What to do in Motril? Visit La Lonja and see the fish auction.
Visit the fish market in Motril harbour, one of the best things to do
In this article, you will find ideas for things to do in Motril and the surrounding area. Visiting Motril’s fish market is a special experience.
- A few words about Motril and its origins
- Where is Motril harbour on the map?
- What to see in Motril?
- What to do in Motril?
- Book accommodation
- Map of Motril with places to see
- The Motril Fair
- Some useful links
- Latest articles on Andalusia
A few words about Motril
Motril is the capital of the Costa Tropical. It is located 65 kilometres from the provincial capital, Granada. This city enjoys a subtropical climate, which is where the name Costa Granadina comes from.
Motril has a long history. However, its real boom began with the arrival of the Arabs. They introduced sugar cane throughout the region and developed a sugar industry in the 10th century.
For years, Motril developed through tourism and the cultivation of tropical fruits, mainly avocados and cherimoyas (known in English as custard apples).
However, in recent years, the port of Motril has undergone considerable development. It is a commercial port, a marina (the Royal Yacht Club), a port with maritime links to Africa (mainly Algeria) and, last but not least, an important fishing port.
The port of Motril is one of Motril’s most beautiful attractions.
Where is Motril located on the map?
What to see in Motril?
1 – Visit La Lonja de Motril and watch the fish auction
2 – La Charca de Suárez
3 – Museo de la Caña de Azúcar (Sugar Cane Museum)
4 – Memorial del Rey Balduino (King Baudouin Memorial)
Note: further down in the article there is a map of Motril with places to see.
1 – Visit La Lonja de Motril and watch the fish auction
This is a truly extraordinary place where the public can watch the fish being unloaded and auctioned.
Unloading fish from boats
It is interesting to watch and imagine all the work involved in removing the fish from the boat’s holds, adding ice and loading them onto pallets at the foot of the boats.
La Quisquilla de Motril
Quisquilla is the name of the famous Motril prawn!
It is a bright red prawn that is only caught here. It is cooked very briefly to preserve all its flavour. The small ones are even eaten raw here! Of course, the price is not quite the same as for other prawns.
When does the fish auction take place in the port of Motril?
Every day from Monday to Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., so you can also watch the boats being unloaded. If you arrive a little early, there is the La Lonja bar next to the fish auction area.
Here is the link to the town hall website where you can check for any changes to the schedule.
How do I get to the fish auction in the port?
You can enter ‘Bar La Lonja’ into Waze or Google Maps and it will take you straight there.
Note: as it is also a commercial port with international connections, there is a customs area and therefore barriers at the entrance to the port area. Normally, your number plate is read automatically and the barrier opens so you can drive to your desired location.
2 – La Charca de Suarez
La Charca de Suárez is a treasure trove in Motril for all nature lovers.
It is a protected area near Poniente beach. This place was created by the locals themselves to protect a wetland.
Today, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places for ecotourism on the Costa Tropical. Here you can see turtles, chameleons and frogs roaming free, but above all many species of birds, both migratory and non-migratory.
The following link provides the opening hours for Charca de Suarez.
3 – Museo de la Caña de Azúcar
This is a very informative site for anyone interested in discovering the sugar manufacturing process from the 13th to the 18th century. Until the 1970s, Motril was a town surrounded by sugar cane fields.
The following link provides the opening hours and admission prices for the Pre-Industrial Sugar Museum.
We’ll talk more about sugar cane and rum production shortly 🙂
4 – Memorial del Rey Balduino
The King Baudouin Memorial aims to convey the values and philosophy of life of this Belgian monarch to the public. The memorial is located in the former residence of King Baudouin and his wife Queen Fabiola (Fabiola Fernanda María-de-las-Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y Aragón).
Here is the link for opening hours and admission prices for visiting the memorial.
What to do in Motril?
Below are a number of ideas for activities to do in the Motril area.
Skiing in Monachil
The Pradollano ski resort in Monachil, in the Sierra Nevada, is open from early December to mid-April. It takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes to get there by car.
Visit the 3 villages of Los Guajares
This is a wonderful place to visit for its authenticity, far from mass tourism.
A visit to Los Guajares will not leave you indifferent if you are looking for authenticity.
Visit Ron Mondero
This is a truly exceptional bodega located in Lobres-Salobreña. It is the only rum factory that uses 100% Andalusian sugar cane.
Follow the link to discover and/or visit the Ron Mondero bodega. Paco and his wife will welcome you for a wonderful guided tour with tasting.
Visit the northernmost coffee plantation in the world
Manolo, a former barista from Almuñecar, now manages a large tropical plantation with a section reserved for coffee cultivation. It is also the northernmost coffee plantation in the world.
Visiting this coffee and tropical fruit plantation in Almuñecar is a real treat.
Visit Salobreña
Salobreña is a charming white village perched on the coast, with a castle that is well worth visiting.
Discover the Alpujarra with the villages of Pampaneira, Capileira and Trevélez
The Alpujarra Granadina is a small region of great beauty and rich in history.
In addition, the villages of the Alpujarra, such as Pampaneira and Capileira, are distinguished by their absolutely unique architecture.
These are villages in the Alpujarra that are definitely worth discovering.
Book accommodation
Below you will find all the hotels and accommodation available in Motril, after selecting your dates:
Map of things to see and do in Motril and its surroundings
La Feria de Motril
Some useful links
- For those staying on the Costa del Sol and wishing to visit Andalusia, here are 9 magnificent guided tours from Malaga, Torremolinos, Fuengirola or Benalmadena.
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