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Guide

Day trip to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas from Benalmádena

Discover the magic of the Serranía with one-day excursion to Ronda from the Costa del Sol. Enjoy a comfortable journey—with pickup available at key locations in Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, and Marbella—and let yourself be captivated by one of the most visited destinations in Andalusia.

By the Tickets Costa del Sol editorial team · 4 min read
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Calle de las Cuevas del Sol in Setenil de las Bodegas during an organized excursion.

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In this guide
  1. The perfect itinerary: Two gems in a single day
  2. Second Stop: Ronda, history and vertical landscapes
  3. How to get from Benalmádena to Ronda and Setenil: Transport options
  4. Option 2: By hire car on your own

Are you staying in Benalmádena and want to make the most of your holiday in Andalusia? There’s one day trip that stands out above all the rest: the excursion to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas from Benalmádena.

This spectacular ‘2-in-1’ day trip lets you discover, in a single day, two of southern Spain’s most photographed treasures: Setenil, the stunning white village built beneath the rocks, and Ronda, the romantic medieval town perched above a chasm over 100 metres deep.

In this guide, we’ll tell you how to plan your route, what to see at each stop and how to choose the best option to secure your places.

The perfect itinerary: Two gems in a single day

Taking this combined tour allows you to make the most of your time, as both destinations are very close to one another in the Serranía region.

First stop: Setenil de las Bodegas, the village beneath the rocks

Setenil isn’t built on the mountain, but inside it, and that’s precisely what makes this wonderful place a must-see on any trip to the Costa del Sol.

A narrow, cobblestone street in Setenil de las Bodegas, featuring traditional white-fronted houses built directly beneath a massive rock formation suspended from the mountainside.
Setenil de las Bodegas, one of Andalusia’s most striking white villages, where the residents don’t live in caves, but beneath the rocks.

Must-see streets: You can’t leave without taking a stroll down Calle Cuevas del Sol and Calle Cuevas de la Sombra. Here, the houses use the colossal natural rocks as their roofs, creating an urban landscape that’s unique in the world.

Things to do: It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a coffee at any time of day on one of its terraces, sheltered by tonnes of floating rock.

Why is Setenil called ‘de las Bodegas’? (Historical Trivia)

Many travellers arrive expecting to find vast vineyards and are surprised not to find them.

The reason is historical: following the Christian Reconquista, the new settlers made use of the microclimate of the cliff-side caves – which maintain a cool, constant temperature all year round – as natural cellars for storing wine.

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Local production was immense until, in the late 19th century, the phylloxera plague completely devastated the area’s vineyards. Although the vines disappeared, the name has remained forever. Today, the tradition of fine wine has moved to the neighbouring wineries in the Serranía de Ronda.

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Second Stop: Ronda, history and vertical landscapes

Puente Nuevo: The imposing stone monument that connects the old town with the modern district over the River Guadalevín. The views of the gorge will take your breath away!

Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza: An 18th-century architectural gem, considered the cradle of modern bullfighting.

El Balcón del Coño: The town’s most famous viewpoint, from where you can see the whole of the Serranía de Ronda.

The grand stone structure of the Puente Nuevo in Ronda, with its monumental arches spanning the deep Tajo gorge.
The interior of the renowned Plaza de Toros of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda, featuring its iconic double gallery of neoclassical arches supported by stone columns.

How to get from Benalmádena to Ronda and Setenil: Transport options

Option 1: Organised coach tour

Due to the winding roads in the mountains and the extreme difficulty of finding parking in Setenil and Ronda, the organised coach tour is the preferred option for most travellers.

Advantages: You’ll be picked up in the morning near your accommodation in Benalmádena; you avoid having to drive and can focus on enjoying the journey and the scenery; you’ll travel with a professional driver; you’ll have an official guide who’ll explain the history of both towns; and you’ll have some free time.

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Option 2: By hire car on your own

If you prefer to travel at your own pace and have complete freedom over your schedule, you can hire a car. The total distance is around 100 kilometres of winding mountain roads.

Trip details

Independent trip by car

Organised excursion

Logistics and Route Coordinating routes, maps and car parks in

two villages.

100% planned,

You just relax on the coach

Parking

Very tricky and expensive in both

historic centres

No worries (authorised bus

zone).

Culture / History

History You’ll need to find the information yourself

Certified local guide included for the entire journey.

Total

Complete flexibility – you set your own timetable

for stops.

Determined by the group’s

.

Comfort

Limited; you have to keep an eye on the road and the map

Total and absolute; they organise, you enjoy.

Price

It can work out expensive with petrol and other unforeseen costs

You know in advance what’s included.

If you’d like to make the most of your experience on this day trip, you can add any of the following options to your day (check availability)

Taller ancestral de cacao en Ronda: preparación y ritual del cacao

Visita a Ronda y Setenil con tiempo libre y tren lanzadera

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