© Parador de RondaHotelParador de Ronda
Why we like it: The Ronda parador occupies the former town hall and market, on plaza de España, at the edge of the gorge and next to the Puente Nuevo.
Duration2 nights
Best timeLate October – early December
Budget€200–350 pp
Getting thereCar, A-357 and A-367
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving on Friday evening. The Genal is best seen early on Saturday, before its roads fill up; book Tragatá and Bardal in good time and call the Cueva de la Pileta if you want to go in.
Friday
- 119:00Arrival and a walk along the gorge
Leave the car, cross the Puente Nuevo and look out from the Alameda del Tajo viewpoints at night.
Saturday
- 19:00The Genal Copper Forest
Via the A-397 towards San Pedro and the roads of the villages of the upper Genal: the source of the Genal and the Caleras trail in Igualeja, the Pujerra chestnut grove, the chestnut village, and Júzcar on the way back. Half a day by car, with short walks.
- 214:00Lunch at Tragatá
Benito Gómez's tapas bar on Calle Nueva, next to the Puente Nuevo. A sitting with a reservation.
- 317:00Casa del Rey Moro
The Nasrid staircase cut into the rock goes down to the Guadalevín river: the most physical thing in Ronda. Tickets at the ticket office only.
- 421:00Special dinner
If it is an occasion, Bardal, with two Michelin stars: open Tuesday to Saturday and booked well in advance.
Sunday
- 110:00Puente Nuevo and Palacio de Mondragón
With the €12 municipal pass: the interpretation centre under the bridge arch and the palace with Mudéjar courtyards and a garden above the gorge.
- 213:30Lunch and the drive back
Traditional Ronda cooking at Pedro Romero, facing the bullring, since 1974. You set off home in mid-afternoon.
From late October to early December, the Genal valley, south of Ronda, turns copper: thousands of chestnut trees change colour at once on the slopes of a dozen white villages. It is Andalusia's great autumn landscape, and it is best seen by sleeping in Ronda: you set out early for the valley before the narrow roads fill up, come back to the city for lunch and have Sunday left for the Tajo, its palaces and its tables.
Where to sleep
| Accommodation | Where | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Parador de Ronda | Plaza de España, on the edge of the gorge | To see the Puente Nuevo from your room |
| Hotel Montelirio | Calle Tenorio, in La Ciudad, beside the gorge | Couples: a stately house with a restaurant and parking by reservation |
| Camping El Sur | 1.5 km from the old town, among olive trees | Motorhomes, tents and apartments |
If you want more Genal
Swap Sunday for another morning in the valley, further down: Faraján, Alpandeire and Benadalid, on even narrower roads. Or, on the way to Seville or Cádiz, the Cueva de la Pileta, with Palaeolithic paintings seen by torchlight: book by phone.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Ronda, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Ronda
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
By car, and park before you go in
Ronda is a city to drive to from Málaga, Seville or Cádiz, but not to drive around in: La Ciudad has narrow streets with restricted access. Leave the car in a Mercadillo car park and get around on foot; pick it up again only for the Cueva de la Pileta or the wineries.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayParador de Ronda, with a…
- Getting aroundPlaza del Socorro underground car…
- Where to eatTragatá, open every day, with…
- ServicesTourist office on paseo de…
Where to stay
- Parador de Ronda, with a paid garage next to the Puente Nuevo
- Hotel Montelirio, in La Ciudad, with private parking that must be booked
- Camping El Sur, 1.5 km away, on the ring road: you arrive without crossing the city
Getting around
- Plaza del Socorro underground car park, open 24 h
- On foot between the monuments: everything is under 15 minutes away
- The Cueva de la Pileta, about 20 minutes by car towards Benaoján
Where to eat
- Tragatá, open every day, with booking seatings
- Pedro Romero, opposite the bullring
Services
- Tourist office on paseo de Blas Infante
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights2
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're driving
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
© Parador de RondaHotel
Hotel Montelirio
Why we like it: Stately house turned hotel on calle Tenorio in La Ciudad, next to the gorge, with the Albacara restaurant and private parking by reservation.
From €104
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Campsite
Camping El Sur
Why we like it: Family campsite among olive and holm oak trees 1.5 km from Ronda's old town, with pitches, apartments, a summer pool and a motorhome service area.
From €15
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Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| El Mercadillo | Bullring, Alameda, shops and car parks | |
| La Ciudad | Old town across the bridge: palaces and Arab Baths |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Ronda
Tragatá
What to order: the salmorejo bomb with tuna belly, the Russian salad and the fried sea bass in adobo, to share.
Restaurante Pedro Romero
What to order: the market menu of the day, or the Ronda stews from the menu.
Bardal
What to order: the Menú Bardal (€195) if it is your first time; the Gran Menú adds dishes such as veal blanquette with caviar.
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Ask at the Ronda tourist office how the colour is that week: the copper arrives on a different date each year.
We'd skip it
If bends make you carsick: the Genal roads are narrow and winding. Stay in Ronda and see the valley from the viewpoints.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the Copper Forest?
From late October to early December. November is usually the best moment, but it changes every year.
How far is the Genal from Ronda?
The first villages, such as Júzcar or Igualeja, are less than an hour away via the A-397 and mountain roads.
Do I have to pay to see the Copper Forest?
No. It is seen from the villages, the viewpoints and the waymarked trails; the chestnut groves are private estates.
Is it a good plan with children?
Yes, with short walks in the valley and the Puente Nuevo. The Casa del Rey Moro has many steps.