Adra

Poniente Beach

Adra is a town of 25,000 people (2018) in Almeria, Andalucía, in southern Spain. It has some nice beaches, and a museum.

Understand

• Tourist office, 125, Natalio Rivas Street, ☏ +34 950 56 08 26. Oct-Apr: daily 10:00-14:00, Tu-Sa 16:00-19:00; May-Sep: daily 10:00-14:00, Tu-Sa 17:30-20:30. (updated Oct 2020)

History

Abdera was founded by the Phoenicians as a trading colony. It later grew to prominence under the Roman Empire. Adra was the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain. In January 1492 it was here that the forces of Boabdil were defeated ending the power of the Moors in Spain.

Get in

Adra is easily accessible on the A-7 by road. Buses come from Almeria, Malaga, Granada, and most other large towns in Andalucía.

The nearest train station is in Almeria and has connections to Madrid, Barcelona, and the rest of Spain.

The nearest large international airport is in Malaga, but there is a smaller airport that has limited flights in Almeria city.

See

Museo de Adra.

• 1 Museum of Adra (Museo de Adra), Plaza San Sebastián, 3. M-F 09:00-14:00, Sa 10:00-14:00. An old manor house with arcaded courtyard that houses a tourist information point, temporary exhibitions, Spanish art, some costumbrist and orientalist themed paintings by the academic Antonio Bedmar, graphic work of Pablo Picasso, Rafael Alberti, Antonio Saura and Federico Castellón. It also shows works by the sculptor Pedro Gilabert. The Living History of the Lagoons exhibition examines their history, plants, animals and people. There is also an exhibition on the Phoenician and Roman origins of the region. (updated Oct 2020)

Do

• Beaches: Adra has 3 beaches. Poniente lies to the west of the harbour, and is the largest of the three. San Nicolas and Censo are east of the harbour and extend to the town limit. There is a nice walking/biking path along all three beaches.
• The Fair: Adra's fair is considered to be the second most important in the province of Almería. September 5-10. The patron saint is la Virgen del Mar, who is taken out in a procession on September 8, while San Nicolás de Tolentino is celebrated on the 10th with a procession through el Barrio, the old town.
• April 25 is the day of San Marcos and is important to the farmers of Adra. It is an official festival of tourist interest in Andalucía.
• July 16 is the day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patron saint of fishermen. A procession takes place by boat.

Buy

Bazaars take place two Saturdays a month in a carpark which is beside the Sports Centre and IES Abdera School.

Eat

Tapas are the name of the game in Adra. With about a dozen tapas bars, one is bound to find something they like. Seafood is the speciality and foods like octopus and mussels are not to be missed. As with the rest of Almeria and Granada the tapas are always free.

Restaurants are almost non-existent in Adra. The couple that are available tend to be overpriced.

Drink

Most tapas bars are found on Paseo de los Tristes in the centre of town. There are a couple of tapas bars dispersed through the rest of the town, although most are found relatively near or on the beachfront.

Sleep

City walls

• Barcelo Mirador de Adra, C/Fabricas. The only hotel in Adra. It is a four-star beachfront resort that caters to mostly package tourist groups. Rooms are very modern and all have a balcony facing the beach. Breakfast is included in room rates. Despite being the only option, this is a great hotel to stay at. €60. 

Go next

Adra is less than one hour from the provincial capital of Almeria.