Discover Almeria by Hire Car
Almeria is an Andalusian port city located in the Gulf of Andalusia on the Mediterranean Sea. The port is an important transshipment point for agricultural products from the region.
The university town gets around 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, making it Spain’s sunniest place. For exploring the surrounding area and trips to the beautiful beaches, hire car.
Achitectural landmarks
In the city, one notices many influences from North Africa. The town has narrow streets with white-painted houses and avenues of palm trees. A neighborhood worth seeing is Barrio de La Chanca, with cave dwellings and cubical houses.
It lies just below the Moorish fortress of Alcazaba, whose tower offers sweeping views over Almeria. The 16th-century cathedral combines Renaissance and Gothic architectural styles. The central square in Almeria is Puerta de Pucheno.
Discovering the East of Almeria
A number of shopping streets start from here. To the west of the city, high cliffs rise up into shallow sandy beaches. To the east of Almeria is a flat sandy beach some 20km long, adjoined by the Cabo-de-Gata-Nijar Natural Park.
The archaeological site of Los Millares is about 20 km out to the north. There are about 20 hotels and guesthouses of various price ranges in the town. About 30 km away from Almeria is the tourist town of Roquetas de Mar.
hire car price comparison Almeria
Sights in Almeria
Start your city tour at the cathedral. It was built from 1524 onwards and makes a fortified impression. The reason for this is the numerous pirate raids of days gone by.
Four towers were built to defend against attackers. After visiting the cathedral, you can stroll to the town’s bullring.
The mighty structure is reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum. To this day, bullfights are held here once a year. If you want to watch this spectacle, you have to book in time. The event is always booked up quickly.
Almeria old town
Now, if you stroll around the old town a bit more, you’ll feel transported to North Africa. The little houses are small and whitewashed. This style of building was influenced by the Moors and brings the best cooling, as Almeria is the city with the most hours of sunshine in Spain.
The Alcazaba fortress marks the end of the city tour. It was built by the Moors starting in 955 and impresses with its massive dimensions.
Exploring the surrounding countryside
It’s only a short drive by hire car until you reach the Cabo de Gata Natural Park.
Here you will feel like you have been transported to a desert. Cineastes will find the park familiar. In the 60s, numerous westerns were filmed here.
Another impressive natural park nearby is the Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada.
Here you’ll find Mount Mulhacén, which at 3,482 metres is the highest on the Iberian Peninsula. Something like 2,100 different plant species can be seen in the national park. If you’re lucky, you’ll also spot a wildcat.
More likely, an Iberian ibex will cross your path. After so much nature, you might feel like getting a whiff of city air again. You only have to drive a short distance in a hire car until you reach Granada.
Discover historical buildings
A variety of historic buildings await you here. Especially the fortified Alhambra, which was built by the Moors, you should see. The cathedral, which was built from 1523 to 1704, is also extremely impressive.
The mighty nave captivates the visitor. Now you should take some time to stroll through the picturesque alleys of the old town and soak up the atmosphere.
Find the special hotel
There is a wide choice of hotels in Almeria. Most are very comfortable, but many are a little faceless.
We recommend the Hotel Plaza Vieja Hotel & Lounge. The stylish interior offers a delightful contrast to the 19th century hotel building. The rooms have every comfort and the service leaves nothing to be desired.
Find the special restaurant
Lovers of Spanish cuisine will have a happy evening at the Salmantice restaurant.
The meat specialties are particularly convincing, but the fish dishes are always worth a visit, too.
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