10+ Fun Things to Do in Almuñecar With Insider Tips
Located in the Costa Tropical, Almuñecar is one of the prettiest coastal towns in Granada.
It’s, in fact, very close to Malaga province, where I am from, but I hadn’t visited Almuñecar until recently.
In my honest opinion, I wasn’t expecting much of Almuñecar. Why? You might wonder…well, some people told me there wasn’t much to it.
I’m glad to say they were wrong!
My partner and I took a guided tour, which we don’t usually do, but it was such a great choice.
In this article, I’m going to tell you the best things to do in Almuñecar, including recommendations and tips from a local, our guide.
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Things to do in Almuñécar
Top Tip
One of the best ways to explore Almuñécar is with a local guide. I took my tour with Daniela from Granada Experience Tour. She was super knowledgeable and friendly. She knows all about the town’s history and some interesting stories! I’ve included some of the main attractions covered during her tour in this article.
1. See the Roman aqueduct
One of the first places we saw on a tour around Almuñécar was the Roman Aqueduct since it’s very close to the bus station.
Our guide explained how this aqueduct worked and provided water to the city. You can still find hidden parts of it across the city.
2. Visit Cueva de los Sietes Palacios (archaeological museum)
Cueva de los Siete Palacios (Cave of the Seven Palaces) is Almuñécar archaeological museum. It’s in the town centre, and it’s unique.
The museum is built in a cave, which is pretty cool, and has some interesting and impressive archaeological remains.
When we got there, our guide, Daniela, told us about the legend behind the museum related to the lion-carved rock. It was super interesting, but I won’t go into detail here as I don’t want to spoil it for you!
Once in the museum, take your time to see other old objects and remains. The vessels are quite impressive; they were used to transport things like olive oil, wine and garum.
I also liked the remains of the Minerva statue, which were oddly found in the salt factory and later placed in the museum.
You can even see a beautiful Egyptian vessel that has no link to Almuñecar.
Personally, I think this is a very interesting place to learn about Almuñecar, and it’s even better to visit with a local guide who can tell you the history and legends.
3. Discover Castillo de San Miguel
Another unmissable place to visit in Almuñecar is San Miguel Castle. This mainly Moorish castle is bigger than I expected.
Within the castle, you can still see most of its main features, from the Arab Baths and Mosque to the dungeons.
I recommend visiting the interpreting centre to learn more about its different civilizations and periods and see the evolution from one era to another.
While you might not be very much into history, it’s still worth visiting for its gorgeous, crystal-clear sea views. I could spend hours watching the sea and its different tones of blue.
Walk on its walls, take photos and simply enjoy the views.
4. Go inside Iglesia de la Encarnación
No matter which city or town you visit in Costa Tropical or Costa del Sol, you’ll probably find a church called La Encarnacion. For example, in Marbella, Malaga, and other little towns,
This church, built out of bricks, is quite impressive from the inside and the outside. It’s known for being the first Barocco-style church in Granada.
Step inside to admire its beauty and see the patron saint of Almuñecar: la Virgen de la Antigua.
5. Wander the old town
Something I love doing wherever I go is to wander the old town, which you’ll probably end up doing anyway because it’s where you find most sights.
Besides the main attractions in Almuñecar, such as the Castle and Archaeological Museum, you have some shops and restaurants.
But I wanted to mention the picturesque streets in Almuñecar Old Town! Whether you love capturing places on your camera or simply walking on pretty streets, you’ll love the following streets:
📷 Calle San Miguel Bajo (check out the exact location here)
📷 Calle Explanada de San Miguel (check out the exact location here)
I visited Almuñecar in May when many locals follow the tradition of adorning the facade of their houses and windows with beautiful plants and decorations. So I really loved strolling the historic centre.
6. Explore Majuelo Botanical Park
Parque botánico “El Majuelo” is my favourite green space in Almuñecar. This isn’t just any botanic park; it has different features and is a hotspot for summer events, such as concerts.
I highly recommend taking your time in the park to appreciate all the monuments and plants. It has over 180 plant species worldwide, from beautiful small flowers to tall palm trees and cactuses.
Another stop at El Majuelo is its fish salting factory (Factoria de Salazones in Spanish), where you can see exactly what it looks like.
Our guide told us that this was the main place to produce garum, a product that became very popular in the Costa Tropical. Garum is a fish soup and sometimes pate made with all the fish guts and other unwanted parts.
It’s quite amazing to imagine how they prepared fish preservatives in this factory.
While you’re at The Majuelo, check out the sculptures made by Syrian artists and the little dome-shaped shops where you buy little things like gemstones and other quirky things.
7. Climb Peñon del Santo
Alongside the castle, Peñón del Santo is one of the best places in Almuñécar to enjoy the gorgeous coastal views.
You’ll find access to this viewpoint next to the Abderramán I Monument. Take the stairs, which aren’t too bad, and appreciate the views.
Our local guide told us that this little island could be accessed by the castle in the past.
It’s definitely worth visiting. The views are mesmerising.
8. Pop in the tourist office
You might wonder why I’ve included the tourist office as a must-see in Almuñecar. The answer is that it’s one of the best tourist offices I’ve ever visited.
The office was a former Nasrid Palace, and they chose wisely to keep it and adapt it to be a tourist office. Not only is the facade gorgeous with its sandy pink colours, but the interior will even wow you more.
This was our last stop on the tour we did with Daniela, and it didn’t disappoint. She left it to the end for a reason. This palace resembles the Alhambra in some ways, and you can see this in its architecture.
Once you’ve seen the gorgeous rooms, make sure to spend some time walking in its gardens, which have star-shaped fountains and fossils.
Visiting Almuñecar’s tourist office is definitely one of the best free things to do in Almuñecar.
9. Relax at Playa San Cristobal
San Cristobal Beach is very close to the city centre. It’s lovely, but it’s a pebble beach, so make sure to pack some water shoes.
I prefer to walk its beach promenade while enjoying the views while sunbathing and swimming on this beach.
If you prefer a sandy beach, like me, then I’d choose Playa Costa Tropical.
If you fancy eating on the beach, this beach has a couple of chiringuitos (beach bars), but many are quite touristy. My partner and I always check TripAdvisor and Google Reviews before entering any restaurant, and glad we did because some look very nice from the outside, but the food isn’t.
We opted to eat at El Lute y Jesús, which serves delicious fried fish.
10. Have fun at Aqua Tropic
Looking for things to do in Almuñecar with kids? One of the most famous family attractions is AquaTropic, a water park on the outskirts of the town.
This water park isn’t as big as others like Aqualand in Torremolinos, but why not spend half a day making the kids happy?
You can still enjoy attractions like the famous Kamikaze (only for the bravest), the Black Hole and the different pools, including the wave pool (a family’s favourite)
Adult tickets are 26 euros, and kids are between 16 and 19 euros (depending on their height).
11. Go on a day trip to Nerja
If you’re looking for a day trip from Almuñecar, I recommend visiting Nerja, a beautiful coastal town in Malaga. It’s only a 20-minute drive, so you can make the most of a day out instead of travelling somewhere far.
There are many cool things to do in Nerja! For me, one of the best activities is to visit Nerja Caves. They’re incredibly beautiful, and you can see stalactites you won’t see anywhere else. It’s definitely a must-see.
After visiting the caves, head to the historic centre, home to many independent shops perfect for buying souvenirs and restaurants. Make your way to Balcón de Europa, the most beautiful place in Nerja, or at least to me!
This viewpoint offers an awe-inspiring view of the coastline and mountains.
And of course, if you visit Nerja in the summer, which I recommend you do, you can go to one of its beaches.
Maro Beach is my go-to for adventurous activities such as kayaking and snorkelling. However, if water sports aren’t your thing, I recommend Burriana Beach.
How to get around Almuñecar
On foot
Walking around Almuñécar is quite easy and the best way to move around the town. There are some hilly streets that you can’t access by public transport or car.
My main advice is to wear comfortable footwear. I wouldn’t like to imagine what it is like to wear sandals or heels while walking in Almuñécar.
By the Tropico Express train
This option is only available during the peak season (July and August). The train runs every hour in the evening from Paseo de San Cristóbal.
It’s a good way to see the beach promenade and other points of interest in Almuñecar for families with small kids or those who want to relax while taking in the views.
Train tickets are 5 euros per adult and 4 euros per child.
By car
You might ask, “Do I need a car to travel around Almuñécar?” If you plan to stay in the town, my answer is no.
Rent a car if you want to explore its surroundings or visit other beautiful beaches like the ones in La Herradura. You’ll have more flexibility and freedom than with public transport. Also, bear in mind that some places aren’t always accessible by bus.
Looking at renting a car?
I recommend checking rental cars with Discover Cars.
Where to eat in Almuñecar
Restaurante Los Geraneos
Los Geraneos is one of the most popular restaurants in Almuñecar. The local guide recommended this place, but we didn’t go because we were a bit away from it and were very hungry. However, we have it on our list for next time.
The decor is what you would expect from a local Spanish restaurant: old pictures on the walls, rustic and charming.
So, what about the food? You might ask. They have traditional Spanish dishes and some fusion dishes. Many people recommend getting the octopus and chicken croquettes. However, the menu offers other delicious dishes, such as fried aubergine, grilled sole, and burgers for the little ones!
Freidurías Lute y Jesús
If you’re looking for a place to have the typical fried fish that is popular in Andalusian coastline towns, I recommend visiting Freidurías Lute y Jesús.
It’s a bit more of a takeaway (it reminded me of a fish and chips shop, to be honest), but you get fresh fish fried in front of you, and it’s fast if you can’t be bothered to sit in a restaurant and wait for a while until they serve your food.
We ordered cazón en adobo (fried dogfish), boquerones al limón (fried anchovies with a hint of lemon) and chips. The portions are big, and we didn’t manage to eat everything. I loved the fried dogfish, but I’ve had better anchovies.
Amarena ice cream
As weird as it sounds, I’m not a big fan of ice cream, but Tom, my partner, is. So, I looked for good ice cream shops on the internet and came across Amarena.
They have a good selection of flavours – from strawberry and vanilla to pine nuts and cream and kinder.
We tried the chocolate, mango, and lemon ice creams, all of which were lactose-free. My favourite was the mango!
Where to stay in Almuñecar
Top choice: Helios Costa Tropical
This 3-star hotel is in a great location next to Playa de San Cristóbal. The rooms include comfortable beds, ensuite bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, and WiFi. Some include a balcony with sea views.
Besides the location, another reason to stay at this hotel is its facilities. It has an outdoor pool (heated during the winter months), a buffet restaurant, a cafe and a rooftop terrace which is available in the summer.
Check out price and availability here
Other hotels you might want to check out are:
Map with all the activities in Almuñecar
Click on the map below to open it in Google Maps. You can access directions to each of the places in Almuñecar mentioned in this article.
Frequently asked questions about Almuñecar
Is Almuñecar worth visiting?
Yes, Almuñécar is worth visiting for its rich history and beaches.
When is the best time to visit Almuñecar?
Spring and early autumn for sightseeing and from June to September for a beach holiday.
Are the beaches sandy in Almuñecar?
Yes, Playa Costa Tropical is a sandy beach in Almuñécar.
Conclusion on the best things to do in Almuñecar, Spain
So, is Almuñecar worth visiting? I’d say yes. It has more than I expected, and I’m glad I did a tour with a local guide to learn about its history and culture.
Do you have any questions about Almuñecar? Drop them in the comments below.
Enjoy your trip!
Cristina xx
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- Are you looking for the best accommodation in Granada? Check out these boutique hotels.
- Book fantastic activities and tours in Granada with Get Your Guide.
- Eat like a local in Granada by trying these traditional Andalusian dishes.
- Rent a car to travel with ease around Almuñecar.
- Get travel insurance for your trip; this is a must for any trip!
