Buses and cars take the same road from Marbella to Ronda: the A-7 to San Pedro de Alcántara, then the A-397, which climbs into the mountains with bend after bend. That is why the trip takes longer than the distance suggests.

By bus: two Avanza lines

Avanza runs two lines from Marbella bus station to Ronda. The L-304, which comes from Malaga along the coast, stops in Marbella in the morning. The L-306 starts in Marbella and runs in the afternoon and evening. Both go through San Pedro de Alcántara, and the trip takes about an hour and a half, for around €10 on the ticket platforms.

Coming back, the L-304 goes through Marbella on its way to Malaga, and the L-306 has a single departure from Ronda, at midday.

For a day trip, take the 9:45 out and the 18:35 back: that gives you about seven hours in Ronda. The afternoon L-306 buses only work if you are staying the night. Avanza does not publish the L-304's passing times in Marbella on its line page, so check your departure at the station or on the ticket platform before you go.

  • Marbella to Ronda: 9:45 and 11:05 (L-304), 16:25 and 21:50 (L-306).
  • Ronda to Marbella: 12:15 (L-306); 15:00, 16:15 and 18:35 (L-304).
  • Price: around €10 one way.
  • Journey time: about 1h30.

By car: the A-397 from San Pedro

Follow the A-7 west to San Pedro de Alcántara, then turn inland on the A-397 to Ronda: about 63 km in all. Allow an hour or more. The A-397 is a mountain road with many bends, so the average speed is low: do not plan it as a quick hop.

The road has been closed several times recently. Landslides after storms shut it in March 2025, and it fully reopened in October 2025. A slope near Igualeja caused a new closure in March 2026. At the end of September 2026, a fire near the Mirador de Igualeja closed it again over a weekend, until it reopened on Monday 28 September with no restrictions left. Check the road status with the DGT, Spain's traffic authority, before you leave.

When you arrive, do not drive across the Puente Nuevo: since August 2025, only cars registered in Ronda may use it, and cameras check. Our guide to parking in Ronda lists the car parks closest to the centre.

  • Route: A-7 to San Pedro de Alcántara, then A-397.
  • Distance and time: about 63 km, an hour or more.

By train

There is no rail option: the line through Ronda has been closed for works since 7 September 2026 and should reopen in the autumn of 2027. If you are coming from Malaga, see our guide from Malaga to Ronda.

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