Street of Altea old town.

© Julia Lav/Shutterstock

Altea Old Town

Top choice in Costa Blanca


It's an easy 10-minute stroll back from the beach to this tight-knit hilltop warren of whitewashed houses. It's visually very beautiful and, though the main street and plaza are very touristy, you can find some quieter corners. Three miradors give different perspectives over the coast.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Costa Blanca attractions

1. Fish Auction

7.04 MILES

Head down to the fishing port, in the shadow of the mighty Peñón, to watch the day's catch get auctioned off in the lonja (fish market).

2. Castillo de San José

9.6 MILES

This ruined castle, perched on a rock, offers the best vistas of the area. To reach it you pass through Casa Orduña, a beautiful village house with its…

3. Museo de Saleros y Pimenteros

9.6 MILES

Call by the Museo de Saleros y Pimenteros for its sheer quirkiness. Its cabinets cascade with more than 20,000 salt and pepper pots of every imaginable…

4. Castillo de Dénia

18.86 MILES

From Plaza de la Constitución steps lead up to the ruins of Dénia’s castle, from where there’s a great overview of the town and coast. The castle grounds…

5. Playa de San Juan

24.74 MILES

Northeast of the town, Playa de San Juan, easily reached by the tram (Costa Blanca stop), is larger and usually less crowded than the city beach.

6. Palacio Ducal dels Borja

26.23 MILES

Gandia’s magnificent palace was built in the early 1300s and was for centuries the home of the Borja dukes of Gandia, who included the Jesuit saint…

7. Lucentum

26.53 MILES

The ruins of the Roman town of Lucentum, a forerunner of Alicante, lie about 3km east of the centre in the locale of Tossal de Manises. Excavations have…

8. Museo Arqueológico de Alicante

28.62 MILES

This museum has a strong collection of ceramics and Iberian art. Exhibits are displayed to give the visitor a very visual, high-tech experience, and it's…

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