Hotels in Almería

Almería is Spain's driest city, a whitewashed sprawl in the southeast where the Alcazaba, one of the largest Moorish fortresses in the country, still dominates the skyline. It's best known outside Spain as the backdrop for spaghetti westerns and Lawrence of Arabia, filmed in the lunar desert just beyond town, and that desert-and-film-set identity still draws more visitors than the city itself.

Be honest: central Almería is workaday and short on obvious charm compared with Granada or Seville, and its real draw is as a base for the Cabo de Gata-Níjar natural park's empty beaches and volcanic coastline rather than the city's own sights. Tapas culture here is strong and cheap, with a free plate arriving alongside every drink. With only six hotels listed here, choice is limited, so book early. Stay near the Alcazaba or the old town for walkable access to the cathedral and tapas bars rather than the modern port-facing blocks further out.