Day trips · Málaga & Marbella
Ronda and the White Villages
A mountain day inland from the Costa del Sol: Ronda's dramatic gorge and bridge, its old Muslim town and Arab baths, and a white village tucked into the rock.
An hour inland from Marbella, the coast's beach clubs give way to mountains, cork oaks and villages that shine white against the slopes. This private day takes you up into the Serranía de Ronda, to one of Andalusia's most dramatic towns and to a white village that seems to grow out of the rock.
The mountain road from Marbella climbs in wide curves with views back to the sea, and on clear days towards Gibraltar and the coast of Morocco. Your driver can stop at viewpoints along the way.
Ronda sits on a plateau split in two by El Tajo, a gorge more than a hundred metres deep. The Puente Nuevo, completed in the late eighteenth century, spans it in a single tall arch of stone. Walk onto the bridge, then along the cliff-top paths for views of the gorge and the plain below.
Across the bridge lies La Ciudad, the old Muslim town, which remained part of Al-Andalus until 1485. Its quiet lanes, whitewashed houses and the area around the Mondragón Palace keep the feel of a medieval medina. Down by the river, the Arab baths are among the best preserved in Spain, with their horseshoe arches and star-shaped skylights. Ronda is also known for one of Spain's oldest bullrings, which you may prefer to see only from outside.
After lunch, continue to a white village. Setenil de las Bodegas, about twenty minutes away, is famous for streets where houses are built directly under overhanging rock. Depending on the season and your interests, we can choose another village of the Serranía instead.
The coast is your base; see our Málaga and Marbella guide and the wider Andalusia guide. This is one of our day trips, arranged on request; availability and price are confirmed by the team after reviewing your dates.
How the day flows
Indicative order — we adapt it to your pace, the heat and your tickets.
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Departure from the coast
Pick-up from your hotel or villa and a scenic drive of about an hour from Marbella up into the Serranía de Ronda.
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Ronda's gorge and Puente Nuevo
Views of the eighteenth-century bridge spanning El Tajo gorge, from the bridge itself and from viewpoints along the cliff.
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La Ciudad, the old Muslim town
The quiet lanes of the medieval quarter, the Mondragón Palace area and, on request, the Arab baths by the river.
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Lunch
A break in Ronda, with suggestions to suit your preferences.
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A white village
Setenil de las Bodegas, where houses are built into the overhanging rock, or another village of the Serranía chosen with you.
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Return
Drive back to the coast, arriving in the early evening.
Included
- Private vehicle with driver for the day
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or villa on the Costa del Sol
- Stops at viewpoints along the mountain road
- Route planned with you in advance
Not included
- Entrance tickets (Arab baths, bullring, gardens and museums)
- Guide (on request, subject to availability)
- Meals and drinks
- Gratuities
Practical details
- Meeting point
- Pick-up from your hotel or villa in Marbella, Málaga or along the Costa del Sol
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Language
- Confirmed in your proposal
- Price
- In your proposal, before you book
- Group
- Private: only your party
Good to know
- The road from Marbella to Ronda climbs through the mountains with many bends; mention any motion sickness so we can plan stops
- Ronda can be several degrees cooler than the coast, especially in winter
- Expect steep streets and steps around the gorge
- The white village can be changed to suit your interests and the season
- Setenil de las Bodegas is very busy at weekends; weekdays are calmer