Mojácar is a beautiful destination sitting in the southeast of the Province of Almería, in southern Spain.

The town is divided into two distinct areas, the Mojácar “playa”, or beach, and the “pueblo”, meaning village.

Mojácar was once a quiet Moorish settlement at the foot of the Sierra Cabrera mountain range, reflected in its quaint streets and traditional architecture, dating back to the 15^th century.

In the 1960s, after a short period of decline, the mayor of Mojácar actively began promoting incentives for restoration and development to bring tourists to the area.

Then, in the early 2010s, the town suddenly exploded from a secret getaway to a popular tourist destination, as investors from across Europe started to buy second properties in Mojácar.

This was only fuelled by the British lifestyle television series, A Place in the Sun, on Channel 4, first featuring it as a “charming, whitewashed town” in 2016.

In 2024, between January and September, Mojácar registered nearly 800,000 overnight stays, according to their official tourism website: Turismo Mojácar.

 These figures are provided by official surveys from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (National Institute of Statistics), not including private properties rented to tourists, lodgings in the town’s surrounding countryside, or campsites.

The playa and pueblo attract visitors for their beautiful scenery, but with local restauranteurs and bar owners trying to appeal to tourists across Europe, Mojácar’s pull has only grown stronger.

Judith Murphy, a British holidaymaker and property-owner in Mojácar since 2006, said: “It has built up from a little, tiny village on a hill to be a community in the pueblo and on the beach”.

“It is a beautiful place.”

Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your visit.

How do I get to Mojácar?

The nearest major airports to Mojácar are located in Almería city, Murcia, or Alicante, with the former being the closest.

Here, many car rental companies operate, and the coastal town is just a short drive away.

If hiring a car is not an option, the ALSA bus company runs routes which connect the main provinces of Spain with Mojácar.

There is also a designated bus service from Almería airport into Almería city run by SURBUS.

Line 30 connects Almería airport directly to the main bus station in the city centre, and a single ticket costs €1.50 for the 35-minute journey.

ALSA bus tickets from Almería to Mojácar usually range from €6-€12 one-way.

What is the food and drink scene like?

The main speciality in Mojácar is seafood.

For some of the freshest seafood this side of the Mediterranean, Levante Restaurant in Mojácar playa is a small beach bar and restaurant sitting right on the seafront.

Rated 4.2 stars out of 5 on TripAdvisor, with an enclosed restaurant space, an upstairs terrace bar and a patio dining area, the restaurant’s extensive menu features fresh squid, octopus and swordfish.

The restaurant serves lunchtime paella made-to-order, so there is something for everyone.

Further down the seafront is Tito’s Beach Bar, which serves signature cocktails, including their famous mojitos.

You can order drinks and small plates of tapas down to the beachfront, as the bar has several sun-loungers on the sand to rent to customers.

The bar is a hit with locals and visitors, and Tito’s recently opened an entertainment space just next-door in 2024.

Here, the bar hosts live music from bands, DJs and even flamenco shows, to name a few performances.

For supplies, don’t miss the Mojácar weekly market, which happens in the pueblo every Wednesday morning.

It is located in Plaza del Rey Alábez, in the lower part of the town, and buses are available to get into the pueblo.

Vendors there sell fresh produce, meat and fish products, as well as sweet treats like churros and chocolates.

Where can I stay?

Families favour the Best Indalo Hotel, a four-star resort right in the heart of Mojácar playa.

The hotel is in a prime location, across the road from the seafront, with pool facilities, tennis courts and kids’ clubs, complete with nightly flamenco or live music performances.

The Indalo is a prehistoric symbol derived from cave paintings found in Mojácar, depicting a stick figure holding an arch.

The ‘Indalo Man’ is considered a symbol of protection, or good luck, and many hotels, shops or restaurants in the Mojácar area will have Indalo in their name.

Visitors should be wary of this when confirming their different bookings and reservations!

For something quieter, the Casa Justa Hostel offers rustic charm and mountain views, which is a peaceful contrast to the lively playa nearby.

Accommodation:

https://www.besthotels.es/en/destinations-and-hotels/best-indalo.html

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What should I check out?

Mojácar isn’t just for holidaymakers and sunseekers.

Garrucha, one of Almería’s larger cities, is just a 20-minute drive up the seafront.

At the port, visitors can see the catch come in and be unloaded from the ships, as well as purchase fresh fish from the market there.

About an hour’s drive inland takes you to filming locations for Hollywood Westerns, in the Tabernas Desert, the only desert in Europe.

The area has a number of film set locations which should not be missed, including Fort Bravo and Western Leone, a set used for Sergio Leone’s 1968 movie, Once Upon a Time in the West.

The sets are located quite close to one another and are easily accessible by car.

Customers can also board the ALSA bus from Mojácar to Tabernas, but there are not any public transport services that run further into the desert where the sets are.

Click here for the driving route and directions to the Fort Bravo set:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PaZvDMEd6so3LRkQ6

Come and discover the magic of Mojácar for yourself!