14 essentials: what to see and do in Salobreña (Granada)

We always try to look for special places to see throughout the world, places that stand out for something that surprises us.

and the town of Salobreña, located in the middle Costa Tropicalsouth of Andalusia, more than meets those characteristics.

Grenada It is mainly known for the Alhambra, One most important monuments of Spain and summer residence of the nasrid kings for hundreds of years.

A magical place but with a continental climate that can be complicated being very close to Sierra Nevada, where the highest peaks of the Iberian Peninsula and snowfalls are frequent.

And since the kings usually like to live well, they had to look for another area where they could spend a few seasons with a more pleasant climate.

They didn't have to go far, because just 60 kilometers away they found Salobreña, an authentic oasis with a tropical climate and unique characteristics.

It is very curious how in this area there can be such a brutal difference in climate, where today you can ski in the morning in Sierra Nevada and then drive just 50 kilometers to spend the afternoon on the beach eating fried fish.

Salobreña, beautiful town on the Tropical Coast of Granada

Salobreña It is a population of province of Granada located in what is known as Costa Tropical.

It is an ideal municipality to visit at any time of the year, especially outside of the high season, as the weather is good all year round.

And not many people understand what it means to be in the Costa Tropical.

As strange as it may seem, they are grown here tropical fruits of enormous quality as Avocados, mangoes, custard apples o papayas.

To have a tropical climate it is necessary to have a warm temperature all year round and an abundance of water.

And that Salobreña It has it thanks to the whims of nature.

Being at the feet of Sierra Nevada, Salobreña It is protected from the arrival of the cold storm fronts that hit the city of Grenada.

This makes Salobreña maintain a warmer climate than what would correspond to its latitude, and hardly have rainy days.

It is one of the points of Spain with more days of sunshine a year.

But just because it doesn't rain in this area doesn't mean it lacks water, since the rainfall it receives Sierra Nevada in the form of snow, they form rivers that end up watering the entire surroundings of Salobreña.

The magnitude of the arrival of water from the mountains is such that over thousands of years a delta has formed thanks to the sediment deposits that come from the mountains.

This makes the land on which it sits Salobreña It is extremely fertile, perfect for growing tropical fruits.

What to see and do in Salobreña in 1 day

Honestly, we believe that visiting Salobreña is well worth spending more than a day.

Not because it is a very large town and you don't have time, but because it is one of those places where you feel comfortable and want to enjoy it with much more peace of mind.

But if you only have one day, there are some places that are essential to see in Salobreña.

Old town of Salobreña

El old town It is clearly one of the places you should visit in Salobrena because there are many interesting places.

In this typical Andalusian town with white streets decorated with flowers, where it is a pleasure to get lost intentionally to see every corner of the old town.

Viewpoints in Salobrena

Its steep streets gain altitude as you walk through it, which makes you have viewpoints on every step.

In fact, one of the things you can do in Salobreña is to visit all the viewpoints, because each one gives you a different perspective of the environment.

The best known is the lookout of Enrique Morente, which is located at the top of the cliff and with views towards the beach where the sun falls, an ideal place to watch the sunset.

Church of the Rosary in Salobrena

Halfway up to the castle you can visit several places such as the vault wave Church of Our Lady of the Rosary from the 16th century, with its cover Moorish style with inspiration gothic and a bell tower, which dominates the city.

Salobrena History Museum

La Town Hall Square It is another charming place where the Salobrena History Museum (it is currently closed).

And in the surroundings of Salobreña, remains of civilizations have been found for more than 5.000 years thanks to the fertile lands and the peaceful climate that have made it a highly sought-after area since prehistory.

Salobreña Castle, history and how to visit it

At the top of the old town is the place that everyone wants to see in Salobreña, his castle.

The first time it is talked about Salobreña castle It was 1000 years ago in the Arab era, in the XNUMXth century.

It is a castle that has undergone many modifications and expansions; In fact, the outer part of the walls date back to the 16th century.

Between the 13th and 15th centuries it was palatial residence of the Nasrids, since it allowed them to spend seasons with a more pleasant climate than that of the Alhambra of Granada without moving too far from the center of power of the kingdom.

There are also several legends about his time in this castle, including one including the ghost of a daughter of one of the kings.

Inside, and giving evidence of the passage of the Nasrids through this area, there are complete Arab baths.

In 1489, and with the fall of the Muslims at the hands of the Christians, this palatial residence passed into Castilian hands, who turned it into a fortress, in addition to being a prison in some periods of time.

It is very worth it take a guided tour of the Salobreña castle to find out all the history that the castle has, since passing through various hands and cultures it is a very interesting place.

In addition, it is a place with impressive views as it is on top of the cliffs.

Don't forget to visit the flower walk, which is a tour of the outer esplanade of the fortress, especially when it lights up at sunset.

How to visit and what to see in an ecological farm in Salobreña

La Granada's Tropical Coast Today it is mainly a producer of tropical fruits.

One of the largest gardens in Europe for this type of food, since there are no areas with this climate on the continent, it is not easy for these foods to grow, so they have to be brought from other continents.

The list of tropical fruits grown in Salobreña is very large; are produced Avocados, papayas, mangoes and even custard apples, being the first world producer of this fruit originating from Peru.

But also, this area is number one in production of cherry tomatoes; cucumbers are also produced, and lately they are specializing in baby vegetables, highly appreciated for haute cuisine.

But the most striking thing is that years ago, these tropical fruits were not grown in Spain and the most important crops in the area were sugar cane.

That is why the visit that catches our attention the most and one of the ones we have enjoyed the most in Salobreña is to a farm where all these foods are grown.

There are some farms that can be visited, but the best known for its variety and quality is the Matagallares Ecological Farm.

During the visit you tour a part of the farm where they have mixed all kinds of tropical fruits, which favors the final quality of the fruit, and while they tell you various curiosities about these crops.

And to finish the visit, a fruit tasting with impressive views from the orchard.

What and what are the beaches of Salobreña like?

The Salobrena beaches They are truly spectacular, especially due to their size, and there are several areas with different beaches that each have their own characteristics.

La guard beach It is one of the most visited, especially due to its proximity to the old town of Salobreña.

It is a stone beach that is very well protected on windy days.

It also gives way to the Salobreña coves area, which can be visited if you take an excursion in kayak o paddle surf.

At one end is the Rock of Salobreña, which at 30 meters high, is one of the most iconic points of the town and separates La Guardia beach from La Charca or Salomar beach

This is a huge beach full of beach bars and a charming pedestrian promenade full of palm trees.

And at the end of this beach is the most authentic beach in Salobreña, Punta del Río Beach.

This beach is absolutely virgin since it is the one that overlooks the most humid area of ​​the delta, which means that no large buildings have been built in the surroundings.

It is also a stone beach, but the extension and the feeling of being a virgin beach gives it a special charm.

Furthermore, at the beginning of the beach there is the 18 knots surf club, a zone food truck, with live music next to the surf school, all in a very sustainable environment.

What to see and do in Salobreña in 2 or 3 days

It tienes several days to visit Salobrena, the tourist options are clearly opened, since it gives rise to getting to know the town's surroundings better.

Mediterranean Path through the cliffs of Salobreña

La Mediterranean Path It is a route along the sea that runs along the cliffs of the coast.

Departs from Playa de la Guardia adjacent to La Caleta neighborhood, Which is the fishing district, and takes you to the end of the town.

In addition you can also see the old sugar factory.

Of course, this tour cannot be done if the sea is not calm, because it can be dangerous due to the waves that break on the cliffs.

Archaeological Sites in Salobreña

It is no wonder that oldest archaeological sites in Granada are in this area and that is why they have created a archaeological route.

It is a tour in which you can understand the nature that is formed at the foot of the Sierra Nevada.

El Guadalfeo river that is born at the top of the mountain, sculpts the rock until creating small gorges which when opened give way to the town of Salobreña.

And in that environment the characteristic Mediterranean mountain is created, which in this area has a great African influence.

The wind brings the seeds and spores which, in addition to the carob trees, Cherry trees, mastic y rockrose, you can see the cambrom endemic to the area, so characteristic of the African continent.

Furthermore, it is an area of caves with stalactites and stalactites.

Sugar cane and rum in Salobreña

Years ago, Salobreña It was a place famous for its cultivation of sugar cane.

It was an ideal place due to the climate, fertile lands and its proximity to the sea, which made it possible to bring coal to manufacture it and, of course, trade.

The area from the airport Malaga but also Motril It was full of sugar cane plantations with industrial machinery, although it had been cultivated since the year 1000.

The clearest remains of this sugar past are found next to the aforementioned fishing neighborhood of La Caleta, with the old factory from 1860.

And with this past, it is not strange that it occurs here local rum y sugar cane liquor, with brands like Rum Mondero.

Where to Eat in Salobreña: restaurants

The truth is that all Salobrena restaurants What we have tried we have loved it.

Each one in their own style, but what is evident is that being in a place with the sea and quality crops, you are guaranteed to eat well.

Bar Manolo and La Bahía, restaurants next to the beach

If you're looking for eat fried fish on the beach by the sea, these two restaurants are an excellent option and where we would repeat without hesitation.

El Bar Manolo It is the classic and authentic restaurant by the sea, which we love.

A very fresh top quality product at a very good price, eating with the smell of saltpeter, especially when the sea is rough.

Y The Bay It is the evolution of the traditional bar and restaurant.

Almost with the sand under your feet, you can eat classic local products such as sardine skewers, and others cooked in a more modern way, such as mango salad.

Two different styles based on the same concept, but with an excellent final result guaranteed.

Hotel Miba in Salobrena

Look what's there viewpoints in Salobrena, but the viewpoint of this restaurant Hotel Miba For us it is the best in the entire municipality.

Un Boutique hotel with few rooms, very well maintained, with a pool and bar on the roof, with a high quality restaurant.

More modern, sophisticated and elaborate dishes with a higher price, but with unbeatable views.

The place for a special lunch or dinner.

 

La Botica Restaurant in the old town of Salobrena

If you are for him old town and you have to eat, the place is undoubtedly the La Botica Restaurant.

It has several areas, one that overlooks the town hall square, one inside and another on the terrace with views from the top of Salobreña.

One of those restaurants where you eat very well.

Map: how to get to Salobreña in Granada

Salobreña is 50 minutes south of the city of Granada y one hour east of Malaga, In Andalucia.