Salobreña: what to see in a day, routes, beaches and castle

If you're wondering what to see in Salobreña, the essentials are concentrated in the old town, its viewpoints and the Arab Castle.

Mirador Enrique Morente, with views of the sea and Sierra Nevada, especially at sunset.

Mirador del Postigo.

Brocal quarter, full of charm and Morisco heritage.

Arab Castle of Salobreña, with walls, towers, cisterns and archaeological remains.

Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, 16th century, Mudejar style with a coffered ceiling, built on the site of a former mosque.

Salobreña Historical Museum (Interpretation Centre), near the Castle, with scale models, archaeological pieces and audiovisual material.

A VILLAGE WITH OVER 6,000 YEARS OF HISTORY

Salobreña's history stretches back more than 6,000 years. There is evidence of settlers from materials found in the Cueva del Capitán near Lobres and on the Salobreña rock, dated to the Neolithic period. At that time the Peñón was an island, and sediment carried by the Guadalfeo river gradually joined that island to the bay, forming fertile land.

Signs of human activity appear in the Copper and Bronze Ages, and around the 8th century BC a period of prosperity arrives with the Phoenicians. Later, Punic or Carthaginian trade gave Salobreña the name Selambina, which was kept into the Roman period, when its strategic position facing the sea favoured activities such as farming, fishing, livestock and pottery.

During the Muslim period there are references to the castle, and by the Nasrid era Salobreña had become a major medina, with notable agriculture and sugar cane farming as one of its historical hallmarks. After the fall of Baza and Almería, the coast came under Christian rule, and the final expulsion of the remaining Muslims took place in 1568 during the revolt of the Granada Moriscos.

A route with some steep climbs through the narrow, whitewashed streets of the old town, taking in viewpoints and picturesque corners. One of my favourites is the Mirador Enrique Morente, with views of the Mediterranean Sea and Sierra Nevada. At the latter, the sunset is truly spectacular. Other essential stops on this route are the Mirador del Postigo, the Church of the Rosario, the Arab Castle and the Brocal quarter, where you can see plenty of charm and Morisco heritage.

A walk among reed beds, tropical fruit groves and the course of the Guadalfeo river, with views of the rock and the village. It's fascinating to see the plantations of custard apples, avocados and mangoes. My top recommendation is to do it by bike, on foot, or at sunset.

The duration is flexible, since everyone can walk as much as they fancy. The difficulty is very easy because it's completely flat. Here you can enjoy the sea with a coastal walk along the beaches of La Guardia, El Peñón and La Charca.

A route along a rural track heading towards the Monte de los Almendros, with views towards the coast, the mountains and the castle.

A route around bars and restaurants where you can try local Costa Tropical specialities such as fresh fish, migas and espetos, as well as visiting a few tropical fruit cooperatives.

ARAB CASTLE OF SALOBREÑA

The village's most iconic monument. It served as both fortress and prison, and on the visit you can see walls, towers, cisterns and archaeological remains.

Hours: 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 17:30, though this may vary in winter.

Price: €4, and €2 for people with disabilities, over-65s, young person's card holders and groups of more than 12 people.

CHURCH OF NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO

A 16th-century church in Mudejar style with an Arab-influenced tower. It was built on the site of a former mosque and retains a magnificent Mudejar coffered ceiling — a very worthwhile visit for understanding the transition from Muslim to Christian rule.

Hours: Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:00 to 11:00.

Free entry.

SALOBREÑA HISTORICAL MUSEUM (INTERPRETATION CENTRE)

Located near the Castle. It's very small but very interesting, as it explains Salobreña's historical evolution from prehistory to the present day, with scale models, archaeological pieces, photographs and audiovisuals.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 21:00.

Price: €1.50.

The coastal and beach route has a flexible duration, since everyone can walk as much as they fancy. The difficulty is very easy because it's completely flat. Here you can enjoy the sea with a coastal walk along the beaches of La Guardia, El Peñón and La Charca.

The food of Granada's Costa Tropical is highly varied and unique in the country. You can enjoy fresh fish and seafood, and the climate allows for growing exotic fruit and vegetables such as avocado, mango, guava and passion fruit. The historic cultivation of sugar cane also stands out, along with the liqueurs it has produced, such as Montero rum. Another must-try is the well-known, refreshing leche rizada.

If you follow the food and local produce route, the idea is to dedicate it to midday, with a tour of bars and restaurants to try things like fresh fish, migas and espetos, as well as a few tropical fruit cooperatives.

Throughout the year, Granada's Costa Tropical has a calendar of celebrations that shapes the character of these villages. Highlights include each town's patron saint festivities, Holy Week, and the seafaring festival of the Virgen del Carmen.

On the old town and Castle route there are some steep climbs, so it's worth taking it slowly through the narrow, whitewashed streets and stopping at the viewpoints.

If you do the Guadalfeo river and fertile plains route, it's an easy route, and the clear recommendation is to do it by bike, on foot, or at sunset. Among reed beds and tropical fruit groves, the walk gains a lot once the sun starts to go down and the views of the rock and the village open up further.

For the coastal and beach stretch, the advantage is that it's completely flat and the duration is flexible, so you can adjust it to however you feel like walking along La Guardia, El Peñón and La Charca.

Salobreña is 65 km from the city of Granada, and the drive usually takes 40 to 50 minutes along the A-44 motorway.

The most direct option is to combine the old town and the Castle, since that's where you'll find the narrow whitewashed streets, the viewpoints and the village's most iconic monument. Stops that fit well on this route include the Mirador Enrique Morente, the Mirador del Postigo, the Church of the Rosario, the Arab Castle and the Brocal quarter.

There are five clear routes depending on your time: old town and Castle, the Guadalfeo river and fertile plains, coastline and beaches, Monte de los Almendros, and the food and local produce route.

The Guadalfeo river and fertile plains route. It's an easy walk among reed beds, tropical fruit groves and the riverbed, and it's fascinating to see the plantations of custard apples, avocados and mangoes.

The coastal and beach route is completely flat and of flexible duration, taking in La Guardia, El Peñón and La Charca.

The Arab Castle of Salobreña is open from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 17:30, though this may vary in winter. Entry costs €4, and €2 for people with disabilities, over-65s, young person's card holders and groups of more than 12 people.

The Church of the Rosario is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 to 11:00 and has no entry fee.

The Salobreña Historical Museum is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 and in the afternoon from 17:30 to 21:00. Entry costs €1.50.