Welcome to Almeria, one of the most beautiful cities in Andalucia, yet often overlooked for other big names like Malaga, Granada, or Seville. Well-preserved Alcazaba, impressive cathedral, breathtaking viewpoints, underground war bunkers, old town with a cool vibe, interesting museums, beautiful beaches, crystal clear blue sea waters, many restaurants, relatively few tourists, and beautiful sunny weather with little rain all year round… All of that, and more, awaits you in Almeria. Vamos, let’s discover great things to do in Almeria City in Spain.
Historic facts. Caliph Abd al-Rahman III founded Almeria in 955 and during Islamic times it became an important and wealthy city, famous for its port that traded silk, oil, and raisins. The current city name comes from its Arabic name, Madīnat al-Mariyy, which means city of the watchtowers.
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Almeria City, Spain FAQ
Almeria is a Spanish city located in Andalucia on the very sunny and warm Costa de Almeria. It’s the capital city of the Province of Almeria.
Yes, definitely yes. Whether you are into history, architecture, food, outdoor activities, or just lying on the beach, you’ll find something for yourself in Almeria. It’s a city with character and a great vibe that will keep you entertained. It still isn’t a very popular travel destination so if you hate crowds you’ll appreciate its calmness. Almeria is a great destination for holidays, weekend getaways, as well as a home base for digital nomads.
Almeria is best known for its impressive Alcazaba watching over the city from a hill, a unique-looking cathedral that also served defensive purposes, a charming old town perfect for a lazy stroll, and tranquil beaches with mesmerizing blue Mediterranean Sea waters. The city is also famous for being the capital of one of the driest regions in Europe, with over 3000 hours of sunshine per year, and very little rain – it’s a real paradise for those looking for sun, regardless of the season.
Yes, there are some beautiful beaches in Almeria and its surroundings like Cabo de Gata Natural Park.
Things to do in Almeria City in Spain
Alcazaba of Almeria
Without a doubt, the number one thing to do in Almeria City is to visit the impressive Alcazaba of Almeria (es. Alcazaba de Almería) which is watching over the city from a hill. This one of the most important city landmarks was built in the second half of the 10th century by the order of Caliph Abd al-Rahman III. It’s considered to be the largest Muslim fortress in Spain. It was home to Muslim rulers for 5 centuries, until the reconquest of the city by Catholic monarchs in 1489.
Alcazaba’s area originally contained a mosque, gardens, squares, houses, and of course a palace. After the reconquest, a castle was built in the westernmost and most elevated part of the fortress. In 1522 earthquake destroyed a large part of the city, as well as Alcazaba itself. After several restorations, Alcazaba of Almeria is now one of the most beautiful monuments in Spain.
Visiting the Alcazaba of Almeria
Currently, you can explore quite a large part of the Alcazaba complex, including gardens, courtyards, towers, ramparts, and cisterns. Take your time, slowly stroll, immerse yourself, and try to imagine what it was like to live in Alcazaba of Almeria hundreds of years back, in its heyday. From many viewpoints, you’ll be able to admire stunning views over the coast, city, and its surroundings. You can also spot Barrio de la Chanca, an old cave quarter where few people still live in cave houses.
Alcazaba of Almeria is located a few minutes walk from the city center. Entry is free for European Union citizens, €1.5 for others (August 2024). For current prices and opening hours please visit museosdeandalucia.es website.
Fun fact. Many movies featured Alcazaba. Some of the tiles are: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Wonder Woman 1984, Conan the Barbarian, Never Say Never Again, and the 6th season of the TV series Game of Thrones.
San Cristobal Hill
About a 10-minute walk from Alcazaba, you’ll find San Cristobal Hill (es. Cerro San Cristobal) offering spectacular panoramic views over the fortress, city, and the coast. There you’ll find a marble statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (es. Sagrado Corazón de Jesus) which is believed to watch over the city, as well as some remnants from Muslim and Christian times. Also, take a look at the defensive wall that connects Alcazaba with San Cristobal Hill.
You can easily access San Cristobal Hill on foot, although be aware that the road is quite steep and the neighborhood could be better maintained. But if you’re after spectacular views, be sure not to miss this thing to do in Almeria. It’s open to the public for free.
Almeria Old Town Streets
Almeria Old Town is a super charming place, filled with many small streets perfect to get lost in and wander around for hours. We liked the streets with colorful houses near Alcazaba most, in Antiguo barrio La Medina. Also don’t miss Plaza Vieja Square with a martyrs’ monument, Cathedral surroundings, and Plaza de la Virgen del Mar with the 16th-century Sanctuary of the Virgen del Mar. If you’re into shopping or restaurants, stroll around Calle de las Tiendas and Paseo de Almeria.
Among Almeria Old Town streets, right next to Hotel Nuevo Torreluz, you’ll find the John Lennon Statute. Why? Apparently, he wrote a famous The Beatles song, “Strawberry Fields Forever”, in Almeria!
Discover: Accommodation options in Almeria City
Almeria Cathedral
Almeria Cathedral (es. Catedral de la Encarnacion de Almeria) is a unique-looking church dating back to the 16th century. Its construction started in 1524, two years after an earthquake that destroyed the previous church, and lasted until 1562. Almeria Cathedral has one of a kind church-fortress appearance, quite different from most churches.
So why does a cathedral look more like a fortress than a church? Why did thick walls and flat roof replace magnificent domes and glass windows? In the 16th century, the area was under constant pirate attacks, and to protect people against them, Almeria Cathedral was built for a dual purpose – religious and defensive. And back then, defensive purposes were more important than aesthetics. Later, it was also used as a shelter during the Spanish Civil War in the 20th century.
Thanks to many renovations and additions over the years, in Almeria Cathedral you’ll find a mix of various architectural styles – gothic, renaissance, baroque, and neoclassical. It looks very spectacular from the outside, so be sure to wander through the plaza and admire it from different angles. The cathedral is listed as a historic-artistic monument.
You can also enter Almeria Cathedral and admire its interior. Entrance costs €7 for adults and €5 for children (August 2024). For current prices, online tickets and opening hours visit catedralalmeria.com website. Your other chance for a quick visit is to just have luck (like we did unknowingly) and arrive there right before the mass and enter to take a peek for free.
Book now: Almeria Legends and Mysteries Evening Walking Tour
La Rambla
La Ramba is a beautiful promenade in Almeria city center, that stretches from the port to the upper parts of the city. It’s full of trees, palms, and flowers, as well as fountains and statues. In its lower part, you’ll find a Ferris wheel in which you take a ride, and an Almeria sign, perfect for photos. La Rambla is a great place for a peaceful walk, or a moment of relaxation on the bench in the shade, under a tree.
Beaches in Almeria
Being in the warmest region of Spain you definitely need to hit the beach at least once. There are many beautiful beaches in Almeria city, as well as nearby. The closest beaches to the city center, along the Paseo Maritimo promenade, are the sandy and wide beaches of Playa de San Miguel and Playa del Zapillo. Other Almeria beaches include Playa de La Termica, and Playa de la Garrofa.
For more spectacular beaches you should visit Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, located just a few kilometers from Almeria city. There you’ll find beautiful and unspoiled beaches such as Playa de los Genoveses, Playa de Mónsul, Playa de los Muertos, or Playa Los Escullos.
Paseo Maritimo
Paseo Maritimo is a picturesque promenade that stretches for about 2km along Almeria beaches. It’s full of cafes, restaurants, bars, small souvenir shops, and what’s most important – wonderful sea views.
Discover: Accommodation options in Almeria City
El Cable Ingles
El Cable Ingles, or English Pier, is a historical railway pier that in the 20th century transported iron ore from the train station to the cargo ships docked in the port of Almeria. Brits built this unique-looking huge iron-steel pier in 1904 and it remained operational until 1973. El Cable Ingles was declared a Cultural Heritage Site and is a symbol of Spain’s industrial heritage.
You can visit El Cable Ingles for free (August 2024), but you have to book a visit in advance. You can easily do that on apalmeria.com website. Be sure not to miss this very unique thing to do in Almeria City.
Interesting fact. El Cable Ingles was strongly influenced by the works of the French engineer Gustave Eiffel.
Shelters of the Spanish Civil War Museum
If you’re passionate about history you should also visit Shelters of the Spanish Civil War Museum (es. Los Refugios de la Guerra Civil). There you’ll have a chance to explore an underground system of concrete air-raid shelters used during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) as protection from numerous bombings.
Originally the tunnels were almost 5km long, had 67 entrances, and had a capacity for approximately 38k people. During the visit, you’ll have a chance to visit one restored kilometer of the tunnels which includes a pantry, a communal living area, and an operating room.
Entrance to Shelters of the Spanish Civil War Museum costs €3 (August 2024). Tickets must be bought in advance, for example on almeriaculturaentradas.es website. Tours are guided, and held in Spanish. Opening hours are also available on the mentioned website.
Book now: Visit to the shelters of the Spanish Civil War in Almeria
Andalusian Center of Photography
Andalusian Center of Photography (es. Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía) is an amazing place in Almeria for photography lovers. It’s a small museum with rotating photography exhibits, showcasing works by both Spanish and international photographers.
The entrance is free (August 2024). To check out current prices and opening hours visit centroandaluzdelafotografia.es website.
Archaeological Museum of Almeria
Archaeological Museum (es. Museo de Arqueólogico de Almeria) is one more place in Almeria for history lovers. So if you want to learn more about Almeria’s history, from prehistory up to the present day be sure to visit this museum.
Entrance is free for European Union citizens, and costs €1.5 for others (August 2024). For current opening hours and prices visit museosdeandalucia.es website.
Almeria Central Market
If you like visiting local markets, as we do, you should also direct your steps to Almeria Central Market (es. Mercado Central). There you’ll find many stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, wines, olives, spices, sweets, and other local products.
Discover: Accommodation options in Almeria City
How to get to Almeria City, Spain?
Almeria City is located about 170km from Granada, 200km from Malaga, 115km from Guadix, and 20km from Roquetas de Mar. The best way to get to the city is by car, bus, or train.
Where to park in Almeria?
If you’re traveling by car you can choose from many parking lots in town. For exploring Almeria City center we recommend leaving a car in Parking Rambla, right under La Rambla promenade.
Airports near Almeria
The closest airports to Almeria are located in Almeria (10km away), Granada (175km away), and Malaga (215km away). All airports offer bus or train connections to Almeria. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit: Rentalcars
To Almeria by bus
You can easily reach Almeria city by bus. For example, a trip from Malaga will take about 2h45min (€8-15), 4.5h from Alicante (€12-20), and 40min from Roquetas de Mar (€1-3). To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Almeria by train
From some places like Malaga, Granada, or Cordoba, you can also easily get to Almeria by train. You can check out a map of available train connections on the acprail.com website.
For great train ticket deals visit: Trainline
Almeria Campings
If you’re traveling by camper, campings like Camping La Garrofa, or Camping Cabo de Gata might interest you. Both are near Almeria.
Explore local attractions
Things to do in Almeria City in Spain – Summing Up
Now you know what Almeria City is all about. It’s such a beautiful city, isn’t it? And it’s quite a shame that it’s slightly forgotten and in the shadow of other big names nearby like Malaga or Granada. There’s something for everyone in Almeria and we’re sure that every traveler will find a perfect activity for himself. Without a doubt, it’s an amazing holiday spot for those looking for sun and warmth, no matter the time of the year. Have a great time in Almeria City!
Our video from Almeria City
Our opinion about Almeria City
For us, a visit to Almeria City was a day trip from nearby Aguadulce where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it in mid-March and during that time both the old town and beach area were fairly quiet without many tourists or holidaymakers. The weather was amazing back then – about 25°C and full sun! It took us about 7 hours to explore all the places we had on our list and spend some time on the beach too.
We loved Almeria City and until today it’s one of our favorite places we visited during our digital nomads life. We really liked strolling around the old town and discovering the nooks of Alcazaba. The city has such a cool vibe and is full of history, amazing views, and great beaches. Nothing to complain really! We’re sure that one day we’ll come back for a relaxing holiday time!
Book now: Tabernas Desert 4WD Tour from Almeria
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Almeria City?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Almeria City:
Where to sleep in Almeria City?
Hotel Costasol
Hotel Costasol is a modern and comfortable hotel located in the heart of Almeria City. With its convenient central location, guests can easily explore the city's attractions. The hotel offers spacious and well-appointed rooms, a restaurant serving delicious local cuisine, and attentive staff to ensure a pleasant and enjoyable stay for guests.
Be Free Arco Almeria
Be Free Arco Almeria is a stylish and contemporary hotel situated in the heart of city. Its prime location allows guests to easily access the city's main attractions. The hotel features modern and comfortable rooms, a rooftop terrace with panoramic views, and a friendly staff providing excellent service.
AC Hotel Almeria by Marriott
AC Hotel Almeria is a sophisticated and upscale hotel located in the heart of Almeria City. With its modern design, sleek interiors, and contemporary amenities, it offers a luxurious stay for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel features comfortable rooms, a rooftop pool with stunning city views, a fitness center, and a stylish restaurant and bar, providing guests with everything they need for a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
