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The El Tajo Gorge promises breathtaking views. Ronda in Andalusia sits right on top of this gorge. Whether you’re standing above or below, the panorama is simply stunning! While the views are Ronda’s main attraction, there’s plenty more to discover! Let me share some tips for your visit.
The allure of Ronda
Ronda is pretty much the most famous and popular stop on the white villages route in Andalusia – though it’s actually a city! It’s the views that make it unique, as Ronda itself isn’t that big. The town sits about 750 meters (2,460 feet) above sea level. The famous El Tajo gorge is roughly 120 meters (394 feet) deep, creating the spectacular vistas for which the city is famous.
Over the years, Ronda has grown increasingly popular, partly thanks to writer Ernest Hemingway (who was quite the fan of Ronda’s bullfighting) and filmmaker Orson Welles. A bullfighter became the protagonist in Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises,” and Welles filmed “The Lady from Shanghai” in Ronda. So it’s about time you get to know this beautiful town too!
The famous bridge: Puente Nuevo
The Puente Nuevo (new bridge) is THE highlight of Ronda. The bridge crosses the El Tajo gorge, hanging over 100 meters (328 feet) above the Guadalevín river. From here, you have beautiful views over the gorge, and if you’d like, you can visit the small museum inside the bridge. This Centro de Interpretación costs €2.50 ($2.75) in 2025. I’d say it’s more of a neat concept than a must-see attraction. There’s some information about the bridge’s construction, famous people, and Ronda, but it’s not presented engagingly. Of course, you do get those gorge views.
Views of the Puente Nuevo
The view from the bridge is beautiful, but it’s also worth admiring the Puente Nuevo from a distance. Ronda offers plenty of fantastic viewpoints, with the Jardines de Cuenca and Mirador Aldehuela offering some of the best views.
You can also walk to the Puente Nuevo de Ronda viewpoint (here), but it’s no longer free. It costs €5 ($5.50), and I decided to skip it to view the bridge from a lower spot at the Mirador La Hoya Del Tajo (here). There’s limited parking available. You’ll need to climb up the mountain, but unfortunately, after a rainy night, it was too slippery and a bit too challenging/dangerous for me. Early morning also isn’t the best time for photos here as the sun is in the wrong position, so try to plan better than I did!
Tip! Want to see Ronda in an adventurous way? Check out this canyoning tour.
Mirador de Aldehuela
Depending on which direction you’re coming from, at either the beginning or end of the Puente Nuevo bridge, there’s a viewpoint overlooking the Jardines de Cuenca. Morninglight offers the best views here. Thankfully, access is free, so you can always return later if the sun isn’t cooperating
The balcony gardens of Jardines De Cuenca
For the best views of Ronda’s bridge, visit the Jardines De Cuenca later in the day – the morning sun is in the wrong position. The Cuenca gardens sit atop the cliff and feature several stone circular balconies. Not much blooms during winter months, but you’re mainly here for the views anyway.
Tip! Explore Ronda with a guide. Join a walking tour like this one, or hop on a bike with BajaBikes.
Bullring Plaza de Toros de Ronda
The bullring in Ronda is one of Spain’s oldest. Some of the most critical moments in bullfighting history happened here. While bullfighting is part of Spanish culture, I totally get it if you want nothing to do with it. There’s a museum if you’re interested. I’ve visited a similar museum in Seville before, so I skipped this one. I’m not comfortable supporting animal suffering. Want to speak out against bullfighting? Sign the petition by PETA or CAS.
Mirador de Ronda
Behind the bullring, you’ll find a large viewing platform called Mirador de Ronda. Definitely take a walk here – you’ll get beautiful views over Ronda’s green surroundings.
Shopping for ceramics in Ronda
Carrera Espinel is Ronda’s main shopping street. Besides clothing stores and cafes, you’ll find many souvenir shops. What stands out is the abundance of ceramics. The Ronda region apparently has excellent clay soil, which is why this craft is so developed here. The town also has strong Moorish influences, and the Moors brought their ceramic tradition to Spain. If you’re looking for a nice souvenir, Ronda’s the place to shop. El Señorio, for example, offers lots of (affordable) choices.
Fancy church: Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor
The Santa María la Mayor church was once a mosque. Many mosques throughout Andalusia were built over or demolished after the Moorish period. But in this church, you can still see remnants – if the door is open, that is. Unfortunately, it was closed during my visit.
Arab baths of Ronda
While you can’t take a bath here anymore, Ronda’s Arab baths are still worth visiting. The Baños Árabes Yacimiento Arqueológico are remarkably well-preserved for a structure built in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Moors used to come here to cleanse before visiting the mosque or just to relax. There’s a video room (with Spanish-only video, unfortunately), and you can leisurely walk through the different chambers.
Palace house Casa del Rey Moro
Visiting La Casa del Rey Moro was probably my favorite thing to do in Ronda. You always see those beautiful views when you read about Ronda, so this was an unexpected highlight. The ‘House of the Moorish King’ includes a garden with peacocks that put on quite a show with their feathers.
Next, I descend almost 200 steps through the water mine to reach the river at the bottom of the gorge. The steps are carved into the rock, and while it’s sometimes dark and slippery, it gave me serious Indiana Jones vibes. The water at the bottom is incredibly blue! At €10 ($11) admission (2025), it’s relatively expensive, but worth it.
White Villages Route
Ronda is a town on Andalusia’s White Villages Route. If you have time, it’s worth driving (part of) this route. The most convenient way is by rental car (like from DiscoverCars or Rentalcars.com). If you’re only visiting one other white village, choose Setenil de las Bodegas: it’s stunning and close by. The town literally merges with the rocks, hanging over the roofs and terraces. Read more about the White Villages Route here.
Food & drinks in Ronda
Looking for a great place to eat? I recommend Las Maravillas (Google Maps location) for affordable tapas – or just a nice drink. For a more upscale dining experience, try Sensur Gastrobar (Google Maps location). It’s a modern restaurant with swift service – perhaps too swift, as we were done in no time. But that’s fine because it left us time for the wine bar Pura Cepa (Google Maps location). It’s both a restaurant and wine bar with an extensive selection.
Amazing accommodation in Ronda: Yanes Bed & Breakfast
Wow, you don’t find many places like this in Ronda! Yanes Bed & Breakfast is a B&B with four rooms. Owners Eleazar and Natalie take incredible care of their guests. Definitely book a stay with breakfast included, as it’s wonderfully prepared. Many products come from the family farm; even the olive wood serving boards are handmade.
Even before arrival, I received a helpful email full of information and instructions. The rooms at Yanes are all comfortable and cozy. Pay attention when booking, as not all rooms have private bathrooms, if that’s important to you. Yanes B&B is located a bit behind the center in a maze of streets with white houses. The center is within easy walking distance. Check out Yanes B&B on Booking.
More Spain inspiration?
Helpful links for your Spain trip
- Accommodation. Booking.com is always a popular choice. But you could also check Homecamper | campspace or Hostelworld for more options. HostelWorld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. You can also check out WithLocals. Book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour.com or GuruWalk and try Baja Bikes for bike tours.
- Attractions and museums. Interested in a 5% discount on museums and other attractions? Use this discount code at Tiqets: KIMOPREIS22
- Bus and train. If you want to travel by bus or train to or in Spain, Busbud and Omio are excellent companies for planning your transportation.
- Boat. You can take a boat from Barcelona to the Balearic Islands, or take a ferry between the islands. Check out the options at Direct Ferries.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check out Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? You could try Expedia or CheapOair.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel guides. I like paper travel guides to browse through, for sale at Amazon, among others.
- Yoga retreat. Or treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Spain.
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