Costa Blanca is in the Alicante Province of the Comunidad Valenciana. It makes up part of the Mediterranean coast of Spain.
Exploring the beach towns and hidden calas of Costa Blanca was one of my favorite trips from my time living in Spain. This itinerary is ideal for small groups, couples, and even solo travelers who want to see a more peaceful side of Spain.
This itinerary requires a rental car. For the best prices, check out Discover Cars, Economy Bookings, or Rentalcars.com.
In order to rent a car, you’ll need an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) or someone with an EU driver’s license. IDPs are easy to get at your local AAA. Read this article to learn how to get your IDP.
When to go to Costa Blanca:
My friends and I went at the end of January, 2022. We had a great time visiting during the off-season, but you’ll get the best beach weather if you go sometime between May and October. Late June to early September will be the busiest time for your visit.
Where to start your road trip:
We began our journey by picking up the rental car from the Joaquin Sorolla Train Station in Valencia. I’ve rented from Centauro, OK Mobility, and Drivalia, but there are lots of rental companies to choose from at the train station and the airport.
Book your car ahead of time through Discover Cars, Economy Bookings, or Rentalcars.com to ensure that they have vehicles available that meet your needs.
Of course, you can start this road trip from anywhere, but it’ll be easiest from Valencia or Alicante. You can always choose the option “select different drop-off location” when booking your car.
After picking up the car, we drove about 2 hours to Alicante. The drive is relatively easy. You’ll take the V-31 highway to get out of the city, which will take you to the A-7 towards Ontinyent/Alcoi/Alacant (Alacant is Alicante in Valencian). You’ll drive past rolling green hills, rice fields, orange and olive tree orchards, and even some historic Spanish castles along the way.
Stop 1: Alicante
We arrived in Alicante at night and stayed with some friends, but there are also lots of options on Airbnb, Booking.com and Hostelworld.
Alicante (Alacant in Valencian) is one of the three major cities that make up the Comunidad Valenciana. It was first inhabited by Iberian tribes over 7000 years ago. Over many centuries, its position as on the coast made it a popular site for trading and exporting rice, oranges, olive oil, wine, and more.
Santa Barbara Castle
On our first full day, we went to the Santa Barbara Castle. You can hike up to it or drive to the public parking lot and walk in. There is also a bus (line CSB) that you can take.
Entrance to the castle is free. You can find information on its opening hours here.
If you’re interested in doing a more organized tour of the Santa Barbara Castle, Viator and Get Your Guide have some highly rated trips.
The Santa Barbara Castle dates back to the 9th century. It has been captured, conquered, and sieged. It has served as a prison and a Franco-era concentration camp. It has, without a doubt, withstood many tests of time.
After walking around the castle grounds, we went to La Milagrosa Rooftop Bar for some drinks. The bar had pretty views of the castle (and sangría, of course).
Dinner at Casa Mia Italia
We had dinner at Casa Mia Italia, a charming Italian restaurant run by husband and wife, Andrea and Barbara. The meal was on the expensive side, but the experience was unlike any dinner I’ve had. After Andrea does his theatrical, strictly-verbal presentation of the menu, he collects all of the orders in the restaurant at once. He takes pride in his work, and it shows. Call ahead to make a reservation.
There are many restaurants in the center of town if you’re looking for a more cost-effective dinner. This is also where you’ll find most of Alicante’s nightlife. Even in the middle of winter, the streets were filled with people gathering at tables for a drink.
Hit the Bars!
Here are some bar recommendations from a friend who lived in Alicante for a year:
Stop 2: Villajoyosa
On Day 2, we left Alicante and started making our way back up the coast. Our first stop of the day was Villajoyosa, about a 35 minute drive from Alicante.
There’s a free parking lot at the end of the beach.
Walk Around Villajoyosa
The name Villajoyosa (La Vila Joiosa in Valencian) translates to Joyful Town. I couldn’t think of a better description for what we experienced. Each street is lined with colorful houses, no two are alike. Strolling around felt like walking through a painting.
P.S. don’t eat the oranges off of the trees in town, they’re just for decoration. We learned the hard way.
Stop 3: Altea
We managed to make it to Altea for golden hour, and stayed until the sun went down.
Altea is postcard-worthy, to say the least. Its Greece-esque buildings make you feel like you’re on the set of Mamma Mia.
Sunset in Altea
We strolled through the Old Town, stopping in all of the little boutiques. While you’re walking around, you can see strips of the ocean to the east and mountains to the west, peaking between rows of white buildings with brown-tiled roofs.
It was the perfect place to watch the sunset.
Stop 4: Javea
We booked an Airbnb in Javea for the third night. Seeing Villajoyosa and Altea in a day is definitely possible, but if you want to spend more time in Altea you might want to book an overnight there.
Brunch at The Beach House Beach Club & Rooftop
We started the day at The Beach House Beach Club & Rooftop for brunch. We sat on their canopied rooftop terrace with a front-row view of the sea. Looking out over the edge of the balcony, we could see the tide gently crashing underneath us. Children and families were enjoying the late morning sun on the beach.
The Beach House has everything from Spanish-style breakfast menus to sandwiches, pastries, eggs benedict, and açai bowls. I chose the Mediterranean breakfast meal, which included toast with tomato spread, manchego cheese, Ibérico ham, tortilla de patata (a typical Spanish potato omelet), coffee, and orange juice.
Platja Granadella
After brunch we drove to Platja Granadella – Granadella Beach.
The drive from Javea town took about 20-30 minutes. As you near the cove, the road becomes quite small and winding. There is a parking lot right by the beach that fills up quickly during the summer. Luckily for us, it was nearly empty in January. If you do go in the summer, there is another parking lot further up the road.
For me, this was the highlight of the trip. The cove is surrounded by rocks and rolling green hills. You can walk up a little staircase that wraps around the side of the beach. The water is so turquoise that it glows. We would’ve stayed here all day (or maybe a week!) if it was warmer.
Cala Del Moraig
Next we went to see Cala Del Moraig.
The beaches are not far from each other in mileage, but there is only one route to get between them. It takes about half an hour.
Cala del Moraig is another stunningly beautiful hidden beach. It’s home to Cueva de los Arcos, rocks that have been shaped into arches by years of erosion from the sea. They form perfect frames of the Mediterranean.
We drove from Cala del Moraig to Dénia in the same day, but I recommend spending an extra night in Javea in order to make the most of the trip between Javea and Dénia.
Stop 5: Dénia
Dénia is another charming seaside town. We didn’t have enough time to truly explore it the first time around, but luckily we made it back for a trip with our favorite Españolas who knew exactly where to take us. The following recommendations are from our time in Dénia with them, so that you too can eat your way through the coastal food-lover’s paradise.
Brunch at Mala Vita
You can start your day at Mala Vita, a seaside brunch spot situated right on the port. Far from the “bad life,” their menu is stacked with delicious breakfast specials that come with coffee, orange juice, and a few different combinations of toasts, tortilla de patata, fruit, yogurt, croissants, etc.
Platja de Les Marines
After breakfast, head to Platja de Les Marines (8 min drive) or Punta del Raset (5 min drive or 30 min walk along the port) for some beach time. If you’re interested in hiking, there’s a hike to the top of Montgó mountain, which separates Dénia from its sister city, Javea.
Paella at Restaurante Mena
Hopefully you’re hungry, because you’ll want to have lunch (around 2pm or 3pm if you want to do as the locals do) at one of Dénia’s many paella restaurants. It’s a good idea to call ahead to make a reservation.
Due to it’s position at the center of the rice farming region, the Comunidad Valenciana is the true home of paella. Paella, which means “pan” in Valencian, is a rice dish cooked in a large pan. Although it was originally the working man’s dish, it has evolved into a world-renowned, highly-coveted delicacy. Trying seafood paella is an absolute must when you are traveling along the coast in the Comunidad Valenciana.
We went to Restaurante Mena (8 min drive down the coast) for lunch with a view.
Barrio Baix la Mar
Next, take a walk along the coast to digest. There’s a trail to the left of the restaurant that will take you down towards the sea. You can also take a walk around Barrio Baix la Mar, a centuries-old neighborhood that is home to the fishermen and sailors of the area.
Zena Lounge
When you’re ready for a drink, head to Zensa Lounge. It’s located right in the port. We had tequila sunrises as we watched the sunset.
Dinner at Els Magazinos
If you have room for more, head to Els Magazinos for dinner. It’s a street food market that’s home to a collection of restaurants and bars with outdoor and semi-indoor seating. You can get small bites, whole meals, or keep the party going with more sangria!.
Hit the Bars!
There is a universal truth that you’re always guaranteed a fun night at the Irish pub. After dinner, we headed to next-door neighbors Paddy O’Connell and Pub Dorian Gray. We also went to El Silenci Pub, a bar with colorful lights and an enchanting three-headed elephant painted on the ceiling.
Stop 6: Your Final Destination
After you’ve spent the morning recovering from the pubs, you can make your way back to Valencia or Alicante (or wherever you need to return your car). Even if you can’t get to all of them, the beach towns of Costa Blanca are definitely worth a visit during your next trip to Spain.
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This is amazing Sophie!!! Thank you ~ love you 💖🌸💖🌸