Imagine a whitewashed village clinging to the edge of a vast sandstone gorge, with steaming natural hot springs bubbling up below. Alhama de Granada (population around 6,000) sits in the far west of Granada province, right inside the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park and only 50–60 minutes’ drive from the Costa del Sol. It’s the perfect escape for anyone who fancies swapping sun-loungers for proper Andalucían mountain scenery.
The Arabic name al-hamma simply means “the hot bath”, and that’s exactly what you get: free, year-round thermal pools, a ruined Moorish castle, narrow cobbled lanes and some of southern Spain’s finest walking country on the doorstep.
The Romans were the first to exploit the springs and built baths and a road here. The Moors turned it into a fortified frontier town of the Nasrid kingdom. In 1482 the Catholic Monarchs captured Alhama in a daring night assault – an event immortalised in the famous Spanish romance “¡Ay de mi Alhama!” – and it proved a decisive blow in the final conquest of Granada.
The village is compact and easily explored on foot. Don’t miss:
About 2 km from the village centre, several springs gush out of the rock at 40–47 °C. There are three public pools you can simply walk into (bring a towel and flip-flops). For more comfort, the private Balneario de Alhama offers mud, chocolate or seaweed treatments, hydromassage tubs and indoor pools.
Alhama is one of the finest bases for hiking in western Granada province.
Hearty mountain cooking: lots of pork, chickpeas and lentils grown locally.
The most scenic route from the Costa del Sol is A-7 towards Vélez-Málaga, then the winding but beautiful A-402 through the Sierra de Tejeda – around 1 hour 10 minutes from Málaga Airport.
Pick up at Málaga Airport and head straight into the hills – the only practical way to reach trailheads, hot springs and nearby villages.
Book Car Hire Málaga Airport
Door-to-door from the airport to your accommodation – ideal if you’re travelling with lots of luggage or fancy jumping straight into the hot springs on arrival.
Book Transfer*No credit-card details required to book, no prepayment needed. Book early for the best rates and availability.
ALSA buses run via Vélez-Málaga and Loja (3–4 hours from Málaga). Once in the village everything is walkable; local taxis cover the 2 km to the springs.
Town Hall: Carrera Francisco de Toledo 10, 18120 Alhama de Granada
Telephone: +34 958 350 161
Official website: www.alhama.org
Early morning or weekdays. Weekends and public holidays can get busy – arrive by 9 am in summer.
Yes – there’s an official aire with services, limited to 48 h. It closes during the September feria.
Use the old Los Caramelos sugar-factory site or El Vadillo – get there early.
Absolutely. The Ruta de los Tajos is pushchair-friendly, the pools are shallow, and the village is small and safe.
Credit cards accepted
