The 8 Best Things to Do in the Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca has a reputation for beaches and resorts, but that’s only part of the picture. What makes this stretch of Spain work so well is how easily you can shape your days. Short drives will take you from the sea into the hills.

Your mornings can be active, while your afternoons can slow down almost on their own.

This is a place that doesn’t ask you to rush. The best experiences here tend to stretch out, linger longer, and overlap. Here are a few ideas that can anchor your trip, not because they’re flashy, but because they settle naturally into the rhythm of the coast.

1. Wander the Old Town in Altea

Altea encourages you to move slowly without saying so outright. The old town is uphill, and the walk up is gradual enough that you’ll stop often, partly for the view and partly because there’s no reason not to.

Whitewashed streets curve gently, opening onto small squares and lookout points over the sea. It’s worth giving Old Town a few hours, rather than treating it as a quick stop. Have lunch after the walk, not before, and let the afternoon thin out naturally as the light starts to shift.

2. Settle In at a Cala, Not a Main Beach

The Costa Blanca’s calas are small coves tucked between headlands, and they feel very different from the wide, urban beaches. They’re usually reachable by footpaths or short drives, which filters the crowds out even before you arrive.

This is the kind of place where you’ll arrive earlier than planned and stay longer than expected. Bring some water, something simple to eat, and plan to sit still for a while. Swimming will come and go, reading will happen in patches, and the day won’t need much structure beyond that.

3. Drive Inland to Guadalest

A drive inland to Guadalest will change the tone of the trip almost immediately. The road climbs quickly, the air cools slightly, and the landscape shifts from coastal developments to open hills.

Guadalest, itself, is small and easy to walk. You don’t need much time here, but the change in elevation and perspective will make it worth the half day. It also pairs well with a late lunch somewhere along the drive back down, letting the day feel full without being packed.

4. Walk the Seafront in Jávea

Jávea works well when you see that it’s really three places. There’s the old town inland, the port area, and the beach zone, each with a slightly different rhythm.

Walking along the seafront near the port in the late afternoon is a nice way to ease into the town. The pace here is steady, not hurried, and meals tend to stretch out. Jávea will reward you for staying in one area for a while, rather than trying to see everything all at once.