Excursion to Ronda from Seville

Ronda is one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia and is located halfway between Seville and Malaga.

It is also one of the most romantic and poetic places in the region, with strong bullfighting traditions, a magnificent location, with its famous gorge and a singular cuisine famous in the region.

We recommend you get to know the city, its corners and charms, enjoying a truly unforgettable day in which you will enjoy views, gastronomy, history and art in abundance.

Why it’s worth having this experience

Discover Ronda, the soul of Andalusia, with this interesting and enjoyable day trip with transport and entrance to the monuments included.

With a one-day tour, we can explore one of the most famous and, at the same time, most beautiful cities of Andalusia. You can start this interesting tour with a walk through one of the most emblematic spots in Ronda, the gardens in the Alameda del Tajo and the breathtaking views from its viewpoints. We will continue to the famous Plaza de Toros, continuing to the Puente Nuevo which spectacularly connects the old and new quarters of the city, where we will also have views of the Tajo gorge from another perspective.

The tour can continue to visit the Casa de San Juan Bosco, the Puente Viejo, the Puerta de Felipe V and the Iglesia de Santa María which, built on the site of a former mosque, will allow us to discover two of its most hidden charms, namely the Torre Mudéjar and the Casita de la Torre. We will end the tour at the Bodegas de la Sangre de Ronda, where we will enjoy a tasting of local wines. Afterwards, free time to wander around the city that once enchanted poets, artists and travellers from all over the world. This is just a suggestion, below you have several organised tours with their specific programmes.

The charms of Ronda

The centrepiece of Ronda is the magnificent Puente Nuevo bridge that crosses the gap over the El Tajo gorge. Approximately 100m above the floor of the gorge, the bridge is a truly marvellous sight. It is the reason most people will visit Ronda and rightly so, it is incredible!

Marvel at the Impressive Puente Nuevo bridge

Construction of the 66 m wide bridge we see today began in 1759 and was completed in 1793. A total of just 34 years. The remarkable design has made it the most photographed bridge in Spain.

Everything is centred around the bridge. You won’t need a map because all the roads in Ronda lead there. If you have the energy, we recommend walking down to the bottom of the Tajo gorge. There are several viewpoints between the riverbed and the top of the bridge. The hike should take around 2 hours, which also includes some time to take photos. The hardest part is the wide steps at the beginning of the trail.

Get up early or stay up late to take photos of the bridge’s sunrise and sunset.

On the north side of the bridge, near Plaza España, is the bridge interpretation museum, in a building that was a prison for bandits and dangerous criminals in the nineteenth century.

A Picnic with a view

Buy a bottle of local wine, cheese and chorizo. Walk south on the bridge, take the first street on the right onto Calle Tenorio and continue until you see some trails on the right that go down to the Tajo gorge. You will find the best viewpoints of the bridge and a place to enjoy your picnic.

The Bullring of Ronda

The Plaza de Toros de Ronda was completed in 1784 and is made entirely of stone. It is the cradle of the bullfighting style known as Rondeño. The bullring has a fascinating history, as the seat of the most notable and oldest riding order in Spain: the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda.

It is not the largest bullring in Spain, in fact, it only has a capacity of 5,000 spectators. Compared to the 24,000 in Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring, it’s actually quite small. But it has the largest round circle of sand in the world at 66m, which is equally impressive.

Spectator seating has two levels. 136 beautiful Tuscan sandstone columns support the roof and there are 68 beautifully crafted arches surrounding the inner frame.

Bandit Museum

This museum gives an insight into the life of the local people in Ronda in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The museum emphasises some of the most notorious bandits in Spanish history. Throughout the museum, there are various official documents such as arrest warrants, newspaper articles and various samples. They build profiles about bandits to allow visitors to delve deeper into their interesting lives. Bandits are a popular and sometimes romanticised subject of Spanish history.

Arab Baths

The best place in the city to see Moorish architecture is the Arab Baths. The baths, built in the thirteenth century, are now widely regarded as the best-preserved Arab hammams in Iberia. You will find the baths in the old Arab quarter (now San Miguel neighbourhood) about 10 minutes walk from the Puente Nuevo. The hammam is divided into three distinct zones following the Roman model: hot, warm and cold. The fires would heat the water in the oven room, and then the steam would heat the warm and hot baths, but it would come out of the chimneys before reaching the cold bath.

Explore the city

If you have some time left, we recommend exploring the city centre around Carrera Espinel. Ronda’s streets and squares are filled with shops, gift shops, restaurants, churrerías and cafes. There are also many bars with outdoor tables or charming taverns. Calle Nueva, Plaza del Socorro… They are very lively places.