The province of Alicante is full of beaches and coves with crystal-clear waters and blue flags, but there’s much more to see on the Costa Blanca. We often think of the Caribbean when just a few kilometers away we have the most charming towns. Oh, and the name Costa Blanca is not by chance, it’s due to the unique light that this coastal area emits.
It’s difficult to choose the most beautiful towns to see on the Costa Blanca. The coast of Alicante has 244 km of coves, beaches, and cliffs and extends from the northern region of Marina Alta to the south in Vega Baja.
But we can affirm that the Costa Blanca is one of the most beautiful areas of the Valencian Community. Discover it from our campsite. We are in Benidorm.
Index
Continuing, here’s the list of the best coastal towns in Alicante. We rectify, the coastal towns with the most charm for us, from north to south:
DÉNIA
Dénia is a port city of Iberian origin, of great importance in Roman times and now home to the Dianenses. It is the capital of the Marina Alta region. In the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, you can try the famous red prawn of Dénia. It was formerly called Daniya and is written as Denia (without accent) in Spanish.
Among the main things to see in Dénia in 1 day, we can highlight its beaches, Castle, the Baix la Mar neighborhood, its port and the Montgó massif, another of the natural parks of the Valencian Community. You can also visit the toy museum and the archaeological museum of Denia.
JÁVEA OR XÀBIA
Jávea is a gem among the most beautiful towns to see on the Costa Blanca. It’s a town with a beach and incredible coves, but it also has a historic center where we recommend you see the Church of San Bartolomé, the Municipal Market, the Ethnological Museum or the Town Hall. Additionally, it’s one of the towns near Dénia, like Teulada or Moraira.
In our post about the best beaches in Alicante we included the cove of La Granadella in Jávea. Don’t miss swimming in a sea cave, in La Cova Tallada in Jávea. The old town of Jávea is full of cobblestone streets, wrought iron gates, and old buildings, many of them built with rock extracted from La Cova Tallada.
As an extra, since you’re going, drive through Teulada and Moraira to discover other charming towns. There you’ll find another old town for culture lovers, the Walled Gothic Teulada. And in the other town, it’s worth visiting the Castle of Moraira and the Cao D’Or watchtower.
BENISSA
Benisa or Benissa in Valencian, is one of the most charming coastal towns in Alicante. This town in Marina Alta is less known to tourists, but very well-known for its beaches and coves among the people of Alicante. As for monuments, we recommend you see the Torres-Orduña Palace, the Llotja, the Franciscan Fathers’ convent and the ecological promenade of Benissa.
CALPE
Calpe or Calp in Valencian is a beach town on the Costa Blanca of Alicante, but it’s home to the Peñón de Ifach. A large rock, like the Rock of Gibraltar, which is a natural park and can be seen from many municipalities on the Costa Blanca. You can hike the Peñón de Ifach, but get well-informed on the official website of the natural parks of the Valencian Community. Discover at the summit one of the must-see places of Alicante’s nature. Not everyone makes it there!
By the way, Calpe is also part of the Marina Alta region. Here you should enjoy a good seafood platter, discover the beauty of its old town and the coves of Calpe.
ALTEA
When we talk about Altea, we say it’s “the coastal town of Alicante” par excellence. And it’s because Altea is the most beautiful town on the Costa Blanca according to several online surveys. Perhaps it’s due to that Mediterranean essence with cobblestone streets and blue-domed churches. We also have a post to tell you about the 10 things to see in Altea to truly know it. Altea is another town in the Marina Baixa Region, and as a curiosity, it has Moors and Christians festivals, like Alcoy or Villajoyosa, among other inland towns of the province.
L’ALFÀS DEL PI – ALBIR
El Albir Beach is the beach of Alfas del Pi, but it’s not a sandy beach, rather a beach of rounded pebbles. L’Albir comes into direct contact with Altea and often their beaches are confused with the beaches of Altea.
BENIDORM
The little Manhattan of the Mediterranean. The first time you see the skyscrapers of Benidorm, it’s unforgettable. A small fishing village that in 50 years has become the tourism capital of Spain. The beaches of Benidorm and its clichés are world-renowned, but visitors are always surprised when they discover the reality… Open your mind, discover natural parks, nature in a city, and 35 other things to do in Benidorm. Oh, and if you want to visit the city properly, you must visit one of the 4 viewpoints of Benidorm.
By the way, Benidorm is the first Smart Tourist Destination, not only in the Valencian Community but in the World. That’s why it’s one of the best holiday destinations in Spain.
ISLAND OF BENIDORM
The journalists’ island is a marine reserve that you can visit with a glass-bottom boat. The Island is part of the Sierra Helada natural park, one of the most unique natural parks, as it encompasses from the mountain range to the island. You can swim in its crystal-clear waters. It’s worth climbing to the highest point, as on a sunny day we can see as far as San Juan, in addition to the Benidorm skyline.
VILLAJOYOSA
Moving on, let’s go to the coastal town of colorful houses facing the sea: La Vila Joiosa. There are many fishing towns, but Villajoyosa is the most traditional of all the towns in Alicante. La Vila is the birthplace of Valor chocolates, has 15km of coastline, fine sandy beaches, coves, nudist beaches, beach bars, and more than 3000 years of History. We’ve done some research and created our article on what to see in Villajoyosa or La Vila. It stands out for being one of the cities in Spain with the best-preserved Roman remains, with a museum awarded at the European level for its accessibility.
In La Vila, you won’t have many attractions, but you’ll find as many restaurants with fresh fish straight from the port and beach bars as you want. And since you’re in La Vila Joiosa, take a quick trip to other destinations like El Campello or San Juan, just 15 minutes away by car. These are other well-known coastal towns, with the same climate and typical crystal-clear waters. And if you escape to Alicante capital, the Santa Bárbara Castle is one of the must-sees.
SANTA POLA
Santa Pola is one of the most well-known coastal towns in Alicante. Home to the Santa Pola locals and Tabarca. The latter is a must-visit, but we should also go to the old town and visit the Fortress Castle and take a tour of the Santa Pola Salt Flats on the outskirts. The internet is full of photos of travelers who have enjoyed this privileged natural destination. It’s very interesting for family visits.
ISLAND OF TABARCA
One of the most beautiful and picturesque towns to visit is Tabarca. A very touristy island that can be visited from many of the Coastal Towns of Alicante: Benidorm, Dénia, Torrevieja, Santa Pola… But it’s from this last town where the boat travel time to Tabarca is the shortest.
GUARDAMAR DEL SEGURA
It’s worth passing through Guardamar del Segura and its fine sandy beaches and dunes. A spectacle of nature, protected and unique. Grab your family and think about a day walking through the dunes, away from home and in the sun. A different holiday day to take those photos for your profile, without having to travel to the Caribbean.
The municipality, however, is one of those charming towns even though it’s not among the most beautiful on the Costa Blanca.
As its name suggests, Guardamar is located at the mouth of the Segura River. It is known for its dunes and its beaches.
TORREVIEJA
Continuing, another place to see on the Costa Blanca is Torrevieja. Here’s a list of places to see there:
- Torre del Moro
- Torre de la Mata
- Nations Park
- Coves to see in Torrevieja
- Cabo Cervera Cove
- Ferris Cove
- La Higuera Cove
- Cala Piteras
- Beaches to see in Torrevieja
- La Mata Beach
- Los Locos Beach
- Playa de los Náufragos
- La Mata and Torrevieja Lagoons Natural Park. The Pink Lagoon of Torrevieja. Discover the famous salt flats of Torrevieja.
2 TOWNS WITH SPECIAL CHARM IN THE PROVINCE
GUADALEST
It is one of the most visited towns in the Valencian Community. Its countless museums complement its main tourist attraction, the Castell de Guadalest or Castle of San José. An old town like you’ve never seen before, one of the most beautiful towns in the interior of Alicante.
Callosa d’En Sarrià – Algar Waterfalls
Another of the most commonly visited sites on the Costa Blanca. Spend a great day in Callosa d’Ensarrià, very close to Benidorm. We provide an article about the 8 best natural pools in Alicante, including the Algar Waterfalls.
MAP OF COSTA BLANCA TOWNS
FREE COSTA BLANCA GUIDES IN PDF
Official guides produced by the Costa Blanca Tourist Board. Download information about all the towns near Benidorm for free.
- Costa Blanca Guide
- Benidorm Guide
- Altea Cycling Guide
- Polop Guide – Ponotx Routes
- Villajoyosa Guide
- La Nucia Guide
- Callosa d’En Sarrià Guide
- Villena Guide
- Xàbia/Jávea Guide
- Alicante Guide
- Denia Guide
- Costa Blanca Golf Guide
- Costa Blanca Sports Guide
- Alicante Costa Blanca Wine Route Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Average Temperatures Costa Blanca (Alicante) – 2014 and 2019
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime Temperature | 17℃ | 17℃ | 19℃ | 21℃ | 23℃ | 28℃ | 30℃ | 30℃ | 27℃ | 24℃ | 20℃ | 18℃ |
| Nighttime Temperature | 9℃ | 9℃ | 10℃ | 12℃ | 14℃ | 20℃ | 23℃ | 22℃ | 20℃ | 18℃ | 10℃ | 10℃ |
| Rainy Days | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Which is the most beautiful town on the Costa Blanca?
Altea appears at number 81 in the ranking of the most beautiful towns in Spain according to the vote on 20minutos.es. It is the most beautiful town in Alicante, as it appears ahead of others such as Dénia, Guadalest, Tabarca, Villajoyosa or Finestrat.
What is the best time to visit the Costa Blanca?
The Costa Blanca can be visited at any time of the year, but it is especially recommended during the summer months:
- San Juan, the night from June 23rd to 24th each year. You’ll enjoy all the beaches full of people, bonfires in some places, and people jumping over waves for good luck all year round.
- Fogueres – Bonfires in Alicante. Festivities also around June 24th.
- Moors and Christians Festivals.
- Alcoy: approximately from April 21st to 24th.
- Villena: from September 4th to 9th.
- Elda: last weekend of May or first weekend of June.
- Villajoyosa: last week of July.
- Elche: from August 7th to 11th.
- Orihuela: around July 17th, lasting about 8 days.
- Normandy Landing Reenactment on Poniente Beach in Benidorm: end of September.
How can I get to the Costa Blanca?
You can reach the coastal area of Alicante in several ways:
- Alicante Airport – El Altet
- AVE (high-speed train) to Alicante
- Ap-7 / A-7 Highway
- National Road N-332
Why is it called Costa Blanca?
The coast of Alicante is called this because of its white and fine sand beaches and its light. It’s also said that in 1957, British Airways used a slogan in its connection between London and Valencia.
Which is the most visited town on the Costa Blanca?
The most visited town is Guadalest.
What is the largest foreign population in the province of Alicante?
The British are the largest foreign population and are known as ex-pats.
What islands are there on the Coast of Alicante?
The islands off the Alicante coast are Tabarca, Benidorm, Portichol (Jávea), and Descubridor Island (Jávea).
What regions make up the province of Alicante?
- Marina Alta
- Marina Baixa
- El Comtat
- L’Alcoià
- Alto Vinalopó
- L’Alacantí
- Medio Vinalopó
- Bajo Vinalopó
- Vega Baja
List of Natural Parks on the Costa Blanca
Natural Parks of the Costa Blanca from north to south:
- Marjal de Pego Oliva
- El Montgó
- Sierra de Mariola
- La Font Roja
- Peñón de Ifach Natural Park
- Sierra Helada
- Santa Pola Salt Flats
- El Fondo
- La Mata and Torrevieja lagoons
And with this, you can start to get to know our coastal towns in Alicante. The interior of Alicante will offer you other things, like in Polop de la Marina, in Orihuela… Remember that you don’t have to go far to visit incredible places and you can find more information on Costablanca.org. And if you liked this post…
