Looking for things to do in Antequera for a 2 or 3-day stay? Then you’re in the right place. While you can visit Antequera for a day, there are so many things to do that I highly recommend spending at least a night or two.
Antequera boasts a Moorish Alcazaba, several churches, palaces, and several prehistoric dolmens that are protected by UNESCO!
Even so, Antequera is a very underrated city in Andalucia and sees far less tourism than it deserves. On our last visit, we spent a couple of weeks in Antequera, really soaking in the place and doing some hikes in the area.
Read on to find out what to do in Antequera and how to spend a weekend there in the best possible way!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Amused by Andalucia! I’ve been based in Andalucia, Spain for the last 10+ years, mainly in Seville and Costa del Sol while exploring the region extensively. Since 2022, I’ve slow-traveled in my van with my fiancee and dog, spending significant time in each place to truly get to know all the hidden corners of this exciting and diverse region. I’m here to help you uncover Andalucia too!
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Things to do in Antequera – Day 1
See the views of Lover’s Rock from Mirador de las Almenillas
Start your first day in Antequera by walking to the famous viewpoint, Mirador de las Almenillas. It’s located right below the Alcazar and besides spectacular city views, I also think it’s the best place to see the famous Lover’s Rock, or the Indian of Antequera as it’s known locally.
It’s a really cool viewpoint because it feels more like old castle walls than a viewpoint, making it a tourist attraction in itself.
Walk through Arco de los Gigantes
Right behind Mirador de las Almenillas, walk through the gate of Arco de los Gigantes. It was built in 1585 and is 7 meters tall.
The gate leads into the Alcazar and the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor, which are among the top things to see in Antequera.
Visit the Alcazar of Antequera
The Alcazaba is a Moorish fortress that was built on a former Roman stronghold. It’s really well maintained, and it easily takes an hour and a half to two hours to explore thoroughly.
I highly recommend climbing the towers and walking the castle walls. I especially loved the views from the backside of the mountains (I know, nature is my thing!)
I was happy to see that this is a dog-friendly Alcazaba, so Baby Atlas could come with us. He loved it so much, but it was a bit scary to walk up the stairs to the towers! Just remember to pick up poop – there are several bins around the castle grounds.
Step inside Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor
You can get a joint ticket to the Alcazaba and the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor at the Alcazaba entrance.
The church was built in the first half of the 1500s and has a beautiful exterior. It looks incredible to be honest.
However, I was a bit underwhelmed when I entered. I think I just expected more since we had to pay to enter. I’ve seen so many churches in Andalucia that are more beautiful and for free.
But this is my subjective opinion.
It is a nice church, very clean and simple and empty, with large columns, wooden beam ceilings, and old, faded paintings on the walls (which I really liked).
Most importantly, it’s significant in Spain’s architectural history with Gothic, Mudejar, and Renaissance features.
There are also some interesting figures inside, that are of artistic significance. I was most intrigued by the statue of La Tarasca handling a 7-headed dragon.
Head to Plaza de San Sebastian
Next, head to one of the main squares in Antequea, Plaza de San Sebastian. I love this square for its architecture, the arch, and the Parroquia San Sebastián.
There’s a cool bench with statues of two old men chatting, which is exactly what you’ll typically see on the benches in this square.
Step inside Parroquia San Sebastián
While you’re in the Plaza de San Sebastián, make sure you step inside Parroquia San Sebastián. It’s a nice yet unpretentious church dating back to the mid-1500s.
The Renaissance entrance and the bell tower are by far my favorite features. Once inside, I liked the stone columns leading up to the altar and the details around the cupola.
Snap a picture of the patio in the Municipal Library of San Zoilo
Make sure you make it to the Municipal Library of San Zoilo. You can go inside the courtyard, which is absolutely stunning, with two floors of porticos and wooden beam ceilings.
The library is located in the former Monastery of San Zoilo, which explains the architecture and beautiful courtyard.
When we were there, there was even a large nest on top of the clock tower in the corner.
Wander the streets of the old town
I suggest spending the rest of the day walking around the streets of the old town. Antequea has a really beautiful and local atmosphere, which I assume you’ve already captured by now after seeing the main attractions in the city.
There are also plenty of restaurants and bars where you can savor local dishes and tapas to local prices.
What to do in Antequera – Day 2
On day one of your Antequera itinerary, you saw all the main attractions in the city center. Today, it’s time to explore the top attractions of Antequera that most tourists go there for: the UNESCO-listed Dolmens and the magnificent rock formations of El Torcal de Antequera.
All these attractions are currently free to enter (as of 2025)
See the Dolmens
Start your second day in Antequera by exploring the prehistoric dolmens of Antequera. They are located in two different places and are best reached by car.
If you don’t drive, I suggest you go by taxi to the sights this day, as everything is a bit of a drive from each other.
The dolmens date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages and are UNESCO World Heritage sites for being among the greatest megalithic sites in Europe. In fact, they are the earliest examples of prehistoric monumental architecture, which is pretty cool!
The Menga Dolmen and the Viera Dolmen are located next to the Visitor Center, where you can go through an interactive museum before visiting the over 6500-year-old structures.
You can see the dolmens by walking on a clear, circular path. It’s absolutely incredible to walk inside these stone caves that were man-built thousands of years ago.
The last dolmen, Tholos of El Romeral, is located a short drive from the Visitor Center. It is possibly my favorite just because it’s a bit more off the beaten path and doesn’t get as many visitors.
Hike El Torcal de Antequera
After lunch, head to El Torcal de Antequera to go for a hike in the unique karst landscape. It’s said to be one of the most unique karst landscapes in Europe, and I won’t argue with that.
The impressive rock formations have been formed over millions of years after the earth’s crust was pushed up from the bottom of the sea when two tectonic plates crashed.
There are two hikes you can take from the visitor center. One is 45 minutes long, and the other one takes 2 hours to complete. I like the latter better as you get a bit more adventure to the hike with some natural tunnels and forested areas included in the hike.
If you stay for sunset, you’re up for a magical experience. This is also the time of the day when there are more mountain goats roaming around, and seeing them in the wild is absolutely magical!
If you have more time in Antequera
If you have more time in Antequera, I highly recommend strapping on your hiking boots as there are a whole heap of hikes around the city.
Below, I’ve listed my favorite hiking routes besides the trails in El Torcal de Antequera that I mentioned on day two.
If you’re not into hiking, I suggest you take a day trip to Fuente de Piedra to see flamingos and visit the Refugio del Burrito donkey sanctuary. It’s a great way to experience ethical animal tourism in a country where there are still a lot of unethical animal tourism activities like bullrings, zoos, and swimming with dolphins.
Hike Camorro Alto
Camorro Alto is the highest peak in Antequera at 1377 meters of altitude. It’s usually rated as medium difficulty, but when we did it, it felt more like a difficult hike.
Mainly because of two things. It was right after a week of heavy rains, so the trail towards the top was completely overgrown.
That they were all spikey plants that our puppy Atlas didn’t want to walk on made it a bit more challenging for us as we had to walk outside the trail many places and carry him between rocks (and I’m sure he’s already surpassed 15 kilos by now!)
We ended up scrambling a large part to the peak instead of taking the actual trail, which wasn’t as challenging as we walked down there.
However, the loop trail took us down the steep face of the mountain in rocky terrain with no marked trail before we were nearly at the bottom.
We also struggled to find the trail up, but it might be easier when it’s not so overgrown.
Nonetheless, it’s a fantastic hike, and the views from the top are spectacular! You see Antequera, the Lover’s Rock, and even Sierra Nevada, which is beautifully snowcapped in winter and spring.
Hiking Camorro Alto takes around 3-4 hours, including a break or two.
Lover’s Rock
Lover’s Rock is a more strenuous hike and requires some scrambling to get to the top. This is not a good hike if you suffer from vertigo.
However, it’s a fabulous way of exploring the rock from up close and seeing the views of Antequera. We were going but were stopped by the weather for several days, so we still have it on the top of our hiking bucket list!
Where to stay in Antequera
MID-RANGE: Parador de Antequera – As opposed to other paradores in Spain, the one in Antequera offers modern facilities set in a large park-like area, making it an oasis in the city, perfect for relaxing. They also have a seasonal outdoor pool.
BUDGET: Hotel Manzanito – Centrally located at Plaza de San Sebastian, Hotel Manzanito is a great budget option within walking distance of the main attractions in Antequera.
APARTMENT HOTEL: Hotel Apartamentos Antequera – Modern and bright apartments with well-equipped kitchens. I especially loved the views from the rooftop terrace, where you can see Lover’s Rock.
🐾DOG-FRIENDLY: Hotel Lozano – Budget-friendly hotel right outside of the city center where you can bring your dog upon request. There’s also a large, free parking you can use.
Reflections on what to do in Antequera
Summing up, Antequera is a completely underrated destination. There are so many unique things to do in Antequera, and it really holds a special historical and geological treasure.
If you only have one day in Antequera, I suggest you see the Alcazaba, the views of Lover’s Rock, and the Dolmens, and then head to El Torcal de Antequera for the short walk just before sunset. It’s the best time of the day to see mountain goats, and the area turns magical at sunset.
Happy travels!