Roquetas de Mar Holidays

Roquetas de Mar, on the Costa de Almeria, in Andalusia, has always been popular with Spanish holidaymakers – and now Brits are discovering it, too. The fishing town comes with huge beaches and a palm-fringed promenade lined with restaurants and fantastic tapas bars. Plus, if you want a taste of days gone by, head to the old town, where you'll find a fishing port and a castle.

A promenade with restaurants and cafés stretches for around 13 kilometres, linking Roquetas’ long string of beaches. To the east of town there’s the sandy Urbanización and Aguadulce beaches. Meanwhile, watersports fans make the most of breezy Playa de las Salinas, about 10 minutes’ drive away, and naturists head for isolated Playa de Cerrillos.

Roquetas is well-placed for nature reserves. You’ve got Punta Entinas Sabinar Natural Park, just five kilometres out of town, where rock roses, wild thyme and juniper cover the dunes, and herons, flamingos and avocets nest in the lakes and protected wetlands. And there’s more birdwatching, as well as mountain hikes, at Cabo de Gata Natural Park, an hour or so’s drive away.

It’s only about half an hour’s drive to Almeria, the capital of Almeria province. Overlooking the city is the Moorish fort of Alcazaba, which has towers, ruins and dungeons to explore. Another must-see is the cathedral, with its Gothic ceiling and marble trimmings. Between sightseeing, the streets off La Rambla provide plenty of cafés.