Making the most of Almeria
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The approach to Almeria is striking: the town is set amid semi-desert at the base of a mountain range, with a coastline of alternating long sandy beaches and steep cliffs.
Ships berth at the main harbour, Muelle de Levante, a 10 minute walk or 1km from the city centre.
Although Almeria is often used as a port for visiting Granada, it is easy to spend a day in the city itself.
“Almería” derives from Al-Mariyat, Arabic for “The Mirror of the Sea”.
North African influence is evident in the white Moorish-style houses and the crumbling Castillo de San Cristobal above the harbour. The splendid Alcazaba fortress involves around 200 steps to climb.
Costa de Almería has developed tourist resorts to the west and relatively untouched natural areas and coves to the east. Vera has naturist beaches, while traditional fishing ports and marinas also invite exploration.
Mojacar Playa (beach) has more than 5 km of bars, hotels, restaurants, shops and cafés. The beach development continues along the coast to Garrucha.
Getting around
As the town is on a hill, expect a considerable amount of uphill walking.
The train or bus journey to Granada takes more than 2 hours.
Nearby places
Tabernas Desert resembles North American deserts such as the Far West of the American West, northern Africa and the Arabian deserts, and has a lunar landscape. From the 1950s to today, it has served as a location for many films and westerns. Spaghetti westerns were made at the three principal studios: Texas Hollywood, Mini Hollywood and Western Leone.
Granada is home to the world-renowned Alhambra.
Mojocar is 90 km from Almería, the provincial capital. It is an elevated mountain village with the traditional white color of its earlier days.
Food and shopping
There are plenty of shops within walking distance of the centre.
Almeria is known for restaurants and local cuisine. Around Puerta de Purchena, at the end of Paseo de Almeria, is the best area for reasonably priced restaurants and bars.
Near the town hall in the old town, there are many good bars and cafés.
Local gastronomic specialties are “Gurullos”, a pasta stew; “Trigo”, a stew of wheat grains, pork, beans and herbs; “Gachas”, a hot, spicy clam stew; and “Escabeche e Sardines”, fresh sardines in hot sauce.
Money
Almeria uses the euro.
Each euro has 100 cents. Its eight coin values are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, plus 1 and 2 Euro. The seven banknote values are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro.
Staying connected
Spain’s official language throughout its national territory is Spanish. Catalan is also used in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region, and a distinctive Catalan variety on the Balearic Islands.
For a free emergency call anywhere in Spain, use 112. Service is provided in Spanish and can also be in English, French and German in some tourist areas.
Opening Hours and
Shops and businesses commonly open Monday to Saturday, from 9.30 h until 13.30 h, then 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Department stores and big shopping centres can stay open continuously from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h, with occasional Sunday opening.
High-season shops in coastal cities usually stay open beyond 22.00 h.
Usual pharmacy hours are 9.30 to 13.30 h and 16.30 to 20.00 h. Major cities have pharmacies open 24 hours, with a rolling late-hour schedule printed in newspapers and posted at every pharmacy.