Ronda & its Guitar Festival: a guitarist's travel guide
Ronda International Guitar Festival · Ronda, Spain
Ronda is one of Spain's most spectacular towns, split by a deep gorge and perched in the Andalusian mountains, and since 2016 its guitar festival has drawn international players to a setting that is hard to beat. Founded by the guitarist Paco Seco and run from the Ronda Guitar House, it is an intimate recital festival made for a few unhurried days.
Getting there
Ronda is an inland mountain town, so plan a little: the usual route is to Málaga, then a scenic train change at Antequera, or a drive up from the coast of an hour and a half or so. Málaga-Costa del Sol airport (AGP) is the nearest gateway.
Compare trains, buses & flights to Ronda on Omio →
Where to stay
The old town on its clifftop is the place to be, walkable and dramatic, with the festival's concerts a short stroll away. Ronda is popular with day-trippers, so staying overnight lets you enjoy it once the coaches leave.
An interactive map of hotels, apartments and B&Bs across Booking, Expedia, Airbnb and more, centred on Ronda.
See stays in Ronda →What you'll hear
This is a curated concert festival rather than a competition, with evenings of two artists apiece, each playing a full set in the library of the Real Maestranza. The programming spans classical, flamenco and world guitar, and the town's setting turns each concert into an occasion. It is a chance to hear fine players up close, with no rounds or verdicts, just music.
If you play as well as listen, explore Joaquín Turina's Andalusian guitar works on Sheet Music Plus →
Where to eat
Mountain cooking rules here: rabo de toro, the oxtail stew Ronda is known for, ajoblanco, the cold almond and garlic soup, and the cured meats of the surrounding Serranía. The local reds and the sweet wines of Málaga are worth a try.
While you're there
The cave-houses of Setenil de las Bodegas, tucked under overhanging rock, make a memorable short trip, and the wider route of white villages around Grazalema invites a longer wander. The prehistoric paintings of the Pileta cave lie nearby too. A rental car makes the day trips simple, and GetYourGuide lists guided tours and tickets across the region.
Enter the pieces you play, and GuitarComp shows how your programme maps to this competition's rounds and which other events you qualify for.
See full competition details →Competition dates, deadlines and the current compulsory work change each edition, so always confirm at the official site: rondaguitarfestival.com.