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Best Things to Do in the Beautiful Town of Ronda, Spain

“Lovely promenades, fine wine, excellent food, nothing to do…”

This is how Ernest Hemingway described Ronda after spending much of a summer there in 1959. I’m not entirely sure I’d agree there is nothing to do, as I found plenty of things to do in Ronda, but it is one of those places where the best things to do mostly involve walking and looking.

Things to do in Ronda Spain

Walk around the narrow cobbled streets in the shadow of centuries-old homes, walk across the Puente Nuevo, an 18th-century stone bridge, and look down into the gorge that Ronda spans, walk down towards the river 100 metres below and look back at the magnificent archway that makes up the bridge itself, walk along the cliffs above and look at the valleys below.

You get the idea of things to do in Ronda… Ronda, in its current form, has been around since Roman times, and its popularity over time is owed in part to people like Hemingway and other notable people visiting and partly because it is considered to be the origin of bullfighting as it is today.

For whatever reason, Ronda is consistently ranked as one of Spain’s most beautiful towns, and after finally visiting, I’m going to have to agree it deserves a spot on the prettiest places in Spain list at least!

Things to do in Ronda Spain

Where is Ronda in Spain?

Ronda is in the Malaga province of Andalucia, in the south of Spain.

Andalucia was the part of Spain that was under Moorish rule for the longest and as a result, hosts some of the most beautiful places in Spain because of their architecture and often beautiful surroundings.

Ronda is one of those mountain towns dramatically placed at the top of a gorge separating the new and old towns.

“We sighted Ronda. It was raised up in the mountains, like a natural extension of the landscape, and in the sunlight it seemed to me to be the most beautiful city in the world.” – J. Agustín Goytisolo, Spanish poet and scholar.

Things to do in Ronda Spain

How to get to Ronda

Ronda is about 1.5 hours from Malaga, 2 hours from Seville and 2 hours from Cadiz by car.

There are well-connected bus services to all those major cities and more, or if you want to get their faster and often cheaply, you can try Blabla Car, a car-sharing service.

Because of Ronda’s proximity to Malaga and Seville, it makes a great day trip from either of those places. There are some organised day tours from those cities, but I always like to make my own way if I can.

You can also take the train to Ronda from Malaga or Cordoba for two hours, so it can be a day trip from plenty of places.

From Ronda, you might want to explore more white villages in Cadiz or other nearby places.

Things to do in Ronda Spain

Things to do in Ronda

As I mentioned above, the best things to do in Ronda can be seen just by walking around, but there are a few specifics to watch out for.

Puente Nuevo

The biggest attraction in Ronda has to be this bridge spanning the El Tajo gorge.

The “New Bridge” is the largest of three that join the old and new towns. It’s the best thing to do in Ronda by far!

From the top, it is rather inconspicuous, but it took more than 40 years to build up brick by brick from the river 100 metres below.

You can view it from both sides at the top, but it’s the most magnificent from down in the valley below.

The bridge does have a tragic history, as 50 works were killed before it was finished in 1751.

There is a small chamber in the centre that was used as a prison, and during the Spanish Civil War, both sides are said to have used it as a torture chamber and to have thrown captured opponents from the windows to the riverbed below.

If you walk down below the bridge, there are several different paths that lead you to the base of the bridge or right down to the valley below. I spent well over an hour wandering the paths. Just remember you’ll have to walk back up again!

Things to do in Ronda Spain

Paseo de Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway wrote TWO works based on bullfighting, Fiesta, and A Dangerous Summer, inspired by his time in Ronda watching bullfighting.

There is now a pathway named after him in the new town (the left-hand side of the below picture) with stunning views of the valley and area around Ronda.

The Moorish Palace (La Casa del Rey Moro)

Although it was technically built after the Christians came to Ronda, it is on the Moorish side of town.

You can’t enter the palace itself, but you can walk down a stone staircase to see the Water Mine which dates back to the Moorish time and is said to be where Christian slaves had to carry water up to the town.

Ronda Spain-4

Ronda Bullring (Plaza de Toros)

The bullring in Ronda was built in the 18th century, and it has an important place in Spanish culture because it’s known as the birthplace of modern bullfighting.

It is the oldest bullring to house a bullfight in Spain and the only one to be entirely made of stone. Although it doesn’t seat the most people, it does have the biggest ground space.

Bullfighting is a controversial sport now, but it does still take place here one week in the year. At other times you can view the bullring and museum.

Things to do in Ronda Spain

Arab Baths

These were originally outside the city walls and date back to the late 13th century. They are some of the best-preserved Arab Baths in Spain.

Ronda city walls

Ronda’s elevation and position allowed the city to develop securely against attack. So much so the medieval city walls and gates didn’t even join up in many places.

You can walk around the old city walls and through the gates for more views of Ronda and beyond.

“…in Ronda there are many streets which take us to ourselves. The gorge has no obligations to the guides. One leans over the edge of it and may find in its depths fear, prophecies, prayers or poems” – José María Pemán, Spanish journalist, poet and novelist.

Things to do in Ronda Spain

Places to stay in Ronda

While you’re visiting Ronda I’d recommend staying within walking distance of the centre so that you can easily get around. The beauty of Ronda is that it’s small and walkable! 

We stayed in an Airbnb in the new part of Ronda. There are lots of apartments for rent, and if you sign up here you’ll get credit for your first stay.

I also use Booking.com to search for apartment rentals and have had great success since sometimes people list them there but not Airbnb!

Things to do in Ronda Spain

Have you heard of Ronda before?

Sonja x

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11 thoughts on “Best Things to Do in the Beautiful Town of Ronda, Spain

  1. Zoltán says:

    Yes Sonja..it’s a stunning, wonderful place..and even better if you do have knowledge – or just like it – about the Moorish history..I’m lucky enough to spend a day there..thanks for remind me.. 🙂

  2. Kathy Wallis says:

    Looking to return there in the summer, but concerned about the awful sewage smell when I was there before. Have they fixed that problem? It was really unpleasant and might keep us from returning.

    • Migrating Miss says:

      I never had any issues like that at all when I was there in December! I’m not sure when you visited but I also had friends visit recently and they didn’t mention it. 🙂

  3. Peter says:

    Thanks for the post. Ronda is such an amazing town, love the views from the bridge and gorge. Worth visiting the old town and bullring.

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