One Day Itinerary In Ronda, Spain
If you’re planning to explore Ronda for the day and want to ideas on things to do and what to see, I’m going to share my recommendations for a one day itinerary in Ronda, Spain. I’ve been to Ronda a few times so these are my highlights and recommendations from my own personal experience.
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The iron gates, cobblestone streets, bridges, archways and stone walls, the rolling green hills in the distance, and the immense history are just a few of the things that make Ronda a must-visit village in Spain.
Below are some of my suggestions for things to see in Ronda for a one day itinerary. That being said, I always think it’s important to pick and choose what interests you and leave time to wander and explore the city for yourself. You just never know what ‘simple local joy’ you’ll find or experience and that’s the magic of travel and visiting new cities.
Be Amazed At Puente Nuevo – The New Bridge
You’ll definitely want to make sure that you see the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) when you’re in Ronda. It’s hard to miss because it’s what connects the two sides of the city. It’s one of the most spectacular stone bridges I have ever seen. There are plenty of places to see it. You can view it from above or if you’re feeling like you want a little exercise, you can take the path and view it from below.
Go Back In Time At Casa Museo Don Bosco
If you have an interest in architecture or simply want to see what houses were like in the past, you’ll enjoy visiting Casa Museo Don Bosco.
This house was built in 1850 and has an interesting past. It’s gone from being the summer home to a prominent Madrid engineer and his wife to a Sanatorium and then a youth centre (and a few others).
Many of the original architectural elements are still visible within the interior and exterior of Casa Don Bosco. It also has beautiful gardens and terraces that you can enjoy on your visit. The view across the El Tajo (gorge) and of the famous Ronda bridge is stunning.
- Entry Fee is 3 Euros
- Google Maps Link
Explore The History Of Ronda’s Bullring
Although bullfighting is quite a controversial topic and one I personally don’t support, there’s no denying the incredible history within Spanish bullrings. The Ronda bullring is no different. In fact, it’s actually one of the oldest bullrings in Spain and has been a prominent part of the sport since 1785.
Most Ronda Tours include entrance to the Ronda bullring and museum.
Walk Over The Puente Viejo (The Old Bridge)
There are three main bridges in Ronda. Puente Viejo is the second lowest, after Puente Nuevo, and built in 1616 which makes it the second oldest bridge. It’s a beautiful spot to enjoy views from both sides of the bridge. You don’t have to worry about traffic because this bridge is for pedestrians only.
Walk Under The Arco de Felipe V
After walking over the Puente Viejo, I recommend continuing your walk towards the Arco de Felipe V (the arch) and into the city. The archway you see today is a newer version than the original arch. Although describing the arch as ‘new’ is a bit of a stretch because it was built in 1742.
After you walk under the arch from the bridge, you’ll continue up the street to an incredible lookout and viewpoint which you can see in my picture below.
Admire The 8 Spout Fountain
If you visit the Eight Spout Fountain (Fuente de los Ocho Caños) in Ronda you’ll be standing in front of the only original fountain that has survived and remained intact over the years. It’s full of history (built in ~1740) and if you look closely, you’ll see pretty roses carved into the stone around each spout.
Enjoy The Views From The Church Of Santa María la Mayor
Incredible architecture from different time periods, a beautiful crystal chandelier, the most intricate interior details, and a rooftop view of Ronda – this sums up what you can expect from a visit to the Church Of Santa María la Mayor.
The entrance fee is 2 Euros for adults.
Try Out A Local Coffee Shop
There are many local coffee shops in Ronda to enjoy so I encourage you to stop in at whatever one catches your eye. Or as I like to call it “do a vibe check”. But if you’re looking for one that we enjoyed, with a large patio to sit and enjoy your coffee on, head to Black Coffee. Good coffee and iconic European street vibes – it’s the perfect place to rest your feet and take in the views around you.
Enjoy A Tapas Lunch
Tapas is a popular option for lunch and dinner anywhere you visit in Spain. On our most recent trip, we visited Toro Tapas and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I do recommend sitting outside because it’s on a great street for people watching and admiring the Spanish architecture. Sitting on a patio, enjoying a glass of wine on beautiful Spanish cobblestone streets always leaves me with a ‘pinch me’ feeling.
Toro Tapas
We really enjoyed our lunch at Toro Tapas. It’s located on a popular street with local shops and is perfect for sitting on the patio. The inside is a little more formal so it depends on what you’re looking for. They do have heaters outside on their patio so you can enjoy it even in the cooler months.
The service was great and we both enjoyed our meals. I got the tapas ‘mini’ burgers and a glass of Rosé and my husband ordered the gourmet burger with a beer. Both burgers came with delicious thick cut fries. When our waiter delivered my husband’s beer he said “here’s your orange juice”. We all had a good laugh.
Cool Down With Gelato
Every time I’m in Europe I must get a gelato at least once, usually more. There are many places you can grab a gelato from in Ronda. If you find yourself along the Carrera Espinel street (same street that Toro Tapas is on), there’s a great gelato place called Heladeria “El Artesano” de la Ibense.
It has a good selection of flavour options – we got Oreo and the Kinder Bueno flavour. My husband ordered a ‘grande’ and let me tell you, it’s grande. The cone and the ice cream was the size of his head. We were all laughing at how big it was, including people in line behind us.
I’ll keep adding to this one day itinerary in Ronda, Spain as I explore more hidden gems and local spots but this is a great start for your trip. I hope you love visiting Ronda as much as I do. I’d love to hear about your trip in the comments below!
