Ronda is a beautiful city in Andalusia with lots to see. Whether you’re coming over for a day, a weekend or a week, we’ll cover the best places to see in Ronda in our guide today. From centuries old churches to bullrings, you’re sure to find something for yourself in Ronda.
Ronda
What to see in Ronda
Ronda is located in the centre of Andalusia, between the beautiful hills of the Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema and the Parque Nacional Sierra de las Nieves. You can get here by car or train, but we strongly recommend the car.
Ronda is divided into two halves with El Tajo and the Guadalevin River as separators in the middle. Exploring Ronda is not difficult, as the city is not large and it’s easy to get any part of Ronda on foot. You can explore Ronda in a day if you really wanted to. There are some great viewpoints around La Ciudad, ergo the Old Town of Ronda. Ronda’s most popular attraction is the Puente Nuevo, the iconic bridge connecting the two halves of the city.
Though, of course, the views from Puente Novo are impressive, it’s also a good idea to take a stroll down to see it and the whole line of cliffs from below. Speaking of which:
Puente Nuevo
The bridge in Ronda
If you have seen anything from Ronda, it was most likely Puente Nuevo. The bridge connects the two edges of the canyon standing atop the Guadalevin River. It was built over a 120-metre precipice, is 98 metres high and 66 metres long. Puente Nuevo, designed by Domingo Lois de Monteagudo, was built in 1793, after over 34 years of construction. It was the second attempt to build such a connector bridge, as the previous one collapsed after 6 years, killing 50 people in turn. Today, the three-arch stone bridge is the very symbol of Ronda.
Baños Árabes
Ronda’s Arab baths
These are the old city baths, built by the Arabs living here in the 13th century.
The baths have three sections as was tradition for Arabic bathhouses: cold, warm and hot. Additionally, there’s a furnace room and the main area. The bathhouse is one standing remnant of the Muslim past and is a great place to see when in Ronda. Entry costs €3.50 or €2.75 per person in a group of 10 or for children under 14. The place is also free to enter on Tuesdays from 3pm to 5:30pm.
Plaza de Toros
Bullring in Ronda
As is customary among the great cities in Spain, you’ll find a bullring in Ronda, near Puente Nuevo. The arena was built in 1785, mainly by Antonio Guerrero, as he was responsible for all the intricate arches and parapets. It was one of the 5 most important arenas in the region.
You can visit the arena every day:
From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.,
On Mondays, the bullring in Ronda is only open until 3:00 p.m.
A ticket costs €6.50 per person, or €8 if you want an audio-guide. There is also a nice mirador, meaning viewing point, next to the arena.
La Ciudad
The old town of Ronda
La Ciudad is, in other words, the old town of Ronda, located in the central part of Ronda near the edge of the cliff. You can take lazy strolls through the small streets of Ronda, have lunch at one of the local restaurants or try the delicious churros at Churreria Alba (Carrera Espinel, 44, 29400 Ronda). The main places in the centre are the Calle Armenian street, Plaza Espana, Plaza de la Merced, Pl. Duquesa de Parcent and Plaza del Socorro.
Plaza del Socorro
Best places to see in Ronda
Plaza del Socorro is one of the main squares in Ronda, offering many small cafés, restaurants and little spots to see. There is a small charming church, Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Socorro, and a fountain of Hercules with two lions on the sides to see.
La Casa del Rey Moro
Beautiful sights in Ronda
You’ll find La Casa del Rey Moro right in the centre of Ronda, once a key site in the history of the Recpnquista. It consists of 3 parts: a beautiful garden, a house and a well with access to the waters of El Tajo. You can also descend 60 metres below to see how the water was once drawn from the Guadalevin river.
The ticket costs €7 for adults and €3.5 for children. The museum is open from 10am to 8pm from October to April, and from 10am to 9.30pm from May to September.
Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor
Ronda Church
The location of this church was once occupied by a mosque and its stylistic elements can still be found inside and outside of the church. Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor was built around the 15th century, though part of it collapsed during an earthquake in 1580, and so a section of the church has visibly been rebuilt in a slightly different style. It’s worth noting that the church has been built with defensiveness of the site in mind, likely to fend off Arab attacks and turn the church into a small fortress.
If you like this mixture of a mosque and a church, you’ll find the most popular one in Córdoba.
Iglesia del Espíritu Santo
Another church in Ronda
This is another Christian temple, this time in a Gothic-Renaissance style. It was built at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, similarly on top of one of the city’s mosques. It’s located in the second half of the city, a short walk behind the centre, at C. Espíritu Santo, 15. Similarly to the previous church, this one has a defensive structure.
Viewpoints in Ronda
Ronda’s charming sights
You can view the beautiful hills and fields of Andalusia from ronda. For this purpose, you have a few viewpoints to choose from:
- Mirador de Ronda (Ctra. de los Molinos) – spot next to the Plaza de Toros offering a view of the west
- Paseo De Los Ingleses – view of the west and north
- Mirador La Hoya Del Tajo – view of the city from the bottom of the valley
- Mirador de Aldehuela – famous view of the bridge next to La Casa Del Rey Moro
- Puente Viejo – view of the south-east
Puente Viejo
The Old Bridge in Ronda
Finally, we have the Old Bridge in Ronda, located to the south of the new one. Though perhaps not as impressive as Puente Nuevo, this 16th century structure can still act as a nice little mirador on your trip.
Map of Ronda’s best spots
What to see in Ronda?
1) Puente Nuevo
2) La Casa del Rey Moro
3) Plaza de Toros
4) Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor
5) Iglesia del Espíritu Santo
6) Puente Viejo
7) La Ciudad
8) Viewpoints in Ronda
Where to stay in Ronda?
Accommodation in Ronda
Naturally it would be best to choose a place either overlooking the Puente Nuevo or by the cliff to have the best views of Andalusia from your room. What are such spots in Ronda? Check out places like Casa Palacio VillaZambra (view of El Tajo and the bridge) or the Catalonia Ronda (great views of both the city and the surrounding parks).
See also:
