Getting Around Almería
Almería is a compact, mostly flat city, and its dry, sunny climate makes it easy to spend a day on foot. The surrounding terrain is mountainous, but the city itself is not, and shaded streets make walking a pleasant way to cover the centre. For longer hops across town, a municipal bus network fills in the gaps, and the city is also the end point of a long rail branch line, a working port, and a small airport to the east.
On Foot
Walking is the simplest way to get around central Almería. The city is mostly flat despite the mountains around it, and the exceptionally dry climate means you are unlikely to be caught out by rain. Shaded streets make strolling between sights, the port, and the historic centre comfortable for much of the year.
- The Intermodal Station, which combines the train and long-distance bus stations, sits just south-east of the centre near El Cable — roughly a 10- to 15-minute walk from the downtown area.
- The Port of Almería lies just south of the downtown, within easy reach on foot.
Rail
Almería's rail connections are limited for a city of its size, because it sits at the end of a long branch line rather than on a through route. Services are operated by RENFE, with a Talgo service to Madrid Chamartín and a regional service from Sevilla via Granada and Córdoba. The Madrid route is slow but famously scenic, winding through desert landscape with barren mountains and remote arroyos before breaking through to the Meseta. The Almería–Granada stretch in particular has been recommended as slow travel.
There is no metro or tram network in Almería; the train station is the rail hub, and it doubles as the city's main bus terminal.
Buses and Public Transport
The city has a comprehensive municipal bus network operated by Surbus. Services are not especially frequent, but fares are affordable, and routes and timetables are published on the operator's website. This is the main option for reaching parts of the city beyond comfortable walking distance.
For travel further afield, the long-distance bus station is combined with the train station at the Intermodal Station, south-east of the centre. Buses arrive from Jaén, Málaga, Granada and a range of other cities throughout the day, with less frequent long-distance services running along the coast to Barcelona and up to Madrid. Routing through Granada is a quick and simple alternative for many journeys. Note that the bus station itself only handles long-distance buses — some municipal buses stop outside it, but they do not start or terminate there.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material does not describe Almería's taxi or ride-hailing services in detail, so it is best to treat these as a supplement to walking and the bus network rather than a documented system. Taxis are a conventional option in a Spanish provincial capital of this size, and are useful for luggage-heavy trips, late nights, or reaching the airport and port. For anything beyond that, check locally on arrival.
Arriving by Air
Almería Airport (LEI) sits to the east of the city. It handles domestic flights as well as connections elsewhere in Europe: Iberia offers regular domestic links, while low-cost carriers including EasyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair provide a mix of year-round and seasonal flights from cities across Europe, with international connections increasing in summer. Car hire is available at the airport.
- By bus: the airport is served by municipal bus route #30, which runs to the city centre and to the bus/train station. This is the straightforward public transport option into town.
- By car: rental desks are available at the airport if you prefer to drive.
Using Málaga Airport Instead
Málaga Airport (AGP) is a larger alternative, with flights to most major European airports and some non-European destinations. It is a considerable distance from Almería, so allow for a longer onward journey.
- A bus service connects Málaga Airport with Málaga city, stopping at the main bus station and train station.
- From Málaga, ALSA buses run to Almería, taking between three and five hours depending on intermediate stops. Tickets can be bought on the ALSA website.
- ALSA buses arrive at the Estación Intermodal in downtown Almería.
- A daily direct ALSA bus between Málaga Airport and Almería city existed before the COVID-19 pandemic, but was not available as of March 2022 — check current schedules before relying on it.
Arriving by Sea
The Port of Almería, south of the downtown, has ferries to Melilla (a Spanish city on the North African coast), Nador in Morocco, and Ghazaouet and Oran in Algeria. All ferries carry cars as well as passengers, and a fast ferry to Melilla offers a significant time saving. Sightseeing catamaran cruises also depart from the port, offering coastal excursions around the Bay of Almería and to nearby destinations such as Roquetas de Mar, Almerimar and Cabo de Gata.
Practical Summary
- Best for the centre: walking — flat, dry, and shaded.
- Best for cross-city trips: Surbus municipal buses; affordable but not especially frequent.
- For the airport: municipal bus route #30 to the city centre and the bus/train station.
- For long-distance travel: the Intermodal Station combines rail and long-distance bus services south-east of the centre.
- For North Africa: ferries from the Port of Almería.