The A-397 from San Pedro de Alcántara to Ronda is 67 kilometres of switchbacks, cork oak forests, and limestone gorges. It climbs from sea level to 740 metres, passes through the Sierra de las Nieves National Park buffer zone, and drops you at the edge of a cliff where an 18th-century bridge spans a 120-metre chasm. This is the single best day trip you can take from the Costa del Sol with a car.

Ronda sits 100 km from Marbella. The drive takes between 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes depending on the route and how many times you stop to photograph the views. You can do the whole trip — drive, explore Ronda, eat lunch, and return — in a comfortable 8-hour day.

Puente Nuevo, Ronda — the 120-metre bridge that took 42 years to build. This view alone makes the drive worth it. Photo: Unsplash

Departure: Setting Off from Marbella

Leave early. An 08:30 or 09:00 departure puts you in Ronda before the tour buses arrive from Málaga (they typically roll in around 11:00). The morning light on the mountain road is also far better for photos than the flat midday sun.

From central Marbella or Puerto Banús, head west on the A-7 coastal road toward San Pedro de Alcántara. At the large roundabout where the A-397 begins (signed “Ronda”), turn north. You leave the coast behind within five minutes.

Fuel up before you go. There are two petrol stations at the San Pedro roundabout. The A-397 has no fuel stops for the entire 67 km mountain section. Fill your tank here.

Route Option 1: The A-397 Mountain Road (Recommended)

Distance: 67 km from San Pedro to Ronda Driving time: 1 hour 15 minutes without stops Road character: Two-lane mountain road, well-maintained asphalt, 147 curves (someone counted them), guardrails on the exposed sections

This is the route to take. It is one of the most scenic drives in southern Spain.

The First 20 km: Climbing Out of the Coast

The road rises steeply from the San Pedro roundabout, gaining 400 metres of elevation in the first 15 km. You pass through the village of Benahavís turnoff (km 5) — the road to Benahavís itself splits left, but stay on the A-397 heading north.

The vegetation shifts rapidly. Within 10 minutes you leave behind the dry coastal scrub and enter pine forest. Around km 12, the first real mountain views open up behind you — the coastline stretching east toward Fuengirola and the faint outline of Africa across the strait on clear days.

Km 20-45: Sierra de las Nieves

This is the heart of the drive. The road winds through the buffer zone of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park, designated in 2021. Expect:

• Dense cork oak and Spanish fir (pinsapo) forests
• Rocky limestone outcrops with occasional mountain goat (cabra montés) sightings
• Several informal pullover spots with views — the best is around km 28 where there is a wide gravel shoulder overlooking the Guadalmina valley

Stop: Puerto de las Abejas (km 32) At roughly 1,000 metres elevation, this small mountain pass has a parking layby and an information board about the Sierra de las Nieves. Good spot to stretch your legs, feel the temperature drop (expect 5-8 degrees cooler than the coast), and take photos of the valley below.

Km 45-67: The Descent Into Ronda

After the pass, the road descends through more open landscape — rolling hills, olive groves, and whitewashed cortijos (farmhouses). The curves ease up and the speed picks up. You will spot Ronda perched on its cliff from several kilometres away, which is a dramatic first glimpse.

The A-397 enters Ronda from the south. Follow signs to “Centro Ciudad” and the parking areas near the Puente Nuevo.

Route Option 2: AP-7 to A-374 via Campillos

Distance: ~130 km Driving time: 1 hour 30-45 minutes without stops Road character: Motorway (AP-7) then dual carriageway and two-lane road; flatter, straighter, less scenic

This alternative heads east on the AP-7 toll motorway toward Málaga, exits at Cartama or Cártama junction, then takes the A-357 north through Ardales and the A-374 into Ronda from the northeast.

When this route makes sense:

• You are coming from Málaga Airport and heading straight to Ronda without stopping in Marbella first
• Heavy fog or rain has closed visibility on the A-397 mountain sections (rare, but it happens in December-February)
• You want to stop at Caminito del Rey (near Ardales, about 80 km from Málaga) and combine two excursions

For most visitors based in Marbella, this route is longer, less interesting, and more expensive (AP-7 tolls are around EUR 6-8). Take the A-397.

What to See in Ronda

Ronda is compact enough to explore on foot in 3-4 hours. Everything listed below is within a 15-minute walk of the Puente Nuevo.

Puente Nuevo and El Tajo Gorge

The iconic bridge connects the old Moorish town (La Ciudad) with the newer Mercadillo quarter. Built between 1751 and 1793, it stands 98 metres above the Guadalevín river at the base of the gorge.

Walk across the bridge (free, pedestrian access), then descend the path on the eastern side to the Jardines de Cuenca viewpoint for the classic postcard angle. For the view from below, follow the signed trail (Camino de los Molinos) that drops down to the gorge floor — allow 30 minutes down and 40 minutes back up. Steep but paved.

The bridge houses a small interpretation centre (EUR 3 entry) inside the central arch chamber, accessible from the bridge walkway.

Plaza de Toros — Ronda’s Bullring

Ronda’s Real Maestranza bullring, opened in 1785, is one of the oldest in Spain and arguably the most beautiful. Even if you have no interest in bullfighting, the architecture is worth the visit — the double tier of limestone arches is visually stunning.

• Entry: EUR 8, includes the bullfighting museum
• Hours: 10:00-18:00 (extended to 20:00 in summer)
• Allow 45 minutes

The Goyesca corrida, held during the Feria de Pedro Romero in early September, is the only active bullfight held here — participants wear 18th-century costumes designed by Goya.

La Ciudad (Old Moorish Quarter)

Cross the Puente Nuevo into La Ciudad and wander south. Key stops:

• Palacio de Mondragón: Renaissance palace with Moorish garden courtyards and a small archaeological museum (EUR 4)
• Baños Árabes: Remarkably well-preserved 13th-century Arab baths near the Arroyo de las Culebras, with star-shaped ceiling vents (EUR 4)
• Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor: Built over the former mosque — the mihrab arch is still visible inside
• Murallas and Puerta de Almocábar: The old Moorish walls and the main southern gate, a 10-minute walk from the centre

Alameda del Tajo

This tree-lined park on the cliff edge, next to the bullring, offers benches with views across the Serranía de Ronda to the Sierra de Grazalema. Peaceful spot to sit with a coffee from the nearby kiosks.

Ronda’s old town clings to the cliff edge — the views are vertiginous. Photo: Unsplash

Where to Park in Ronda

Parking del Socorro (underground, Calle Virgen de la Paz) Closest garage to the Puente Nuevo, roughly 200 metres walking. EUR 1.20/hour, daily maximum EUR 12. Gets full by 11:30 on summer weekends.

Parking Martínez Astein (surface lot) East of the bullring, larger capacity. EUR 0.80/hour. 5-minute walk to the bridge.

Free parking along Calle Armiñán and Paseo de Blas Infante: Limited blue-zone and free spaces exist on the roads leading to the bullring from the south. Arrive before 10:00 for any chance.

Where to Eat in Ronda

Lunch (Sit-Down)

Restaurante Almocábar (Plaza Ruedo Alameda) South end of La Ciudad, away from the tourist cluster around the bridge. Well-executed rabo de toro (bull tail stew), secreto ibérico, and local Ronda wines. Mains EUR 14-22. Reservations recommended on weekends.

Restaurante Pedro Romero (Calle Virgen de la Paz 18) Directly opposite the bullring. Touristy location but honest cooking — the carillada (pork cheeks) and migas are good. Mains EUR 12-20.

Quick Bites

Bar Lechuguita (Calle Remedios) Standing-room tapas bar with no-nonsense montaditos and local vermouth. Busy with locals at midday.

Panadería-Pastelería Daver (Calle Espinel) Pick up a yema del Tajo (local egg-yolk sweet) and a coffee to go. The yemas are Ronda’s signature pastry.

Ronda Wine

The Serranía de Ronda has its own DO (Denominación de Origen) since 2023. Ask for a local red — most restaurants stock Chinchilla, Cortijo Los Aguilares, or F. Schatz. The Petit Verdot and Garnacha blends from this altitude are surprisingly structured.

The Return: A Different Route Home

If you took the A-397 up, consider returning on the same road — the views are completely different heading south, with the Mediterranean appearing ahead of you as you descend. The late afternoon light on the gorge sections between km 30 and km 45 is the best of the day.

Alternative return via Gaucín and Casares: For a longer scenic loop (add 45 minutes), take the A-369 south from Ronda toward Gaucín, then turn onto the MA-8300 toward Casares. Both are classic white villages perched on hilltops. From Casares, the A-377 drops you back to the coast at Estepona, and you follow the AP-7 or A-7 east to Marbella.

This loop adds roughly 40 km but avoids repeating the same mountain road and gives you two more villages worth photographing.

Driving Tips for the A-397

Curves require respect. The 147 curves between San Pedro and Ronda include several blind hairpins. Stay in your lane on bends. Overtaking opportunities are limited to a few straight sections around km 15 and km 50-55.

Watch for cyclists. The A-397 is popular with road cycling clubs, especially on weekend mornings. Groups of 10-20 riders on the climbing sections are common. Give them 1.5 metres clearance when passing — it is a legal requirement in Spain.

Motorcycles. The road attracts motorcyclists who sometimes take the curves aggressively. Stay alert on blind corners.

Weather changes. The coast may show 28 degrees and sunshine while the mountain pass sits in cloud at 15 degrees. Between November and March, ice is possible on shaded sections above 800 metres. Check conditions if travelling in winter.

Automatic transmission advantage. On a road with this many hairpins, an automatic gearbox removes the constant clutch-brake-shift cycle that makes mountain driving tiring in a manual. Every car in the Gowerla Rent a Car fleet is automatic — which matters on this particular drive more than almost any other on the Costa del Sol.

Guaranteed model matters here. If you booked a specific car, you get that exact car — no “or similar” surprises. On a mountain road, knowing your vehicle’s dimensions, turning circle, and power matters. Gowerla Rent a Car guarantees the model you reserve.

Day Trip Planner: Timing Your Marbella-to-Ronda Drive

This timing avoids the midday tour-bus crush and gets you home before dark in every season except deep winter.

Getting Your Rental Car

If you are flying into Málaga, pick up your car at Málaga Airport and you can drive directly to Ronda before even heading to Marbella — the AP-7/A-374 route from the airport takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. For those already on the coast, browse the fleet and choose a car that suits mountain driving — anything with decent torque and good visibility.

Need help planning your route or booking? Contact us — we have driven every road on the Costa del Sol and are happy to share recommendations.

The view from the gorge floor looking up at Puente Nuevo — worth the steep walk down. Photo: Unsplash