Ronda is about 100 kilometres from Malaga by the inland road, an hour and a half by car. The fastest direct buses take about the same time, from Malaga bus station to Ronda's. The bus is the cheaper option; the car makes day trips around Ronda easier.

By car: the inland road or the coast

The inland route is the one to take. From Malaga, the A-357 and then the A-367 climb past Cerralba and Ardales to Ronda: about 100 km, an hour and a half to an hour and forty minutes, and no tolls.

The coastal route follows the A-7 or the AP-7 west to San Pedro de Alcántara, then turns inland on the A-397. It is 130 to 140 km and takes two hours to two and a half. The AP-7 is a toll motorway; the A-7 runs alongside it for free. The last stretch, from San Pedro to Ronda, is a mountain road with bend after bend, so allow about an hour for that stretch alone. It makes sense if you are staying on the Costa del Sol, much less if you start from Malaga. Check the road conditions before you set off.

With a car, Ronda also becomes a base for the area: Setenil de las Bodegas, the village built under overhanging rock, is 20 to 30 minutes away.

One warning for the arrival: do not follow the satnav across the Puente Nuevo. Since August 2025, only vehicles registered in Ronda may drive over it, and cameras check every plate. Our guide to parking in Ronda lists the car parks closest to the centre.

  • Inland (A-357, A-367): about 100 km, 1h30 to 1h40, no tolls.
  • Coast (A-7 or AP-7, then A-397): 130 to 140 km, 2h to 2h30, tolls on the AP-7 only.

By bus: direct from Malaga bus station

Direct buses to Ronda leave from Malaga bus station, on Paseo de los Tilos, next to the María Zambrano train station. According to the ticket platforms, there are about eight a day, fewer at weekends, run by three companies: Damas, Autocares Sierra de las Nieves and Avanza. The fastest take an hour and a half to an hour and three quarters, others two to two and a half hours, and a one-way ticket costs around €12 to €14.

Avanza's line L-304 is a different trip. It follows the coast, with stops in Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, Puerto Banús and San Pedro, and takes about three hours and a quarter. It leaves Malaga at 8:00 and 9:15, and Ronda at 15:00, 16:15 and 18:35. Unless you are boarding on the coast, pick a direct bus instead: you will be in Ronda more than an hour earlier.

Buses arrive at Ronda bus station, on Plaza Concepción García Redondo. Timetables change with the day of the week and the season, so check yours on the operator's website or at the station before you travel.

  • Price: about €12 to €14 one way on the direct buses.
  • Journey time: 1h30 to 2h30 on the direct buses; about 3h15 on Avanza's L-304 along the coast.
  • Where to buy: the ticket desks at Malaga bus station, the operators' websites or a ticket platform.

By train: suspended until autumn 2027

Rail traffic has been cut between Algeciras and Venta de Cárdenas, Ronda included, since 7 September 2026. Adif, the Spanish rail infrastructure company, is adapting the line for a freight corridor between Algeciras and Zaragoza, and plans to reopen it in the autumn of 2027.

Renfe runs replacement coaches between Antequera-Santa Ana and Ronda, so the trip from Malaga becomes a train to Antequera, then a coach. We could not find the timetables or the total journey time for this combination. Until the line reopens, the direct bus is simpler.

From Malaga airport

There is no direct bus from the airport to Ronda. Take the C1 local train from the airport to Malaga María Zambrano, walk the few minutes to the bus station next door, and continue on a direct bus.

If you are renting a car, the rental desks are at the airport, and the inland route described above is the one to follow.

Once in town, see what to see in Ronda, starting with the Puente Nuevo, and our selection of hotels in Ronda if you are staying the night.