Almería



Almería is a city in Andalucia, also called "the Hollywood of Spain".

Understand
The word Almería is an Arabic word which means mirror of the sea. Like many Andalusian cities, Almería kept its Arabic name after it had been recaptured by the Spanish. It is an average-sized city by the Mediterranean Sea with a population of around 200,000 (2018). In its region lies the Natural Resort (Parque Natural) area of Cabo de Gata.

Climate
Almería has a hot, arid climate. Almería's winters are very mild, around 18 °C (65 °F). Summers are long and hot and often reach and exceed 40 °C (104 °F) in the shade during July and August.

By plane
As an alternative you can flight to Málaga Airport (AGP) instead. It's the fourth busiest in Spain and thus has flights to most of major European airports and some non-European ones (Montreal, New York, Casablanca, Tel Aviv) and it's 214 km away of Almería city.

From Málaga Airport to Almería city alternatives:


 * By bus through Málaga: a bus service is available connecting Málaga Airport with Málaga city. It stops at the main bus station and train station of Málaga. There you can get ALSA buses  to Almería city, taking between 3 and 5 hours depending on the intermediate stops. You can buy your tickets at the ALSA website. Bus stops at Estación Intermodal, in city downtown.
 * Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a daily direct bus connection operated by ALSA between the airport and Almería city, but it is not available as of March 2022.

By train
The route from Madrid is quite slow (almost 7 hours), but incredibly scenic, as the train winds along a serpentine route though the desert, revealing a landscape like nothing else in Europe, with barren mountains, and tiny, remote arroyos (wadis) where a few cactus and palms survive on underground moisture. The train also offers a spectacular view as it approaches Guadix, a town in the desert backed by a massive cliff, into which numerous cave buildings have been carved. After a few hours the train breaks through the mountains and beyond the desert into the flat tableland of the Meseta, from where it sprints towards Madrid in a dead straight line. The Almería-Granada train route has been praised as recommended slow travel by the Guardian.

By road
Almería has a good land communication with all the Mediterranean coast by the highway, which join up to France frontier in La Jonquera and, on the other side, ends at Algeciras.

To the interior, Almería is connected by the, another highway that connects with the rest of Andalusia and Madrid. This roads are toll-free.

By bus
The bus station is combined with the train station, and is immediately south-east of the city centre, near to the Cable. Buses arrive from Jaén, Málaga, Granada and a variety of other cities all day. Less frequent long distance buses run from points along the coast to Barcelona, and up to Madrid. Additional options are available if routing through Granada, which is quick and simple. The bus station only serves long-distance buses. Some municipal buses stop outside, but don't start or terminate from here.

Get around
Despite the mountainous terrain surrounding the city, Almeria itself is mostly flat, and getting round on foot is easy and pleasant, due to the dry conditions and shaded streets. There is also a comprehensive, if not terribly frequent, network of municipal buses, operated by Surbus. Fares are affordable, and routes and timetables can be found on the company website.

See




Do

 * Visit the great beaches of and.
 * Football: UD Almería were relegated in 2024 and play soccer in Segunda División, the second tier. Their home ground Power Horse Stadium (capacity 17,400) is 1 km east of city centre on the riverbank.
 * Football: UD Almería were relegated in 2024 and play soccer in Segunda División, the second tier. Their home ground Power Horse Stadium (capacity 17,400) is 1 km east of city centre on the riverbank.
 * Football: UD Almería were relegated in 2024 and play soccer in Segunda División, the second tier. Their home ground Power Horse Stadium (capacity 17,400) is 1 km east of city centre on the riverbank.

Buy








Eat
There are numerous tapas bars around the town, offering a choice of meat, fish and seafood as well as some typical tortillas and potato dishes. Tapas bars are typically visited by the locals before the night fiesta.

Drink
Most of the bars are in the area known by the locals as cuatro calles (the four streets) in the very centre of the city and just under the Cathedral plaza. Depending on the day, a litre of beer could cost as little as €2 in some bars.

Connect
As of June 2022, Almería has 4G from Orange and Vodafone, and 5G from MasMovil/Yoigo and Movistar.

Stay safe
Almería is generally a peaceful town. Robberies or crime is highly unlikely although the locals might advise to keep away from a couple neighbourhoods at night.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * Province of Almería
 * Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
 * Granada
 * Melilla
 * Málaga
 * Route of the Landscapes of Cultural Interest in Almería