Museums in Ronda to visit in 1 day

Ronda has six museums open and you can see almost all of them in a single day, as they’re just a few minutes’ walk from one another.

But there’s something that needs to be said first, because it keeps appearing in all the guidebooks.

⚠️ The Bandit Museum no longer exists

It was the most highly recommended museum in Ronda, and it has closed. On Armiñán Street the sign remains on the façade, but there is no museum behind it: its listing gives neither opening hours nor a telephone number, and anyone who goes there will find only a doorway.

If you’ve read that it’s «the first must-see stop», that information is out of date. It continues to be mentioned in guides and lists.

And be careful with your searches: the domain that appears to be yours corresponds to another gallery dedicated to banditry, in El Borge, a village in the province of Málaga.

The history of banditry is still present in Ronda, though spread across different venues: the Lara Museum devotes a section to it, whilst the Wine Museum includes it in its guided tour.

1. Lara Museum: the highest-rated, by far

4.8 out of over 2,700 reviews, which is the highlight of the entire monumental complex in Ronda.

It is the private collection of Juan Antonio Lara Jurado, spread across twelve rooms, and it is striking for its wide variety: antique clocks, weapons, archaeology, photography and film, scientific instruments, blacksmithing, an 18th-century wine cellar and a recreation of a flamenco performance.

And the best bit is in the cellar: the rooms dedicated to the Inquisition and witchcraft.

• 29 Armiñán Street. Tel. +34 952 87 12 63.
• Open every day, 11.00–19.00. No closing day.
• It can be done in half an hour or in two, depending on what takes your fancy.

2. Bullfighting Museum, at the Bullring

It’s the most comprehensive tour, because it’s not just a museum: you go into the arena, to the stretched out, at stables and the walkways above the pens.

The square in front of the Real Maestranza de Caballería It is one of the oldest in Spain, and the museum goes far beyond bullfighting: it explores the history of Andalusian horsemanship and the origins of horse riding.

Two notable collections:

• The Royal Saddlery of the House of Orléans, which belonged to Louis Philippe of France and his son, the Duke of Montpensier. He joined February 2006.
• A collection of antique firearms used for hunting and duelling, from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Practical advice: pick up the audio guide, which is what gives the journey its meaning; Photography is prohibited in almost every cinema, and The paper map is charged for separately.

• 15 Virgen de la Paz Street. Tel. +34 952 87 11 53.
• Every day, 10.00–20.00.
• Book more time here than in the rest.

3. Mondragón Palace (Ronda Museum)

Two visits in one: the museum and the palace itself. The building dates from the 16th to the 18th centuries and has Islamic origins; of particular note are the Mudejar courtyards, the coffered ceiling in the Great Hall y the gardens overlooking the Tagus.

The collection traces the history of the mountainous region from prehistory to the Middle Ages, in two exhibition areas and five sections, with a particular focus on the funerary world.

His timetable is the most complicated of all, so make a note of it:

• Tuesday to Friday: 9.30 am–8.00 pm, non-stop.
• Mondays and Saturdays: 10.00–14.00 and 15.00–18.00. Closed at midday.
• Sunday: 10.00–15.00 only.

Mondragón Square. Tel. +34 952 87 08 18. Admission around 5 €.

4. Unicaja Joaquín Peinado Museum

A painter from Ronda, a friend and contemporary of Picasso. The museum traces its history chronologically, across two floors, from its beginnings to its heyday in the avant-garde movements.

And there’s a bonus that almost nobody expects: as well as Peinado’s work, Works by Picasso are on display, ceramics and engravings.

Three practical tips:

• Photography is prohibited.
• It’s free for those aged 65 and over. General admission is around €4.
• If you’re travelling with children, please note that the exhibition includes nude drawings.

• Plaza del Gigante, at the Palace of the Marquises of Moctezuma. Tel. +34 952 87 15 85.
• Every day: 10.00–14.00 and 17.00–20.00. It closes at midday.
• Half an hour or an hour That’s enough.

5. Don Bosco House Museum

The one most favoured by those seeking peace and quiet, and not for the museum but for the terrace.

It is a small mansion dating from 1850, remodelled in the 20th century with Modernist elements: stained-glass windows, tiles and carved furniture. It has an interesting history: It was donated to the Salesians in 1939 y it operated as a sanatorium until 2008.

What makes it special: the terraced gardens overlooking the Tagus and a terrace with bar service, where you can enjoy local wines and the «yemas del tajo». It’s one of the best spots in Ronda to see the bridge at sunset, and it’s not too crowded.

• 20 Tenorio Street. Tel. +34 672 46 80 82.
• Every day, 10.00–19.00. Post on the subject of 3 €.
• There’s a concert at 7.00 pm a few days. Please ask when you arrive.

6. Ronda Wine Museum

Here, we need to clear up a common misunderstanding: In Ronda there are two venues dedicated to wine and they are not the same.

• Ronda Wine Museum (2B González Campos Street). The one at historical centre, in a palatial house that was used for storing wine. Twelve galleries on history, grape varieties and winemaking methods. The tour costs around €10 and includes three glasses of Ronda wine, with a guide. Every day, from 12:00 to 18:00 —on Mondays from 11:30—. Tel. +34 672 46 80 82.
• Serranía Comprehensive Wine Centre (Dolores Ibárruri Street, opposite the MOT test centre). On the outskirts, and this is the institutional one: underground, built on the site of the old water tower dating from 1880, with a training room, tasting room and experimental wine cellar. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays and is only open from 10.00 to 14.00.

For a sightseeing trip, the one in the city centre. The other one is far away and works regular office hours.

🗺️ The system that works

Almost everything is on Calle Armiñán and the surrounding area, so you just have to walk there. A typical day:

1. Tomorrow, in the old quarter: The Lara Museum, Mondragón Palace and Peinado Museum. All three are just a few minutes’ walk from one another.
2. Midday: Mind you, that Mondragón and Peinado close at lunchtime. Why not make the most of it and have a bite to eat yourself?.
3. Afternoon: on Bullfighting Museum, on the other side of the Puente Nuevo, which takes the longest.
4. Sunset: Don Bosco House Museum, ending up on its terrace overlooking the Tagus.

Four or five museums in a day is a reasonable amount, leaving space for the viewing points.

And here’s a tip to save you a lot of hassle: on The Lara Museum, the Taurino Museum and the Don Bosco Museum are open all day; Mondragón and Peinado, no. If you’re short on time, start with the ones that close at midday.

Travelling from Málaga

We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia. Ronda is an hour and a half away, and the tour allows you some free time to visit whichever museums you choose:

Before you go, What to see in Ronda y the New Bridge. And to elaborate, the Tagus Gorge y What to see near Ronda.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bandit Museum in Ronda still open?

No. On Calle Armiñán, the sign on the façade is still there, but the museum is no longer open: its listing does not include opening hours or a telephone number, and visitors find only the entrance to a building. It is worth bearing this in mind, as it is still listed as a must-see attraction in out-of-date guidebooks and lists.

What is the best museum in Ronda?

In terms of ratings, the Lara Museum scores 4.8 out of more than 2,700 reviews – the highest score of any of the city’s historic monuments. It comprises twelve very diverse galleries, ranging from clocks and weapons to an 18th-century wine cellar, and its galleries on the Inquisition and witchcraft, located in the basement, are the most talked-about. In terms of the scope of the visit, the Bullfighting Museum at the Plaza de Toros.

Which museums in Ronda close at midday?

The Mondragón Palace is open on Mondays and Saturdays, and the Joaquín Peinado Museum is open every day between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm. In contrast, the Lara Museum, the Bullfighting Museum and the Don Bosco House Museum are open all day. If you’re short on time, it’s best to start with the ones that have a break in their opening hours.

Is photography allowed in Ronda’s museums?

Not in all of them. In both the Bullfighting Museum and the Joaquín Peinado Museum, photography is prohibited in most areas. At the Bullfighting Museum, moreover, the paper map is charged for separately, so it is advisable to use the audio guide.

Are there two wine museums in Ronda?

Yes, and they are often confused. The Ronda Wine Museum is on Calle González Campos, in the historic centre; it is open every day and a visit includes a tasting of three local wines. The Serranía Comprehensive Wine Centre is on the outskirts, next to the ITV; it is an institutional venue built beneath the old water tower dating from 1880 and is closed at weekends.

How many museums in Ronda can you visit in a day?

Between four and five without feeling rushed, as almost all of them are concentrated on Calle Armiñán and the surrounding area. A practical approach is to set aside the morning for the old quarter — Lara, Mondragón and Peinado — the afternoon for the Bullfighting Museum, which takes more time, and the end of the day for the terrace at the Don Bosco House Museum.