Guide to Alicante and the Costa Blanca Region of Spain

The Costa Blanca is the region of coastline which stretches from Denia in the north to Torrevieja in the south.

The region includes some of the most developed coastline in mainland Spain including Benidorm. The region is not just popular with holiday makers from all around Europe, but many British, Scandinavian, German and Eastern Europeans own property in the area. House prices are currently remarkably low in this region of Spain due to all the new buildings that were built during the housing boom over the last 10 years.

The Costa Blanca is served by 2 major airports, Alicante to the north, and Murcia to the south (although the coastal region near Murcia is actually the start of the Costa Calida. The Costa Blanca coastline is very developed, with popular resorts such as Benidorm and Torrevieja bringing in millions of tourists every year. Aside from tourism, the Costa Blanca region is one of the most fertile growing regions in Europe.

Below is our A-Z guide of the main Costa Blanca resorts and towns:

Alicante

The town of Alicante is a resort which unlike Benidorm is very popular with Spanish tourists in the summer months. Alicante has a large sandy beach, but in summer the beach can be very crowded.

Alicante has a good selection of shops and bars, and is a good destination to visit in the spring and autumn when it is less busy. The climate in spring and autumn in Alicante is similar to a pleasant British summer day, but with a lot more sunshine. Alicante Airport is located around 12km from Alicante.

Altea

Found in the Northern corner of Costa Blanca, Altea is one of the most remarkable cities in the entire region due to its stunning architecture that is a testament to its history as a fishing village. The area sports about 5km of beaches featuring a yacht harbor and peaceful beaches that are excellent places to relax although they are not great white sandy beaches for recreational tanning or play.

Benissa

Benissa sits on the Northern edge of the Costa Blanca coastline and is literally known for sitting directly on the waterfront offering a large harbor and coastline to visitors. In total there is about four kilometres of coast to explore with small havens of beach hidden under pine trees or larger areas known for their vibrant activity and water sport activities. The area is known for its octopus stew which should be tried for those who are adventurous with their cuisine.

Benidorm

Benidorm is the largest and best known resort in the Costa Blanca. Benidorm was once a small fishing village, but during the 60's and 70's it was developed into one of the busiest resorts in Spain. Benidorm's skyscaper skyline is more reminiscent of Manhattan than the Costa Blanca. The resort developed a tarnished reputation in the 80's and 90's with a "lager lout" culture exported from the UK during the summer months. However, today Benidorm is a thriving resort, although if you are looking for a peaceful retreat you would be advised to go elsewhere. Nowadays Benidorm is a popular destination for year round stag nights and hen nights due to the up all night culture.

Calpe

Found just above Altea, Calpe is often considered a romantic village due to its slow pace of life and great location. The village is actually known best for its rock named the pennon de Ifach that has been inspiring people to come towards it to see the bays of the coastline. While in town be sure to visit the churches which are a great representation of the past 15th century and a testament to the city's survival despite numerous attacks. There are also two beaches in the area known for their great white, fine sand that making tanning and swimming highly enticing.

Denia

Located to the north of the Costa Blanca region, Denia is a popular resort with the British and offers around 20 km of good bathing beaches. There is also daily ferry to the Balearics. Denia is overlooked by a historic castle which has an archaeological museum containing artifacts which have been uncovered in the grounds surrounding the castle. Denia also has some good boutique shopping that spreads out along the Calle de Marques de Campo road. Due to the wind that comes into the area from the sea, Denia is also a paradise for those who enjoy water sports although swimmers will enjoy the beaches as well.

El Campello

Close enough to the city of Alicante that you could almost consider it a suburb, El Campello holds its own charm due to the long running stretch of beach that the area sports. The town itself is split into an old neighbourhood and modern resort area both of which are worth a visit and some of your time. While in El Campello make sure to pay a visit to the port where you will find a beach promenade with some of the freshest seafood on the coast.

Elche

Around a 20 minute drive from Alicante is the town of Elche (Elx in Spanish). Apart from being a busy industrial Costa Blanca town of over 200,000 inhabitants. Elche has the largest growing area of palms in Europe which date to Roman times. The area became a UNESCO world Heritage Site . The palm plantations are a legacy from when the Romans ruled the region, and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. Elche is located only 15km from the mediterranean coastline, so is easily accessible to holidaymakers. The Municipal Park in the centre of Elche has a sub-tropical garden containing many species of palms and cactus, and a museum. For opening times of the gardens and museum, and more ideas of things to see in Elche, please visit the Elche Tourism Website.

Guadalest

Guadalest itself is a very small village that is known for a castle that hangs on the side of a cliff, but the area is so busy with tourism activity it has been declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. Throughout the town you will find plenty of museums that show the local culture, history, and art of the Costa Blanca area.

Javea

Sitting in the top northern corner of the Costa Blanca region situated between Altea and Denia, Javea is conveniently situated between two separate bays allowing visitors easy access to both cabo San Martin and cabo San Antonio. The actual city is split into the village inland, the port, and the beach and each offers a view of modern and past times allowing you to get a full sense of the Spanish region during your visit. While in Javea be sure to walk to the top of cabo de Nao where you can see a historic lighthouse and look out over the bay and coastline.

Jijona

Jijona sits almost at the top of the Costa Blanca coastline and is often missed by holiday tourists, but if you get the chance you should at least pay the city a day trip given the fact that the small village has a life of its own with friendly locals that produce a wonderful desert item called turron. Each of the little streets is quite lively with activity in a traditional fashion with street stalls and plenty of locally produced goods. Make sure to also stop by the museo del turron where you can see how the top El Lobo turron is created.

Villaajouyosa

One of the larger cities of Costa Blanca, La Villajouyosa is home to about 20,000 on a regular basis and is known for its bright houses and vibrant town centre making it a great choice for those who do not like the tourist atmosphere of Benidorm. The city is known for its Valor chocolate and houses are found throughout the city. While in town make sure to walk through the Arsenal which is the old town area with a casino and plenty of novelty shops sure to delight most visitors.

Moraira

To the east of Benissa and sitting directly on the coast is Moraira which is a large resort town due to its close proximity to the beaches of Costa Blanca and the fact that it is a great way to experience the traditional manner of life of the Spanish. Considered a peaceful village with all of the tourist amenities that you would expect, the city is a great place to be catered to and simply to blend in with the locals depending on your mood. While in town make sure to wonder out to the wine cellars as the area is known for its stunning vineyards.

Santa Pola

Found about twenty kilometres below Alicante, Santa Pola is a testament to Roman times with plenty of Roman ruins to view and the remarkable Renaissance Castle-Fortress that dates back to the 16th century and houses the Archaeological Museum inside of it. The city also sports a handful of different beaches as well as a ferry service that can run you out to the Island of Tabarca although it may be hard to tear yourself away from some of the most popular sandy beaches like Varadero.

Torrevieja

Torrevieja is one of the fastest growing regions of Spain. It is located midway between Alicante and Murcia airports. The Torrevieja region is a popular location for ex-pats from northern and eastern Europe, with property prices that provide incredible value. Torrevieja has a number of resorts, including the very popular Villa Martin development, which has good beaches, an attractive shopping plaza and the excellent Villa Martin golf course. For golfers, Torrevieja minibus rental is available, with delivery to your accommodation.

Costa Blanca Accommodation

If you are staying in Alicante, we can recommend this 2 bed villa rental in Alicante at Gran Alacant, Santa Pola, Alicante. Property has a communal pool and is within easy walking distance of shops, bars and beaches. You will receive a 10% discount if you quote our website when you book.

Visit TripAdvisor for more Alicante Province Villa Rentals.