Almería bucket list: 13 best things to do in Almería, Spain

Looking for things to do in the iconic city of Almería, Spain? Almería is a city of fascinating heritage on the shores of the Andalusian coast. We enjoyed exploring the Old Town of Almería with narrow streets filled with rich history and art and made sure to enjoy this city to the fullest!

In this blog post, you will find all the things to do in Almería with descriptions, photos, and locations where they can be found on Google Maps. I loved exploring this historic city and even beyond so let’s dive in! Happy traveling!

Read more » 11 best Instagram photo spots in Almería, Spain

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1. Explore the impressive Alcazaba de Almería

Alcazaba de Almería is a must-visit tourist attraction in Almería. The best thing about it is that the visit to this place for EU citizens is free and only 1.50 EUR for nationals from other countries. For such a cool place with impressive views over the city, this is a great deal you cannot miss in Almería.

Alcazaba name comes from Arabic and basically signifies a walled fortification in a city. There are many Alcazabas in Andalusia that were built during the Islamic period in Spain. You can see them in almost every big city in Andalusia.

Almería city was founded by the Moorish forces in the 10th century and during that time Alcazaba de Almería was built. It featured many buildings inside like a castle, a mosque, water cisterns, baths, gardens, and living quarters.

Alcazaba de Almería has been featured in numerous movies like Conan the Barbarian, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as well as in Wonder Woman 1984.

Alcazaba was also used as one of the locations for the Game of Thrones TV series when Alcazaba de Almería served as the capital of Dorne during the sixth season of the show.

The Alcazaba de Almería was one of my favorite places to visit in Almería. It definitely feels like stepping back in time. With its Moorish architecture, and impressive walls and gates, it is well worth your time!

Location: Alcazaba de Almería

2. Visit the unique fortress-cathedral – Catedral de la Encarnación de Almería

Almería Cathedral is one of the most iconic and interesting buildings in the city. The cathedral was built in the 16th century. And, actually, it served not only as a cathedral but also as a defensive fortress against the Moorish forces.

Book now >>> Cathedral of Almería Entry Ticket

You can actually see that the front facade of the cathedral looks different than you might have seen for other cathedrals in Spain. It has massive high defensive walls, defensive towers, and even holes that were used for cannons. There is a beautiful big square with tall palm trees in front of the cathedral.

The cathedral-fortress is the only this type of cathedral in Spain from that century. The facade was built in Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles, but the interior is Gothic with baroque and Neo-Classical details. At certain hours you can visit the cathedral and its massive premises for an entrance fee.

Entrance to the cathedral is NOT through the front facade but through Museo de la Catedral de la Encarnación. Once you buy tickets you are free to roam around the inner courtyard, inside the cathedral, the sacristy and its multiple back rooms and museums featuring impressive collections of treasures.

Book now >>> Cathedral of Almería Entry Ticket

Location: Catedral de la Encarnación de Almería – Entrance

3. Go underground to visit the shelters of the Spanish Civil War

To explore the complicated history of people in Almería visiting the underground shelters – one of the largest in Spain – built during the Spanish Civil War is a must-do thing in Almería. The shelters housed around 40 thousand people during the bombings.

The visit to the Spanish Civil War Shelters can only be done in groups on guided tours. It means you need to buy a ticket for a certain time you wish to visit. The visit takes you deep underground and along many galleries and rooms, including a hospital and others, where people lived during the war.

During this unique and unmissable experience, you will be able to see almost 1 kilometer of the galleries and rooms while listening to the stories from the past times and about things people had to endure here.

Important! Tours in general are in Spanish, but there is information available also in English plus the guide helps with some explanation in English as well!

Book now >>> Visit to the shelters of the Spanish Civil War

4. Taste and smell Almería at the Mercado Central!

One of the coolest places to visit in every city is usually the local market where you can taste and smell the local produce and food. So checking out the Mercado Central in Almería is a must-do thing in the city.

The market is not too big so it will not be a long visit. You can get some fresh ingredients as well as local products like wine, cheese, and others. It is a buzzing place with lots of people walking around, chatting, and trading goods.

If you go there in the morning and crave the best coffee in Almería, then definitely stand in line at Cafés Ortega – MardeCafé. This is a coffee store next to the market for true coffee enthusiasts. Here you can buy lots of coffee-related products as well as a cup of coffee, of course!

Location: Mercado Central – Cafés Ortega – MardeCafé

5. Climb up to the Balcony of Almería – Cerro San Cristobal

Where to get the best views in Almería? Cerro San Cristobal! It is a viewpoint on a nearby hill in Almería with panoramic views over the city. This place is also called the balcony of Almería and for a good reason! You have the whole city at your feet!

Getting to the top requires walking up the hill from the city. It is definitely challenging especially during hot days. There is a large monument of Jesus on the very top of the hill with a hollow bottom part where you can actually walk under the monument.

Despite being a bit dirty this is a must-visit spot during your trip to Almería. You won’t get better views than this – not even from Alcazaba. We had a car so we actually drove to the parking lot right at the bottom of the hill and then walked up. You can also take a taxi to make the climb easier.

While you are at Cerro San Cristobal don’t be too distracted by the views of the city like I was! I almost missed that from this viewpoint you can get the best views of the Alcazaba fortress. With its massive defensive walls, the fortress in the background definitely looks like a scene from the Middle Ages.

Location: Cerro San Cristobal – Parking lot

6. Relax at restaurants or people-watch at Rambla de Almería

Rambla de Almería is one of my favorite places in Almería. It is a long wide pedestrian boulevard surrounded by palm trees and other trees that offer shade during the day. It is the best place to go for a stroll around the city and maybe have a picnic on one of the benches.

There are numerous restaurants along the boulevard where you can sit down and relax with a cup of coffee. Or if you are heading in the direction of the beach then this street is the best one to take in that direction – it is very scenic and peaceful during the day and full of action at night.

Location: Rambla de Almería

7. Take a photo of Almería letters and go around the ferris wheel

Probably one of the most iconic spots in Almería is the ferris wheel with Almería letters in front of it and a Compass Rose painted on the ground. The wheel is located in Plaza de las Velas square right in front of the harbor. You can see the ferris wheel at the end of the Rambla de Almería.

On the day we visited the ferris wheel was not working. However, if you get to visit this place during its working hours then this would be a great chance to ride up to the top of the wheel and see the harbor from above. And taking a photo in front of the wheel with the Almería letters is a must-do thing!

Location: Plaza de las Velas

8. Explore the seaside promenade and take a look at El Cable Inglés

Almería has a beautiful seaside promenade for everyone to enjoy. Some of the activities you can do at the seaside include enjoying a meal at a seaside restaurant, taking a walk along the promenade, spending time at one of the sandy beaches in Almería, checking out El Cable Inglés, and so on.

El Cable Inglés is one of the most unique places in Almería. The name El Cable Inglés translates as the English Pier – and it is a monument of industrial heritage. The pier was built at the beginning of the 20th century by Scottish engineers following the school of the engineer Gustave Eiffel.

Basically, it is a 1000-meter railway loading dock for minerals that were transported from French and British-run mines that produced iron ore, copper, and silver.

The English Pier enabled trains to travel all the way to the end of the pier next to the transporting ships. This reduced cargo loading time from for than a week to less than a day.

Today this metal construction simply serves as an industrial heritage and is declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. The best place to observe the pier is from Parque de las Almadrabillas park or from the seaside next to the Monument to the Almerian Victims of Mauthausen (a concentration camp in Germany).

Location: El Cable Inglés

9. Check out the main square – Plaza Vieja

Plaza Vieja – also known as Plaza de la Constitution, is the main square in Almería. It is a beautiful square with a tall monument in the middle of it and arch-shaped portals all around it. My favorite spot here was a tunnel that goes from the square under the building of Almería City Council.

This 19th-century square is located right at the bottom of the hill of Cerro San Cristobal. So you can visit this place on your way to the hilltop viewpoint (if you decide to walk up there on foot). I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere here with kids running around and people sitting on benches chatting.

The portal surrounding the square offers some nice shade during the hottest days. I recommend walking around the square through the portal – you will notice other tunnels connecting the nearby streets with the square as well as other beautiful spots like the blooming flower bushes.

Location: Plaza Vieja – Tunnel under the building

10. Say ‘hi’ to John Lennon!

Did you know that the founder of the Beatles – John Lennon – actually lived in Almería for a short while? It is said that the famous song Strawberry Fields Forever was composed right here in Almería. How cool is that?

Thanks to this connection there is a statue of John Lennon on a bench playing guitar in Almería. The statue is located in Plaza Flores square right in front of the Hotel Nuevo Torreluz Almeria Hotel. It is easily accessible and free to visit.

Location: The John Lennon bench

11. Take a trip to explore the volcanic Cabo de Gata Natural Park

Cabo de Gata-Níjar National Park is a natural park in Almería province. And one of the most unique places in Andalusia! It is a protected natural area with rocky islands, white-sand beaches, wild coastline, and mountains. It is definitely worth spending some time exploring the natural park!

Go kayaking and snorkeling to discover Posidonia meadows!

Cabo de Gata Natural Park has rich biodiversity not only on the land but also under the water. The water actually hides one of the best-preserved Posidonia meadows in the entire Mediterranean Sea that you can actually explore on a snorkeling tour.

Not to mention exploring the underwater caves, and narrow gaps in the rock that were created by the recent volcanic activity of the area. This area is truly a wild side of Andalusia and definitely worth exploring by joining a snorkeling tour!

Take a sailing tour along the beaches from Carborneras

If exploring the underwater world is not for you then you can explore the unique beaches of this natural park by joining a guided yacht tour to wild beaches with crystal clear water in the park. You will see volcanic cliffs and caves not accessible by land! As well as a fossilized coral reef at Cabo de Mesa Roldan.

Another amazing option to explore the area from a boat is to take a sunset sailing tour on a luxurious sailboat and drink a glass of Cava while watching the sun go down. This is a more relaxed and romantic opportunity to see the fascinating rock formations and the stunning blue waters of the Mediterranean.

Enjoy a full-day bus tour into the natural park

If you don’t have a car and can’t go to the park on your own there is a full-day bus tour from Almeria to Cabo de Gata. The day trip will take you along the cliffs, ruined castles, volcanic rock formations, coral reefs, pristine beaches, and hidden coves. And you will have 3 hours of free time at the beach!

Location: Cabo de Gata

12. Tour the Tabernas Desert!

Known as the only desert in Europe, the Tabernas Desert is a true hidden gem in Andalusia and in the province of Almería! Because of the similarities to other deserts around the world like in the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and others, this desert has been a popular place to shoot many movies.

The desert has been featured in multiple Spaghetti Westerns as well as in the sixth season of the Game of Thrones series. There are three main film sets in the desert – Texas Hollywood, Mini Hollywood, and Western Leone – used as shooting locations. And you can visit them!

Have fun at the Western Theme Park – Mini Hollywood!

If you are looking for an unforgettable day in the Tabernas Desert, then this tour is for you! The Western Theme Park Oasys – originally used as an old western movie set – invites you to have an action-filled day with entertaining performances like the Sheriff’s intervention of a western bank robbery!

Have fun while stepping into the “Wild, Wild West” and visit old school classrooms, the Sheriff’s office, and other historical attractions. The western village is built just like people lived in the past with all the buildings and houses you would find in a typical village. A lot of fun is guaranteed!

Go on a horse riding tour through the Tabernas Desert!

One of the best ways to explore the only desert in Europe that resembles the southwestern United States is by tapping into your inner cowboy! Join a guided tour through the desert on a horse and visit the filming locations for Indiana Jones and the Game of Thrones!

Go on an adventurous 4×4 drive through the desert!

There is another great way to explore the only desert in Europe – go on an adventurous 4×4 drive through the desert! This tour will take you along the unique landscapes of the desert that are featured in hundreds of films and series!

During your drive, learn about the ravines and other geological formations as well as the flora and fauna that live here despite the odds. This is a great tour to do at any time of the year in a small group as you can sit in a car and see everything up close in case of colder weather.

Location: Tabernas Desert

13. Take a road trip to see the Pulpí Geode!

If you want to see one of the most unique places in the world then I would recommend taking a road trip to Pulpí Geode. Geode is a hollow space between volcanic rocks filled with large crystals. Located about a 1h15min drive away from Almería, this geode measures 8 meters long and 2 meters wide.

Pulpí Geode in the Province of Almería is the largest geode in the world that is possible to visit by the public. The crystals there are up to 2 meters long! The geode was discovered in 1999 under an abandoned silver mine and in recent years was opened for guided visits.

Visits to the geode are in groups at certain hours so you need to book your spot as early as possible online. The ticket cost 22 EUR per person. The tour is in Spanish but you get an audioguide in English. You can’t walk inside the geode, but you are allowed to peek inside waist-deep in the cavity.

Photos in the caves are allowed only with the tour guide’s phone. Obviously, that phone doesn’t have the best camera… The guide takes photos of everyone in multiple places, but you can also ask for the phone if you want to take a photo of something specific. You can then buy all the photos for 1 EUR afterward.

This is definitely one of those hidden gems in Andalusia that only a small part of tourists get to visit. It is located rather far away from the main tourist hotspots and is not so well-known. But I’m really glad we visited this unique place!

Location: Pulpí Geode