificent sierras and on a life-changing journey of discovery. One of the best things about the simple act of walking is the sense of reconnecting with Nature and the Big Wide World. We've been moving around on two feet for a very long time yet still, in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the next and moving across landscape, it seems that we reassert our identity. Day to day worries fall into insignificance, or rather true significance, when we get out into the mountains and walking is about a lot more than taking exercise.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers The Andalucian Coast-to-coast Walk.

"Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema" by Guy Hunter Watts

The dramatically situated town of Ronda can make a great base for a walking holiday in the mountains of Andalucía, as can any one of the picturesque 'pueblos blancos' (white villages) that nestle among the surrounding hills. This guidebook presents 32 mainly circular walks in the Ronda region, covering the town and its environs, the Natural Parks of La Sierra de Grazalema and La Sierra de las Nieves (both UNESCO biosphere reserves), and the Genal and Guadiaro Valleys. Clear route description is illustrated with mapping, and the route summary table and 'at a glance' information boxes make it easy to choose the right walk.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema.