Places to Visit, Costa Blanca South
There are so many places to visit on the Costa Blanca, both on the cost and further inland that we have divide the Costa Blanca into two sections, the North - Alicante to Denia and The South - Alicante to Pilar de la Horadada. This page will concentrate on the SOUTHERN area.
The word Costa Blanca literally means "White Coast" and the Costa Blanca covers an area of over 200 kilometres (120 miles) on the Mediterranean coastline in the Alicante province, on the south eastern coast of Spain. It extends from the town of Dénia in the north, beyond which lies the Costa del Azahar (or Costa dels Tarongers), to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, beyond which lies the Costa Cálida. There are plenty of places to visit on the Costa Blanca.
The name "Costa Blanca" was supposedly invented in 1957 by "British European Airways", which advertised their flights from London to Valencia with this slogan.
Southern Costa Blanca Area
Elche, Santa Pola, Tabarca Island, Novelda, Orihuela, Guardamar del Segura, Torrevieja, The Orihuela Costa is located in the south of Costa Blanca, this area includes La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Dehese de Campoamor, Villamartin, Pinar de Campoverde, Los Dolses, La Fuente and Mil Palmeras
Alicante, Alcoy, Algar Waterfalls, Altea, Alfaz del Pi/Albir, Benissa, Biar, Benidorm, Calpe, Cocentaina, Denia, El Campello,, Elda-Petrel, Guadalest, Jalon, Javea, Jijona, Moraira, Ondara, Orba, Ontinyent, Teulada, La Villajoyosa, Xativa
Many of the places listed above in the North are easily accessible by local trains or buses, or hire a car for a few days to really explore the area
Discover the Best Beaches on the Costa Blanca
Click on the links for a FULL information page on each location.
ALICANTE, Coastal, included on this page as its sort of the north/south divide
Alicante is a port city and the capital of the Alicante province. Its old town, Barrio de la Santa Cruz, has narrow streets, coloured houses and a lively nightlife scene. From here, an elevator or a steep climb leads to medieval Castillo de Santa Bárbara, set on a hilltop with sweeping views of the Mediterranean coast. For lots more information and the top 10 things to do in Alicante click here
ELCHE (ELX)
Elche is also known as the City of Palms as it is located within the largest Palm forest in Europe. This city has two international UNESCO awards; one for its palm groves and the other for its religious play, the Misteri d’Elx which the people of the city have performed annually in August since Medieval times. The week’s play is rounded off with one of Spain’s loudest firework displays know as the Nit d’Alba.
Elche is Situated about 1 hours drive from Benidorm and well worth a visit. More information HERE
Places to Visit, Costa Blanca South
SANTA POLA (Coastal)
Santa Pola is situated on the Costa Blanca South it is a popular holiday destination for many, especially the Spanish themselves, its close proximity to the Airport helps and it is only a few miles from Alicante city.
Unlike many of the other nearby coastal towns, Santa Pola remains busy all year round as it is a working town with a busy port, every evening you can see the fishing boats return with their daily catch. The port also has a lovely marina. More information can be found HERE
TABARCA ISLAND
The tiny island of Tabarca is one of the top tourist destinations within the Costa Blanca. A visit here is just like stepping back in time, although it can feel quite crowded during the height of summer as over 4,000 people visit it daily! In 1986 the island and and its surrounding waters were declared a protected marina and bird reserve. MORE INFORMATION HERE
ROJALES - (Inland)
Situated in the La Vega Baja region 102 km from Benidorm, epitomizes the essence of a quintessential Spanish agricultural village, boasting the scenic River Segura meandering through its heart and showcasing traditional cave dwellings that encapsulate the rich history of the region.
Nestled inland from the sun-kissed coastal stretch of Guardamar del Segura, on the southern Costa Blanca, Rojales enjoys a prime location that seamlessly blends the allure of rural tranquility with proximity to the vibrant coastal atmosphere.
NOVELDA (Inland)
Novelda is a municipality located in the province of Alicante, in the region of Medio Vinalopó. referred to as ‘The Grapes Valley’. This area is famous for its grapes and wine production.
Novelda is also known as “The City of Saffron.” Throughout history, this spice has been a major export for the city. Marble also plays an important part in this area, manufacturing and processing of marble is the main industrial activity in the city, some of most important marble and lime mines are located here, clay, gypsum and silica mines are also found in this area. That is why it is also known as the Marble World Centre all over the globe.
The top attractions to visit in Novelda are: Santuario Santa Magdalena, Casa Museo Modernista, Castillo de la Mola, Iglesia Arciprestal de San Pedro Apostol. MORE INFORMATION HERE
GUARDAMAR del SEGURA (Costal)
Guardamar is located at the mouth of the Segura river and that explains how Guardamar got its name as the Guardian of the Sea (In Spanish guarder is to guard and mar is sea).
Guardamar is well know for its miles of fabulous sandy beaches, pine forests and sand dunes, another famous landmark is the Castillo (castle) which sits to the west of the town. The town itself is very Spanish. MORE INFORMATION HERE
ORIHUELA (Inland)
The city of Orihuela is full of museums and religions buildings, the town center is declared a historic and Artistic Monumental due to its rich heritage. Even if you are not a “cultural” lover, Orihuela is worth a visit. Take a walk beside the Rio Segura which runs trough the city where you will find many nice shops, restaurants and tapas bars.
The old part of the city is to the north of the Segura River, the new part on the south. Historic buildings include the 14th-century cathedral; the Church of Santiago (once a mosque; rebuilt in the 18th century). Places to visit the 14th-century Church of Santas Justa y Rufina, with an 18th-century facade; and the College of Santo Domingo (1516–1701), the former university. MORE INFORMATION HERE
TORREVIEJA (Coastal)
Torrevieja is situated on the Costa Blanca, approximately 45 minutes south of Alicante airport, about an hour and a half drive from Benidorm (113km)
The name Torrevieja comes from the small tower that used to look down over the harbour.
It isn’t a resort in the package holiday sense, there are only a few hotels and the area is much loved by the Spanish who flock here during the summer months for their holidays. The town is surrounded by excellent urbanisations, all with pools and beautiful gardens and the whole area enjoys fabulous beaches with fine sand and crystal clear waters. FIND MORE INFORMATION HERE
THE ORIHUELA COSTA
The Orihuela Costa is located in the south of Costa Blanca, this area includes Punta Prima, La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Dehese de Campoamor, Villamartin, Pinar de Campoverde, Los Dolses, La Fuente and Mil Palmeras.
The Orihuela Costa is the perfect place for beautiful sandy beaches, there are 11 beaches, which stretch for over 16 km, it is also well known for its fantastic golf courses such as Campoamor, Las Ramblas and Villa Martin. FIND LOTS MORE INFORMATION ON ALL THE PLACES MENTIONED ABOVE HERE
LA ZENIA BOULEVARD, SHOPPING CENTER
La Zenia Boulevard shopping center is the largest in the province of Alicante, situated on the Orihuela Costa, south of Torrevieja about 1hr 15 mins drive 120km from Benidorm via the AP7 or an hour and a half via the N332 109km.
It is a shopping center designed for visitors to enjoy and have fun, with something for everyone, its beautifully designed with over 90 different species of vegetation and cooling water sprays during the hot summer months, there are plenty of rest areas, a giant LED screen where you can enjoy the best sporting events and the most interesting documentaries, as well as a stage for free concerts and performances. FIND MORE INFORMATION HERE
TORRE de la HORRADADA, More information to follow
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PLACES TO VISIT ON THE COSTA BLANCA NORTH
Obviously there are many more towns and villages to visit, if you would like to see a certain place listed on the page above please comment below and we would be happy to produce an information page.
