Spending a Day in Ronda, Spain

Ronda is one of those underrated towns that is never truly given the recognition it deserves. Shadowed by it’s more dominating neighbors, Sevilla and Granada, Ronda ends up slipping through the cracks on many traveler itineraries.

I think this happens for a few reasons. First of all, many people don’t have a lot of time when traveling throughout Spain and prefer to visit Madrid, Barcelona, or any other big city for that matter. However, even for people studying abroad who have a few months to travel around Spain, the city still seems to go unnoticed.

I knew this was a lesser-known town of Spain, and that’s exactly why I wanted to go. For me, I tend to prefer the more quaint towns and it just so happened that this was one of the few pueblos in Andalucia that was on my list of places to see while studying abroad in Spain that never got crossed off.

I finally found the perfect opportunity to make this trip happen. I was heading to Sevilla for the communion of my boyfriend’s niece. We were leaving on a Wednesday night and wouldn’t be flying back to Barcelona until Sunday. Since the Communion was on Saturday, we had a few free days to ourselves to do whatever we wanted. We had also just been to Sevilla for La Feria just a few weeks prior, which meant to me that it was perfect timing to leave the city for a quick day trip somewhere new.

How to Get to Ronda From Sevilla

After very little planning (the night before in fact), I convinced my boyfriend to buy an early morning bus ticket to Ronda. We were originally planning on using a car to get there, but when that option was no longer available due to scheduling issues, we had to improvise.

When we originally went to one of the bus stations in Sevilla, they told us there were no buses that went to Ronda. We then tried to look it up on the internet and still couldn’t find any transportation option other than a regional train that was close to 100 euros round-trip.  

Right before we were about to give up, a family friend was able to recommend Los Amarillos to us. This bus company was exactly what we needed to make it to Ronda. At around 20 euros, we were able to get round-trip tickets to Ronda from the Sevilla central station.

The very next morning, we hopped on the bus and started our little adventure. This bus ride was about 2.5 hours and winded through a scenic Andalusian region, passing secluded lakes and picturesque mountains. These panoramic views serve as the perfect reminder to show how vast the landscape of Spain can really be.

How Long Should You Stay in Ronda

While Ronda can definitely be done in a day, it would also be great for a weekend getaway as well. Yes, there may not be endless things to go do or see when you visit but isn’t that kinda the point when you go on a relaxing vacation anyways?

For me, the activities you do in Ronda is exactly the same as what the local Andalusians would be doing themselves- Enjoy afternoon paseos, sample local tapas, and drink a beer every couple of hours to cool down from the hot Spanish sun.

One thing I wish I could have seen was Ronda at night. During the day, the quaint city experiences a wave of tourists traveling from the nearby cities of Granada, Sevilla, and elsewhere. Once the last bus leaves at around 6 or 7 (make sure to check this before visiting), the crowds clear and you can have the city all to yourself.

Things to Do In Ronda

I was lucky enough to get some local recommendations from a good friend that has lived there most of her life.

She gave me the top spots to check out during my day stay and even threw in the best gelato shop in town. Every recommendation she gave me was absolutely perfect for experiencing Ronda in just one day! (gracias, Yasmin!)

Places to See in Ronda

-Parque de la Alemadea

-La Sevillana

-Plaza de Toros

-Puente Nuevo

Places to Eat in Ronda 

–El Lechuguita

-El Almacén

-Camelot

-El Gelatto (gelato)

She also recommended a few tapas bars. We ended up going to El Lechuguita which is super popular among the locals. Not only can you sample some authentic Andalucian tapas, but the food is also incredibly cheap, just like how most authentic restaurants throughout Southern Spain should be.

If you have ever seen a photo of Ronda, it was most likely a shot of the Puente Nuevo. This massive bridge joins the two sides of the city with a towering rustic structure that is the iconic symbol of Ronda. To be honest, after I had come across this mesmerizing view on the internet, that was the main motivation for me to come visit. Now that I have seen it with my own two eyes, I can definitely say that the trip is definitely worth it (even if you only go for the view of the bridge!)

Dani and I started our day by doing a scenic walk along the city’s borders. This 10-minute walk stretches from one end to the other and is an easy stroll with exceptional views of the vineyards and towns below

We spent about an hour hiking down to the bottom of the bridge to see it from a different perspective. If you plan on going to Ronda, you HAVE to do this hike. It’s not difficult or very long, and in my opinion, it offers the best view of the town. As long as you bring a decent pair of shoes that you can walk uphill in, you’re good to go.

I found that for myself a full day in Ronda was good enough for everything I wanted to see and do. Like I said before, I could have done a trip overnight, but if you don’t have the time, at least try to go for the day.

Whether you are studying abroad, teaching English, or just on a long holiday to the south of Spain, Ronda should definitely be added to your list of travels. With delicious food, cheap beers, and breathtaking panoramas, Ronda serves as the perfect day trip in Andalucia for any traveler.