Altea
Altea at a Glance
Costs: Moderate: $60-130/day - mid-range hotels and seaside dining; peak season raises prices.
Safety: Very safe, tourist-friendly - low crime; family-friendly atmosphere.
Best Time: May-June and September-October - warm weather and fewer summer crowds.
Why Visit Altea?
Perched on the Costa Blanca, Altea attracts visitors with its whitewashed old town, narrow cobbled streets and the blue‑domed Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo that crowns the hill. Galleries, craft shops and a promenade along Playa de la Roda complement local cuisine-fresh paella and seafood-served in seaside restaurants. The town’s artistic atmosphere and compact historic center make it an appealing, relaxed counterpoint to larger coastal resorts.
Best Things to Do in Altea
Cape
Cap de la Nau
Rocky headland with cliffs and a lighthouse
Park
Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park
Limestone reef towering over Calpe, important nature reserve
Temple
Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba
Medieval Valencian monastery with Gothic and Mudejar elements
Mountain
Montgó Massif
Limestone massif near Denia with coastal panoramas
Island
Benidorm Island
Small rocky islet off Benidorm coast, scuba destination
Mountain
Aitana (mountain)
Highest peak of Alicante's Sierra Aitana massif
Mountain
Puig Campana
Prominent coastal mountain near Benidorm, popular climbing
Castle
Cocentaina Castle
Medieval fortress overlooking Cocentaina town
Altea Bucket List
Don't Miss
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo - White-walled church with iconic blue-tiled dome overlooking cobbled Old Town.
Casco Antiguo de Altea - Narrow streets filled with galleries, artisan shops, and panoramic sea viewpoints.
Paseo Marítimo y Puerto de l’Olla - Seafront promenade lined with restaurants, cafes, and small fishing boats.
Palau Altea (Centro Cultural) - Cultural centre hosting concerts, exhibitions, and local performances throughout the year.
Hidden Gems
Mercado Municipal de Altea - Local market selling fresh produce, fish, and traditional Alicantine specialties.
Sierra Helada viewpoints - Sierra Helada natural park’s coastal paths offer quiet hikes and sweeping sea views.
Rincón de los Artistas (small galleries) - Cluster of independent galleries showcasing regional painters and ceramics in Old Town.
Day Trips
Guadalest (Castell de Guadalest) - Hilltop village with a medieval castle and small museums, roughly thirty minutes inland.
Calpe - Peñón de Ifach - Iconic limestone rock and coastal trails with beaches and coastal village atmosphere nearby.
Benidorm - Coastal resort with theme parks, beaches, and boat trips reachable by short drive.
Nearby Cities #
Best Time to Visit Altea
Altea enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate; summers are warm and beach-focused, while winters stay mild and quieter. Spring and autumn offer the best compromise of pleasant weather and fewer tourists.
Summer
Sunny, beach-friendly weather with warm sea temperatures - expect crowds and lively seaside restaurants and bars.
Winter
Mild, quiet and pleasant for walking the old town and coastal promenades - cooler evenings make dining alfresco brisk but enjoyable.
Spring / Autumn
Balanced temperatures, blooming gardens or soft autumn light - ideal for strolling, climbing the castle and avoiding peak-season crowds.
Temperate climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 5°C to 32°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very Good | 5° - 16° | 11° | 21 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 3.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.7h |
| February | Very Good | 6° - 18° | 12° | 22 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 4.0 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.6h |
| March | Very Good | 8° - 20° | 14° | 22 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 4.0 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Excellent | 10° - 22° | 16° | 28 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 4.1 m/s | 1.3 high | 13.1h |
| May | Excellent | 13° - 25° | 19° | 30 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 3.7 m/s | 1.8 very high | 14.1h |
| June | Ideal | 17° - 29° | 23° | 16 mm | mostly sunny | 71% | 3.6 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 14.6h |
| July | Ideal | 19° - 31° | 25° | 6 mm | mostly sunny | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 14.4h |
| August | Ideal | 20° - 32° | 26° | 8 mm | mostly sunny | 72% | 3.3 m/s | 1.9 very high | 13.5h |
| September | Ideal | 17° - 29° | 23° | 35 mm | some cloud | 72% | 3.3 m/s | 1.3 high | 12.3h |
| October | Excellent | 13° - 24° | 19° | 51 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 3.5 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.1h |
| November | Very Good | 9° - 20° | 14° | 36 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 3.6 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.0h |
| December | Very Good | 6° - 17° | 11° | 29 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 3.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.4h |
How to Get to Altea
Altea on Spain’s Costa Blanca is easiest reached via Alicante airport (ALC) with direct bus or train connections along the coastal corridor. Trains and ALSA buses link Altea to Alicante, Benidorm and Valencia.
Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández (ALC): Alicante is the nearest major airport to Altea. From ALC you can take the C-6 bus or a taxi to Alicante city station then an ALSA bus or Cercanías/medium-distance train toward Benidorm/Calpe and a short bus or taxi to Altea; total door-to-door time is about 45-75 minutes. Taxi from the airport to Altea takes ~40-50 minutes (around €50-80).
Valencia (VLC): Valencia is another option but farther away (about 1.5-2 hours by road). From Valencia airport use trains or ALSA buses to the Alicante/Benidorm corridor then a local connection to Altea.
Train: Renfe Cercanías and regional trains run along the Alicante corridor; Altea has a railway station on the Alicante-Valencia line (some trains stop here). Trains from Alicante to Altea take around 30-40 minutes; ticket prices normally €3-€8 depending on service.
Bus: ALSA operates regular buses between Alicante, Benidorm and Altea (and onward to Calpe); buses are frequent on the corridor and a direct ALSA bus from Alicante to Altea takes about 40-60 minutes with fares typically €4-8.
How to Get Around Altea
Altea is well served by coastal buses and regional trains from Alicante and Benidorm; for convenience take ALSA or the Renfe regional services, or hire a car to explore the Costa Blanca.
- ALSA bus (€4-8) - ALSA runs frequent services between Alicante, Benidorm and Altea. Buses are comfortable, air-conditioned and a reliable coastal option - good for budget travellers and those without a car.
- Renfe regional / Cercanías train (€3-8) - Altea has a rail stop on the Alicante-Valencia line; regional trains are a quick, pleasant way to travel along the coast. Check timetables as not every service stops at every small station.
- Taxi / Private transfer (€45-90) - Taxis and private transfers from Alicante airport or stations offer the most convenient door-to-door travel, particularly with luggage or late arrivals. Expect higher cost but fast transfers.
- Car hire (€25-70/day) - Hiring a car is ideal for exploring Costa Blanca towns and beaches at your own pace. Roads are good and parking in Altea’s old town can be tight - park outside the historic centre and walk in.
- Bicycle / Scooter (€8-25/day) - Nearby coastal areas and promenades are popular for cycling; bike rental is a good option for short local trips though hills around the old town can be steep.
- Walking - Altea’s old town (Casco Antiguo) and seafront promenade are best explored on foot. Narrow cobbled streets and steps require comfortable shoes.
Where to Eat in Altea
Seafood & Seafront
Altea’s coastline defines its eating scene: fresh Mediterranean seafood, seaside chiringuitos serving paella, and a small municipal market for local produce and fish.
- Cap Negret - Seafront dining with rice and seafood
- (Suggested) Seafront restaurants and chiringuitos - Beachfront paellas and cold tapas
- Mercado Municipal de Altea - Fresh fish and local produce stalls
Old Town & Tapas
The old town focuses on relaxed tapas culture: narrow streets, outdoor terraces, small plates and local wines ideal for evening strolls.
- Old Town tapas bars - Terraces near the church, small plates
- Local tapas bars - Informal tapas and regional wines
- Cafés and terraces - Coffee, cakes, light Mediterranean bites
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Altea’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in Altea
Altea’s evening scene is relaxed and centered on tapas bars, seafront restaurants and occasional live-music nights in summer. The old town offers atmospheric night-time dining rather than noisy clubs. If you want late-night dancing or a bigger club scene, head to Benidorm or Alicante.
Shopping in Altea
Altea has a pleasant mix of independent galleries, artisan shops and boutique stores in the old town, plus souvenir and beach shops along the seafront. Weekly markets and small artisan stalls are common, especially in tourist season. For supermarkets and larger chains, use the commercial areas near the station or nearby larger towns.