All About ALTEA

Altea views

All About ALTEA

GETTING TO ALTEA FROM BENIDORM CATCH THE NO. 10 BUS. anywhere along the Avenida Mediterraneo COST 1.55€PP

Altea is without doubt one of the most charming towns on the Costa Blanca North. It's old town is packed full of character and the impressive church with its blue and white tiled dome roof has to be one of the most photographed landmarks of the area.

The N332 splits the town in half. On one side are the sandy and pebbly beaches which are backed by the long promenade and the marina. On the other side of the road is the old and new town. The tram station and busy Tuesday morning market are both to be found in the new town.

The impressive church overlooks whitewashed buildings and a bustling square, filled with quality restaurants and cafes that encourage you to linger over lunch. Inside the church is flooded with light through the glorious stained glass windows and the murals and sculptures on display are equally beautiful.

Back outside look at the bell towers and you'll notice that one of the three, destroyed in the Spanish civil war, has been left as a symbolic reminder of the destruction that conflict causes.

The cobbled streets, filled with wrought iron balconies overflowing with flowers, urge you to explore. Wander by the stylish shops selling handmade pottery, jewellery and other artifacts and you can see the old walled town has a unique charm.

The many small art galleries reflect that Altea was a haven for artists because of the fabulous light experienced here and along with the artisans, writers and musicians they gave the place a bohemian feel.

The Old Town Square at Altea

Finally don't miss the opportunity of a photograph of the views. From the church square you can enjoy the vista of the sweeping bay, the mountains and a distant Benidorm with its high rise buildings.

Places of interest and ideas of things to do in Altea

    • Old Town: steep cobbled streets packed with character, restaurants and shops.
    • Market: large Tuesday morning.
    • Church: Nuestra Senora del Consuelo with famous blue and white tiled dome.
    • Beaches: sandy and shingle beaches.
    • Promenade: long beach front with great selection of bars and restaurants.
    • Marina: at southern end of town.
    • Tram Station: for tram south to Benidorm and Alicante or north to Denia.

Ideas of places to twin Altea with day or night

      • Enjoy a morning wandering around the old town of Altea, exploring its cobbled streets and popping into the craft and gift shops. There are lots of characterful restaurants for lunch, then take a walk down to the beach and a stroll along the promenade.
      • Spend the morning in the hustle and bustle of the large street market, which is held every Tuesday near the new town. Then jump on the tram and visit Denia for a bit of lunch before enjoying the return journey back through the beautiful scenery of the Costa Blanca North.
      • Visit the tourist magnet that is the nearby Fonts del Algar waterfalls, afterwards head to Altea for a walk along the long beach front promenade and a filling menu del dia at any of the lovely restaurants which line it.

Altea Marina

Parking: is in the car park and is free

From here: walk down to the port, turn left and walk away from the boats for the sandy beach and promenade.

Altea Market Large Tuesday Morning

Altea Tram Station

From here: there is only one platform which is used by the trams going north and south. Buy your tickets on the tram.

Beaches

It is very pretty and scenic and a great place to eat or drink.

The beach of Altea is over 5 km long and is divided into the stoney Cap Negret beach to the north of Altea, followed by the La Roda beach next to the old town and the largest beach the Cap Blanc to the south which blends into the coast of Albir.

Altea and the hills surrounding

Some kilometers away from Altea you will find the mountain area of Sierra de Bernia which reaches up to 1130 mt high hills. From that area you will have a nice view on the Altea area and the coastline. All around Altea there is a huge construction boom happening over the past years. Not so much along the coastline but more in the hills surrounding Altea.

Main Fiestas in Altea

The fireworks of Castell de L’Olla, in August, and the festivities of Moors and Christians, in late September.

 

 

Comments   

0 # Jean Dormand 2019-10-08 10:53
It’s lovely there and pleased my son had hired a car a couple of years ago and he took us to the top as no way would I have managed that climb.
Shame the bus doesn’t go there.xx
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0 # Top 20 things to do on the Costa Blanca - Benidorm Seriously 2017-07-12 23:59
[…] All in all Altea is a pretty town, popular with both holidaymakers and those fortunate enough to be able to live in the area; For lots more information on Altea click HERE […]
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0 # Russell Colclough 2019-08-26 20:46
As I was on holiday in Benidorm I visited the town of Altea. A place I have been meaning to go to, as recommended by other travellers. Benidorm is a great place full of energy and life, however, I needed to get away and have some time on my own. So I got on to the bus from Benidorm to Altea. The cost of the journey was very reasonable, although a bit of a bumpy ride. Arriving in Altea, I walked to the bridge at the far end of the town, and then following the river back inland. There are lots of nice pathways and scenery along the way. A host of colour, wildflowers and dragonflies, the natural garden of the river bank. With the heat of the day, I was quite thirsty, no people around, and I had nothing to drink. A bit foolish of me as I do things spontaneously, and don't think.  Sometimes life is a bit more exciting that way. l climbed over a fence and picked some lemons off a tree to quench my thirst. I did look for the farmer for permission but there was nobody around. I took some photos of the surrounding area and some of me, which is a bit vain I know. We all do it from time to time, maybe it gives us a sense of importance, after all, we are only human. I returned back to the bridge and then on to the beach. At this point, I was in need of a cold beer. To my rescue, a small bar standing alone on the Pebbly beach. The freshening wind, the waves crashing to land. With my cold beer, that I drank immediately, and then another, just sitting enjoying watching the beauty of nature. Stress-free feelings with the tranquillity of the day. I could see the old town all around the hillside, with a church at the highest point. Walking up to the old town. There was a labyrinth of cobbled streets and steps leading up to the church on the hill. The small houses presented beautifully painted in white, with the dressing of colourful flowers that gave me the feeling I have found the real Spain. It was no disappointment, my expectations were surpassed by the architecture and culture, the laid back stress-free ambience of this historic place. The plaza by the church had restaurants all around, enticing, with the aroma of traditional Spanish food. A place where poets and artists can enrich their own creativity with a little help from the beautiful surrounding of Altea. The old town is a sleepy place, sometimes awoken with fiestas and fun. I would recommend you visit Altea, and also recommend sitting on the middle part of the bus as you will not feel the bumps so much. I returned to Benidorm ready for the evening fun.
Sometimes you need some time on your own, to have pleasant thoughts, and realise how lucky you are, because there is always somebody worse off than you. The old town of Altea is a place where I could grow old, but in reality, it belongs to the generations of the people of Altea, retaining there customs and culture. Not for the wealthy home seekers. A respectful visit is enough.
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