DoomedTX

We're planning a weekend getaway to Almeria in late February or early March. We'll be driving from Santiago de la Ribera (Murcia). Any suggestions on what to see and do in Almeria?

Woody1

Hi

Have you thought about Granada instead? I thought this was a lovely city and we will defineately be going back again. We stayed in the hotel below. There is loads to do in the area.

'The GUADALUPE HOTEL is situated within the monumental precincts of the ALHAMBRA and in front of the Arab monarchs' summer residence and its gardens, the GARDENS of the GENERALIFE. Only about 50 metres separate the Hotel from the entrance to above-mentioned monuments. It is the ideal surrounding for a quiet and relaxed stay.'

I know this doesnt answer your question but..

Woody

Carolina

We stayed in Mojacar a few years ago. It's a lovely place for a visit.

Bedar

Don't bother with Almeria - there's not much to see/do there. Go to Mojacar and have some fun !

enerserve

I second Bedar.

Almeria is a industrial city with little to offer of turistic value.

The "vacation resort areas" just south are developers dreams to capitolize on the rather lovely beaches there. The Costa de Sole in general once you leave the tourist beach towns are agriculture based areas of miles and miles of ugly plastic shanty "greenhouses". Some views one can see nothing but plastic as far as the eye can see. They apparently burn the greenhouse plants and plastic remains continuously resulting in constant smog over the coast, and a smell of smoke. If it rains ever car and surface is covered with a brown layer of soot.

There is a very beautiful natural area just east of Almeria with miles of beaches and on a good day if the wind is blowing the smoke the other way, you can actually see the horizon and blue sky. Beyond that more nature preserve (arrid almost luner landscape) with lovely isolated little coves and beaches to descover.

enerserve

I should be more specific here. I am describing Costa del Sole in the Almeria area here not the whole coast. The resort area I mentioned is Roquetas Del Mar 10 miles West of Almeria.

Ainhoa

The Cabo de Gata national park, which is east of the city of Almeria is worth a visit. There are several small totally unspoiled villages along the coast. Agua Amarga is probably the prettiest, with a couple of small intimate hotels. The city of Almeria itself is not worth a visit. Inland from Cabo de Gata is the village of Nijar which is great for local handicrafts, especially jarapas (a kind of carpet) and pottery. Mojacar village (not to be confused with Mojacar beach) is worth a visit, if only for it's splendid situation. It has become a bit touristy and tacky. Inland, there are some interesting caves near Sorbas and at Tabernas there is the wild west town, where they filmed a lot of the spaghetti westerns (but if you are american, perhaps this won't appeal!) Around Cuevas del Almanzora, there are many troglodite dwellings, caves which have been converted into homes. The market at Garrucha (Friday mornings) is great.

DoomedTX

Thanks for the replies...I posted here because it didn't seem like Almeria had a lot to see, and you've confirmed it. Maybe we'll go the extra distance to Granada and maybe take in the sights around Almeria on the way home!