Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0
Costa Tropical · Province of Granada · Andalusia, Spain
Almuñécar
A three-thousand-year-old town on the Mediterranean, with a castle on the rock, cherimoya orchards in the valley, the Sierra Nevada at its back and beaches in use almost all year round.
Welcome to Almuñécar
Almuñécar lies on the Costa Tropical, the short stretch of coast in the province of Granada between the Costa del Sol to the west and Almería to the east. The Sierra de Almijara rises almost straight out of the sea, shelters the coast from the north wind and gives it a climate in which mango, avocado and cherimoya grow in the open – hence the name. The municipality has about 28,000 inhabitants, a good share of them foreign, and many times that in summer.
The town is one of Spain's oldest. The Phoenicians founded Sexi here around 800 BC, the Romans built salting factories, baths and an aqueduct that still carries water, and in 755 Abd ar-Rahman I landed on the beach below the rock and founded the emirate that became al-Andalus. The Castillo de San Miguel above the old town bears traces of all three.
This site gathers what we know about Almuñécar and La Herradura – for those considering a holiday, and for those who already live here and want to know where the health centre is, when the market is and how to get to the airport without a car.
Explore
History The history of Almuñécar: Phoenician Sexi, Roman Sexi Firmum Iulium, the landing of Abd ar-Rahman I in 755, Moorish al-Munakkab, the conquest of 1489, the sugar industry and today's resort.
Sights Sights in Almuñécar: the Castillo de San Miguel, the Peñón del Santo, Parque El Majuelo, the Cueva de Siete Palacios, the Roman aqueduct and baths, the Palacete de La Najarra, Loro Sexi and the old town.
Beaches Almuñécar's beaches: San Cristóbal, Puerta del Mar, Velilla, Tesorillo, Cotobro, La Herradura, Marina del Este, Cantarriján and El Muerto. Shingle, Blue Flags, beach bars and diving.
Nature and climate Nature around Almuñécar: the Maro–Cerro Gordo reserve, the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama natural park, the Río Verde valley of cherimoya and avocado, walks, diving, and the climate month by month.
Stay and eat Where to stay in Almuñécar and La Herradura: hotels, apartments, campsites and long-term rentals. Food: tapas, beach restaurants, espeto, fish, the fruit market and where the locals eat.
Getting here and around How to get to Almuñécar: flights to Málaga (AGP) and Granada (GRX), the ALSA coach from the airport, hire car via the A-7, driving from northern Europe, coaches along the coast, local buses, taxis and parking.
Practical Practical information on Almuñécar: health centre and hospital, pharmacies, emergency numbers, tourist office, markets, opening hours, NIE, padrón, residencia, consulates, schools, internet, water and refuse.
Events The year's events in Almuñécar: the Three Kings parade, carnival, Semana Santa, the night of San Juan, Virgen del Carmen, the Jazz en la Costa festival and the August fair.
Map Interactive map of Almuñécar with the castle, the Peñón del Santo, Parque El Majuelo, the beaches, La Herradura, Marina del Este, Cerro Gordo, the bus station and the health centre. Photos Photographs of Almuñécar, the castle, the beaches, La Herradura and Cerro Gordo, freely licensed via Wikimedia Commons.Good to know
The castle
The Castillo de San Miguel is open Tuesday to Sunday, closed over the siesta and open later in summer evenings. The ticket also covers the Cueva de Siete Palacios. Sights
Beaches
The beaches are grey shingle, not sand – bring water shoes. The bathing season runs from May to October; the sea is warmest in September. Beaches
Flights
Málaga (AGP) is 85 km away with direct flights from all over Europe; Granada (GRX) 90 km. The ALSA coach from Málaga airport runs direct to Almuñécar in just under two hours. Getting here
Tourist office
In the Palacete de La Najarra, Avenida de Europa. Tel. +34 958 63 11 25, visitalmunecar.es. A branch opens in La Herradura in summer.
Market
The weekly street market (mercadillo) is on Friday mornings in Almuñécar and Tuesdays in La Herradura: clothes, fruit, vegetables and ham.
Healthcare
Health centre (Centro de Salud) at Calle Chinguetti 2, tel. +34 958 02 74 22. The nearest hospital is Hospital Santa Ana in Motril. Emergency number 112. Practical
Cherimoya
Almuñécar is Europe's cherimoya capital. The fruit is in season from September to February and carries a protected designation of origin. Buy it at the market or the fruit stalls on the road to Jete.
Scandinavians here
Several hundred Swedes and other Scandinavians live in the municipality year round, mostly in La Herradura, Cotobro and Velilla. The Swedish consulate is in Málaga. Practical
Pictures from the town All photos →
