The Most Unique Experiences to Have in Almería, Spain

Tapas can, of course, be enjoyed in any Spanish city, town or village, but usually these tasty snacks come with a catch: you have to pay for them. Not so in Almería. Here, with every beer, wine or soft drink you order, you’ll receive an accompanying tapa for no extra charge, meaning you can sample a variety of Andalusian classics for hardly any outlay.

The Tabernas is responsible for Almería province being the driest area in continental Europe and for its capital being the warmest city on the continent: the annual temperature is a balmy 19°C (66°F), and in recorded history it’s never dropped below freezing. This makes visiting a pleasure at any time of year – indeed, 20-degree days are common, even in the depths of winter.

Almería’s desert has also been the setting for many classic films, including 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia and the Sergio Leone Westerns starring Clint Eastwood. For a truly memorable day out, you can visit three of the film sets that were made for the Leone classics – Fort Bravo, Mini Hollywood and Western Leone – where shootouts and other scenes from Wild West life are re-enacted for visitors.

Almería province is home to the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, which in turn boasts some of Spain’s most unspoilt and beautiful beaches. Playa El Playazo is the park’s most popular stretch of sand, whilst the Playa de los Genoveses and the Playa de los Muertos are two of the largest and most untamed. Bring a picnic, because there are no beach bars out here.