The best things to do in Ronda with kids

There are so many reasons to plan a family holiday in southern Spain, including the beach resorts of the Costa del Sol, as well as Marbella and Malaga – but somehow it’s easy to overlook the gorgeous historic town of Ronda with kids.

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Around 30 miles from the coast, not far from Andalucia’s Sierra de las Nieves mountains, it’s perfect for a day trip.

Although with so many things to do in Ronda with kids, you could easily spend longer – from the famous towering Puente Nuevo bridge to the historic Arab baths, a walking tour of Ronda and viewpoints galore.

Puente Nuevo

If you do nothing else during your family day out in Ronda, you need to marvel at its bridge – the Puente Nuevo (or New Bridge) is Ronda’s main attraction.

One of three bridges stretching across the El Tajo gorge dividing the city, it might be the newest bridge, but it still dates back to 1759 – a replacement for a previous ‘new’ bridge which had collapsed six years after it was finished.

Rising 98 metres above the Guadalevin River at the bottom of the 120 metre deep chasm, there are countless viewpoints to soak up the sight of the bridge soaring high above the river bed.

Start by wandering over the top of the bridge and looking out at the surrounding countryside from the Aldehuela viewpoint or the Mirador de Cuenca, before heading down into the valley to see the arches towering above you.

Not far from the Almocábar Gate, there’s a viewpoint near Plaza de María Auxiliadora, which is easy to reach if you’re exploring Ronda with kids and don’t fancy a long hike in the Spanish sun.

The best views are from the bottom of the gorge, with the twisting path snaking down to the Mirador del Puente Nuevo, and other viewpoints, if you fancy the walk.

There is a little museum and interpretation centre inside the bridge too –  the Centro de Interpretación del Puente Nuevo has more details about the bridge’s history and construction, and you can even look down into the gorge. The chambers inside the bridge itself have previously been used as a prison and a guard-house.

You can buy a combined ticket for several attractions including the Interpretation Centre, Mondragon Palace and Arab Baths, online or at the tourist information centre

Mondragon Palace

It’s worth visiting the Ronda Municipal Museum for its buildings alone, but you’ll also find a museum on the town tucked away in the Mondragon Palace.

Built in the early 14th century by the Moorish rulers of Ronda, the site was also later the residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella after they conquered the town, and there are some beautifully decorated rooms, shady courtyards and little balconies hidden away behind the stone facade.

While it’s not as intricate as the Alhambra in Granada, there’s a similar feel – lots of cool places to escape the Spanish heat, little fountains and lush gardens, plus some lovely views to the mountains.

Within the palace, you can trace the history of Ronda from the area’s prehistoric inhabitants to Roman settlement, Arab rule and more modern times, with sculptures, stone artefacts, tombs and even recreated Stone Age dwellings.

There are a few opportunities to get hands on, although it’s not particularly interactive. You’ll find some information in English too, although it is sometimes limited – but the displays are still enough to capture kids’ imagination for a short visit. As it’s only a small museum, you’ll probably spend less than half an hour inside.

If you’ve heard about Ronda’s bandit museum, it’s no longer based in the city and the collection has moved to a new location – scroll down for more details

Banos Arabes (the Arab baths)

One of my favourite places to explore in Ronda with kids – and not just because the Banos Arabes were deliciously cool after the hot Spanish sun.

The Arab Baths are also left over from when Ronda was under Moorish rule, and baths had a ritual as well as a practical purpose.

Originally next to the main entrance to the city, you can still see the remains of some of the old walls around the baths complex.

The first sight is a bit of an odd one, with strange mounds visible including glass panels – but when you get inside, you discover they’re the domed ceilings of rooms with star-shaped skylights to illuminate the baths.

After a reception room with its own pool, where people could chat and have a drink, the series of rooms is similar to Roman baths, with a succession of hot and cooler rooms.

Look out for the oven which heated the steam in one of the saunas near the entrance, and the chimney used to funnel it away, to keep the temperatures down in the cooler rooms.

There’s also a video in the final room giving some more background, plus some gardens outside, while you can also see the waterwheel, which would have provided the water for the baths – powered by donkey, it brought water directly from the river far below.

Puerta de Almocabar and the Arab Walls

When you see the remains of the city walls which once protected Ronda, you can understand how the city repelled invaders for centuries.

And it’s well worth taking a walk around to see some of the old walls, and the impressive Puerta de Almocabar.

With the gorge and river acting as a natural barrier on one side, the walls didn’t entirely encircle the city, but instead filled the vulnerable gaps. If you’re visiting the Arab Baths, the wall would once have stretched from the Puente Arabe south as far as the Almocabar gate.

Climb down from Casa del Rey Moro through the arch of Felipe V, past the baths, and wander along Calle Molino de Alarcon to see some more of the remains of the fortification, including Murallas de la Cíjara before you reach the gate (or you could walk it in reverse of course).

Then you can stroll back along Calle Espiritu Santo, through the winding old streets, towards the Mondragon Palace and eventually to Calle Arminan to bring you back across the bridge.

La Casa del Rey Moro

Another fascinating Moorish building – the Casa del Rey Moro, or home of the Moorish king – was built in the 14th century, but one of the most interesting things about this particular site is discovering its cunning water pumping system, which once supplied water for the town.

Reaching all the way down to the Guadalevin River 60m below, there’s a staircase cut into the rock if you want to go part-way down.

There are over 200 steps, but the platform has a great view, including out to the countryside around – once a vital guard post to look out for attack.

The fortress was designed to prevent the water supply being cut off, and may have been a secret escape route too. There are legends of buried treasure here as well, although the engineering marvels are the real gem rather than gold.

Gaze out from one of the viewpoints

You can hardly move in Ronda without finding another wonderful viewpoint – not just of the famous bridge, but also of the surrounding countryside. These are a few of the best.

Aldehuela viewpoint

To one side of the Puente Nuevo, you can look across at the bridge, as well as down into the valley, plus some lovely views of the buildings lining the gorge.

Mirador de Cuenca

Not far from the Mirador Aldehuela, there’s another great view across the bridge and into the gorge from this side.

Mirador Puento Nuevo

Walk down from the Plaza de Maria Auxiliadora to the first viewpoint for a fantastic view of the bridge from below. You can head further down for viewpoints closer to the river, but go prepared with water and try to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Mirador La Hoya del Tajo

A little further on, this viewpoint can also be reached by road if you don’t want to walk there, and looks across towards the lower arches.

Mirador de Ronda (La Sevillana)

Not far from the tourist office and bullring, this viewpoint looks out onto the gorge and the surrounding countryside.

Calle Pastor Divino

A couple of minutes from Heladeria e’Gelato, this is a good place to head and eat your ice cream, with views of the rooftops and Ronda’s whitewashed buildings.

Jardines de Cuenca

These lovely and unusual gardens on the edge of town are a great place to go and chill out for a bit between exploring.

Dedicated to Ronda’s twinned city of Cuenca, the gardens are stretched across a series of terraces on the cliff edge, looking out to the Tajo gorge and down to the river below – it’s also one of the best viewpoints to see the Puente Nuevo.

With rose gardens and palm trees dotted along the shady paths, it’s not a park as you might expect it, but it’s far more memorable than your average garden. The Cuenca gardens are also sometimes called the Mina Gardens.

If you want more traditional green space in Ronda, there’s another park near the tourist office, by the Mirador de Ronda, or the Parque de San Rafael also has a play area, but it’s at least a 20-minute walk from the tourist office, heading away from the Old Town

Take a kids’ tour

If your kids love a challenge as they explore, stop off at the tourist office near the Plaza de Toros and pick up a kids’ tour map with 12 locations to spot and stickers to mark them off as you go.

There are also some activities on the back, including a dot-to-dot puzzle, word search and drawing challenge, if you fancy trying to sketch out the Puente Nuevo (or anything else) along the way.

The Old Town is lovely simply to wander around, with all the whitewashed houses along the little cobbled streets, grand churches like Santa Maria la Mayor, the historic Moorish sites and all the great viewpoints.

Half the fun is getting slightly lost and seeing what you discover around the next corner, but this is a great option to keep children going if they get bored of walking!

If you’re visiting with older kids, there’s also an audioguide tour of Ronda sharing information on its long history as well as taking you to some of the key sights (also available from Viator), or you can also join a guided walking tour of Ronda

Eat ice cream

Whether you’re rewarding everyone for a walk (or bribing them to go), or simply want to cool down while you’re enjoying a day in Ronda with kids, you’ll be spoiled for choice if you’re looking for ice cream.

We were recommended Heladeria E’Gelato by a local as the best place to go, and while it’s a little further from some of the ice-cream shops which line the tourist heart of Ronda, it’s well worth seeking it out.

You’ll find plenty more unusual flavours as well as the classics too.

Try a traditional cake

If you prefer cake to ice cream – or both! you are on holiday – then seek out one of Ronda’s traditional pastries.

Yemas del Tajo, a sweet egg cake which was originally made in a convent in Ronda, is sold under the same name at Las Campanas bakery (although you’ll find similar options under similar names elsewhere).

Or you can still buy ‘convent sweets’ in the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Merced, on Calle Carlos Cobo Gómez. The small bakery is just behind the church, and you’ll find a price list tacked up next to an alcove. Ring the buzzer, tell the nuns what you want, and place your money in it – it will turn, and your order will appear in its place (with any change).

For more traditional pastries – and generally delicious sweet treats – save some time for a stop at Confiteria Daver as well.

Take a horse and carriage ride

Yes, it’s touristy but a horse and carriage ride of Ronda is always fun to do with kids, plus it’s a good way to explore on a hot day (do take a hat though).

You can pick up the carriages near the bullring, and the trips usually last only around 30 minutes so it’s very much a quick introduction rather than an in-depth tour – although that’s reassuring in terms of the horses’ welfare as well.

Expect to pay around 25 to 40 Euros for the experience, although costs may vary depending on the time of year and how many people are in your group – expect to fit around four into the carriage, although if your children are younger, you could squeeze up to five.

The Plaza de Toros – bullfighting arena and museum

One of Ronda’s most famous attractions is also one of its most divisive – the Plaza de Toros, or the bullfighting arena.

Ronda is known as the birthplace of bullfighting and the arena here is one of the oldest in Spain, dating back to the 18th century. Created by the same architect behind the Puente Nuevo, it is an impressive design, with some beautiful details.

It’s also home to a museum with displays sharing information on the history of bullfighting and its place in Spanish culture, as well as the events taking place in the arena itself.

My animal-loving daughter flatly refused to set foot inside, however culturally significant it might be, but whether you plan to visit or to avoid it, it’s very close to the tourist office so hard to miss.

More things to do near Ronda

For a lot of people who are visiting Ronda with kids, it’s as a day trip from the Costa del Sol. But if you’re staying in Ronda itself, there are plenty of fun things to do nearby.

Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park

There is some wonderful scenery around Ronda, including the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, only a short drive away from the town.

Stretching for almost 130,000 acres, there are hiking trails, as well as caverns and it’s also home to colonies of vultures, including endangered species, as well as rare fir trees.

You can search for family-friendly trails and hiking paths here.

The Roman ruins at Acinipo

Sometimes called Ronda la Vieja, or old Ronda, this former Roman city is thought to have been founded by retired soldiers who the Roman legions who settled in the area.

Now an archaeological site, you can still explore the former theatre at Acinipo, as well as seeing the remains of Roman baths and prehistoric houses predating the Romans, as well as enjoying the views of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.

Around half an hour from Ronda by car, you do have to use some imagination to bring the ancient stones to life. You’re unlikely to spend more than an hour here at most, so it’s best to combine with a visit to the natural park – do check opening hours before you go, as it isn’t open every day.

Bandit museum, El Borge

Ronda’s own Bandit Museum, previously on Ronda’s Calle Arminan, has now moved to a new location – but if you had your heart set on visiting, it’s possible to visit it as part of a day trip to El Borge, near Málaga.

Telling the story of some of the region’s most feared outlaws, as well as some who cut more dashing heroic figures and others straight from legend, the displays include photos and documents as well as plenty of stories which owe more to romance than reality.

It’s one of the largest collections on the history of banditry, covering the period between the 17th and 19th centuries, including the collection of the former Bandolero Museum in Ronda.

Malaga

For older kids, the big draw of Malaga might be its art – the home of Pablo Picasso, one highlight is a visit the Picasso Museum.

There’s also history to discover including Roman sites and the famous Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress built in the 11th century. You can still explore inside today, as well as the ruins of the Castillo de Gibralfaro, another Moorish fort.

Visit the beaches of the Costa del Sol

The coast here is deservedly famous for its endless golden sands – and string of tourist resorts. Whether you fancy Fuengirola, Marbella, Puerto Banus, Estepona, Nerja or Benalmadena (to name a few), it’s easy to spend a day at the beach.

There are also a string of family-friendly tourist attractions, including water parks, amusement parks, aquariums and zoos, if you’re looking for a break from the history and heritage of Ronda with kids.

Check out some of the best things to do in the Costa del Sol with kids, including family attractions and days out

Where to stay in Ronda with kids

If you’re looking for your own space, I’m a fan of the hand-picked apartments and villas from Plum Guide, including some in Ronda itself as well as others in easy driving distance.

Or there are also apartments and villas, as well as hotels in Ronda with kids on booking.com if you want to stay within walking distance of the main sights.

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Images: View from the gorge/Bullring/Sierra de Grazalema/Acinipo/Malaga courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels

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