Roquetas de Mar is a municipality of Almería province, in the autonomous community of Andalucía, Spain. The municipality with the second highest population in the province behind the capital Almeria, the 14th in Andalucía and the 69th in Spain.
It’s a popular part of the Costa de Almería of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.
Tourism and main attractions
- Castillo de Las Roquetas or Santa Ana. Rebuilt in 2001. It now serves as a museum and exhibition halls as well as different cultural events.
- Cerrillos watchtower. Nasrid era.
- Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Temple from the 18th century that preserves a major altarpiece of Jesús de Perceval.
- Roquetas de Mar lighthouse.
- Archaeological site of La Ribera de la Algaida (Turaniana). Declared B.I.C. in 1991.
- Hermitage of the Holy Cross. Chapel from the early twentieth century located on Avda. De Juan Bonachera.
- Open-air chapel Nuestra Señora de los Vientos (1972) in a minimalist style in the Urbanization of Roquetas.
Activities
The Costa de Almería Aquarium offers you the fantastic chance to swim among sharks and get to know these wonderful animals at close quarters.
Water Mariopark is a family-friendly aquatic attraction featuring a wave pool, steep slides & children’s areas.
Beaches
This city has 16 kilometers of coastline, mostly made up of fine sand beaches and clean waters, among which the following stand out:
Aguadulce Beach
Located in the district of the same name, it is approximately two kilometers long, awarded with the blue flag in 2016 is a beach that is fully committed to accessibility.
La Ventilla Beach
A beach of just over a kilometer in length. Located mainly in an urban area (approximately 650 meters). The rest of the beach is covered by El Palmeral de la Ventilla.
Los Bajos Beach
Extensive beach of about 2 kilometers in length. It is ideal for surfers, as the wind sometimes blows strongly. It is located next to the Palmeral de la Ventilla.
Las Salinas Beach
Located in the vicinity of the old San Rafael salt flats. It is usually a windy beach ideal for practicing all kinds of water sports.
La Romanilla Beach
Fully urban beach with a high degree of occupancy. It ends in the marina of Roquetas de Mar.
La Bajadilla Beach
Close to the lighthouse and the fishing port. Its promenade is very popular, especially at sunset.
Roquetas de Mar Urbanization Beach
Located in the area colloquially known as “la urba”. It is a tourist area. It is one of the most equipped beaches and has a multitude of leisure services.
Cerrillos Beach
If you are looking to merge with nature, it is your beach. It is located in the natural park of Punta Entinas Sabinar.
Restaurants
There is one Michelin list restaurants in the city: Alejandro, Avenida Antonio Machado 32, 40 – 85 EUR • Contemporary cuisine (One star).
How to get to?
- From Almería 23 min (21.4 km) via A-7
- From Seville 3 hr 58 min (393 km) via A-92
- From Madrid 5 hr 38 min (576 km) via A-4 and A-44
Main information
Area: 60 km² (municipality)
Coordinates: 36°46′53″N 2°36′53″W
Population: 98 433 (municipality)
Languages: Spanish
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
See here best sea and ocean resorts of France and Spain
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also France travel guide
See also Andorra travel guide
