--- title: "Ronda, Spain day trip from El Paraíso: the drive, Puente Nuevo and what to see" url: "https://paraisogolfretreat.com/blog/ronda-day-trip-from-el-paraiso" locale: en published_at: 2026-10-08 updated_at: 2026-10-09 generated_at: "2026-10-20T05:19:47.121Z" slug: ronda-day-trip-from-el-paraiso category: Travel Info author: Mex Smits --- # Ronda, Spain day trip from El Paraíso: the drive, Puente Nuevo and what to see _2026-10-08 · by Mex Smits · Category: Travel Info_ A practical guide to a Ronda day trip from El Paraíso in Benahavís: the scenic A-397 mountain drive, where to park now, Puente Nuevo and El Tajo gorge, the bullring, Arab baths and best viewpoints, where to eat, and how to reach Ronda from Marbella or Málaga. **Ronda, Spain** is the day trip we recommend most to guests at **El Paraíso**. The town sits on a cliff top in the mountains above the Costa del Sol, split in two by the deep El Tajo gorge and joined by one of the most photographed bridges in Europe, the Puente Nuevo. Better still, the scenic A-397 mountain road up to Ronda starts just down the coast from us in San Pedro de Alcántara, so you can be standing on the bridge a little over an hour after leaving the apartment. This guide covers the drive, where to park now (two things changed recently), the Ronda bridge and the best viewpoints, the other things to do in Ronda, where to eat, and how to get there from Marbella or Málaga if you are not starting from Benahavís. ## Is Ronda worth visiting? Yes, and it is very different from the coast. You swap beaches and marinas for a cliff-top old town, Moorish baths, an 18th century bullring and huge views over the Serranía de Ronda. The drive itself is part of the fun. One day is enough to see the highlights at an easy pace, which makes it an ideal break from the beach or the golf course. ## Getting to Ronda from El Paraíso: the A-397 drive From El Paraíso, head east on the A-7 towards San Pedro de Alcántara and follow signs for Ronda onto the **A-397**. The mountain road itself is about 50 km long, so the whole trip is roughly **55 to 60 km**. Without stops, plan on a little over an hour each way, and more on busy weekends or if you get stuck behind a lorry on the climbs. The A-397 was built in the 1970s and is well surfaced, with long, sweeping bends rather than hairpins. It climbs from sea level to more than 1,000 metres, with the Sierra de las Nieves on one side and Sierra Bermeja on the other. On the way up you get wide views over the green Genal valley and its white villages, and the Mediterranean behind you on the climb. A few tips for the drive: * **Take it slowly.** It is a popular road with cyclists and motorbikes, especially on weekend mornings, and overtaking chances are limited. * **Stop at a viewpoint.** There are only a few safe places to pull over. The area around the Puerto del Madroño pass, roughly halfway up, has outstanding views. Further on, a rusty iron monument to the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who stayed in Ronda in 1913, marks another good lookout. * **Drive back in daylight** if you are not used to mountain roads, and leave the wine for dinner at home. You will need a car for this trip. If you have not booked one yet, our guide to [car hire at Málaga Airport for Benahavís](/blog/car-rental-in-benahavis) explains what to look for and how driving in Spain works. ### Marbella to Ronda From Marbella the route is the same: drive west along the coast to San Pedro de Alcántara and take the A-397 up the mountain. Allow about an hour and a quarter from Marbella centre without stops. Without a car, Avanza runs a bus from Marbella bus station via San Pedro to Ronda a few times a day, taking around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Check the current timetable before you go, as departures are limited. ### Ronda from Málaga By car from Málaga, the fastest route is inland via Ardales, roughly 100 km and about 1 hour 30 minutes. If you are flying in and want to see Ronda on the way, our [Málaga Airport to El Paraíso](/blog/malaga-airport-to-el-paraiso) guide covers the main drive to the apartment. Without a car it is harder than it used to be. The railway line through Ronda (Bobadilla to Algeciras) is currently out of service for major works, with the return of trains expected around autumn 2027, and Renfe runs replacement buses on part of the route. That leaves the bus: Avanza's line from Málaga bus station runs along the coast with many stops, and Autocares Sierra de las Nieves runs an inland service from Monday to Saturday. Both only have a few departures, so check times the day before. ## Where to park in Ronda Two things to know before you arrive: * **Do not drive across the Puente Nuevo.** Since August 2025 the road over the bridge (the Virgen de la Paz, Puente Nuevo and Armiñán axis) is open only to vehicles registered in Ronda. It is enforced by cameras and police checks, and most of the fines go to rental cars. Follow the signs for the car parks instead and walk to the bridge. * **The Plaza del Socorro car park is closed.** The underground car park under Plaza del Socorro, long one of the most recommended, was shut by the town hall in August 2026 after a fire safety inspection, with no reopening date announced at the time of writing. Good options now: * **Parking Martínez Astein** (APK2): a large covered car park on Avenida Martínez Astein near the train station, open 24 hours. From there it is about a 10 to 15 minute walk to the Puente Nuevo along the main shopping street, Carrera Espinel. * **Parking El Castillo**: on Plaza Duquesa de Parcent in the old town (La Ciudad), handy if you want to start with the Arab baths and the old streets. Prices change, but expect roughly €2 an hour, with daily caps of about €24 to €25\. On summer weekends and Spanish holidays, arrive before about 10:30. ## Puente Nuevo and El Tajo: the Ronda bridge The **Puente Nuevo** ("New Bridge") is the image everyone knows. It spans El Tajo, the gorge cut by the Guadalevín river, and links the old Moorish town (La Ciudad) with the newer Mercadillo district. The bridge stands **98 metres** high, built from stone blocks taken from the bottom of the gorge, and took 34 years to finish, from 1759 to 1793\. An earlier bridge, built in the 1730s, collapsed only a few years after it opened. Walk across it for the view down into the gorge, then look for the small **Puente Nuevo Interpretation Centre** inside the chamber above the central arch. You enter from Plaza de España, it costs only €2.50, and you get displays on how the bridge was built plus a short film. Opening hours at the time of writing are roughly 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays, with a midday break on Mondays and Saturdays and earlier closing on Sundays. ### The best viewpoints of the bridge * **Mirador de Aldehuela**: a small lookout right beside the bridge, the easiest close-up with no climbing. * **Jardines de Cuenca**: terraced gardens on the Mercadillo side with a calm view of the bridge and the houses hanging over the cliff. Best in the morning. * **Camino de los Molinos**: the classic postcard shot. From Plaza María Auxiliadora in the old town, a path drops down the hillside towards the Arco del Cristo, where you see the whole bridge, the gorge and the waterfall below. It is free but steep, so wear proper shoes and save energy for the walk back up. * **Camino del Desfiladero del Tajo**: a walkway along the river at the bottom of the gorge, now running right under the Puente Nuevo. The full route opened in September 2026\. Entry is €12, numbers are limited per hour and you need to book online in advance. ## More things to do in Ronda ### Plaza de Toros and the Real Maestranza museum Ronda's bullring opened in 1785 and is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Spain, built in golden sandstone with a double ring of arcades. It belongs to the Real Maestranza de Caballería, and the visit includes the arena, the stables and a museum on riding and bullfighting history. Even if bullfighting is not for you, the building is worth seeing. It is open every day from 10:00, closing at 18:00 from November to February, 19:00 in March and October, and 20:00 from April to September, except on bullfight days such as the Goyesca in early September. Tickets cost €10, or €12 with an audio guide. Right next to the bullring, the **Alameda del Tajo** park has cliff-top balconies with big views over the countryside, and it is a shady place for a break. ### The old town: Arab baths and Palacio de Mondragón Cross the bridge into **La Ciudad**, the old walled town, and wander. The **Baños Árabes** at the bottom of the hill, from the late 13th century, are among the best preserved Arab baths in Spain, with their brick vaults and star-shaped skylights. The **Palacio de Mondragón**, an old palace with Moorish-style patios and gardens on the cliff edge, now houses the town museum. Both are open daily, with shorter hours on Sundays and holidays. If you plan to see several sights, the town's **Bono Turístico** (€12) covers the Puente Nuevo Interpretation Centre, the Arab baths, the Palacio de Mondragón and the Casa del Gigante. ### Casa del Rey Moro and La Mina The gardens of the Casa del Rey Moro hang over the gorge, and from them a stairway known as La Mina, cut into the rock, goes down about 60 metres to the river. It is a lot of steps, but it gives you a very different view of El Tajo from below. ### The older bridges Below the Puente Nuevo, two smaller bridges cross the river: the **Puente Viejo** and the even older **Puente Árabe** (also called Puente de San Miguel). They are a pleasant, quieter walk down from the old town towards the Arab baths. ## Where to eat in Ronda The terraces right by the bridge are lovely for a drink with a view, but you usually eat better a street or two away. Two places we would point you to: * **Tragatá** (Calle Nueva): the relaxed tapas restaurant of chef Benito Gómez, listed in the Michelin Guide. Creative tapas, open for lunch and dinner, and you can reserve online. * **Bardal**: Benito Gómez's tasting menu restaurant, with two Michelin stars. A real occasion, so book well ahead. The hills around Ronda are also wine country, with small wineries in the Serranía de Ronda. If you want to taste, ask about a winery visit, and make sure someone else is driving back down the A-397. Back near the apartment, our guide to [restaurants in Benahavís and around El Paraíso](/blog/restaurants-benahavis-el-paraiso) has ideas for dinner after the drive home. ## A simple Ronda day trip plan 1. **9:00**: leave El Paraíso and drive up the A-397, with a coffee stop at a viewpoint near the pass. 2. **10:15**: park at Martínez Astein and walk down Carrera Espinel to the bullring and the Alameda del Tajo. 3. **11:00**: cross the Puente Nuevo, visit the Interpretation Centre and the Mirador de Aldehuela. 4. **11:45**: explore La Ciudad, the Palacio de Mondragón and down to the Arab baths and the old bridges. 5. **14:00**: a long Spanish lunch. 6. **16:00**: walk down the Camino de los Molinos for the classic bridge photo, or do the gorge walkway if you booked it. 7. **17:30**: drive back down to the coast before dark, then a swim at the pool. ## When to go Spring and autumn are ideal. Ronda sits at more than 700 metres above sea level, so it is usually a few degrees cooler than the coast. In summer it still gets hot in the middle of the day, so start early. In winter it can be properly cold and occasionally foggy, so bring a jacket even if it is warm in Benahavís. Coach tours from the coast tend to arrive mid-morning, so the town is quieter early and late in the day. If you are visiting in autumn, our guide to [Málaga weather in October and November](/blog/costa-del-sol-in-october-november) explains what to expect on the coast. Want to make it a longer day? From Ronda, the white villages of the Sierra de Grazalema and Setenil de las Bodegas are within easy reach, and the narrow roads through the Genal valley are beautiful if you are a confident driver. ## Frequently asked questions ### How far is Ronda from Marbella? About 60 km via San Pedro de Alcántara and the A-397, which takes around an hour and a quarter by car. From El Paraíso it is a little closer. ### Can you drive over the Ronda bridge? Not in a rental car. Since August 2025 only vehicles registered in Ronda can use the road across the Puente Nuevo, and cameras issue fines. Park in a car park and walk. ### Can you visit Ronda from Málaga without a car? Yes, by bus, but departures are limited and the train is not running while the line is under works. Check the Avanza and Autocares Sierra de las Nieves timetables before you go. ### How long do you need in Ronda? A full day covers the bridge, the old town, the bullring and a long lunch. Add a night if you want to do the gorge walkway, visit wineries and see the town after the day trippers have left. ## Stay at El Paraíso El Paraíso gives you a calm base in Benahavís with the coast, the golf courses and the mountains all close by. Combine Ronda with a round on one of the courses in our [golf near El Paraíso](/blog/golf-near-el-paraiso-benahavis) guide, or an easy evening in [Marbella Old Town](/blog/marbella-old-town-from-el-paraiso). When you are ready, check availability and book your stay on our [homepage](/). _Written by Mex Smits_ Hero photo: Puente Nuevo and El Tajo gorge in Ronda, by Wolfgang Moroder, via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View%5Fof%5FPuente%5FNuevo%5Fbridge%5Fin%5FRonda%5FSpain.jpg), licensed [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) (cropped).