Well, under normal circumstances, I am skeptical when I see posts that tell about reasons to visit a hidden gem. I have read tons of travel materials, where listed reasons are not significant, and a hidden gem is already well known. BUT I believe this one is different.
Let me introduce you to Paulina. Her blog has over 50 (!) posts about Spain, and she claims that Spanish Almeria is one of her favorite places. In this post, she will explain why she considers it a true hidden gem.
(links to Paulina’s blog and social media are in the end of the post)
From now on, Paulina:
Table of Contents
7 Reasons to visit Almeria
There is more to life in Spain than its famous cities like Barcelona, Granada, and Seville. That is the reason why I am here taking the road less traveled by visiting Almeria. Ringed by mountains and crowned by a spectacular fortress, Spain’s sunniest city Almeria is a striking destination in the south of the country in Andalucía province. It is a place full of interesting attractions and history, along with natural beauty and wonderful weather.
This medieval town has narrow streets, tranquil squares mixed with shopping centers and tapas bars. Along the coast, you can find fishing villages, popular resorts, secluded beaches, and the wild landscapes of the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park. I am pretty sure this place is going to be another tourist hotspot in no time.
I spend a lot of time in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park which is famous for its beaches. For me, it is one of the best destinations in Europe, because you can hardly find such untouched beaches. My most memorable experience is the flamingos in the salt mines.
However, I am here to tell you more about this wonderful destination in Southern Spain and why you should visit it once in your lifetime.
1. Hidden Gem in Spain
Almeria is an energetic port city with an illustrious past and one of Andalucía’s emerging destinations. It is a hidden gem in Southern Spain with the great coastline and natural wonders. Encompassing heavenly beaches, plunging cliffs, and wild tracts of arid scrubland, it is largely escaped unsightly development and remains an unspoiled and relatively unexplored part of the region. the region is blessed with a good weather all-year-round. While the rest of Europe is freezing in winter, the Almeria boasts the sun in the middle of winter, its warmth, and the sea makes it a perfect winter destination.
As it is less explored that’s why I particularly enjoy Almeria.
2. Great Tapas
Almeria was maned the Gastronomic Capital of Spain for 2019, and I am not surprised. Whenever I talk to people about Almeria I always rave about the food. Tapas are well-known as a Spanish way of serving food, where you receive small portions of different things to eat when you order a drink.
Almeria is a dream place for tapas as it comes for free when you order a beer, soft drink or a glass of wine. In some bars, you will be offered a selection of dishes from which to choose, while in others, a surprise tapa will simply come along with your drink. Eating out in Almeria is, therefore, a wonderfully varied and cheap experience, giving you plenty of opportunities to sample all the Andalusian classics. You can eat here for less than in any other Spanish town.
3. Beautiful Beaches
Almeria has a stunning coastline, especially that in the Cabo de Gata National Park. The beaches are pristine with unspoiled stretches of sand that back onto rugged mountains and parched, dusty wildernesses. This makes it a place to enjoy and relax, but you need to come equipped with food and water, as most of these untamed playas lack restaurants. Playa de Los Genoveses and Playa de Los Muertos are two of the most beautiful beaches to visit here
4. Wonderful Museums
Almeria is full of historical architecture and artifacts. Roman, Moorish, Christian, and Spanish cultures intertwined. It is home to several excellent museums, in which you can learn about everything from the manufacturing of olive oil to the city’s rich archaeological history.
Museo de Almeria houses artifacts from all the periods of Almeria’s history and its centerpiece is the 13-meter Stratigraphic Column, rising through the building’s four floors. Then there is Centre de Interpretacion Patrimonial, Casa de Poeta, Museo de la Guitarra, and Museo del Aceite de Oliva. Visiting the museums of the city is one of the best things to do in Almeria.
5. One of the Only Deserts in Europe
Almeria enjoys about 3000 hours of sunshine with over 320 sunny days per year making it one of the sunniest and driest cities in the whole of Europe. It is home to the continent’s only desert, the Desierto de Tabernas, located about 30km north of Almeria and is a beautiful and wild expanse of dunes, hills, and mountains that hardly ever sees rain.
You can drive right through it on the A92 road and admire the scenery, perhaps stopping to explore the film villages of Fort Bravo, Mini Hollywood, and Western Leone, villages built in the desert for filming purposes. Visiting the Western Theme Park is one of my favorite things to do …regardless that I am not a child anymore.
6. Great Value for Your Money
Many of the Andalusian cities popular with tourists have more premium prices for accommodation and food. However, the flights and hotel accommodation in Almeria are generally cheap. Particularly during the winter months. During the cold months, many hotels near Almería and Cabo de Gata offer very attractive deals to attract travelers from all over the world offering great value for your money. Its natural park Cabo de Gata is probably one of the most underrated travel destinations in Spain.
I stayed near the Cabo de Gata Natural Park which is only a 10-min drive from Almeria. A night in an average hotel can cost you as little as 35 € and you get a very decent room. Also eating out is much cheaper than in Granada for instance.
7. Flamenco Culture
The soul of Flamenco music inhabits every corner of Andalucía.
Flamenco was created by the Gypsies in Spain and is a unique mix of Moorish and Spanish music elements. It’s famous for its passionate dance and energetic rhythms.
Almeria has played a crucial role in the development of the various styles of Flamenco. Together, they form part of the cultural heritage of an art form that uses dance, song and guitar music to convey the depths of the soul. Almeria has played an important part in the development of certain styles of Flamenco. Fandango de Almería, Taranta and Taranto, Petenera de Almería and other styles of the songs all originated in the folk song and dance of the miners and grape harvesters of the province. If you want to get a real Flamenco experience in Almería, visit Peña el Taranto, La Canastera, Peña El Tintero, and Fernando Padilla Auditorium.
Author‘s Bio:
Hola! I am Paulina, a fervent travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. Bloggin’ in English & Español since 2015. I want to share with you my passion for sustainable travel like hiking, cycling or sailing. Let’s hit the road together!
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