Things to do in Antequera
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Antequera
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best weather, Torcal clear, everything on full hours. Spring adds the flamingo colony at its fullest.
Very hot at midday, 35 to 40 degrees. Sightsee early and late, use the long lunch and siesta.
Cold nights, empty monuments and lowest prices. Pack for a proper inland winter.
Spring builds, lagoon filling, Semana Santa falls in March or April depending on the year.
What's on
- Semana Santa and Correr la Vega Holy Week, Maundy Thursday for Correr la Vega
Processions all week and bearers run the Virgen del Socorro throne up the Cuesta de la Vega.
- Feria de Primavera Late May
Spring agricultural fair season, the most working town festival of the year.
- Real Feria de Agosto Mid August
The big summer fair with day and night fairs, concerts and the Goyesca bullfight.
- Virgen de los Remedios 8 September
The patron saints feast with Mass and an evening procession, smaller and more intimate than the Feria.
Best things to do in Antequera
Dolmen de Menga
One of Europes largest megalithic tombs, aligned on the Pena rock instead of the sunrise.
Tholos de El Romeral
A corbelled dome tomb aligned on El Torcal, quieter and more sophisticated than Menga.
Alcazaba de Antequera
Nasrid fortress walls and keep tower with the best views over the town and the Vega.
Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor
An early Renaissance collegiate church beside the Alcazaba, valued for architecture over ornament.
Iglesia del Carmen
A plain exterior hiding one of the great Baroque altarpieces in Andalusia.
Museo de la Ciudad de Antequera
Town museum in a palace, home to the Roman bronze Efebo and the dolmen story in one hour.
Iglesia de San Sebastián
The towns landmark tower over its main square, the natural start and end of an old town walk.
Museo Conventual de las Descalzas
Carmelite sacred art kept inside the convent that collected it over centuries.
Where to stay in Antequera
Centro Historico
first trip, no car, eating out
Flat and walkable, with the museum, main square and best restaurants within ten minutes.
Parte Alta
atmosphere and views
Quiet whitewashed lanes by the Alcazaba, prettiest at dawn, with hills and cobbles.
Alameda and Parador edge
drivers who want town access
Greener and calmer with gardens and parking, about twelve minutes walk from the centre.
Golf and Santa Catalina edge
golfers, groups and road trips
Resort facilities and easy parking by the course, a drive or long walk from the old town.
Antequera countryside
silence, pools and special occasions
Convents and fincas in olive country, lovely as a retreat with town as an excursion.
Think twice about
- Antequera-Santa Ana station area
A high speed station in open farmland 17 to 19 km from town. Without a car you are stranded and face a costly taxi for everything.
- A-45 industrial roadside strip
Functional motorway hotels with no pavements and no dinner within walking distance. Fine with a car, a trap without one.
Best restaurants in Antequera
Arte de Cozina
Destination cooking reviving the historic Antequera recipe book, with a cheaper tapas bar too.
Mesón Adarve
A tiny blackboard menu meson locals book ahead for porra, octopus and generous plates.
Recuerdos Tapas Bodega
Creative modern tapas near San Sebastian, open Thursday to Sunday in the sampled hours.
Restaurante Mar de Gloria
Polished traditional cooking on the main street for a nicer centre dinner without fuss.
Caserío de San Benito
Country house home cooking and porra by the spoonless local method, worth the short drive.
Mesón Casa Diego
A big, reliable traditional meson locals use for family meals and groups in the centre.
Taberna El Rincón de Lola
A friendly neighbourhood taberna for a light, cheap tapas dinner after a big lunch.
La Cantina
Home style weekday lunches at some of the best value prices on the main street.
Outdoor things to do in Antequera
El Torcal de Antequera
A limestone labyrinth of towers and alleys with ibex, vultures and huge views south of town.
Caminito del Rey
A railed boardwalk pinned to a gorge wall, the headline adventure day trip from Antequera.
Laguna de Fuente de Piedra
Andalusias largest lagoon and a major flamingo nursery in a wet spring, free to visit.
Lobo Park
Guided wolf tours in large wooded enclosures, plus full moon howling nights in season.
Antequera Golf
A scenic 18 hole parkland course in town under the Pena, at inland rather than coast prices.
Observatorio Astronómico del Torcal
Booked telescope nights in a dark inland sky above the Torcal stone labyrinth.
Nacimiento del Río de la Villa
Springs, a small lake and picnic shade five minutes from the bullring for an easy local stroll.
Sendero Sur Aventura
The local guided operator for via ferrata, canyoning and hiking days around Antequera.
Best hotels in Antequera
DWO Convento La Magdalena
A five star converted convent in a green valley with spa, pool and gardens below El Torcal.
Parador de Antequera
Spacious parador with gardens, pool and parking, an easy walk from the old town centre.
La Bobadilla, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
A luxury country estate resort with a large spa, booked as a destination rather than a town base.
Hotel Finca Eslava
A converted finca with gardens and free access to a large sports and spa pool complex next door.
Hotel Coso Viejo
A family run hotel on the museum square with the best address per euro in the centre.
Hotel Infante Antequera
A spotless central three star with a small pool and roof terrace above its star rating.
Hotel Antequera Hills
The big golf resort hotel with pools and spa, best judged on facilities and parking.
Hotel Manzanito
A simple two star on Plaza San Sebastian itself, priced for its unbeatable central address.
Is Antequera expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | €55 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | €105 a person |
| Splurge | €220 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Caminito del Rey: weeks ahead
- Lobo Park: a few days ahead
- Antequera Golf: a few days ahead
- Observatorio Astronómico del Torcal: weeks ahead
- Sendero Sur Aventura: a few days ahead
- Arte de Cozina: weeks ahead
- Mesón Adarve: a few days ahead
- Recuerdos Tapas Bodega: a few days ahead
- Caminito del Rey tickets sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn.
- Book Meson Adarve and the Arte de Cozina tasting menu ahead, and reserve Lobo Park tours online.
Is Antequera safe?
- A safe low crime city. The real risks are summer heat, Torcal fog and cold, and winding rural roads.
- Emergency number 112. Carry water and layers for El Torcal in every month.
Antequera travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Skip the line resellers for the free dolmens.
- Viewpoint restaurants at the top of the hill. Take the view free and pay for food in the centre.
- Cramming Torcal, Caminito and the dolmens into a single day.
Getting around Antequera: public transport and more
- Walk the centre and dolmens. You need a car or tours for El Torcal, El Romeral, Lobo Park and Caminito.
- Check the exact station name on rail tickets. Antequera-Santa Ana is 17 to 19 km from town with few buses.
Who Antequera suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Antequera your trip
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