Almería is a compact Mediterranean city. The Alcazaba stands above the old streets, and El Zapillo beach is east of the port. Pick the historic center or the seafront to match your trip. Retamar is a separate resort district farther out toward Cabo de Gata.
The Alcazaba rises over the Almedina and the old town. Below it, you can walk between the fortified cathedral, Plaza Vieja and the tapas streets. Some lanes are narrow and climb toward the fortress, so check the route if you arrive with luggage.
Puerta de Purchena and the Rambla Federico García Lorca form a broad axis east of the old lanes. The Cable Inglés ore dock is by the port, near the Estación Intermodal for buses and trains. A room around the Rambla is handy for onward travel. For the beach, El Zapillo is the better base.
El Zapillo and Playa de San Miguel form Almería’s city beach. The promenade carries on toward Nueva Almería, and the sand gets busier on summer evenings. Retamar and El Toyo are farther east, with resort grounds closer to the airport and the Cabo de Gata side of the coast.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is a separate trip from the city, with its own beaches and volcanic landscape. It is not an extension of El Zapillo. Check the route before you book a city hotel for park days. The coves are scattered, and a car makes them easier to reach.