visit benidorm: Altea

A nice and popular excursion from Benidorm is the picturesque town of Altea. Old white houses on a steep hill, a church on top, cute, creative shops and a boulevard near the water with a lot of restaurants. What could be wrong with that?

Wall painting of Altea.

Altea is reachable by bus and by tram. We took the tram and just a quarter of an hour later, we got of at the station of “Altea”. From there, you will find the old town. Just head up the hill. The narrow roads can be steep, so it could be a hard time for people with wheelchairs or mobility scooters...

Basically, you cannot go wrong if you head towards the bright blue domes of the church on top... When you reach the top, you can go and have a look at the free viewing point. This gives a dramatic view on Albir and the steep hills that separate Albir from Benidorm.

To rewards yourself for climbing the small hill, you can always have a drink on one of the fine terraces at the town square.

The shops are on the street starting at the townsquare. You will find it. The shops sell all sorts of creative stuff: handmade jewelry, art, paintings, antiques, clothes... Even if you are not interested in buying something, Altea (and most off the towns in the Costa Blanca) is a nice change from the brand shops you will find in other places.

The old town of Altea seen from
the beachfront

There are also some restaurants, some really offer amazing views on the surrounding. The beautiful zigzagging streets lead to the beachfront. Altea doesn't really have a real beach. There is a nice promenade though, with loads of restaurants offering great deals, some shops and a yachting harbor.

Altea is a fine excuse to leave Benidorm. One can tell that Altea attracts other tourists then Benidorm. Quite lounge bars, art shops, cobbled streets which look abandoned every evening and the kind of tourists who drape their sweater around their necks... Nothing to be afraid off. I really like Altea and the atmosphere in that little town. Even the inhabitants like there town, everywhere you see nice potted plants outside in the streets, giving it even more charm as it already had.

Marketdays are on Tuesdays. There is a fruit and vegetable market in the old town, which also sells herbs and nuts... The big tourist market is also on Tuesdays. To get there, ask directions at the locals, because it is not in the center of town. If you come by tram and want to visit the market, get off at the second stop of Altea, “Garganes”, and go into the big street on the left. If you come by bus (very crowded), you will notice a lot of people getting off the bus at the stop near the market. You could always ask the driver or a another passenger on the bus...

Do visit Altea, it is a short bus or tram ride away from Benidorm and really worth visiting. If you hurry, you could do the excursion in a couple of hours, but why would you hurry in such a tranquil environment...

Practical information

Altea can be reached by bus or tram. We took the tram, because it rides more frequently and gets there faster. For most people, the bus number 10 would be a better option, because you wouldn't have to walk all the way to the tramstation in Benidorm. The bus rides does the ride in 50 minutes and -especially on marketdays- can get crowded.
From Marco Polo Expeditions, there is a family bike ride (I believe twice a week) from Benidorm to Albir and Altea. They give some free time to roam once you get there. The guide knows beautiful small roads away from traffic.
If you go by rental car, you could visit Calpe and Altea on the same day. This would also be possible by tram, but it could turn out to be a long and though day. Give yourself a break, you're on holiday.
From July to September, there is a small crafts market on the main square of the old town from 19h until 1 am.
Most people go to the old town in the late afternoon. There is a cozy atmosphere of people strolling around the shops and restaurants and sitting on the terraces.