Where to Stay Between Málaga and Granada: Ronda, Antequera or Granada
This route sleeps twice on the way: in Ronda, above the El Tajo gorge, and in Antequera, after the white villages. It ends in Granada, where many people stay on for the Alhambra. These are the towns to choose from, in the order you meet them.
| Town | Málaga Airport | Ronda | El Torcal | Alhambra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Málaga | 17 km | 104 km | 51 km | 127 km |
| Ronda | 97 km | 0 km | 102 km | 181 km |
| Antequera | 60 km | 89 km | 16 km | 104 km |
| Granada | 135 km | 179 km | 113 km | 2 km |
Málaga
The night before you start, if you land late
Why stay here
- 17 km from the airport, with the widest choice of hotels on the route
- Day 1 starts straight up into the hills on the A-366 and A-397
Keep in mind
- A big city: you spend the evening there rather than in the hills
Ronda
Night 1 — the town on the gorge, the route's choice
Why stay here
- The Puente Nuevo and the El Tajo gorge in the evening and early morning, without the day trips
- Day 2 starts straight into the white villages: Grazalema, Zahara, Setenil de las Bodegas
Keep in mind
- Only residents may drive into the old centre — electric cars too. Park outside it and walk in, or ask your hotel where to leave the car
Antequera
Night 2 — the town between El Torcal and the Dolmens
Why stay here
- 16 km from El Torcal, so you can be on the rocks early, before the inland heat
- The Antequera Dolmens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016, are on the edge of town
- Hotels, apartments and rural stays, listed on the town's tourism site
Keep in mind
- 104 km from the Alhambra: on day 3, leave in time for your ticket slot
Granada
Night 3 — if you stay on after the drive, for the Alhambra and the Albaicín
Why stay here
- A night lets you see the Alhambra without racing the car return
- Sunset from the Albaicín across to the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada
Keep in mind
- The historic centre has restricted-access zones: park in a garage and check with your hotel before you drive in
Before you book
- Alhambra first. Alhambra tickets sell out weeks ahead and come with a fixed time for the Nasrid Palaces. Book the ticket before the rooms, then plan the last day around it.
- Old towns and cars. In Ronda only residents may drive into the old centre, and Granada’s historic centre has restricted-access zones. Ask each hotel where to park and whether they can register your car if they are inside a restricted zone.
- Summer heat. Inland Andalusia is very hot in July and August. A room with air conditioning and a start at first light on the El Torcal day matter more than the view.
- Price. Budget about €60–100 a night on this route, and book early for the busiest weeks.
Distances are by road, from OpenStreetMap routing, from each town to the places in the table.
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