Cheap Car Hire in Almeria

About Almeria

Almeria is the capital of the Andalusian province of the same name and is located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. Caliph Abd al-Rahman III founded the city in 955 and it quickly became a rich port from which silk, oil, and wine were exported. Today, Almeria is a popular tourist destination boasting beautiful beaches, architecture, and the only desert in Europe, among other attractions. Almeria is also considered the city with the lowest rainfall in Europe and at the same time the second warmest city with an average temperature of 19 degrees Celsius. Temperatures below zero have never been recorded in Almeria.

If you have decided to visit Almeria, you will definitely not regret it. Besides the beautiful beaches, there are a lot of attractions worth seeing in and around the city. One of the biggest attractions is certainly the Wild West Territory, as many call it. Almeria was a popular filming location for Hollywood productions in the '60s and '70s. Many of Sergio Leone's westerns were filmed here, and the original locations built for the films Little Hollywood, Fort Bravo, and Western Leone can be seen.

Another great advantage of Almeria is that despite its growing popularity with tourists, the town is not too crowded. A stroll through the city will definitely impress you. Another advantage of this pearl of Andalusia is free tapas, or at least the snacks you get in the pubs when you order a beer. The city has a rich history and a mixture of different religions, mainly Islam and Catholicism, which is reflected in the architecture. However, the city was often the target of attacks during wars, both during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. This in turn left underground tunnels, some of which are now open to tourists. The city also has very interesting and varied nightlife. For those who like to dance, Almeria has a variety of clubs and bars with a variety of music styles to suit all tastes. The city also hosts various festivals, concerts and other cultural events. If you coordinate your trip with one of the festivals or concerts, you will leave with even more enthusiasm for this beautiful city.

But you should definitely visit the beaches as well. One part of the city is Zapillo beach, where there are also bars and restaurants so you will not go thirsty or hungry. You can also rent a kayak or take a scuba diving course at the beach. Just outside the town is the Cabo De Gata Natural Park, which also includes a unique coastline with beautiful beaches. There is hardly any vegetation in the park and this mix of desert look and sea is really something special. You can also explore the park on horseback, which is also a wonderful experience.

Basic info and car hire in Almeria

• Location: Andalusia, Spain
• Population: 196,851
• Official language: Spanish
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: Almería has a hot semi-arid climate (BSh) bordering on a hot desert climate
• Holidays in Almeria: Find more information about public holidays in Spain here. 
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions: Most roads in Almeria are in good condition.
• Car hire in Almeria: The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Almeria is Almeria downtown and Almeria Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Almeria!

 Driving in Almeria

To drive a car in Almeria, you must be 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, and show valid proof of insurance for the vehicle you are driving. In Almeria,, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit on the motorway is 120 km/h (75 mph). On normal roads the speed limit is 90 km/h (75 mph), on urban roads, it is 50 km/h (50 mph), and on all other through roads, there is a speed limit sign.

It's good to know that Spain has strict drink-driving laws, allowing only 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood - stricter than in the UK, where the limit is 0.8. Novice drivers are effectively banned from driving under the influence with a very low limit of 0.1 mg/l. Seatbelts front and rear are compulsory everywhere.

 One thing: for those not used to roundabouts: There are a lot of them in Spain! And the following rules apply: The driver who is already in the roundabout has the right of way unless there is a traffic light at the roundabout that regulates the flow of traffic. Before leaving the roundabout, you should put on your right turn signal to indicate that you are leaving the roundabout.

If you are caught speeding in Almeria, the Spanish police act very quickly, and lack of Spanish is not considered an excuse. The police do not mind that you are a tourist on holiday, and fines are often issued immediately unless you can prove that you are a permanent resident in Spain. If you receive a fine, make sure the officer gives you an official receipt and if you pay immediately, the fine is usually reduced by 20%.

The Spanish law on the use of indicators on motorways is strictly enforced. You risk a fine if you fail to signal before overtaking and after overtaking if you move back into the adjacent lane. Traffic coming from the left always has the right of way. If you see a solid white line in the middle of the road, do not cross it. Continue until you either see a dotted white line or look for a sign that says "Cambio de Sentido" where you can safely and legally turn around.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Spain is 18 years. However, most car rental companies require you to be at least 21 to rent a car and at least 25 years to avoid paying an additional young driver fee. 
• International Driving Permit:  Yes, if you are a non-EU licence holder.  
• Additional papers:   Identification(passport), a valid driving licence, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Spain)
• Additional requirements:  Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car), light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company), warning triangle (2 are required for all vehicles registered in Spain and 1 if coming from abroad), high visibility vest (recently made compulsory)- First aid kit (not actually compulsory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car:  If you are travelling with children under 12 or less than 135cm tall, you are required by law to have a child seat in your car. If you do not have your own, most car rental companies will provide one for a fee. However, it is advisable to request such a seat before collecting the vehicle, otherwise one may not always be available.
• Driving side of the road: Right
• Lights:  Check that all lights are working, clean, and correctly aimed.
• General speed limits:  The speed limit is 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on the motorway.
• Parking suggestions:  Parking is prohibited in Spain in all areas where the curbs are marked yellow. The parking spaces marked in blue usually have a parking meter and you must buy a parking ticket to park in these spaces. You will usually find a machine nearby where you can purchase your parking ticket. Most of these blue areas have a parking limit of 2 hours, but this is clearly displayed on the machine.

What to see in Almeria

La Alcazaba

La Alcazaba is a Moorish fortress and the second largest Muslim fortress in Andalusia after the Alhambra in Granada. It dominates the city mightily and consists of three fortifications, each built at a different time. The first was built to protect against enemies and, in a sense, to protect the inhabitants. The second was built a hundred years later and provided a residence for the ruler. The third and most recent, like the first, was for the defense of the city and the residence. Within the fortress of La Alcazaba, houses and a mosque were also built.

Castle of San Cristobal

These are the ruins of an 11th-century Muslim fortress located very close to La Alcazaba. An interesting mix of Islam and Christianity can be seen in the way it was constructed.

Cabo de Gata

East of Almería lies this natural park that encompasses an entire cape and the rocky volcanic landscapes within. With less than 200mm of rainfall per year, this is the only subtropical desert in Europe, but you'll be amazed at how much there is to see and do here: You could climb the highest peak, El Fraile, a long-extinct volcano that stands 500 meters high and offers magnificent views of the sea and coastal settlements. The park also has abandoned mining villages and secluded beaches that you can almost have to yourself. There are signs of natural life everywhere, especially on the salt marshes near the headland where thousands of large flamingos congregate.

Museo Refugio de la Guerra Civil

Nine meters underground are tunnels that were dug in 1936 and provided a refuge from German bombing raids. Today, these underground tunnels are housed in a kind of museum where you can learn more about the Spanish Civil War in addition to the German bombing of Almeria, as part of these underground tunnels were excavated during the Spanish Civil War and also served as a shelter or refuge for the inhabitants.

Mini Hollywood

In this attraction not far from the town of Tabernas, north of Almería, you can live out your Western fantasies. Mini Hollywood has a set that was built in 1965 for the spaghetti western For a Few Dollars More ( Sergio Leone) and was used a year later for the other classic, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. After filming was completed, the extras banded together to buy the set and keep it as an attraction. You'll see cowboy stunt shows and can-can dancers in the town square, and you can walk the promenade or cool off in the cells of the town jail.

Almeria Cathedral

This mighty-looking cathedral dates from the mid-16th century, replacing a predecessor that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1522. It was built at a time when the Mediterranean coast was under constant threat of pirate raids North African Barbary, which explains the high defensive walls and the lack of openings on the façade. The building is a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical elements added over the centuries, and is listed in Spain. One of the oldest elements inside is the choir with 75 seats carved from walnut over three years.

Beaches in Almeria

And of course, we can not forget the beaches. In Almeria and its surroundings, you have a really wide choice of beaches and each one is worth a visit. The length of the coast of Almeria is more than 30 km and includes more than a dozen beaches, for every taste.

La Fabriquilla is a popular sandy beach with a clear sea. It is just over 0.5 km long.

Almadraba Monteleva - a small sand and pebble beach with a beautiful view of the church and the bay with fishing boats.

Las Salinas - considered one of the best and most beautiful beaches in Almeria with white sand and clear sea. Its length is 5 km and its width is 100 km.

San Miguel is one of the most visited beaches in Cabo de Gata. Its length is more than 2 km.

Las Amoladeras - one of the urban sand and pebble beaches with a length of more than 3 km.

Nueva Almería - one of the most important and popular beaches in the city.

San Telmo is a beautiful sandy cove set between cliffs.

La Garrofa is the westernmost beach in a small cove between the cliffs.

Best restaurants in Almeria

Wakea Poke Burger

Restaurant Les 2 Freres

La Tagliatella CC Torrecardenas, Almeria

Restaurante Blanca Brisa Cabo de Gata

Restaurante Albar

Marhaba