Tabernas, Almería: Western Theme Parks and Inland Andalusia
Almería · Andalusia · Spain · 3,241 residents
Tabernas is a small inland town of around 3,241 people in the province of Almería, sitting at roughly 400 metres above sea level in eastern Andalusia. Its name is best known for the Western-styled theme parks on its doorstep: Oasys MiniHollywood lies about 3 miles out, and Texas Hollywood, a former film set, is closer still. In the town itself, the Alcazaba castle stands a few hundred yards from the centre, with the archaeological site of Terrera Ventura nearby. Winters are mild and almost dry, high summer is fiercely hot, and Almería airport, with direct flights from the United Kingdom, is only about 20 minutes away by car.
Why go
- Oasys MiniHollywood and Texas Hollywood put two Western-themed parks within about 3 miles of town.
- Almería airport has direct flights from the UK and sits only around 20 minutes' drive away.
- Winters stay mild and dry, with December to February highs around 17°C and barely any rain.
Top sights in Tabernas
Film Sets, a Castle and Viewpoints
The headline attraction is Oasys MiniHollywood, a Spanish Western-styled theme park about 3 miles from town and the best-known name in the area, popular with families and anyone after a bit of adventure. Closer in, at roughly 1.7 miles, Texas Hollywood is a theme park built on a former film set, so you can pair the two in a single day.
For culture, the Alcazaba castle sits barely 0.2 miles from the centre, a listed cultural property that overlooks the town, while the archaeological site of Terrera Ventura is about 0.6 miles away. For a wider view of the landscape, the Mirador Desierto de Tabernas viewpoint lies around 3.4 miles out.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page, where you will find the current options shown as booking cards.
1theme park
2castle
3theme park
4archaeological siteTerrera Ventura
In the centre · Photo
Mirador Desierto de Tabernas
viewpoint · 3 miles from the centre
Tours & tickets in Tabernas
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Tabernas can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Tabernas
Choosing Your Base Around Tabernas
Tabernas is a quiet inland town of just over 3,000 residents, not a coastal resort, so staying here suits travellers who want to be close to the theme parks and the castle rather than the beach. Evenings are calm, and the town centre is compact, with the Alcazaba only a short walk away.
If you prefer a livelier base, the city of Almería is about 15 miles away, and the coastal towns of Aguadulce and Roquetas de Mar lie around 19 and 24 miles off, making Tabernas an easy day out from the coast. This page shows live hotel prices for the area so you can compare options.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Tabernas and the villages around it is a hire car from Almería (LEI), about 20 min away.
Best time to visit Tabernas
When to Visit Tabernas
- 17°CJan5 mm
- 17°CFeb5 mm
- 21°CMar42 mm
- 24°CApr5 mm
- 24°CMay68 mm
- 30°CJun19 mm
- 35°CJul1 mm
- 34°CAug2 mm
- 29°CSept31 mm
- 25°COct79 mm
- 21°CNov9 mm
- 17°CDec3 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months are April, June, September and October. April brings highs of around 24°C with very little rain, June warms to about 30°C, and September eases back to 29°C. October averages 25°C, though it is also the wettest month by volume, with around 79 mm falling over roughly six days, so expect the odd heavy shower.
July and August are the hottest period, with highs of 35°C and 34°C and nights that rarely drop below 23°C, which makes midday visits to the open-air parks hard going. May can also be unsettled, with around 68 mm of rain. From November to February the weather is mild and almost dry, with highs of 17°C to 21°C and lows near 7°C. Tabernas is inland, so there is no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°C | 7°C | 5 mm | 9 h |
| Feb | 17°C | 7°C | 5 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 21°C | 10°C | 42 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 24°C | 12°C | 5 mm | 12 h |
| May | 24°C | 14°C | 68 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 30°C | 19°C | 19 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 35°C | 23°C | 1 mm | 14 h |
| Aug | 34°C | 23°C | 2 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 29°C | 19°C | 31 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 25°C | 15°C | 79 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 21°C | 11°C | 9 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 17°C | 7°C | 3 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and Driving From the UK
Almería airport (LEI) is the obvious choice: it has direct flights from the United Kingdom and lies about 14 miles from Tabernas, roughly a 20-minute drive. Granada (GRX) also has direct UK flights and is around 77 miles away, about 1 hour 50 minutes by car, while Murcia (RMU), likewise served directly from the UK, is roughly 87 miles away, a drive of just over two hours.
If you are bringing your own car, allow around 23 hours of driving time from Calais. The nearby ports of Almería, about 16 miles away, and Motril, around 66 miles away, run ferries to North Africa, including Melilla, Nador and Oran, rather than to the UK.
By air
- Almería (LEI)14 miles, about 20 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Murcia (RMU)87 miles, about 2 h 3 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Granada (GRX)77 miles, about 1 h 49 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 22 h 51 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Almería (16 miles), Motril (66 miles).
Tabernas is good for
Around Tabernas
Day Trips From Tabernas
The smallest neighbours are closest: Rioja is about 8 miles away and Lucainena de las Torres roughly 11 miles. Níjar, a larger town of over 26,000 people, is around 12 miles off, and Sorbas sits about 15 miles away.
The provincial capital of Almería, home to almost 197,000 people, is also around 15 miles away. For the coast, head to Aguadulce at about 19 miles, El Cabo de Gata at around 21 miles, or Roquetas de Mar at roughly 24 miles.
.jpg/500px-Moj%C3%A1car%2C_en_Almer%C3%ADa_(Espa%C3%B1a).jpg)
.jpg/500px-Iglesia_de_Santa_Mar%C3%ADa_de_la_Anunciaci%C3%B3n%2C_en_N%C3%ADjar_(Almer%C3%ADa%2C_Espa%C3%B1a).jpg)
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Summer heat is the main thing to plan around. With July highs of 35°C, visit the theme parks early in the day, carry plenty of water and save the afternoon for a rest.
At around 400 metres above sea level, Tabernas cools noticeably at night in winter, with lows near 7°C from December to February, so pack a warm layer even if the days feel springlike.
This is a small inland town without a beach, and the parks, viewpoint and coast are spread out, so car hire from Almería airport makes getting around far easier.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Tabernas?
Almería airport (LEI) is the closest, about 14 miles away or roughly a 20-minute drive, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Granada and Murcia also have direct UK flights but are around 1 hour 50 minutes and just over two hours away by car.
How far is Oasys MiniHollywood from Tabernas?
Oasys MiniHollywood, a Spanish Western-styled theme park, is about 3 miles from Tabernas. Texas Hollywood, a theme park on a former film set, is even closer at roughly 1.7 miles, so both can comfortably be visited from a base in town.
Is Tabernas too hot in summer?
July and August are very hot, with average highs of 35°C and 34°C and warm nights around 23°C. If you are visiting then, plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning. April, June, September and October offer more comfortable conditions.
Does Tabernas have a beach?
No, Tabernas is an inland town at about 400 metres above sea level. The nearest coastal spots include Aguadulce at around 19 miles, El Cabo de Gata at about 21 miles and Roquetas de Mar at roughly 24 miles.
Can I visit Tabernas as a day trip from Almería?
Yes. The city of Almería is only about 15 miles away, making Tabernas an easy day out to see the Alcazaba castle, the Western theme parks and the Mirador Desierto de Tabernas viewpoint.
Can I drive to Tabernas from the UK?
You can. Allow roughly 23 hours of driving time from Calais. Note that the nearby ports of Almería and Motril serve North African routes, such as Melilla and Nador, rather than crossings to the United Kingdom.