Car hire Almeria

Introduction

Almeria is the capital city of the province with the same name in Andulasia. One of the attractions is the impressive Moorish fortress, Alcazaba, which lies on top of a hill. When the Catholics drove the Muslims out of Spain, they rebuilt the mosque in the center of the city into a church, however it was destroyed shortly afterwards by an earthquake. Afterward the church was rebuilt. The cathedral resembles a fort: this was done to offer protection against the pirates of the Mediterranean Sea.

Population

With the increasing interest in Almeria as a tourist destination, the number of residents in the city grows steadily: around 195,000 people are now living in Almeria.

Location

Almeria lies in the southeast of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea. Northwest of Almeria lies the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and east of the city the Cabo de Gata nature reserve. This is a dry, desert like mountain and cliff landscape, where beautiful beaches can also be found.

Economy

The local economy is supported largely by agricultural products, namely vegetables and fruit grown in greenhouses. Furthermore, tourism is still getting more important. Traditionally, Almeria is a center of nudist beaches and sites, but the city municipality also tries to attract other tourists by bringing attention to the wild nature, the beautiful (textile) beaches and the history of the region.

Airports

The airport of Almeria lies 9 kilometers east of the city. It has local and international flights, the latter mainly carried out by budget and charter airlines. The airport is easily reachable by rental car: on the Mediterranean coastal road A7 (Autovia del Mediterranoe) the exit is clearly indicated. From the center of Almeria you can reach the airport via the highway AL-12.

Public transportation

Almeria has good public bus transportation, provided by the company Surbus. Furthermore, there are bus connections to other cities in Andalusia, like Agua Amarga, La Isleta del Moro, Las Negras & Rodalquilar, San Jose, and San Miguel de Cabo de Gata.

Traffic and parking

Although the center of Almeria can be quite busy, you will have no trouble finding your way. To park your rental car there are several possibilities: on the street, in a car park or in one of the parking garages. If you want to go with your rental car to Cabo de Gata, follow the N-344 east. About 15 kilometers from Almeria the exit is clearly indicated. After 8 kilometers you get to Ruescas at a T-junction, where you follow the road further south to reach Cabo de Gata.

Hotels

There is quite a selection of hotels in Almeria. To offer the growing amount of tourists sufficient accommodation, more hotels are still being built. In the summer months it is advised to book your hotel room in advance.

External resources

For more information on Almeria, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Almeria
• Official website Almeria (Spanish)
• Tourist information Almeria (English)