Almeria: Travel Notes

You might hear that Almeria doesn’t have much to offer when it comes to beauty or culture. We don’t agree. But let’s keep that a secret. Almeria is a very unpretentious city, and we wouldn’t want that to change with an invasion of tourists. Ancient castles and wild nature combine with modernity in spaces such as the Andalusian Centre of Photography. Keep reading to discover more of her secrets.

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Get an early start and see Almeria wake up from the heights of the Alcazaba. This will definitely put you in a good mood for the rest of the day (95175500, C/ Almanzor, s/n WEB). At the foot of the fortress, inside the old high school is the Andalusian Centre of Photography (C/ Pintor Díaz Molina, 9, 950002700), a meeting point for international photographers. At midday you must try some of the tasty local dishes; fresh fish, las gachas (a stew) and los gurullos (a rice dish) particularly stand out. Portón de la Bahía will not disappoint those who have large appetites (Paseo Marítimo, 115, 950237711).

After refuelling, go to the Mediterranean Arts Centre, known locally as the Mediterráneo Centro Artístico MECA (Pza. Bendicho 1, 950244431, artemeca.es), where you can find the exhibitions of up and coming artists. The Civil War Shelters are a network of tunnels that cover the whole of Almeria and are ideal for getting a sense of the city’s history. If you fancy tapas in the evening Bahía de Palma (C/ Cervantes) is a must. The best way to finish off the day is with a drink in Madchester (C/ Padre Santaella, 15, madchester.es) while listening to live independent music.

 Eat

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Quick lunch
Lamarca Bodega Restaurante
C/ Gregorio Marañón, 33
950086625, grupolamarca.com

Classic tapas
Casa Puga
C/ Jovellanos, 7
950231530

Local cuisine
Bar San Juan
Esquina c/ San Juan con Almedina

Need to impress
La Encina, 30 €
C/ Marín, 16
950273429

Seafood
Casa Joaquín
C/ Real, 111
950264359

Seafood
Veracruz
Av. del Cabo de Gata 119
950251220

Something different
Restaurante Tetería Almedina
C/ La Paz, 2
629277827, restauranteteteriaalmedina.com

Everyone is talking about it
Comeart-te
C/ Lentisco, 1
950088924, comeart-te.com

Treat yourself
Minibar
C/ Rueda López, 21
950235209

Great coffee
Molly Malone
Paseo de Almería, 56
950246283

 Drink

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A few pints
El Poney Pisador
C/ General Tamayo, 7

Wine bar
Bodega Montenegro
Plaza Granero, esquina Bailén
950233051

To be seen
Amargo Sound Café
Pza. Marqués de Heredia, 17

To be seen
Vértice
C/ Eduardo Pérez, 4

Gay
Abacos
C/ Dr. Araez Pacheco, 8

Last round
Geografic
C/ Marqués de Comillas, 12
950083803

 Live music

---

Electronic
Sala Boss
Castro de Filabres
salabossalmeria.com

Off the wall
La Cueva Café Pub
C/ Canónigo Molina Alonso, 23
lacueva-alemria.com

 Sleep

---

Business trip
Hotel Torreluz, 55 €
Pza. Flores, 2
950234399, torreluz.com

Business trip
Elba Almería Hotel,
Prolongación Avda. del Mediterráneo, s/n, Esq. Entre c/ Guinea y c/ Ilsa Perejil.
950145390, hoteleselba.com

Dependable Chain
NH Ciudad de Almeria, 63 €
C/ Jardín de Medina, s/n
950182500, nh-hoteles.es

Historic
Gran Hotel Almería. 100 €
C/ Reina Regente, 8
950238011, granhotelalmeria.com

Design-hotel
Hotel Catedral, 110 €
Pza. de la Catedral, 8
950278178, hotelcatedral.net

Cheap and cheerful
Hostal Sevilla, 46 €
C/ Granada, 25
950230009, hotelsevillaalmeria.es

Cheap and cheerful
Hotel La Perla, 40 €
Plaza del Carmen, 7
950238877

They take dogs
Citymar Indálico, 70 €
C/ Dolores Sopeña, 4
950231111, indalicohotel.com

Youth Hostel
Albergue Juvenil Almería, 20 €
C/ Isla de Fuerteventura, s/n
950269788, inturjoven.com

 Shop

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Music store
Discos Caverna
C/ Minero, 14
950251750

Bookstore
Picasso
C/ Reyes Católicos, 17
950235600

Music
Luis Gázquez
C/ Javier Sanz, 2 - 6 - 10
950233835

For the home
Chambao
C/ Murcia, 6
950264178

Local
C/ Real, 15
950620002

Street market
Wholesale food market
Ctra. Ronda

 Skyline

---

Alcazaba
Formidable Arab fortress overlooking the city
C/ Almanzor, s/n
950175500, juntadeandalucia.es

Mirador de San Cristóbal
Catch some great views at sunset from this lookout
C/ Antonio Vico

Catedral
An example of late gothic style with a Renaissance exterior
Pza. de la Catedral, s/n
950234848

Puerta de Purchena
Ancient entrance of the city where Al-Zagal surrendered to the Catholic Kings
C/ Tenor Iribarne

Monument to the Martyrs of Liberty
In the centre of Plaza Vieja

 Sports and spas

---

Getting sweaty
Estadio Municipal de los Juegos Mediterráneos
C/ Belladona, 5
950332100, pmdalmeria.com

Relax
Baños Árabes
C/ Perea, 9
950231010, alhammamalmeraya.com

Relax
Balneario Sierra Alhamilla
Pechina
950317413

Be adventurous
Subparke
C/ Santa Bárbara, 42
Rodalquilar
950389787, Subparke.com

Sports center
Complejo Deportivo Las Almadrabillas
Avenida Cabo de Gata, s/n
950253230, pmdalmeria.com

 Museums and galleries

---

Photography
Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía
C/ Pintor Díaz Molina, 9
950002700

Archaeological
Museo Arqueológico
Carretera De Ronda, 91
950175510

Contemporary
Centro de Arte Museo de Almería (CAMA)
Plaza de Carlos Cano, s/n
950266112

Contemporary
Mediterráneo Centro Artístico MECA
Pza. Bendicho 1,
950244431, 620938515, limitearte.blogspot.com

Gastronomic
Museo del Aceite Castillo de Tabernas
C/ Real, 15
950620002, castillodetabernas.net

 Theatre and dance

---

A little of everything
Teatro Apolo
Rambla Obispo Orberá, 25
950269268, almeriacultura.com

A little of everything
Auditorio Maestro Padilla
Plaza de Alfredo Kraus, s/n
950273002, almeriacultura.com

Flamenco
Peña El Morato
C/ Morato, s/n
elmorato.com

 Cinema

---

Independent
Teatro Apolo
Rambla Obispo Orberá, 25
950269268, almeriacultura.com

Mainstream
Cines Monumental
Av. Mediterráneo, s/n
950144908

Mainstream
Cine Teatro Cervantes
Poeta Villaespesa, 1
950235875

 Transport

---

Car rental
Avenida Estación, 20
950261533

Taxi
Radio Taxi
950226161

Bus
Surbus
950624735

 Green zones

---

Parque Nicolás Salmerón
The lungs of the city located between the port and the centre

Parque de Castilla
To the west of Almeria and home to the Castle

Town Hall
Plaza Constitución, s/n
950210000, aytoalmeria.es

Almería University
950215000, 950215050, ual.es

Hospital Torre Cárdenas
Paraje Torre Cárdenas, s/n
950016000, juntadeandalucia.es

Emergency Medical Attention
061

Fire
C/ Santa Bárbara, s/n
950271534

Post office
Plaza Juan Cassinello, 1
950281512, correos.es

Local police
092

Ecologists in Action
619936376, ecologistasenaccion.org

24-hour pharmacy
Carretera de Ronda, 325

Video

By air
Aeropuerto Internacional de Almería (a 9km de distancia)
950213790, aena.es

By sea
Puerto de Almería
Muelle Levante, s/n
950236033, apalmeriamotril.com

By bus
Estación Intermodal de Almería
Plaza de la Estación, s/n
950262098

By train
Plaza de la Estación, s/n
950251135, renfe.es