Wondering which Costa Blanca towns to add to your bucket list for your next trip to Spain?
After living in Costa Blanca for nearly a year, I’ve visited most of the towns in the region more than once. I’ll tell you this: there are so many wonderful towns in Costa Blanca that you probably want to visit them all.
To help you out, I’ve listed my top picks below. Some are perfect beach towns to base yourself in for a week, while others are good for a day trip.
Read on to find your favorites and start planning your Costa Blanca itinerary now!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
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Best Costa Blanca Towns
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa is one of the most colorful towns in Spain, which makes it a unique Costa Blanca town. With its colorful old town, this fisherman’s village is a laid-back destination perfect for you if you want to relax for a few days by the beach.
Walking around Villajoyosa Old Town takes you through narrow streets, past creative street art, and historical sights.
If you’re a chocolate lover, one of the best things to do in Villajoyosa is to visit the chocolate factory where Valor Chocolate has been produced since 1881.
Not sure if it’s the right spot for you? Check out my complete review: Is Villajoyosa worth visiting?
Altea
Altea has been one of my favorite coastal towns in Costa Blanca for a long time due to its charming, bohemian old town.
Perched atop a hilltop overlooking the coast, Altea Old Town is perfectly whitewashed, and the narrow streets are inviting with the many restaurants, bars, and art shops.
Besides the old town, some of the best things to do in Altea include kayaking along the cliffs towards Calpe. I highly recommend this kayak tour.
While the beaches aren’t sandy like in other Costa Blanca towns in this post, they are nothing short of beautiful. You can also find all the necessary amenities on the beaches of Altea.
Not convinced that Altea is the right destination for you? Check out my complete post with pros and cons of visiting Altea.
Javea
Javea is a lovely little town near Denia, which took us by surprise. Its medieval historic center is super charming, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars with delightful, local tapas.
Among the top places to eat, you find the food market, which is set in a historical building itself.
Other things to do in Javea that you shouldn’t miss are to see the Riurau, where raisin grapes were dried back in the day, and the old library and cinema are really interesting too.
In the hills overlooking Javea, you can hike to the old windmills, which today are missing their wooden blades, but the views from there are unmatched.
Calpe
Calpe is perfectly located on the coast in front of the iconic Peñon de Ifach, offering one of Alicante´s most impressive hikes.
The coastal town has beautiful beaches and even a lake in the middle of town where you can go for relaxing walks and spot flamingos among other birds.
This makes it the perfect spot for nature lovers. At the same time, Calpe Old Town is charming, and there’s plenty to do, like chasing the best street art.
Still not convinced that this is the right place for you? Check out my honest review post: Is Calpe really worth visiting?
Denia
Another one of my favorite coastal towns of Costa Blanca is Denia. Not only is it full of history and charm, it’s also a center for gastronomy.
After walking around the old town, exploring museums, strolling through the castle grounds, and enjoying the views, make sure you taste some proper paella. We really enjoyed the paella at Tasca Les Monges.
I also recommend heading to Denia Street Food Market, where you can try different street food and have drinks. It’s a really nice spot!
Dena also has some fantastic beaches for those hot summer days, where all you need is to dip your toes in the water. For the winter months, Denia’s incredible nature also offers an array of hiking opportunities.
Finestrat
If you’re looking for a quiet escape from the busy Costa Blanca beach towns, I highly recommend heading to Finestrat.
This is a small but charming town just a 15-minute drive inland from Villajoyosa and a 20-minute drive from Benidorm.
This is also a great base for hiking enthusiasts as the gateway to one of the mightiest hikes in Valencia, Puig Campana. You can see the iconic mountain from different places in the village.
We weren’t able to hike it when we went as there were still Pine Processionary Caterpillars out at the time, and they can be deadly to dogs, so we couldn’t take Atlas. But we’ll be back!
Finestrat doesn’t have a whole lot of attractions, but I recommend walking around the old town, chasing the viewpoints, visiting the Church of San Bartolomé, and making sure you see the cute hermitage on top of the old castle grounds.
Castillo de Finestrat is where the castle used to be back in the Middle Ages, but today there’s only a nice park where you can enjoy the views.
Santa Pola
Santa Pola is an old fishermen’s village on the Costa Blanca coast with an intriguing heritage. I highly recommend visiting the museums in the old castle to learn more about the history of Santa Pola and especially the seafarer heritage.
There’s a nice beach and a small marina where you can check out the traditional, wooden fishermen’s boats.
Just outside the town, head to the lighthouse at Cabo de Santa Pola to see the views of Tabarca Island and explore the war bunkers. Besides, there are plenty of hiking trails if you need to spend some time in nature.
Finally, Santa Pola is also known for its Pink lakes and many flamingos that you can see there.
Guadalest
Even though it’s half an hour from the coast, I can’t leave out Guadalest on this list of Costa Blanca towns. It’s a fantastic day trip from any of the above towns, really.
The location is so picturesque, overlooking the Guadalest Reservoir. The main attraction and basically the only thing to do on a day trip to Guadalest is to visit the castle.
It includes a museum and then a walk up the castle where you get to the very top where the sweeping views easily will take your breath away!
If you decide to stay more than a day, there are plenty of hiking routes in the area worth checking out, including around the reservoir.
Summing up the towns in Costa Blanca
Summing up, there are so many lovely towns in Costa Blanca that it might be hard to decide where to go. If you’re on a road trip in Spain, you should consider visiting more than one of these!
Either way, I hope you found some towns here that resonate with you to start planning your Spain itinerary.
If you plan a van or RV vacation in Spain, make sure you read my guide to campervanning in Spain.
Happy travels!