Almería Coast: nature, light and the Mediterranean

If you are fascinated by the beaches in Almería and you are going to spend your holiday in Cabo de Gata or elsewhere in the province, the good news is that you will also find beautiful towns and municipalities to discover between swims. These population centres preserve historic monuments, charming corners and surprising cultural attractions. Here is a list of some of them:

• Roquetas de Mar: in addition to having some of the best beaches in Almería in terms of facilities and services, this city offers many other tourist attractions. One of the most important is the Castle of Santa Ana, built on the seafront in the 16th century and largely rebuilt at the beginning of the 21st century. Today it serves as a major exhibition and events venue. Another emblematic construction is the Roquetas Lighthouse, from the second half of the 19th century, located next to the castle. In addition to these historic monuments, another space that attracts many visitors is the Aquarium Costa de Almería, which, besides displaying more than a thousand marine specimens, organises shark dives. And next to it is Mario Park water park, one of the favourite entertainment spots for both locals and tourists
• Adra: this municipality is, with the capital’s permission, the one that can boast the richest history. Founded by the Phoenicians and later under Punic control, it then became an important Roman settlement thanks to its port, used to export garum and minerals. It was located at the foot of Montecristo hill, where the most interesting remains of its past are found. They can be seen, for example, in the Adra Museum, which displays pieces recovered from the archaeological site. Next to it is the Molino del Lugar, of ethnographic interest, and the Hermitage of San Sebastián, the most notable religious building, along with the Church of the Immaculate Conception. On the other hand, the best remnants of its medieval past are the sections and elements preserved from its wall, such as the Torre de la Vela and the Torreón de Olvera. And from more recent times, air-raid shelters from the Civil War can be visited, one of them beneath the town’s most emblematic and visible structure: the Torre de los Perdigones, belonging to an old foundry that manufactured these products. From the top, at 44 metres, you can see the coastline and the beaches in Almería in this part of the province
• Mojácar: thanks to its beachfront holiday accommodation, it is one of the most famous municipalities among tourists. But it not only has some of the best Almería beaches, but also a town centre that is well worth a stroll. Some of its most charming spots include the Church of Santa María, from the 16th century, built on the site of an old Arab mosque. Next to it is the peaceful Plaza del Parterre, arcaded with beautiful arches. The City Gate is also very picturesque, as are the Town Hall Square and the Arrabal district, where the whitewashed walls predominate, with blue details on doors and windows. The Museum of La Canana is also located here, showing the interior of a traditional house. Of the old castle at the top of the town, barely a cistern remains, but its viewpoint offers sweeping views over the whole region and the Mediterranean Sea
• Carboneras: in this seaside town, with 3 of the 32 beaches in Almería awarded the Blue Flag, you will also find another historic construction: the Castle of San Andrés, its most characteristic building, from the 16th century. It has now been converted into a museum and hosts the municipality’s main cultural initiatives. Beyond this monument, the most interesting place is its seafront promenade. And on the outskirts is the Mesa de Roldán, a promontory topped by a defensive watchtower from the 18th century
• Pulpí: its main point of interest is the hamlet of San Juan de los Terreros, whose icon is a castle also built in the mid-18th century, in the same context as the one on the Mesa de Roldán: during the reign of Charles III, it was built 150 metres above sea level to provide optimal visibility against pirate ship attacks. Thanks to this, the views it offers today are spectacular, spanning a panorama of the last Almería beaches and the first in Murcia, as well as headlands and islets that form along this coastline. In addition, if you like geology, within this municipality you will find a truly original museum: the Pulpí Geode, an underground rocky gallery lined with gypsum crystals which, due to its beauty, transparency and state of preservation, has been considered a miracle of nature.

And, of course, you can visit Almería city, which in recent years has seen its number of visitors grow thanks to tourist attractions such as its cathedral or its Alcazaba. On this page we tell you all the details. A special mention also goes to the town of Níjar, which, due to its beauty, we have included among the suggestions on this page about rural tourism in Almería.