What to do · Setenil de las Bodegas
Ronda, 20 Minutes Away
Information
- From
- €12 per person
- Duration
- 4 h
- Who it's for
- Everyone
Why go from Setenil
Ronda is about 20 minutes by car from Setenil and is the city of the serranía. If Setenil lives inside the canyon of one river, Ronda is split in two by another: the Guadalevín opened a deep gorge (el Tajo), and the city spreads on both sides, joined by the Puente Nuevo. With Setenil in the morning and Ronda in the afternoon, the day is complete.
What to see in half a day
- Puente Nuevo. The city's symbol. It was built between 1759 and 1793 and finished by the architect José Martín de Aldehuela; Wikipedia gives it a height of 98 m above the Guadalevín gorge. It replaced an earlier bridge from 1735 that collapsed six years later. In the chamber above the central arch, which was a prison, there is an interpretation centre on the surroundings and history of the city.
- La Ciudad. On the other side of the bridge is the old town, with the Palacio de Mondragón, the Casa del Gigante and the church of Santa María la Mayor.
- Arab Baths (Baños Árabes). Below, next to the river, baths from the Andalusi period.
- Museo Joaquín Peinado, devoted to the painter from Ronda.
To see the Tajo from below, the Town Council offers the Tajo gorge experience, presented on its tourism website.
Tickets: the tourist pass
The Town Council sells a municipal pass that brings together five monuments: the Puente Nuevo interpretation centre, the Casa del Gigante, the Arab Baths, the Palacio de Mondragón and the Museo Joaquín Peinado. According to its leaflet, dated February 2025, it costs €12 per person and €9 for students under 26, retirees and large families; under-14s go in free. There is a €25 premium pass that adds Santa María la Mayor, the Casa Palacio Museo Lara and the Casa Don Bosco. Last admission at each monument is half an hour before closing.
It is bought on Ronda's tourism website. Opening hours of each monument change with the season: check them there before going.
Getting there from Setenil and parking
By car, about 20 minutes. The old town has narrow streets: leave the car in a public car park before going in and get around on foot, because the Puente Nuevo, La Ciudad and the monuments on the pass are a short distance from each other.
How long
Allow half a day: about four hours for the Puente Nuevo, a walk round La Ciudad and two or three monuments on the pass. If you want to see it all at leisure, stay overnight: the Parador de Ronda overlooks the Tajo, next to the Puente Nuevo.
When to go
Spring and autumn. In July and August the heat is intense at midday; leave Ronda for the afternoon, when temperatures drop and the light falls on the Tajo. If you do both towns on the same day, go into Setenil first thing, before the groups arrive, and go up to Ronda after lunch.
With children or reduced mobility
Under-14s go in free with the pass. The old town has slopes and some steps, and going down to the Arab Baths means a good slope on the way back.
Tips
- Buy the municipal pass For €12 you see five monuments, and under-14s don't pay.
- Setenil first, Ronda afterwards Setenil fills up mid-morning; Ronda copes better in the afternoon.
- Look at the Tajo from several sides The Puente Nuevo is better understood from the viewpoints on the two edges of the canyon than from on top of it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Setenil to Ronda?
About 20 minutes by car.
How much does it cost to see Ronda's monuments?
The municipal pass costs €12 and includes five monuments; the premium one, €25, adds three more. Prices from the February 2025 leaflet.
Can you see Setenil and Ronda in one day?
Yes. Setenil in the morning, in about three hours, and Ronda in the afternoon.
