Almería Holidays: Alcazaba, Old Town and Coast Guide
Almería · Andalusia · Spain · 196,851 residents · on the coast
Alcazaba y Murallas del Cerro de San Cristóbal
Iglesia Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
Museo de Almería
Plaza de toros de Almería.jpg/500px-San_Telmo_(Almer%C3%ADa).jpg)
Castillo de San TelmoAlmería is a coastal city of nearly 197,000 people in the far east of Andalusia, sitting just 21 metres above the sea. Its skyline is ruled by the Alcazaba y Murallas del Cerro de San Cristóbal, a fortress less than a mile from the centre, with the cathedral, the Museo de Almería and the Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía all within a short stroll. The airport is only 5 miles away and has direct flights from the UK, which makes a short break unusually easy. Summers are hot and almost rainless, spring and autumn are mild, and the countryside around Tabernas, Níjar and El Cabo de Gata lies within a half-hour drive.
Why go
- The Alcazaba fortress above the city is under a mile from the centre and suits families.
- Almería Airport has direct UK flights and sits roughly seven minutes' drive from town.
- July averages no rain at all, with highs of 32°C and warm 24°C nights.
Top sights in Almería
Fortress, Cathedral and City Museums
Start with the Alcazaba y Murallas del Cerro de San Cristóbal, the fortress that crowns the hill about 0.7 miles from the centre and the city's best-known sight. The walls of the Cerro de San Cristóbal continue along the ridge at around 0.6 miles out. Back in the centre, the Iglesia Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, Almería's Roman Catholic cathedral, is roughly 0.4 miles away.
Museums are close together, which helps on a hot afternoon. The Museo de Almería is about a quarter of a mile from the centre, the Museo de Arte de Almería about 0.3 miles, and the Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía, a photography institution, around 0.4 miles. The bullring, the Plaza de toros de Almería, stands about 0.6 miles out, while the Castillo de San Telmo, a lighthouse, is the furthest at roughly 1.9 miles. Smaller heritage buildings include the Palacio Episcopal, the Convento de la Purísima Concepción, the Casino Cultural and the Castle of Diezmo, under a mile from the centre.
Tours and tickets for Almería and the surrounding area can be booked directly on this page through the booking cards.
- 1Alcazaba y Murallas del Cerro de San Cristóbal
- 2Iglesia Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
- 3Museo de Almería
- 4Plaza de toros de Almería
- 5Castillo de San Telmo
- 6Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía
- 7Murallas del Cerro de San Cristóbal
- 8Museo de Arte de Almería
- 9Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño Carlos Pérez Siquier
- 10Casino Cultural
- 11Palacio Episcopal
- 12Castle of Diezmo
1castle- 2cathedral
Iglesia Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
In the centre · Photo
Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Almería, Andalusia
- 3museum
- 4amphitheatre
- 5castle
.jpg/500px-Centro_Andaluz_de_la_Fotograf%C3%ADa_(34797362650).jpg)
6museum
7castleMurallas del Cerro de San Cristóbal
1 mile from the centre · Photo
8museum
9monasteryEscuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño Carlos Pérez Siquier
In the centre · Photo
art school and cultural property in Almería, Spain
10palace2.jpg/500px-Palacio_Episcopal_(Almer%C3%ADa)2.jpg)
11palace
12castle
Tours & tickets in Almería
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Almería can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Almería
Old Town or Along the Coast
Almería is a working city of close to 200,000 people, so staying centrally puts you within walking distance of nearly every sight: the cathedral, the museums and the foot of the Alcazaba are all well under a mile apart. It is the practical choice for a culture-focused city break, and the city has a livelier feel than the smaller places nearby.
If you would rather wake up by the sea in something quieter, the coast west of the city offers Aguadulce, about 6 miles away, and the larger Roquetas de Mar, about 10 miles out. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare the centre with these coastal options.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Almería and the villages around it is a hire car from Almería (LEI), about 7 min away.
Best time to visit Almería
When to Visit Almería
- 17°CJan22 mm
- 18°CFeb13 mm
- 19°CMar49 mm
- 21°CApr30 mm
- 25°CMay25 mm
- 29°CJun5 mm
- 32°CJul0 mm
- 32°CAug6 mm
- 29°CSept21 mm
- 25°COct34 mm
- 20°CNov25 mm
- 18°CDec20 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most comfortable months are April, May, June, September and October. Highs then run from 21°C in April to 29°C in June and September, with only one to six rain days a month, ideal for climbing to the fortress without wilting.
July and August are the hottest, with average highs of 32°C and nights that stay around 24°C; July typically records no rain at all. March is the wettest month, with about 49mm over seven days. Winter is mild by British standards, with January highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C, which makes Almería a sensible choice for winter sun on a city break.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°C | 8°C | 22 mm | 9 h |
| Feb | 18°C | 9°C | 13 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 19°C | 11°C | 49 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 21°C | 13°C | 30 mm | 11 h |
| May | 25°C | 17°C | 25 mm | 13 h |
| Jun | 29°C | 21°C | 5 mm | 14 h |
| Jul | 32°C | 24°C | 0 mm | 14 h |
| Aug | 32°C | 24°C | 6 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 29°C | 21°C | 21 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 25°C | 17°C | 34 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 20°C | 12°C | 25 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 18°C | 10°C | 20 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Almería Airport (LEI) has direct flights from the UK and is only about 5 miles from the city, roughly a seven-minute drive. Granada (GRX) also has direct UK flights and is about 76 miles away, around 1 hour 50 minutes by car. Murcia (RMU), another airport with direct UK flights, is about 99 miles away, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes' drive.
Almería's own ferry port, less than a mile from the centre, runs routes to Nador, Melilla and Oran, while Motril, about 60 miles west, connects with Melilla, Nador, Tangier Med and Al Hoceima. These are useful for onward trips rather than arriving from Britain.
Driving all the way is a serious undertaking: from Calais it takes around 23 hours behind the wheel, so most travellers will prefer to fly and arrange car hire on arrival.
By air
- Almería (LEI)5 miles, about 7 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Granada (GRX)76 miles, about 1 h 49 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Murcia (RMU)99 miles, about 2 h 21 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 23 h 12 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Almería (1 mile), Motril (60 miles).
Almería is good for
Around Almería
Day Trips From Almería
The nearest escapes are along the coast: Aguadulce lies about 6 miles away and Roquetas de Mar about 10 miles, while the small village of Rioja is roughly 7 miles inland. El Cabo de Gata, a hamlet of around 500 people, is about 12 miles from the city.
Heading inland, Tabernas is about 15 miles away and Níjar about 17 miles. Further still, Lucainena de las Torres sits roughly 20 miles out and Sorbas about 26 miles, both small places that make a quiet contrast with the city. A hire car makes it easy to combine two of these in a single day.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Plan sightseeing around the heat in high summer. With July and August highs of 32°C and very little shade on a hilltop fortress, visit the Alcazaba early in the day and save the museums, all close together in the centre, for the afternoon.
Almería is a sizeable city rather than a resort, with a busy ferry port right beside the centre, so it keeps going year-round rather than shutting down out of season. That, together with mild winters, makes it a good option for a short break between November and March; just pack a light layer for March, the wettest month.
Questions people ask
Are there direct flights from the UK to Almería?
Yes. Almería Airport (LEI) has direct flights from the UK and is only about 5 miles from the city, around seven minutes by car. Granada and Murcia airports also have direct UK flights, but they are roughly 1 hour 50 minutes and 2 hours 20 minutes' drive away respectively.
What is the best month to visit Almería?
April, May, June, September and October offer the most pleasant conditions, with highs between 21°C and 29°C and few rain days. July and August are hottest at around 32°C, while March is the wettest month with about 49mm of rain.
Is Almería warm in winter?
Mild rather than hot. January averages highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C, and December sees only around two rain days. That makes Almería a comfortable choice for a winter city break, though not for sunbathing weather.
What is the main sight in Almería?
The Alcazaba y Murallas del Cerro de San Cristóbal, a hilltop fortress about 0.7 miles from the centre, is the city's best-known landmark. The cathedral, the Museo de Almería and the Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía are all within half a mile of the centre.
Is Almería good for a family holiday?
Yes, especially for families who enjoy sightseeing. The Alcazaba fortress, the Museo de Almería, the Museo de Arte de Almería and the photography centre are all family-friendly and close together, and the coastal towns of Aguadulce and Roquetas de Mar are within about 10 miles.
Can you drive from the UK to Almería?
You can, but it is a long journey: the drive from Calais takes around 23 hours. With direct flights landing just 5 miles from the city, most British travellers fly in and arrange car hire locally for day trips to places such as Tabernas and Níjar.