Altea

Altea is a charming seaside town of 22,000 people (2018) on the Costa Blanca of Alicante province. Visitors are drawn by its good weather, its beaches and its charming old town.

Understand

Due to its advantageous location the area has been settled since Iberian times, and later Greek colonists established a market town here named Althaia. The town later came under Roman, Visigothic, and then Moorish control. Following the reconquista and the arrival of Jaime I in the 13th century the town was fortified; remains of these city walls can still be seen today around the old town.

Tourism came to Altea in the 1950s, yet in contrast with many stretches of the overdeveloped Costa Blanca, especially nearby Benidorm, the town has retained its Spanish identity and character. There are two primary districts, which include the largely commercial beachfront and the picturesque casco antiguo, or the original old town, with its labyrinthine cobblestone alleys and whitewashed houses.

Get in

By rail
  • 🌍 Estación del TRAM (Tram Station), Carrer de la Mar, ☏ +34 900 720 472. Tram Alicante (el Trenet) operates a light rail train connecting all major settlements along the coast between Dénia and Alicante, with the exception of Xábia. The travel time from Alicante, which is easily reached from the rest of Spain by high-speed Renfe trains, is just under two hours, with a changeover in Benidorm. There is a helpful official app (iPhone and Android) with a route planner and timetables. A single journey costs €1.35-7.15, depending on distance. Guide dogs and small pets in carriers are permitted. (updated Jun 2017)

By bus

Llorente Bus runs bus routes 010, 012, and 031 from Benidorm, with five stops in Altea. Interactive schedules and route maps are available online.

By boat
  • 🌍 Mundo Marino, Mundo Marino Altea, s/n, ☏ +34 966 423 066. Tu-Su 09:00-19:30. From May through September they operate a catamaran tour from Altea; in May, June, and September departures are three times a day, on Thursdays and Saturdays, while in July and August departures are four times a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. A round-trip ticket costs €15, and the journey lasts 50 minutes. The day at Sea is €55 including barbecue, and the sunset cruise is €22 per person including a glass of champagne (updated Jul 2017)

Get around

Parking in the Casco Antiguo is restricted to residents only; there are several free car parks on the periphery. The old centre and the port area are both easily accessible by foot, provided you are reasonably fit and able to navigate steep hills.

Llorente Bus routes 027 and 028 both travel to the northern beaches of Platja del Cap Negret and Platja de l'Olla.

See

Casco Antiguo

Also known as the Poble Antic or El Fornet, the central old part of town has charming narrow streets with typical white houses and many steps.

  • 🌍 Església de la Mare de Déu del Consol (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo / Church of the Virgen of Consuelo). At the highest point of town, near the site of the former castle. Its two blue- and white-tiled domes are considered to be the town's emblem. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Torre de Bellaguarda. A reconstructed 16th-century watchtower. It is accessible from the street via a short staircase. Free. (updated Aug 2017)

Galleries
  • 🌍 Fundacón Eberhard Schlotter (Fundación Eberhard Schlotter), Carrer Costera dels Matxos, 2, ☏ +34 965 842 857. Tu-Sa 10:00-13:00 17:00-20:00. Established in memory of German painter Eberhard Schlotter who lived and worked in Altea until his death in 2014 and housed in a 17th-century residence, the foundation has a permanent collection of the artist's works and hosts rotating temporary exhibits. It also is a venue for workshops and concerts, and has a small giftshop. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Museo Navarro Ramón, Pont de Moncau, 14 (Casa de Cultura), ☏ +34 914 015 195, . Summer: M-Sa 09:00-14:00 16:30-21:30; winter: M-F 09:00-14:00 17:00-22:00, Sa 10:00-13:00. The small museum has a permanent exhibit of works by local painter Juan Navarro Ramón (1903-1989), with two other rooms used for temporary exhibits. (updated Jun 2017)

Other
  • 🌍 Templo del Arcángel Miguel (Church of St Michael), Carrer Noray, 1 (NW of town). The first Russian Orthodox church built in Spain is a striking replica of a wooden 17th-century Russian church. It was completed in 2002 from entirely Russian construction materials, mostly from the Urals region, and using only Russian labor. (updated Jun 2017)

Do

Festivals and cultural events
  • El Castillo de la Olla (La Olla Fireworks). 2nd Saturday of August. (updated Jul 2017)
  • Moros i Cristians (Moros y Cristianos / Moors and Christians). Between Friday and Tuesday of the fourth weekend in September. The annual Moors and Christians festival is very popular. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Palau de Altea, Carrer d'Alcoi, 18, ☏ +34 966 881 924. A venue for a range of performing arts, including theatre, dance, and music. Well-known musicians who have performed here include José Carreras, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Julio Iglesias. (updated Jun 2017)

Beaches

The beaches closest to town, 🌍 Platja del Cap Negret and 🌍 Platja de la Roda, are generally stony. 🌍 Platja de l'Olla, also stony, is a bit further north, but is worth visiting for its good selection of chiringuitos (see description below in 'Eat') and can be visited with Llorente bus 027. Dogs are permitted on 🌍 Platja Mar i Muntanya (near the Hotel SH Villa Gadea). The nearest sandy beach is 🌍 Platja del Racó de l'Albir, just south of Altea and easily reachable by Llorente buses 010 or 031, or by tram.

Buy

A number of artists and artisans live in town, and there are galleries and studios, along with the requisite souvenir shops, lining Carrer Sant Miguel and Carrer Major and other alleys near the main church. In the summer there is a nightly open-air 🌍 Mercado de Artesanía (handcrafts market) in the Plaça de l'Església just by the church, featuring local handcrafts and souvenirs.

  • Street market (Near the railroad). Every Tuesday morning. Rather large market. No food, only clothing, hardware etc... 
  • 🌍 Mercadillo de frutas y verduras (Fruit and vegetable market), Av. de la Nucía. Tu 08:00-14:00. A weekly street market with local fruits, vegetables, nuts, olives, and other food products, with many organic products. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Mercat Municipal (Mercado Municipal / Municipal Market), Av. L’Alt Rei En Jaume I, 4 (main entrance). M-Sa 07:30-14:30. The town's main market is a good place to pick up fresh fish, produce, and meat, and has an onsite delicatessen and bakery. (updated Jul 2017)

Eat

An Altean variation of coca, a Catalán/Valencian style of pizza, is coca a la llumà, which in Altea is baked in a special wood-fired oven, traditionally on Thursdays. North of the old town along the Platja de l'Olla (l'Olla Beach) are a number of chiringuitos, seasonal restaurants open in summer only which serve snacks, drinks, and full meals.

Bakeries
  • 🌍 Panadería el Petenero, Carrer la Sèquia, 13, ☏ +34 965 840 601. M-Sa 07:00-14:00. Operating for more than 100 years, this baker is especially well-known for its coca a la llumà. It's best to arrive early before they run out, or to reserve the day before. They can also make on request a non-traditional vegetarian version without the blood sausage and bacon. (updated Jul 2017)

Budget
  • 🌍 La Taberna Roja, Carrer del Portal Vell, 25, ☏ +34 965 044 548. M-F 18:00-01:00, Sa 13:00-01:00, Su 13:00-24:00. This popular tapas place is especially known for minxto, a specialty of the Alicante region typically served with aioli. All seating is outdoors on a pleasant terrace. Tapas €7-10. (updated Jul 2017)

Mid-range
  • 🌍 Chiringuito El Cranc, Platja de l'Olla, s/n, ☏ +34 965 843 439, . Summer: daily 12:00-18:00. A popular chiringuito directly on the beach which serves a range of traditional Valencian dishes and drinks – the paella is especially recommended. Reservations by telephone only. Tapas €8-13, mains €9-20. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Crown of India, Carrer Major, 2, ☏ +34 865 673 259. Tu-Su 12:00-16:00 18:00-24:00. Serves authentic Indian cuisine with friendly service, and has a very pleasant rooftop seating area with great views of the old town and the harbour. Tip: if you prefer the food spicy, rather than less spicy as Spaniards generally prefer, request so when placing your order. Reservations are required for rooftop seating. Mains €8-12. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Mamarosa Ecoburgers & Bar, Carrer Concepció, 12, ☏ +34 865 675 368. Daily 06:00-23:00. Known especially for hamburgers and veggieburgers, all meals here are made with organic, locally-sourced ingredients, and there are many vegetarian and vegan options. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially in summer. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 El Perro Negro, Costera Pont del Montcau, 13, ☏ +34 965 840 633. M-Th 19:30-23:00. Operated by a French chef, serves very creative dishes. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Restaurante Ca Mezquida, Carrer de Cuesta de las Narices, 40, ☏ +34 965 841 383. W-M 12:00-17:00 19:00-23:00. The well-regarded restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine with a selection of Moroccan wines, and has a few vegetarian options. Mains €8-12. (updated Jul 2017)

Splurge
  • 🌍 Restaurante La Capellá, Carrer Sant Pau, 1, ☏ +34 966 880 484, . M Tu 12:00-16:00 20:00-24:00, W 12:00-16:00, Th-Su 12:00-16:00 20:00-24:00; closed in Feb, last 2 wks in Sep, and Nov. Serves classic regional dishes including such specialties as coca a la llumá and espencat, a Valencian-style salad. Reservations can be made by telephone or online. Online reservations are temporarily closed. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Restaurante Oustau de Altea, Carrer Major, 5, ☏ +34 965 842 078 (reservations can be made after 17:30). Sep-Jun: Tu-Su 19:00-24:00; Jul-Aug: daily 19:00-24:00. Probably the most well-known restaurant in Altea, serves French-inspired Mediterranean cuisine in a very pleasant courtyard. €30/person, not including drinks. (updated Jun 2017)

Sleep
  • 🌍 Hotel Altaia, Carrer Sant Pere, 28 (port), ☏ +34 965 840 800, . Check-in: 13:00-24:00, check-out: 08:00-11:00. A beachfront modern hotel with an onsite restaurant, bicycles available for rent, free parking (reservation required), and free Wi-Fi. All rooms have sea views. Pets permitted for €10+/night. Doubles €84+, breakfast €10. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Hotel La Serena, Carrer Alba, 10 (Casco Antiguo), ☏ +34 689 627 562, . Check-in: 15:00-24:00, check-out: 08:00-12:00. A small boutique hotel with an onsite bar, spa and sauna, outdoor pool, bicycle rental, and free Wi-Fi. Parking €15/day (reservation required), pets permitted on request. Doubles €220+, including breakfast. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Hotel Tossal d'Altea, Partida Plà del Castell, 96, ☏ +34 966 883 183, fax: +34 966 882 693, . Check-in: 14:00-24:00, check-out: 08:30-12:00. It's in a 300-year-old converted Altean farmhouse and olive mill, and has a highly regarded restaurant, Almàssera de Guillem, which can accommodate special diets on request. Other facilities include an outdoor pool, fitness centre, and sauna. Free Wi-Fi and free parking. Doubles €85, including breakfast.. (updated Oct 2017)
  • 🌍 SH Villa Gadea, Partida de Villa Gadea, s/n (Platja de l'Olla), ☏ +34 902 453 015. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 08:00-12:00. It's on the beach, and gas four onsite restaurants, an outdoor pool, fitness centre and spa, and free Wi-Fi. Parking €11/day (reservation required). All rooms have a terrace. Doubles €240+, breakfast included. (updated Jul 2017)

Camping
  • 🌍 Camping Santa Clara, Partida Cap Blanch 11, ☏ +34 965 842 356, . Check-in: Daily 08:00-14:30 16:30-21:00. Can accommodate tents, campervans, and caravans. Facilities include toilets and showers, an onsite bar-restaurant and shop, and self-service laundry. Pets permitted with prior notice. (updated Oct 2017)
  • 🌍 Camping Cap-Blanch, Ctra Playa Cap Blanch, 25, ☏ +34 965 845 946, . Check-in: M-F 08:00-22:00, Sa Su 08:00-21:00. Has spots for tents, campervans, and caravans, and also has bungalows and wood cabins for rent. Also has toilets/showers, laundry facilities, fitness centre and tennis courts. (updated Oct 2017)

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