Is Almería Worth Visiting? Consider This Before You Go

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Almería, a city located on the southern coast of Spain, is often overlooked by tourists in favor of more popular cities like Málaga, which is abut 2 hours west of Almería.

It took several visits to Spain before I finally made it to Almería. Afterwards, I asked myself, “Is Almería worth visiting?” Honestly, I’m tempted to say no, but the fact that the whole place seemed like one big construction site when I visited probably didn’t help.

In this post, I’ll talk about all the good and the bad things about Almería so you can make up your own mind if you should visit. And depending on when you go, the constructions hopefully will be finished by then.

Table of Contents

Things to Consider if Almería is Worth Visiting

Beach

The main reason people visit Almería is for its beach. I read that Almería has some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain! Well, turns out the best beaches in the city are not actually in the city but in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, which is half-hour to hour drive from the city.

There is a beach in the city of Almería as well, and I was amazed by how crystal clear the water is. It’s so beautiful. The sand on the other hand was very corse and not like the super fine sand you image at dream beach destinations.

The Alcazaba of Almeria, a historic fortress overlooking the arid landscape and Mediterranean Sea, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region. Is Almeria worth visiting? Definitely, for this stunning landmark alone. — The Alcazar from afar

Sights

The main attraction is Almería Alcazaba. It’s the second largest Muslim construction in Spain, after the Alhambra in Granada, and you can visit it for free! Unfortunately, it was largely under construction when I visited in June 2024 and a lot of it was hidden under scaffolding.

Other attractions in Almería include the Cathedral of Almería, the Cerro San Cristóbal viewpoint, Rambla de Almería, and El Cable Inglés, an impressive former loading pier.

The majestic Cathedral of Almeria surrounded by tall palm trees, highlighting the impressive architecture and serene ambiance. Is Almeria Spain worth visiting? Absolutely, to admire such historical beauty. — Amlería Cathedral

Atmosphere

My first impression of Almería was that it looks quite industrial with it’s big industrial harbour which you can see from every viewpoint. But once I wandered around more, I definitely saw the city’s charm as well, though some downsides remained.

There were some scruffy areas, but with construction everywhere, hopefully, this will improve soon. For example, the Cerro San Cristóbal viewpoint seemed like a hangout spot for drunk people with empty beer bottles lying around. However, the whole area was under construction, so we’ll see how it looks once it’s finished.

A garage door with graffiti on it spelling out "Almeria no es pa touristas" — “Almería is not for tourists” spray painted in the city

The last thing that negatively impacted my impression of Almería was the graffiti against tourists. I understand why big cities like Barcelona might not be happy about tourists due to over-tourism, but I don’t think Almería has that many tourists. Still, I found multiple graffiti saying “Almería is not for tourists.”

Food and Water

While tap water in Spain is generally drinkable, it’s not known for its taste. Nowhere else have I encountered such bad-tasting tap water though than in Almería. So, when you visit, don’t count on refilling your bottle with tap water, buy a big bottle of filtered water instead.

Wherever I go, I love to go to vegan restaurants. The option of those is very limited in Almería, there’s one vegan café, AlmaZen Orgánico. It’s really cool, they sell smoothies, smoothie bowls, juices, and crepes right by the beach. It’s the perfect place for a snack during a beach day.

A smoothie bowl with strawberries and cholocate nips on top in front of the beach of Almeria — Perfect snack for a hot day in Almería

Accessibility

Almería is one of the bigger cities in Southern Spain and therefore well connected by public transportation. It has a national airport and a direct daily intercity train from Madrid that takes about 6.5 hours.

However, the best way to reach Almería is to fly to a nearby airport (Málaga, Murcia, Granada) and take a coach from there.

A street in Almería with a tree overgrowing the top bit of the picture — There definitely are some charming areas in Almería

Final Thoughts: Is Almería Spain Worth Visiting?

So, is Almería worth visiting? It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a beach vacation with some sightseeing thrown in, but Málaga is too busy for you, Almería might be a good option.

However, if you’re looking for a picturesque sandy beach in the city and top-notch infrastructure, then Almería may not meet your expectations.

But keep in mind that Almería is still undergoing development and improvements, so it’s possible that in the near future it will become a more popular tourist destination. And who knows, maybe by then the graffiti against tourists will be gone too.

Is Almería Worth Visiting? Consider This Before You Go