Altea holidays

Altea holidays make a nice alternative to more touristy spots on the Costa Blanca. They come with pint-sized coves, waterfront dining spots and a picturesque old town that nods to its heritage as the ‘City of Artists’ in the 1950s. Expect whitewashed buildings with heaps of Moorish resort charm, all circling around the blue-domed Nuestra Señora del Consuelo church.

A quiet Costa Blanca resort

Altea might rub shoulders with Benidorm, but the lively resort’s passion for partying hasn’t rubbed off on it. The absence of neon nightlife spots means there’s a much slower pace of life around here, with locals spending more time in traditional restaurants and seafront tapas bars than lining their stomachs at fast-food joints and ordering shots in clubs. Alicante and Valencia, two of the area’s biggest cities, share the same spot on the map, too. So, you can head out for a spot of sightseeing if you fancy a change of pace.

Beaches in Altea

You can take your beach bags down to the coast without worrying about if you’re too late to grab a spot on the sand, as Altea sits on an eight-kilometre stretch of coastline. There’s a good mix of sand-and-shingle beaches, cliff-backed bays and black-stone spots around here. Plus, if you love a Blue Flag number, Roda Beach meets the mark. Cap Negret’s best for watersports, and Playa de l’Olla is a must-visit in the summer – it hosts one of Spain’s biggest fireworks displays in the summer.

Excursions to Benidorm

Partial to a pint-drinking contest? Altea is just a 20-minute drive to Benidorm, so you can pack a few ‘out out’ options in your suitcase and dip your toes in the lively nightlife scene if you fancy it. Benidorm Old Town’s a nice place to start the evening before upping the ante and seeing what’s on the late-night entertainment agenda – usually, you’ll find live tribute acts getting crowds going before DJs take over for the night.