Costa Blanca

Popular with holidaymakers for years, the Costa Blanca is a 200 km coastline and a firm favourite summer holiday destination. Meaning the ‘white coast’, this region on the eastern side of Spain is home to some of the best-known resorts in the country including Alicante and Benidorm. The main resorts have a more modern feel, but the local towns and villages show traditional Moorish influences in architecture.

When to go

The Costa Blanca coastline receives traditional Mediterranean weather, with summer months reaching up to 29℃.

The summer months are also the best time to jump in the sea as temperatures can reach up to 25℃. January and winter months average at 11℃ daily and generally receive the most rainfall.

Top Attractions

The most popular area on the Costa Blanca is Benidorm. Benidorm itself is worth a visit whether you’re staying there or not. Not only is it home to the TV series, it is full of all kinds of sounds and sights you’d never see anywhere else on earth. All its skyscrapers make it almost as cosmopolitan as New York City.

A short drive away is the ice mountain Serra Gelada rising over 300 meters above the coastline. The mountain can be climbed by foot or on 4x4s to reach the best view in eastern Spain.

A visit to Calp, a town full of history, tapas bars, old Spanish churches and atmosphere could easily be a highlight of any trip.

The Algar Waterfalls are a great way to escape the Mediterranean heat where you can swim in crystal clear waters.

Beaches

The White Coast has some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean on its 200 km long coast, and some worth visiting are:

• Playa de Levante - Known as the sunrise beach, this sandy stretch has 5000 sun loungers and is busy in high season. There are diving boards, slides, rafts and a water playgrounds available on this beach.
• Playa de la Fossa - Located in Calpe, this beach offers views of the Penyal d'Ifac park. Boats are also available in the harbor to take out on fishing excursions.
• Playa de la Albufereta - This 500m long beach and its glorious palm trees is one of the best beaches to find that bit of shade in the summer.
• Cala Finestrat - Located in Benidorm, this beach is better suited for families and holidaymakers wanting to escape all the hustle and bustle you usually find in Benidorm.

Culture

The culture of Costa Blanca can be seen through festivals, art history and heritage sites and visitors can get a taste of this wherever they choose to visit during their trip.

Dining

One of the most significant qualities that draw people to the Costa Blanca is the range of restaurants and bars to try. Whether it be traditional tapas or even French or Italian, there’s a multitude of restaurants to choose from. Following the motto ‘do as the locals do’ some of the best dishes to try here include paella, any fresh fish dishes, tapas, grilled vegetables and while you’re at it, a glass of the region’s finest sangria wouldn’t hurt!

Entertainment

When the sun goes down on the Costa Blanca, the nightlife is something to see. Benidorm is where most of the action happens as it’s home to the famous clubs and hosts DJs in high season. You can also visit Alicante for cocktails and tapas if you prefer a more relaxed scene.

Although they are the main hubs for nightlife, the rest of the coast have karaoke bars, flamenco clubs and open-air venues to enjoy.

Adventure and Sports

There are many water and theme parks on the Costa Blanca and the top ones to visit include:

• Terra Mitica - an ‘around the world’ theme park
• Aqualandia - a water slide park
• Mundomar - a smaller version of SeaWorld
• Terra Natura - a wildlife theme park.

While visiting Costa Blanca there are many excursions and tours to take part in as well, including quad biking, jeep safaris and gold and diving schools.

Getting Around

Exploring the Costa Blanca couldn’t be easier as it’s just a 6-mile journey from Alicante airport.

If you’re staying in Alicante and want to travel to places like Benidorm or Torrevieja and see the best sights, a local bus is available to hop on. Taxis are available all around the Costa Blanca to take you anywhere you need to go. There’s also a railway line running from Alicante to Denia with stops along the way.

But, for those with a stomach for the sea, skip the roads and head for a boat. Alicante, Benidorm, Altea and Calp are all linked by the water and boats are readily available to travel around.