Spanning all the way from Barcelona to the Spanish-French border, the Costa Blanca towns and villages are wonderful places to explore. With hidden caves, ancient castles, cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, not to mention the delicious food and drink on offer throughout, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
To help you really discover the best towns in Costa Blanca, we've compiled a list of the top five villages are towns. These are all less than an hour by car from our beloved Javea properties, making them perfect for a day trip.
Jávea
Our Costa Blanca property is nestled in the traditional fishing town of Jávea, which is, in itself, a stunning area to explore. The beautiful beach makes for a lovely place to spend a sunny afternoon, while the winding streets are brimming with restaurants, bars, shops and much more.
Javea is split into three main areas; the Arenal, Port and Old Town. The Arenal area surrounds the glorious sandy beach, while the Port is where the fisherman still come and go with their catches throughout the day. However, for us, the Old Town is a real highlight, providing a fascinating glimpse into the town’s historic past. Here you’ll find the church of Sant Bartomeu, as well as the daily market where you can pick up some fresh produce for your evening meal!
Where is Javea?
Javea is located on the most eastern point of the Spainish coast, about an hour by car from the Valencia and Alicante airports. The town lies between the San Antonio and La Nao points, in the shadow of the spectacular Mount Montgó.
Javea beach
Javea has nine beautiful beaches to enjoy during your stay. The biggest, and most popular, is th Playa del Arenal, one of the only sandy beaches in the area. As the town's main beach, it slopes gently into the sea, providing a good place to paddle and swim, and has a promenade full of cafes, restaurants and a bustling market. There are also places to rent watersports kit and buy beach equipment.
Other beaches include Cala Blanca, a beautiful little bay with crystal clear water and white pebbles, and Cala Barraca o Portitcol, which is known as one of the best places for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Dénia
20 minutes via CV-736
Denia is known for it’s history and amazing sights, which include a fascinating 11th Century castle, expansive museums and some spectacular festivals. Once you’ve had your fill of the history and culture, there are also some lovely beaches and coves where you can relax… or even try your hand at all manner of water sports! The National Park of Montgó is also nearby, where you can enjoy a walk surrounded by nature and breathtaking views.
Once you’ve enjoyed your fair share of exploring, Dénia is also a popular choice for sampling some of the area’s most delicious cuisine – it’s not advertised as the City of Gastronomy for nothing! With Dénia’s rich history of fishing and surrounding rice fields, this is the perfect place to sample some amazing seafood.
Where is Denia?
About an hour and twenty minutes north of Alicante airport, Denia can be found on the southeastern coast of Spain.
Denia beach
Denia has a selection of beaches to try during your visit, including sandy bays to the north and rocky coves to the south. La Beach Punta del Raset is one of our favourites, being closest to the town centre and one of the most spacious. It's a sandy beach which has been adapted for those with mobility requirements. Playa El Trampolí is another popular choice – although it has no sand, the cove is known tor the wooden trampoline installed in one of the rocks.
Altea
40 minutes via AP-7
Proclaimed by many to be one of the best villages in Spain, Altea is a must-see during your break. The old urban area, in particular, is well worth a visit, with its narrow streets, clean white buildings and lush greenery. Don’t miss the bright blue dome of the famous church (which is also worth a visit) peeking out between the buildings! Artists and photographers often travel to Altea to take advantage of the area’s beauty and natural light, and you’re bound to be similarly inspired when you pay a visit.
The village runs all the way from the mountains down to the Mediterranean, and is brimming with beautiful viewpoints where you can admire the sunset and peaceful atmosphere. There are many squares dotted across the town, where the restaurants and cafes spilling out onto the cobbles provide a blissful spot to enjoy a coffee or glass of wine.
Where is Altea?
Altea can be in the heart of Costa Blanca, south of Calpe and about 15 km north of Benidorm. Like all of the towns in this article, it's balanced right on the water's edge and sits on a hill, providing spectacular views.
Altea beach
Altea has everything from beautiful pebbled beaches with crystal waters, to family-friendly sandy bays. Playa de l'Espigo is a realtively new addition to the roster, having been inaugurated in 2016, but has quickly become a popular choice. The large pebbedl beach has enough space for a large number of visitors and is easily accessible, with good access to the nearby cafes and bars.
Calpe
35 minutes via CV-741
The ancient fishing settlement of Calpe has grown over time, and now combines old Valencian culture with plenty of modern facilities. The town is also known for having three of the coast’s most beautiful sandy beaches, as well as the iconic Rock of Ifach, which visitors are able to climb for some spectacular views. The Moorish quarter is another good choice for sightseeing, with its old town walls and Iglesia Vieja church, which is a fantastic example of Mudejar-Gothic architecture. It’s also another good choice for foodies – choose from fresh seafood in the port or luxury gormet dining, as well as all the traditional tapas bars!
Where is Calpe?
Calpe is ideally located for a visit during your holiday on the Costa Blanca. Both the A7 motorway and the N332 run straight to this charming town, which is about an hour away from Alicante.
Calpe beach
Our favourite beach in Calpe is Levante or 'La Fossa' beach. It's the perfect family day out, with all the amenities you and the children might need for a day on the sand, including a long promenade with many shops, bars and restaurants. It has great swimming conifitions and a spectacular view of the Rock of Ifach.
If you're looking for somewhere a little unique, Cala Del Morello is a small urban beach that houses the ruins of an ancient Roman fishing farm and thermal baths. The water laps against the ancient walls and foundations, creating rock pools ideal for paddling.
Villajoyosa
50 minutes via AP-7
Villajoyosa is known for being one of the most scenic villages in this part of the Mediterranean, with its colourful houses, mountainous surroundings and beautiful beaches. Compared to it’s neighbour Benidorm, this picture-perfect village is packed with traditional charm and hidden gems, from the seafront with its rainbow of fisherman’s houses, to the walled town centre with its gothic architecture. The local beaches here are a popular choice for water sports, so if you want to get involved be sure to visit some of the companies on the beach. If you’re after a more relaxed visit, it’s easy to spend a few hours wandering around the many shops, bars and restaurants.
Perhaps surprisingly, Villajoyosa is famous for its chocolate industry, which has been a major part of the town since the 19th Century. Its efficient port meant it was easy to import cocoa from Ecuador and Venezuela, and the famous chocolate brand ‘Valor’ was founded here. Today Valor chocolate can be found in most shops and supermarkets across Spain.
Where is Villajoyosa?
On the northern end of the Costa Blanca, Villajoyosa is about 26 km from Alicante airport. The village is neatly nestled between Benidorm and San Juan, with good road access.
Villajoyosa beach
There are three main beaches in Villajoyosa – Playa de Villajoyosa, Playa del Bol Nou and Playa Ela Paraiso, All have the enviable combination of white sand and turquoise blue waters, looking like something you'd find on the pages of a magazine. For families, Playa de Villajoyosa, the main beach, is the most accesible and has facilities in easy reach.
Bonus Town: Moraira
We just couldn't finish a list of the top Costa Blanca towns without giving Moraira a mention. This small coastal town is nestled amongst some of the regions most spectacular scenery and is a popular choice for those looking to for an authentically Spanish town or experience a slower pace of life. it's often hailed as one of the most unspoilt resorts in the area – the 8 km of coastline is covered with beaches and backed by mountains, countless restaurants and centuries of fascinating history. Moraira is a rare thing: a town which welcomes and embraces tourism while still retaining it's traditional Spanish charm.
Where is Moraira?
You'll find Moraira half way between Valencia (108 km) and Alicante (80 kms), right on the coast of the Costa Blanca.
Moraira beach
Moraira has a stunning selection of beaches to choose from during your visit. From La Cala, a tranquil rocky beach which can only be reached by boat or walking along the clifftop, to Playa del Portet, with it's clear water and fine sand. Meanwhile L'Ampolla is the most popular beach in the area, located near the castle and with a good selection of facilities.
Of course, this is just the start of the fantastic places and attractions on offer in this wonderful part of Spain. Part of the joy of enjoying a holiday in Javea is that you can do as much or as little as you like. Whether you want to get out and explore the surrounding area, stroll around the town or simply relax by the pool, the choice is yours.
Costa Blanca FAQs
What is Costa Blanca known for?
The translation of Costa Blanca is 'white coast', which is the perfect description of the region's many sandy beaches, surrounded by stunning turquoise waters and dotted with charming, traditional towns and villages. As well as being pretty enough to a postcard, it's known as being a hugely popular holiday destination.
What's the weather like in Costa Blanca?
Costa Blanca has a typical subtropical Mediterranean climate, helped by sea breezes in the summer and the mountains sheltering from winter winds. Wiith an average summer temperature of 28° and 325 sunny days a year, it's a good choice for anyone looking for some sunshine.
What's the nicest part of Costa Blanca?
Of course, this is a matter of opinion! There are countless beaurtiful destinations in Costa Blanca, from tiny fishing villages to towering mountains and bustling cities. That said, we have a special place in our hears for Javea, home to our two properties.
To find out more about how you can enjoy a seaside holiday in Javea, or visit any of our other 30+ locations, get in touch today.
