Calpe holidays

Holidays to Calpe are a blend of old and new, from Roman ruins and historic churches, to a seafront promenade studded with modern bars and restaurants.

Showing its roots

Calpe is one of the most popular holiday hotspots on Spain’s south-east coast, but it hasn’t always been about beaches and bars. For centuries it depended on fishing and salt production, and the town’s old quarter is still a far cry from the modern seafront. You’ll find Gothic churches and Roman ruins among the streets, plus cafés serving authentic Spanish tapas.

In with the big boys

Calpe is right near the tip of Spain’s Costa Blanca, and within easy reach of the region’s busiest resorts. You can get a ferry to Ibiza from Denia, the next town up, and if you head south you’ll reach Benidorm’s neon glow in half-an-hour. Further along the coastline you’ll find Alicante and Valenica, where bustling ports share the spotlight with cosmopolitan city centres.

Winds of change

Having embraced the holiday buzz, Calpe is all kitted-out for the annual surge of visitors. Its marina has a Blue Flag tick, and comes surrounded by seafood restaurants and open-fronted shops. Trace a path around the headland, and the second beach is backed by a similar line-up of eateries and lively bars. There’s a ribbon of high-rise hotels overlooking the beach, too, but they’re all dwarfed by the colossal Penon d’Ifach.