Almeria, The Mirror of the Sea

If you want to enjoy a mixture of city and beach, there are few better choices than Almeria. Located in the heart of Andalucía on the coast, it boasts the hottest and driest climate in Spain, and from the cultural highlights of the city to the long stretch of beach located nearby, it has plenty to offer its visitors. I’ve shuttled plenty of people from the airport to Almeria and back again, and I’ve rarely heard a bad word said against the city! I’ve also been told about and explored myself some of the highlights of the city – here are a few that you shouldn’t miss out on next time you are in Almeria.

The Sights of the City and Surrounding Areas

The most striking highlight of Almeria is the Alcazaba, a spectacular clifftop Moorish fortress that overlooks the city, and is the second largest. The fortress is a relic of Almeria’s Moorish heritage, as is the name of the city; in Arabic, it means “Mirror”, as in “Mirror of the Sea.”

But Almeria is no one hit wonder. The towering Catholic Cathedral, dating from the 16th century, is an unmissable highlight. The old town, with its traditional market and winding streets is always a big hit with visitors, and its version of La Rambla may not be as grand or as famous as Barcelona, but it is a great place to stroll along and while away a sunny afternoon.

I’d also recommend paying a visit to the gypsy quarter, its unique cave dwellings are really a strange sight to behold, and you can get further information on the mixed history of Almeria at the archaeological museum. The city has quite a story to tell – it was established as a Moorish fortress city, and in its time has been conquered by the Christians, raided by Berber pirates, and shelled by the Germans in the Spanish Civil War!

The scenic town of Mojacar, situated near Almeria, is definitely worth a visit. Mojacar has a long history stretching over 4000 years and has been populated by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks and Moors. It was under Moor rule that it really began to flourish, an imposing castle was built and the town walls were expanded and fortified. However, a Muslim town in the midst of a Christian country is suffered many brutal incursions and I’m always keen to regale my tourists with stories of these during the journey from airport to Almeria.

Mojacar is now home to more than 17km of sandy beaches and notable sights include La Iglesia de Santa Maria, a 14th Century fortress and The Old Customs House where visitors were taxed during the 18th Century for the pleasure of visiting the town. I’d make a tidy profit during my Almeria airport transfers if this procedure were still enforced today.

Beautiful Cuisine

I am often asked to drive to the scenic town of Roquetas when conducting my Almeria airport transfers and it’s so hard not to stop the car and run into one of the town’s delicious seafood restaurants. Visitors often ask to me to recommend them a local dish, and without fail, I always suggest the regions speciality of lobster and rice. The town is known for both its gastronomy and antiquated fishing traditions so it seems particularly fitting to recommend a seafood dish.

Soak Up the Sun

Whenever I drive people from the airport to Almeria city, I’m always sure to mention that the main beach in the city is almost entirely nudist. For some people this will be an added attraction for Almeria – for others, it’ll be an embarrassing place they’d rather avoid! It’s a gorgeous beach (with plenty of gorgeous people on it!) but if you’d prefer to sunbathe in more conservative fashion, a visit to one of the nearby resorts (see nearby attractions) will be ideal.

However, if you don’t mind the idea of baring all then the resort of Vera Playa will definitely appeal to you. Vera Playa is known as the world’s best naturist resort and it houses over 2,000 naturist apartments and even a four-star naturist hotel. Even the streets of Vera Playa are no-clothes zones, which can take some getting used too!

Nearby Attractions

There’s plenty to keep you occupied in Almeria itself, but there’s plenty in the local area if you’d like to explore further afield. The Andalucían coastline is teeming with outstanding resorts, with Aguadulce, Almerimar to the west and Mojacar to the east. All of them are excellent options if you’d like to visit a traditional beach resort town; many of my Almeria airport transfer passengers choose to combine a few days in the city itself with a break on one of the coastal resorts. And if cities are more your thing, vibrant and diverse Granada is just a few hours away – ask me nicely, and I might just give you a discount when I drive you there!