Travel Guide To Costa Blanca, Spain

The 'white coast' is mainland Spain's most popular year-round holiday area, including not only lively Benidorm and other well-developed resorts and the elegant provincial capital Alicante.

The Costa Blanca is renowned for its immaculate beaches and Lively Benidorm sports two Blue flag beaches which shelve gently into the Mediterranean which makes them great for swimming. The liveliest beach Levante, is considered to be among the top 10 beaches of the world so it’s no surprise that sometimes it gets a little crowded. Most of the beaches here face south which makes it an ideal resort to catch the rays for as long as the sun shines. The Costa Blanca’s principle city, Alicante, overlooks the sea with its Postiguet beach and vast swathes of sandy beaches can be found at La Albuferta and Saint Joan. The Costa Blanca, is a shoppers dream.

Bargain hunters will love the market at Altea. Wander through it’s narrow streets overlooked by a delight of whitewashed houses arranged around a pretty blue-domed church as you shop for handbags, wallets and other fine leather goods for which Spain is renowned.

The nightlife in Benidorm is legendary, whether you want to dance the night away or prefer a quieter night with fine wine and Tapas.

Waterskiing, windsurfing, snorkelling, pedaloes, golf and tennis are all widely available.

Food: British tastes are well catered for but the local seafood is varied and cheap and the paellas and tapas are always reliable.

Nightlife: Benidorm is Costa Blanca party central, with extensive restaurants, pubs, and discos. Things get quieter to Benidorm's north and south.

Shopping: Do a shopping raid on Lladro for porcelain, jewellery and perfume. Try Altea for leather and lace and, if you're after a pair of shoes, Alicante is the place.

Days out: Storm the Moorish castle at Guadalest or take the old town of Benidorm and then you can bring your captives to the Aqualandia Waterpark.

Events: Fiesta runs through mid-November. There are Easter parades and a carnival at the beginning of March. Tourist information telephone number (UK): +44 (020) 7486 8077.

Whether they are pagan festivals, like the carnivals, or religious, like the patron saint fiestas, the romerías, country processions, or the Holy Week celebrations, the Costa Blanca calendar always has something to celebrate.

Additional Costa Blanca Information

Albir
(90 mins from Alicante airport). Most suitable for couples and older singles who want to be within easy reach of Benidorm, but prefer a more relaxed atmosphere.

Benidorm
(90 minutes from Alicante airport). Benidorm´s beaches and range of leisure amenities explain why has it has become Costa Blanca´s main tourist area. 24 hours and seven days of serious fun for all ages and tastes with plenty of watersports, beautiful, clean beaches at Levante and Poiente, a charming old town as well as the lively Rincon de Loix area.

Benissa
(105 mins from Alicante airport). At the northern end of the Costa Blanca, it's built around a busy Spanish village and a quiet coastal area. Best suits couples.

Calpe (Calp)
(50 minutes from Alicante airport, using the A7 autopista). Calpe is dominated and almost split in two by the 328 metre high Peñón de Ifach, which the Romans regarded as the northern 'twin' of the rock of Gibraltar. There are glorious sandy beaches, a long and impressive promenade and a great, cosmopolitan atmosphere in the town. However, the climb to the top of the rock is the one, unique challenge of Calpe.

Denia
(60 minutes from Alicante airport, using the A7 autopista). A fast-growing shopping and business centre. Ferry terminal to Ibiza in Summer and a busy fishing port. The historic castle dominates from it's isolated hill. Take a roadside coffee on the beautiful main street 'Marques De Campo'. Plenty of good restaurants, many specialising in fish. Try the picturesque, single-track 'Lemon Express' train to Alicante along the coast. Market: Monday morning.

Jávea (Xabia)
(65 minutes from Alicante, using the A7 autopista). A town in three sections: the old centre, (a kilometre inland); the port, and; the newer beach area. The port consists of the small fishing fleet and a good marina; average shops and restaurants; a small shingly beach and a specialist area for wind-surfing. The best hotel in the local area, one of Spain's national Parador hotels, is by the idyllic half-moon bay, white-sand beach area.

Moraira
(55 minutes from Alicante airport, using the A7 autopista). A newer resort which is growing rapidly. Excellent, but often expensive restaurants abound. Sandy beaches and rocky inlets. Hardly more than a village at the centre but boasts a most impressive and well-used marina.

Airport Transfers from ResortHoppa.com