Costa Blanca, Spain: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Costa Blanca is the coastline of the province of Alicante, in southeastern Spain, with about 200 km of beaches and coves between Dénia in the north and Pilar de la Horadada in the south. The name was created in the 1950s to promote the region, and its reputation came from the dry, sunny climate with mild winters, which attracts Northern Europeans year-round.

Alicante (Alacant in Valencian) is the provincial capital and the gateway, with an international airport and high-speed train. The city grew at the foot of Monte Benacantil, crowned by the Castillo de Santa Bárbara, and its center includes the Explanada promenade, with wave-patterned mosaic paving, the old quarter of Santa Cruz and the Postiguet beach. Boats leave from there to Tabarca island.

About 45 km to the north lies Benidorm, which in the 1950s shifted from fishing to tourism and filled the waterfront with tall buildings that became the city's hallmark. It has two long beaches, Levante and Poniente, separated by the old town promontory with the Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint. Inland behind the coast, the mountains hide villages like Guadalest, perched on a cliff with a castle, and the waterfalls of Fonts de l'Algar.

The TRAM light-rail connects Alicante to Benidorm and the coastal towns.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Alicante, Benidorm.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Costa Blanca is

Outlines: IGN/CNIG, unidades administrativas, CC BY 4.0. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Costa Blanca

✈ Aeropuerto de Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández (ALC), in Elche · 12 km to Alicante

Check before booking. Alicante–Elche airport is 12 km from Alicante and about 60 km from Benidorm. From Madrid, the high-speed train takes about 2h20 to Alicante; from Valencia, about 2 hours.

Suggested arrival point: Alicante

Comunidade Valenciana · Costa Blanca Suggested arrival point

Alicante

Alicante (Alacant in Valencian) is the capital of the province of the same name and the gateway to the Costa Blanca. The Castillo de Santa Bárbara dominates the city from the top of Monte Benacantil, and below are the Explanada de España, the old quarter of Santa Cruz and Postiguet beach in the center. Boats depart from the port to Tabarca island.

Comunidade Valenciana · Costa Blanca

Benidorm

Benidorm is the beach town of the Costa Blanca, 45 km from Alicante, known for the skyline of skyscrapers that began to rise in the 1960s, when the fishing village shifted from fishing to tourism. It has two long beaches, Levante and Poniente, separated by the old town and the viewpoint Balcón del Mediterráneo. It serves as a base for the island of Benidorm, Guadalest and Fonts de l'Algar.

The local experience

Things to do in Costa Blanca

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Castle

Castillo de Santa Bárbara

Fortress atop Monte Benacantil, 166 meters above the sea, with walls from different periods, viewpoints over the city, the port and the coast, and an elevator that starts by the beach.

Benidorm · Comunidade Valenciana · Beach

Playa de Levante

Beach of about 2 km east of the old town, with fine sand, calm sea and a promenade with bars and restaurants, with Benidorm's skyscrapers in the background.

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Street

Explanada de España

Promenade by the port, with a mosaic pavement of 6.5 million pieces in red, black and cream waves, four rows of palm trees and a bandstand.

Benidorm · Comunidade Valenciana · Beach

Playa de Poniente

Beach of about 3 km west of the old town, quieter than Levante, with an undulating, colorful promenade designed by the architect Carlos Ferrater.

See 11 more places in Costa Blanca

Benidorm · Comunidade Valenciana · Viewpoint

Balcón del Mediterráneo

White-and-blue viewpoint at the tip of Benidorm's old town, on a rock between the beaches of Levante and Poniente, with views of the island and the bay.

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Church

Basílica de Santa María

Gothic 14th-century church built over the main mosque, with a Baroque light-stone façade, two unequal towers and a gilded Rococo main altar. It is the oldest church in Alicante.

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Cathedral

Concatedral de San Nicolás de Bari

Renaissance and Baroque church from the 17th century, with a 45-metre blue dome and a 15th-century cloister, seat of the diocese of Orihuela-Alicante together with the cathedral of Orihuela.

Benidorm · Comunidade Valenciana · Boat trip

Isla de Benidorm

Triangular islet facing the bay of Benidorm, a marine nature reserve with a trail to the top, seabirds and clear waters for snorkeling, about 15 minutes by boat.

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Historic neighborhood

Barrio de Santa Cruz

A neighborhood of white houses and flowered stairways on the slope of Monte Benacantil, above the old town, with sea views and access to Parque de la Ereta and the castle.

Benidorm · Comunidade Valenciana · Historic village

Castell de Guadalest

Medieval village perched on a cliff in the mountains, 25 km from Benidorm, with a castle, a bell tower on the rock, small museums and views of a turquoise reservoir lake.

Benidorm · Comunidade Valenciana · Park

Fonts de l'Algar

A set of waterfalls and natural pools of cold, clear water on the Algar river, in Callosa d'en Sarrià, about 15 km from Benidorm, with walkways and a bathing area.

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Museum

MARQ Museo Arqueológico de Alicante

Archaeological museum in the former Hospital de San Juan de Dios, with rooms about the Iberians, the Romans of Lucentum, Muslim Alicante and underwater archaeology.

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Beach

Playa del Postiguet

Urban beach with light sand in the centre of Alicante, at the foot of Castillo de Santa Bárbara, with a promenade, kiosks and the entrance to the elevator up to the castle.

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Village

Isla de Tabarca

Small island about 20 km from Alicante, with an 18th-century walled village, a church, a lighthouse and Spain’s first marine reserve, roughly one hour by boat from the harbor.

Alicante · Comunidade Valenciana · Museum

MACA Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante

20th-century art museum in the former grain warehouse of 1685, beside the Basilica of Santa María, with works by Miró, Picasso, Dalí, Chillida and Tàpies.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to June and from September to October the sea is usually good for swimming and the beaches are less crowded. July and August are hot and packed, especially in Benidorm. Winter is mild and dry, popular with European retirees, but the water is cold. In June, Alicante usually holds the Hogueras de San Juan.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days in Alicante cover the castle, the city center and a day at the beach or a boat trip to Tabarca. Benidorm requires one or two days for the beach. If you have a car, set aside a day for Guadalest and Fonts de l'Algar. Four or five days let you do everything without hurry.

Which city to stay in

In Alicante, the center between the Explanada, the Rambla and the Mercado Central puts everything within walking distance and close to Postiguet beach; San Juan beach, farther away, has seafront hotels. In Benidorm, Levante beach concentrates the nightlife and large hotels, while Poniente is quieter and more family-oriented. The old town lies between them, with tapas bars and smaller hotels.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Costa Blanca

Where is the Costa Blanca?

It is the coastline of the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community, between Dénia and Pilar de la Horadada. The main cities are Alicante and Benidorm.

How to get from Alicante to Benidorm?

By the TRAM, line 1 of the metropolitan tram-train, which takes about 1h10 with a change at Luceros or La Isleta. There are also direct buses, which are faster, and the drive is about 45 km.

Is the Costa Blanca good in winter?

For sightseeing, yes: winter is mild and dry, with sunny days. For swimming, the sea is usually cold from December to April.

Do I need a car on the Costa Blanca?

Not for Alicante and Benidorm, which are connected by the TRAM and buses. A car helps for inland villages like Guadalest and for more remote coves.

When are the Hogueras de Alicante?

They usually take place in June, ending on the night of San Juan, from the 23rd to the 24th, when the street monuments made of papier-mâché are burned. Check the dates for the year.

Costa Blanca

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.