Madrid to Ronda: Four Day Road Trip Itinerary
Visiting Spain and looking to include another European road trip? Spain is the perfect place! With so many options and a great arterial highway network, getting from Madrid to other cities in Spain is an easy drive. During our visit in November 2024, we loaded up the car with our friends and set off on a road trip to Ronda. Here’s our itinerary and some suggestions if you’re looking for a fun Euro road trip in Spain!
Contents
Day 1: Madrid to Córdoba
Start: Atocha Station, Madrid We began our journey from the heart of Madrid, at Atocha train station. Which gave us easy access to main roads heading south-west out of the capital city.
Molinos de Viento de Puerto Lápice On the way, we made a quick stop at some traditional windmills, a charming sight in Spain’s La Mancha region. It’s worth stretching your legs and taking these in as they’re not just beautiful and incredibly Spanish, but provide beautiful views of the region too.
Arrive to Córdoba Córdoba is a gem of Andalusia, known for its rich blend of cultures, breathtaking architecture, and winding streets. We spent the afternoon wandering through the ancient city, where history seemed to seep out of every corner. Make sure to visit the Roman Bridge, which is spectacular at sunset, offering an unforgettable view over the Guadalquivir River.
Tip: Plan ahead for dinner. We had a tough time finding a place to eat that ticked everyone's boxes. After passing by several options, including more than a few local Spanish courtyard restaurants, we opted for a trip to Carrefour for some ingredients and a few takeaway Tinto de Verano, and whipped up an amazing homemade chorizo pasta back at our accommodation. The restaurants that we could find last minute just weren’t hitting it for us, but you don’t need to have a night dinner out every night you travel. Remember, travel is about the memories!
Day 2: Córdoba to Ronda
Depart Córdoba The drive to Ronda took us away from the main highway and onto smaller local roads as we entered the region of Málaga. This leg of the trip was especially beautiful, with winding roads through rolling hills and Spain’s endless olive groves that made the journey feel a little more like an adventure. Even in November, Andalusia’s scenery was captivating, despite the rain event Spain was experiencing that soaked our stop in Setenil de las Bodegas—a unique town built into and beneath towering cliffs. We’d definitely recommend breaking the drive up and seeing this architectural marvel of a town!
Arrival to Ronda We reached Ronda by late afternoon, checking into an Airbnb perched across the ravine from the famous Puente Nuevo bridge. Our very own balcony offered stunning views of the sunset, framed by the dramatic ravine and that iconic bridge. Between downpours, the changing light over the bridge made for a pretty incredible sight! We’d finally made it to our destination.
Tapas in Ronda That evening, we ventured out for traditional Spanish tapas at a restaurant just across the street from our Airbnb. While the tapas wasn’t really anything special, it was nice to have a real quintessential Andalusian experience, and come to the conclusion that Spanish food really ain’t our kinda cuisine.
Day 3: Exploring Ronda
Seeing Ronda! The western part of Ronda, centred around the ravine and Puente Nuevo bridge, is easily walkable. So we spent day three exploring the town when it wasn’t raining! There’s a famous bullfighting ring and a whole range of incredible viewpoints to look out from the cliffs Ronda is situated on. Make sure to visit Mirador de Ronda and walk down to the Mirador Puente Nuevo de Ronda, a viewpoint that looks up at the bridge from below.
For dinner we were craving that chorizo pasta dish we made in Córdoba, so went to the nearest Carrefour to get our ingredients and cheffed up at the apartment again!
Ronda back to Madrid
Drive: Ronda to Madrid Our return to Madrid was an easy, straightforward drive back along Spain’s highways. Unlike the scenic detours on our way down, this leg was about efficiency, and we covered the distance in a single day. It was a relaxed cruise back, taking about seven hours from when we left Ronda.
We returned the car to the same location where we’d picked it up and found ourselves back in Madrid!
Alternative add-ons
If you have more time than we did, consider extending the trip and exploring more nearby cities. Seville, Granada, or Málaga are all within easy reach of Ronda, offering more of Andalusia’s legendary culture and landscapes. Unfortunately, flooding in the area meant we couldn’t visit, but these spots should definitely be on your Spain list!
That’s It!
If you’ve made it down here, thank you so much for reading!
That’s our full rundown of an epic four-day road trip from Madrid to Ronda. From historic cities to stunning landscapes, this route gave us some unforgettable moments (and a lot of chorizo pasta). We hope this guide helps you plan your own Spanish adventure! Happy road-tripping!
