10 Romantic Reasons Couples Should Visit Ronda, Spain

1. Visit Arco de Cristo (La Puerta de los Molinos Del Tajo)

Arco de Cristo, or la Puerta de los Molinos, is one of the remaining original gates permitting entrance into Ronda.

Hike down or taxi to these ruins just before sunset for a postcard-worthy view of Puente Nuevo.

It is about a 15-minute walk, whereas the drive takes about 7 minutes, depending on where you leave from.

Price: This romantic activity is free.

2. Eat Dinner at a Restaurant Overlooking the Tajo Gorge

Eat dinner at a restaurant on the edge of the Tajo Gorge. Albacara and Restaurante Don Miguel are two excellent options.

Both restaurants serve great food with spectacular views of the gorge.

Albacore is located inside Hotel Montelirio and serves Mediterranean and traditional Andalusian food.

Restaurante Don Miguel is located inside Hotel Don Miguel. It serves Andalusian dishes and is open late until midnight.

3. Plaza de Toros de Ronda and Mueso Taurino

Visit the Plaza de Toros de Ronda, where Spain’s first corrida, or bullfight, was held in 1784, it is the oldest bullring in Spain.

Inside, you’ll find the Museo Taurino, covering the history of bullfighting.

The museum displays two centuries of artwork depicting bullfighting history, traditional bullfighting costumes, and weaponry from Spanish wars throughout history.

Corridas are seldom held in Ronda anymore. However, during the second week of September, one week each year, they hold the Feria Goyesca.

During this time, they celebrate one of Spain’s most famous matadors, Pedro Romero, by dressing in traditional costumes from the Goya period and holding corridas.

• Price: Museum admission is 8€, or 9.5€ including the audio guide.
• When to visit: The museum is open seven days a week.
• Time: Walking through the bullring and museum takes about an hour.

4. Arab Baths

Explore the ruins of Ronda’s 13th-century Arab baths, the best-preserved bath ruins in Spain. This bathhouse would have been a social gathering spot when it was still in use.

Inside the ruins, a five-minute video plays in both English and Spanish, describing bathhouse customs and the technology behind the baths’ function.

• Price: Admission to the Arab baths is 4.5€.
• When to visit: The Arab Baths are open seven days a week.
• Time: Plan to spend about 30 minutes here.

5. Go inside Puente Nuevo (the new bridge interpretation center)

A chamber inside Puente Nuevo once acted as Ronda’s prison. Today, it serves as a museum about constructing this massive, iconic bridge.

A simple display, this is a fun and great place to visit if you have time.

• Price: Admission is 2.5€.
• When to visit: The New Bridge Interpretation Center is open seven days a week.
• Time: Plan for about 30 minutes to visit.

6. Take a drive to explore nearby Pueblos Blancos in Andalusia

Ronda is a city of dreams, but you should also get out and explore the Spanish culture, and at least one archaeological site in the surrounding countryside.

A few nearby pueblos blancos you may want to visit include Setenil de las Bodegas, Grazalema, and Zahara de la Sierra. All three villages are just a 30 to 40-minute drive from Ronda.

Each of these pueblos blancos claims unique and beautiful surrounding scenery. The village of Setenil de las Bodegas grew out of cave dwellings carved out of the cliffs.

Grazalema sits gently nestled in the Sierra del Pinar mountain range. And Zahara de la Sierra climbs a dramatic hillside that’s topped by the ruins of a Moorish castle.

7. Visit the Roman Ruins of Acinipo

While exploring other pueblos blancos (white villages) in the Andalusian hills, stop by the ruins of Acinipo, an old Roman settlement.

The ruins are just a 30-minute drive from Ronda, or a 15-minute drive from Setenil de las Bodegas. This hidden gem is seldom, if ever, crowded.

Acinipo was once one of the most important cities in this area until Ronda replaced it in the 2nd century.

At this archeological site, you’ll find a 1st-century Roman amphitheater first excavated in 1967 and other ruins.

However, most of the city of Acinipo remains buried today.

• Price: The ruins are free to visit.
• Time: Plan to spend about an hour here.
• When to visit: The schedule varies but is updated on Facebook.

8. Go Wine Tasting at Bodega Doña Felisa

Enjoy each other’s company over wine and tapas with a beautiful countryside view. Bodega Doña Felisa Winery is about a 25-minute drive from Ronda, and only 15 minutes from the ruins of Acinipo.

During Roman times, Acinipo’s wine was considered such high quality, it was actually exported back to Rome. Acinipo is sometimes called the “Land of Wine.”

Bodega Doña Felisa produces a variety of wines, including red, white, rosés, sweet, and sparkling wines. You can sample their wines at a tasting.

You can select from a 30-minute or a 90-minute wine tasting, or a 150-minute wine tasting with a guided vineyard tour.

• Price: Wine tasting starts at 25€, depending on your chosen option.
• When to visit: Wine tastings are available seven days a week at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., or 12:30 p.m., depending on your wine-tasting option.
• Time: Depending on your option, plan to spend a minimum of 30 minutes or more here for wine tasting.

9. Hike Caminito Del Rey

About an hour and a half drive from Ronda in the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes Natural Park, Caminito del Rey is an exhilarating 6.4-mile hike, in one direction.

At the end of the hike, a shuttle returns you to your vehicle at the entrance. Reservations are required to hike Caminito del Rey.

You can make reservations and read any safety advisories here.

You must be at least 8 years old for this hike and wear the provided hard hat during the hike.

Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes early and at the correct entrance; if you are late, you will not be permitted to hike.

• Price: 10€ for general admission, 18€ for the official guided tour, 2.5€ for the shuttle bus, and 2€ for parking
• When to visit: This hike is open year-round.
• Time: Plan for about 3 hours and 45 minutes to hike this trail.

10. Visit Pileta Cave

In 1905, over a hundred prehistoric drawings were discovered in Pileta Cave, which is just a half-hour drive from Ronda.

You can only visit by guided tour; reservations are required and can be made online.

• Price: 10€ for adults
• When to visit: The caves are open year-round.
• Time: The guided tour takes about an hour.

About Ronda Spain

The Most Romantic Place to Stay in Ronda For Couples

Hotel Montelirio

If you are looking for the perfect place to relax after exploring the breathtaking views around Ronda, you’ll need a romantic hotel.

The most romantic place in Ronda for couples to stay is Hotel Montelirio. Hotel Montelirio is a 17th-century palace that once belonged to Count Montelirio.

Located in the Moorish Quarter, the hotel is within walking distance from several sites in Ronda, including the Arab baths and the Plaza de Toros de Ronda Museum.

This 15-room hotel has been completely updated and modernized. Along with these updates, some of the hotel’s amenities include WiFi, satellite TV, valet parking, an elevator, and disabled access.

Plus, an outdoor pool looks out over the gorge and a Turkish steam bath!

But what makes this hotel the perfect place for couples to stay in Ronda is the breathtaking view of Puente Nuevo and the Tajo Gorge.

It’s worth incurring the extra cost for a room with a balcony that opens to the gorge.

Best Time to Visit Ronda Spain

The best time of year to visit Ronda is spring or fall, during the shoulder of the tourist season.

April and September through October, you’re still likely to have good weather, but the crowds will be much smaller.

The summer months are peak season and May through July are often the busiest months in Ronda.

Weather in Ronda Spain

Ronda tends to have short, dry summers and long, cold winters. Thanks to the nearby Ronda and Snow mountain ranges, the summers here are a bit cooler than in other parts of Andalusia.

Although it may be cloudy in the winter, it seldom rains or snows here, with an average of just over 30 rainy days per year.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Avg high temp

53°F/11°C

55°F/12°C

60°F/15°C

63°F/17°C

70°F/21°C

77°F/25°C

83°F/28°C

83°F/28°C

77°F/25°C

68°F/20°C

59°F/15°C

54°F/12°C

Avg low temp

37°F/3°C

38°F/3°C

41°F/5°C

44°F/7°C

49°F/9°C

55°F/12°C

60°F/15°C

61°F/16°C

57°F/14°C

51°//10°C

43°F/6°C

39°F/4°C

How to Get to Ronda

The Closest Airport to Ronda Spain

The closest airport to Ronda is the Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport. This international airport is the fourth busiest airport in Spain, with flights to over 60 different countries.

Trains to Ronda Spain

Ronda’s train station is in the Mercantile district, the newer part of town. Trains from Ronda connect to major cities such as Málaga, Madrid, Córdoba, Granada, and Seville.

If you’re coming from Málaga, the train to Ronda takes about 2 hours or more, depending on connections. Take the train from the airport to the Málaga-Maria Zambrano train station.

Several trains leave for Ronda from this station; however, there is only one daily train without connections. Train tickets from Málaga to Ronda start at about 20€.

“Ronda is the place where to go if you are to travel to Spain for a honeymoon or being with a girlfriend. The whole city and its surroundings are a romantic set. Nice promenades, good wine, excellent food…”

ernest Hemingway

Buses in Ronda

The bus ride from Málaga to Ronda takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on your chosen bus route.

To get from the airport to the Málaga central bus station, again take the train from the airport to Málaga-Maria Zembrano station.

The central bus station is about a 3-minute walk from here. There are several options for bus departure times without connections, and bus ticket prices start at about 17€.

Can you use Uber in Ronda?

Yes, you could take an Uber from the Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport. However, it’s not the best and cost-effective option, as minimum prices start at about 180€.

Taking a train or bus is far more budget-friendly. And although renting a car is also more pricey, at least you have continued freedom of transportation.

Should you Rent a Car in Ronda?

A car rental is recommended if you plan on activities in the surrounding areas near Ronda.

This gives you far more freedom, for example, to visit neighboring villages, hike Caminito del Rey, see the prehistoric drawings in Pileta Cave, or visit the beaches of Málaga.

If you rent a car, the drive from Málaga to Ronda is only about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

🚗🚗🚗 Book A Rental Car in Spain by Clicking Here

Do you need a Drivers License to drive in Spain

If you’re from the United States and planning to drive in Spain, you must apply for an international driving permit (IDP) before leaving for your trip.

The permit translates your driver’s license into several different languages. It is accepted in 150 different countries, is valid for 12 months, and costs $20 USD.

Find details on how to apply for the permit through the American Automobile Association (AAA). Keep your American driver’s license and your IDP on you at all times while driving.

You can also take a free online test to learn Spanish road signs before you go. This is recommended but not required.