More than 300 sunny days per year, hot summers, mild winters, beautiful beaches, scenic landscapes, charming towns, many leisure activities and cultural attractions… Oh, and fairly cheap flights from many places in Europe! All of that attracts thousands of travelers to Costa Blanca all year round. No wonder it became one of the most popular travel destinations in Spain! There is really a lot to see and do there.
We lived in the area for almost 2 months and got a chance to know it pretty well. So here are our recommendations for amazing places to visit on Costa Blanca. Vamos, let us show you charming towns and breathtaking landscapes.
Note. To keep things organized we divided this post into two parts. The first one covers cities, towns, & villages, and the second – natural sites.
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Where to stay while exploring places on Costa Blanca?
It’s actually quite a hard question to answer as it all depends on which places you wish to visit and how you are planning to move around Costa Blanca. If you prefer to stay in one place and discover the area via one-day trips, we’d recommend staying in Benidorm or Alicante, especially if you plan to travel by public transport. We think that Benidorm is in a slightly better location, closer to most places. Things will be a little bit easier if you plan to move from one place to another as you can stay in all the spots you’d like.
How to move around Costa Blanca?
The best and fastest way of getting to all the soon-mentioned places is definitely by car, either yours or rented. If you don’t travel with your car, you can easily rent the best one for your needs through the Rental Cars website.
Most of the recommended places to visit on Costa Blanca are also accessible by public transport, by trams or buses. You can search for the connections that might interest you on the rome2rio.com website.
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, and you’ll stay in bigger cities like Alicante or Benidorm, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. For a wide selection and well-reviewed tour options visit GetYourGuide or Viator.
Villages, towns & cities on Costa Blanca
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa is a lovely town famous for three things: colorful houses, beautiful beaches, and chocolate manufactured by Valor. Old colorful houses give Villajoyosa a unique vibe and make it one of the most picturesque and colorful towns along Costa Blanca. Taking a walk through the maze of narrow streets and enjoying pretty squares is a pure pleasure!
Learn more: One Day In Villajoyosa, Spain. Complete Travel Guide
Altea
Altea is a peaceful seaside town where it seems as if time has stopped. It has something magical in it – narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, and great beaches with calming sea views come together perfectly. The town is also known as the Cúpula del Mediterráneo which refers to the blue dome of the town’s main church, which even from afar is an iconic landmark of the Altea. In town you’ll also find numerous workshops, small art galleries, and craft shops with various handmade items – it’s a real paradise for artists and art lovers.
Learn more: 10+ Best Things To Do In Altea, Spain In One Day
Calpe
Calpe is most famous for Peñon de Ifach mountain, a mighty rock that dominates the landscape and gives the area a very unique look. The town also stands out for its colorful and charming old town, picturesque sandy beaches, small hidden coves, and salinas where you’ll find… dozens of cute pink flamingos! Be sure to add Calpe to your list of places to visit on Costa Blanca – you won’t regret it.
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do In Calpe, Spain
Benidorm
Benidorm in just about 50 years evolved from a small sleepy fishing village to one of the most popular holiday resorts in Spain. It’s often affectionately called the “Manhattan of Spain”, and one look is enough to tell that this place is totally different from most Spanish cities. Besides the unique coastline look with many skyscrapers, Benidorm has a lot to offer – beautiful beaches, mountain views, vivid nightlife, and lots of attractions both for adults and kids.
Learn more: 15+ Things To Do In Benidorm, Spain
Finestrat
Finestrat is divided into two main parts: the old town which is located at the foot of Puig Campana mountain and La Cala which is tightly squeezed between Villajoyosa and Benidorm. So the whole town is located at altitudes from 0 to… 1406 m a.s.l! Finestrat is a truly enchanting small town, which without a doubt still can be called a Costa Blanca hidden gem. Colorful narrow streets and viewpoints where you can admire stunning views over the coast and Puig Campana make Finestrat one of the best places to visit on Costa Blanca.
Learn more: Things To Do In Finestrat, Spain – Hidden Gem On Costa Blanca
Alicante
Alicante is the capital of the Costa Blanca area. Thanks to a typical Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters with lots of sunshine Alicante is a very popular travel destination, both in summer and winter. And no wonder because it has a lot to offer! From charming old town, hilltop castle, and Mushroom Street to many cultural attractions, vivid nightlife, delicious Mediterranean food, and great beaches.
Learn more: Things To Do In Alicante Old Town, Spain In One Day
Guadalest
Guadalest is a little quaint Spanish village that has existed since the Muslim period. It sits on top of a high rock at an altitude of about 550m. Guadalest is full of history, culture, charming buildings, and spectacular views of the surroundings – all together offer an unforgettable atmosphere right from the village doorsteps. What’s more, the town is named one of the most beautiful villages in Spain! Be sure not to skip this fascinating place on Costa Blanca during your trip.
Guadalest is very small so a trip to the village can be easily combined with a trip to Fonts de l’Algar waterfalls and/or Polop.
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do In Guadalest Village And Valley
Elche
Elche is best known for being home to the largest palm grove in Europe, Palmeral de Elche, which was named a World Heritage Site. But Elche can offer a little bit more than just that. There you’ll also find a charming historic quarter with the Basilica of Santa Maria, a famous religious site with two blue domes.
Polop
Polop is a small town that you can visit on the same day as the spectacular Fonts de l’Algar waterfalls and/or Guadalest. It’s a nice sleepy town perfect for a lazy and peaceful stroll around its narrow streets. There, you can also climb a small hill where the castle used to be. From the very top, you’ll be able to admire stunning views over the mountains and sea.
Explore local attractions
Natural sites on Costa Blanca
Puig Campana
Puig Campana is located just beside Finestrat’s old town. With an altitude of 1406m, it’s the second-highest peak in the Province of Alicante, visible from many places in the area. There are three hiking routes available: circular route, circular route + ascent, and vertical kilometer. Routes vary in distance and difficulty, but each of them guarantees spectacular views and unforgettable experiences.
Learn more: Puig Campana, The Second-Highest Hiking Route In The Province Of Alicante
Fonts de l’Algar waterfalls
Fonts de l’Algar is a very picturesque nature reserve with a walking path among waterfalls, springs, and natural pools. The surrounding landscape is the result of the karst process on the limestone. In 2002 Fonts de l’Algar was declared a Protected Water Area. It’s a beautiful place, so be sure to add it to your list of places to visit in Costa Blanca.
A trip to Fonts de l’Algar can be easily combined with a trip to Guadalest and/or Polop.
Learn more: Spectacular Fonts De l’Algar Waterfalls near Benidorm, Spain
Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada
Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada is a perfect place for a long and peaceful walk in nature. You can enjoy beautiful landscapes all the way through – from the entrance up to the lighthouse. High cliffs, mountains, Mediterranean Sea, and coastline views – it’s all here. The path is very easy and well-maintained so almost everyone will be able to enjoy this route.
Canelobre Caves
Canelobre Caves are located in Busot village at an altitude of 700m a.s.l. It’s a fascinating geological wonder that offers visitors a unique underground experience. Canelobre Caves are home to spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations. You can discover the natural beauty of the caves during a guided tour and/or take part in one of many orchestra concerts that take place in the caves.
Tabarca Island
Tabarca Island is located one hour’s sail from Alicante port. It’s the largest island in the Valencian Community, and also the smallest permanently inhabited islet in Spain. In the past, the island was a refuge for Barbary pirates. Nowadays it stands out for the restaurants with traditional food, the Church of San Pedro and San Pablo, the lighthouse, and the small historic center.
Places to visit on Costa Blanca, Spain – Summing up
There are so many beautiful places to visit on Costa Blanca. Charming towns, sleepy villages, lively cities, natural sites… If you’re staying longer in the area or planning a road trip you definitely won’t be bored. We hope this post came in handy for you, and now you’re one step closer to choosing great places to visit in the area, best suited to your needs.
Our opinion about places on Costa Blanca & TOP5
So far we’ve spent 2 months living on Costa Blanca (October & November) during our #season1 of digital nomad life. During that time we lived in Benidorm and found it a great starting point for discovering the area. For us, a big advantage was that the area was slowly going to sleep, emptying from huge holiday crowds. That made exploring very pleasant and peaceful.
Overall, we really enjoyed our trips and until today Costa Blanca is one of our favorite regions in Spain. To be honest, we can’t think about the many downsides… Ok, maybe besides horrendous eating hours which resulted in barely eating out.
Our TOP5 places to visit on Costa Blanca? Villajoyosa, Guadalest + Fonts de l’Algar, Altea, Calpe, and hiking Puig Campana.
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