Welcome to Calpe, one of the most beautiful and captivating towns on Costa Blanca. It’s a great travel destination regardless of whether you plan typical holidays on the beach, an intense day trip from any of the nearby towns, or a longer stay as a digital nomad. Spending active time in nature, strolling among old town streets and learning about history, eating delicious food, or just lying on the beach… Everyone will definitely find a perfect activity for themselves there. Stay with us and discover great things to do in Calpe, Spain.
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Calpe, Spain FAQ
Calpe is a Spanish town located in the Province of Alicante in the Valencian Community on the Mediterranean coast known as Costa Blanca.
Calpe is best known for Penon de Ifach mountain, a mighty rock that dominates the landscape and gives the area a unique look. It also stands out for its colorful old town, picturesque sandy beaches, small hidden coves, and… pink flamingos!
Yes, Calpe is definitely worth visiting. A charming old town, spectacular landscapes, and great sandy beaches make Calpe a great travel and holiday destination. This is also a fairly quiet town, very different from the nearby full of life and tourists Benidorm or Alicante, perfect for a peaceful escape.
Of course! Calpe is a popular holiday destination on Costa Blanca known for its natural beauty, historical charm, lovely beaches perfect for sunbathing, as well as for watersports and outdoor activities. For sure, you won’t be bored in Calpe during your holidays. Warning: during July/August it can get really busy!
Calpe Market takes place every Saturday from 9am to 2pm on the Avenida Del Norte (fruits and vegetables) and Avenida de Rumania (clothes, household items, furnishing, etc.).
Things to do in Calpe, Spain
Penon de Ifach Mountain
Without a doubt, Penon de Ifach is the undisputed star of Calpe. This limestone rock is 332 meters high and together with its surrounding area has been named a National Park in 1987. And with an area of only 53 hectares, it’s one of the smallest national parks in Spain! Visiting Penon de Ifach mountain is one of the best things to do in Calpe and you won’t regret it.
The path to the Penon de Ifach top consists of two parts and each is full of stunning views. The first part, up to the Information Centre, is easy and suitable for most people. The second part is more demanding, as it’s more of a typical mountain trail.
If you plan on going up to the summit be sure to take your hiking shoes and appropriate sports clothing with you. But no matter how far you go, spectacular views over the Calpe and the coast will accompany you the entire time.
Penon de Ifach round trip from the Information Centre is 3.3 kilometers and should take you about 2.5 hours. To learn more about the trail please visit calpe.es website.
Important note. It’s mandatory to make a reservation to visit the Penon de Ifach, so be sure to book your visit in advance on parquesnaturales.gva.es website. If you get caught without it, you might get a fine.
Calpe Old Town
Another great thing to do in Calpe is to explore its charming old town. It’s located on a small hill and is full of narrow cobbled streets decorated with colorful murals and mosaics that invite you to slowly explore them.
One of the most characteristic places of Calpe Old Town is the colorful Calpe Staircase, located on the Calle Puchalt. Another place of interest that you can’t miss is Plaza de la Villa with the Church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, and Torreó de la Peça with ancient city walls remains. Also, the newest addition is a lovely mural with a woman holding a flower called ‘Para ti’ (For you).
Discover: Accommodation options in Calpe
Church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves
Church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves is located in the heart of Calpe Old Town on Placa de la Villa square. It was built in the 1970s with modern and solid forms in mind. It was last rebuilt in 1996 after a fire that broke out during some festivities. While inside, take a look at frescoes and beautiful stained glass windows in its ceiling. From the outside admire the interesting mosaic on the building’s facade representing some scenes from the Old and New Testament.
Torreó de la Peça
A few steps from Plaza de la Villa you’ll find town walls and Torreó de la Peça, a tower that was part of a defensive system that consisted of a double wall belt surrounding the city. It protected the city from numerous pirate attacks in the 16th and 17th centuries. “La Peça” means a piece of artillery that has defended the urban center and was hidden in the tower. Currently, the wall is rebuilt and has two English cannons at its feet.
Calpe Beaches
Chilling on one of the town’s beaches is definitely one of the best things to do in Calpe, especially on a sunny day. Everyone will find a beach perfect for themselves, as the town has a lot to offer – from beautiful wide golden sandy beaches to more intimate and secluded beaches and rugged coves. And all with great views of mighty Penon de Ifach mountain and crystal clear, blue sea waters.
Playa La Fossa is the most famous, Blue Flag beach in Calpe. Another beach with this title is Playa del Arenal Bol, located just a few steps from Calpe old town. Other noteworthy beaches and caves are Playa del Cantal Roig, Cala El Racó, Cala La Calalga, Platja Mascarat, and Cala La Calalga.
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Calpe Promenade
One of our favorite things to do in Calpe is to stroll along its long promenade that stretches for about 2.5 kilometers above sandy Arenal-Bol Beach. It’s mostly flat, well-maintained, and provides spectacular views over Calpe Rock. Along it, you’ll find numerous restaurants and bars, and plenty of places to rest. Also, don’t miss the Instagram-worthy spot with the Calpe sign!
Along Calpe Promenade you’ll also find Baths of the Queen (es. Los Baños de la Reina) which back in its days served as… Roman fish farms! The name is a bit misleading, isn’t it?
Port of Calpe
Port is located at the foot of the Penon de Ifach mountain. In Calpe, around 1.700 tons of fish are caught per year, using the trawling or trammel (triple dragnet) methods. Each day, from Monday to Friday between 5 pm and 8 pm, the fish auction at the port’s fish market takes place. During this very popular event, local fishermen sell their fresh goods.
Right next to the port, you can also find a harbor for leisure boats and a few restaurants that serve fresh seafood.
Book now: Calpe Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine
Cove El Racó
After coming down from Peñón de Ifach or after visiting the port you can go and see El Racó Cove. It’s a 70-meter cove with crystal waters that attract many divers. The interesting fact is that El Racó Cove has an underwater trail, with signs showing the way, so if you’re into diving you probably will appreciate this place.
Promenade Princesa de Asturias
Promenade Princesa de Asturias begins at El Raco Cove, near the Port of Calpe. It’s about a 15-minute walk (one-way) at the foot of the Calpe Rock, available for pedestrians only. During the walk along the broad pedestrian walkway, you can admire Penon de Ifach on one side, and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. You’ll also be able to observe a great variety of local fauna, especially the resident birds, such as the yellow-legged gull, peregrine falcon, common kestrel, or Eurasian collared dove.
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Calpe Salt Flats
Salt flats (es. Las Salinas de Calpe) are located close to Penon de Ifach mountain, in the middle of the town center. They were used to make salt out of seawater. It was an important resource during Roman times used to preserve food (fish and meat). The exploitation of Salinas continued until 1988, and in 1993 Las Salinas was declared a maritime zone and a protected natural area.
Today Las Salinas de Calpe is home to many migratory birds that find a resting place here. Amongst them, you can spot the beautiful and elegant pink flamingos and white storks. Moreover, you can enjoy the beauty of the area thanks to a circular walking trail that will lead you around the flats. Advice: put the binoculars in the backpack so you can see the birds up close.
Viewpoint: Mirador Morro de Toix
Mirador Morro de Toix is a viewpoint located on a hill, about 5km west of Calpe’s town center, however, you can get there easily by car. You can enjoy spectacular views over the Calpe and the coast from the top.
Practice Water Sports
Calpe offers many water sports opportunities. So diving, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and windsurfing are readily available. If you’re a water sports enthusiast you’ll definitely find something for yourself.
Discover: Accommodation options in Calpe
How to get to Calpe, Spain?
Calpe is located about 25km from Benidorm, 10km from Altea, and 65km from Alicante. The most convenient way to get to Calpe is by car or by tram.
Where to park in Calpe?
If you’re traveling by car you can choose from many parking lots in town, both free or paid. We recommend leaving the car in this paid parking lot, located very close to both Old Town and Arenal-Bol Beach.
Airports near Calpe
The closest airport to Calpe is located in Alicante (75km away). The next ones are located in Valencia (130km away) and Murcia (165km away). All airports offer bus/tram connections with Calpe. You can check them on rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit: Rentalcars
To Calpe by tram
From many places, you can easily reach Calpe by tram. For example, a trip from Benidorm will take about 35min (€1-3), 1.5h from Alicante (€2-4), and 20min from Altea (€1-2). To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Remember that the tram stop in Calpe is located on the outskirts, so you will need to take a bus to get to the center.
To Calpe by bus
You can also very easily reach Calpe by bus. ALSA bus service operates most routes, so you can also check available connections on ALSA website.
To Calpe by taxi
You can get fast to Calpe by taxi, but it will be the most expensive choice. For example, a trip from Benidorm will cost you about €40-50, from Altea €23-30, and from Alicante €150-190. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Things to do in Calpe, Spain – Summing up
Now you know what are the best things to do in Calpe. It’s a truly charming place on Costa Blanca, isn’t it? No matter if you’ll be visiting it only for a weekend or if you’re planning on staying a little longer – we’re sure that you’ll fall in love with this place. Enjoy your time in Calpe and later let us know how you liked it.
Our opinion about Calpe
For us, a visit to Calpe was a day trip from nearby Benidorm where we lived for a few weeks. We visited the town in November and during that time there weren’t too many tourists and the town was already fairly quiet, preparing for low season. As for our opinion, we really enjoyed our day in Calpe. Strolling among its old town streets and hiking Penon de Ifach was a pure pleasure, seasoned with amazing views. Until today it’s one of our favorite places on Costa Blanca.
Update. We visited Calpe again 3 years later (also in low season, in January) and we hold to our opinion – it’s truly a lovely town!
Book now: Costa Blanca Full-day Off Road Tour
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Calpe?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Calpe:
Where to sleep in Calpe?
Hostel SEA&DREAMS
Hostel SEA&DREAMS is a cozy and modern hostel located just 200 meters from the Arenal Bol beach in Calpe, Spain. The hostel offers private rooms and shared dormitories, a terrace with sea views, and a communal kitchen for guests to use.
Port Europa
Port Europa is a beachfront hotel located in the heart of Calpe, offering stunning views of the Mediterranean sea and the famous Ifach rock. The hotel features comfortable rooms, outdoor pool, direct access to the beach, and an on-site restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine.
Apartment Corbeta
Apartment Corbeta is a cozy and modern accommodation option located in Calpe with a private terrace offering stunning views of the sea and the famous Penon de Ifach rock. The apartment is fully equipped with all the necessary amenities to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
