The Top 10 Things to See And Do in Almuñécar, Granada

Lee rather uncharitably wrote in 1952 that Almuñécar’s Old Town, which extends up a steep hill away from the ocean, was “grey, almost gloomily Welsh”. If that was true back in the early 1950s, then this neighbourhood has obviously been spruced-up since: today, it is a charming and colourful quarter of steep lanes and whitewashed houses, many of which are decorated with geraniums and jasmine. Friendly locals sit outside their houses and exchange gossip as cats, dogs and children play around their feet – as much a defining scene of Spanish street life now as it was over half a century ago. It’s a bit of a climb to the top, so make sure you have a bottle of water with you – but the views out over the bay are well worth the effort.

On the western flank of Playa Costa Tropical are Paseo del Alitillo and Paseo de la Calatilla, two lively promenades lined with chiringuitos catering for every taste. Some are the kind of places you’d expect to find on Marbella’s blingtastic Nikki beach (think white leather sofas and nightclub-style interiors), while others favour a more rustic, hippy style (think wicker awnings, sandy floors and the faint but distinct aroma of weed). There is a charming, alternative ambience to the beach-bar scene in Almuñécar that distinguishes it at once from the tourist magnets along the Málaga coastline. Friendly service and excellent seafood-tapas make these sea-front promenades perfect for a lazy afternoon in this lovely ex-fishing village.

Paseo del Altillo, Almuñécar, Spain

Paseo de la Calatilla, Almuñécar, Spain