Granada’s coast isn’t just beaches: it’s white villages perched over the sea, old fishing ports, Roman ruins, sugar cane and even rum. The Costa Tropical is worth a whole trip hopping from town to town, and as a Granada local I’d say it earns its place just as much as the sand. Here’s which coastal towns to see and what each one has, beyond heading down to the beach.
Almuñécar: the liveliest town
It’s the capital of the Costa Tropical and the town with the most buzz. It has a white old town, the Castillo de San Miguel crowning it, and the Parque del Majuelo, with Roman remains of the fish-salting works (Almuñécar was the Phoenician and Roman Sexi). Climb up to the Peñón del Santo for the sea view, and if you’re with kids, the Loro Sexi bird park is a winner. For a first time on the coast, I’d start here.
La Herradura: the quiet bay
Right next to Almuñécar, La Herradura is a crescent-shaped bay between two headlands, calmer and with clear water. It’s one of the best diving spots in Andalusia, and beside it you’ve got the Marina del Este (a little marina with pretty coves) and the Cerro Gordo cliffs, with jaw-dropping viewpoints over the sea.
Salobreña: the white village with the castle
For me, the prettiest town on the coast. Salobreña is the postcard: a jumble of white houses climbing a hill, crowned by an Arab castle, ringed by sugar-cane fields with the sea in front. Get lost in its steep little streets, climb up to the castle for the views and step out onto the Paseo de las Flores. It still has the real-village charm that other coastal spots have lost.
Quieter towns: Castell de Ferro and Calahonda
Heading east, the pace drops. Castell de Ferro is a lifelong fishing village, with its watchtower and a more authentic feel. And Calahonda, tiny, with pebble coves and good fish. If you’re escaping the summer crowds, this is your area.
Motril: sugar, rum and the port
Motril is the coast’s big town, more working than postcard, but it has a curious story: that of the sugar cane grown here for centuries. From that tradition comes Motril rum (the Ron Montero distillery can be visited) and the Preindustrial Sugar Museum. A good place to understand where the name “Costa Tropical” comes from.
How to tour the towns
- By car: along the A-44 from Granada, about 60-70 km (50 minutes to an hour). The car is ideal for hopping from town to town at your own pace.
- When to go: the climate is mild all year. For swimming, June to October; for the towns without the crowds, spring and autumn.
- A Granada classic: combining coast and mountains on the same day (the sierra is a stone’s throw away).
The best beaches and coves of each town are in the guide to Granada’s beaches. And to extend the trip inland, you’ve got the Alpujarra and, of course, Sierra Nevada. To fit it all in, see what to see in Granada.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the prettiest coastal town in Granada?
Salobreña usually takes the prize: a white village crowned by an Arab castle, ringed by sugar cane with the sea in front. Almuñécar, livelier and with an old town, is the other must.
Which towns to see on the Costa Tropical?
Almuñécar and La Herradura (the liveliest), Salobreña (the white village with the castle), and Castell de Ferro and Calahonda for something quieter. Motril, the big town, for the sugar and rum history.
How long does it take from Granada to the coast?
Between 50 minutes and an hour by car on the A-44. One of Granada’s great advantages: you’ve got the sea and the mountains almost the same distance away.
Why is it called the Costa Tropical?
Because of its mild year-round microclimate, which lets tropical fruit like mango, avocado and custard apple grow. Hence the name, and its sugar-cane tradition too.
Planning your trip to the sea? You’ve got the beaches in detail in Granada’s beaches, and more ideas in the guide to things to do in Granada.