We are two women who are planning a driving trip to Andulusia in November. We need to make hard choices. Which to see - Ronda or Nerja. Ronda sounds beautiful but my friend likes caves so Nerja is appealing to her. This is our first time to Spain and we are hitting the usuals - Granada, Cordoba and Seville but we want to add one more place. Open for everyone's suggestions. Thanks

Hi, What a choice! We did both. The Nerja cave is really cool, but the gorge in Ronda is just as amazing. The drive to Nerja is going to be easier to do no matter where you start, but I liked the drive to Ronda. Very dramatic landscape. Both towns are easy to get around in. I think I'd pick Ronda, but ANerja is just as good a choice. Everyone should have your problems!

Thanks for the quick reply. Right now I'm at the "too much information-too many decisions" point of overload. Ronda sounded great until I read about Arcos. I guess what I need is a handle on driving times. Just how long is the drive from say Granada to Cordoba or Cordoba to Sevilla. We like scenic routes and stops along the way. I don't want to spend each night in a different town. We arrive in Malaga late at night on Nov. 9 and depart from Madrid on Nov. 20. That give us 10 days for touring. I was thinking-
First night at airport area
2 Nights Ronda (or Arcos)
3 nights Granada (
1 night Cordoba
2 nights Seville
2 nights Madrid

Can I even get from Arcos to Granada in a day. Please forgive all the questions. It's midnight, too many tour books on my kitchen table, maps on floor. I should go to bed but I know I'll be dreaming about being in a bullfight where the bull wins!

BTW, Ronda has caves too...can't remember the name of them offhand, but Rick Steves talks about them in his guidebook...or someone here may remember.

I think part of this depends on if you want to be on the beach or in the mountains. IMO the road to Ronda is very challenging--Nerja is much easier, and also there's a wonderful white village just a few miles north of Nerja called Frigiliana that would be an easy side trip with Nerja, but of course you could stop in the white village of Cascares on your way to Ronda. You don't say what your timeframe is--if you plan to stay overnight in either place of not, or do them as daytrips, which also would make a difference.

Don't know if this helps at all, but either one will be wonderful.

I'd prefer to stay in Arcos rather than in Ronda but then I didn't like Ronda all that much.
Arcos to Granada is about a 3 - 3.5 hr drive. On your way from Arcos to Granada you can even include a visit to Ronda since it's a detour of half an hour only (in Algodonales continue on the A376 to Ronda).