Altea: Domed Old Town, Pebble Coves and Serra Gelada Walks

Altea is a small town of about 24,600 people on the Costa Blanca coast, and it suits visitors who would rather have a steep whitewashed old town, pebble coves and coastal walks than a long sandy beach and big-resort nightlife. Stay here if you want a quieter base with the tram and the Serra Gelada trails close by. Skip it if soft sand is the point of your trip. It is part of our Costa Blanca guide, and this page covers the town as a whole; for a street-by-street walk through the historic centre, see our Altea old town guide.

Quick facts

• Where: Altea, Alicante province, in the Marina Baixa comarca on the Costa Blanca.
• Residents: 24,592 (1 January 2025, INE).
• Beach: yes. The local tourism board lists about 6 km of pebble beaches, small coves and cliffs; do not expect sand.
• Nearest airport: Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández, roughly 65 km by road.
• Tram: Altea has its own station on TRAM d’Alacant Line 9 (Benidorm–Dénia).
• Language: Valencian and Spanish are both used; Spanish works everywhere.
• Market: every Tuesday morning (see Food and drink for the location caveat).
• Known for: the blue-and-white tiled domes of the Nuestra Señora del Consuelo church, which gave the town the nickname “dome of the Mediterranean”.

Where to base yourself

Altea is compact, and the choice of base is mostly about whether you want to be among the old-town stairs, near the water, or out on the hills. The town has two clear characters, and most visitors pick one of three bases.

The old town

The historic centre climbs a hill topped by the church, with steep cobbled lanes and many steps. Staying here puts you among the artists’ workshops, craft shops and small squares, and you can reach the viewing points on foot. The trade-off is the climbing: it is a poor base for anyone with limited mobility or heavy luggage and no lift.

The lower town and seafront

Below the old town, the seafront promenade and the pebble beach of La Roda give you the water on your doorstep, together with the main shopping street and the fishing port. It is flatter than the old town and the more practical base for families and for people who want to swim before breakfast.

The coves and hills outside the centre

East and north of the centre the coast breaks into coves such as Cap Negret, Cap Blanc and Mascarat, and the Serra Gelada park lies beyond. This is the quietest option, but you will want a car or a taste for walking, because the old town and the shops are not on your doorstep.

If you want nightlife or a long sandy beach every day, look at neighbouring Benidorm or Calpe and treat Altea as a day trip.

Things to do

Altea rewards slow walking more than ticking off sights. Plan on one full day for the town and a second for the coast.

The old town and the domed church

The Comunitat Valenciana tourism site suggests starting at the Portal Vell, one of the entrances to the old walls, then walking down Calle Salamanca, which has 18th- and 19th-century houses, past the Maño roundabout and on to the Portal Nou. At the top is the Nuestra Señora del Consuelo parish church, whose dome is covered in blue and white ceramic tiles. The square in front gives views across the bay, and the site lists the Bellaguarda Tower as a visit after the church. Our Altea old town guide goes through the lanes, viewpoints and quiet corners in more detail, so we do not repeat it here.

Artists’ studios and the Palau Altea

Altea has a long habit of attracting artists, and small workshops and studios are a common sight in the old quarter. For indoor culture, the Palau Altea arts centre at Carrer d’Alcoi 18 hosts theatre, dance, music, exhibitions and congresses. Its own site describes it as one of the most versatile stages in the Valencian Community, with an auditorium of 925 seats. Check its programme before you travel; what is on changes through the year.

Walking in Serra Gelada and the Bernia range

Serra Gelada rises between the bays of Benidorm and Altea and is a natural park. The Albir lighthouse trail is a 2 km walk that starts from a car park in the northern part of the park, in l’Alfàs del Pi. The tourism site describes it as accessible, with views over the bay of Altea and the Bernia range, cliffs and fossil dunes, and a lighthouse that now has a visitor centre next to the Bombarda Tower. Along the way you pass small coves, including one with remains of an old red ochre mine. For a longer day inland, the same site points to the Bernia range, with trails including the Forat de Bernia, which ends at a lookout over the sea.

Sea and sport

Three marinas offer water sports, and a small islet off La Olla can be reached by swimming or kayaking.

The Orthodox church on the Altea Hills estate, with its five domes, lies in the Altea Hills, away from the old town. A local visitor guide describes it as the first Russian Orthodox church built in Spain; we have not confirmed that claim ourselves, so treat the description as theirs.

Beaches and places nearby

Do not come for sand. The beaches are pebble and shingle, and a pair of swim shoes makes entering the water more comfortable. The tourism sites name these stretches:

• La Roda: the central town beach, with the promenade behind it. A local visitor guide calls it the most central and lively option.
• Cap Negret: a rockier, wilder stretch with mountain views and dark pebbles.
• Cap Blanc: a cove that the same visitor guide rates as the most practical for families and for people with reduced mobility.
• Mascarat: a beach and cove that the same guide recommends for snorkelling.
• La Olla and Cala del Soio: calmer coves, with the islet at La Olla for swimmers and kayakers.

Towns along the same coast make easy days out: Benidorm, where you change trams between Line 1 and Line 9, Calpe, Villajoyosa and, a little inland, La Nucía.

Other town guides nearby: L’Alfàs del Pi (about 5 km in a straight line), Finestrat (about 15 km in a straight line), Moraira (about 18 km in a straight line).

On CostaMap near Altea: Serra Gelada Natural Park (4 km) · Faro del Albir (l’Albir Lighthouse) (4.3 km) · Marina Greenwich (Altea) (5 km) · Polop de la Marina (7.2 km) · Algar Waterfalls (Les Fonts de l’Algar) (7.7 km) · Sierra de Bernia (7.8 km) · Levante Beach (Benidorm) (9.6 km) · Benidorm Castle and the Balcó del Mediterrani (11 km).

Food and drink

Altea is a fishing and sailing town, and the seafront promenade is known for rice dishes and fresh seafood, according to a local visitor guide. The same guide mentions a Tuesday market that sells fruit and vegetables grown in the region, traditional crafts and textiles.

The market is the one detail that local guides do not agree on. One lists it at the Parking de la Basseta, another gives two street addresses (Camino del Algar and Calle Ingeniero Muñoz), and a third places it between Carrer de la Filarmónica and the town hall square. Locations seem to have changed over the years, so ask at the tourist office or check the town hall before you go.

Where to stay

Altea has apartments, villas and hotels, and the supply is spread across the old town, the seafront and the hills. We have not quoted prices because we found no official price source; check live rates for your dates, and expect the summer weeks to be the most expensive.

• Old town: atmosphere and views, with steps and narrow lanes. Parking is the main problem, so check what a place offers.
• Seafront near La Roda: level access to the water and the promenade; the most convenient base without a car.
• Coves and hills: villas and apartment complexes above Cap Negret, Cap Blanc and Mascarat; quietest, but you need transport.
• Neighbouring towns: if the Altea options are full, Benidorm is on the same tram line.

Getting there and around

By air. The nearest airport is Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández. A local guesthouse puts Altea at roughly 65 km by road, about 44 minutes by car with no traffic, and lists an airport bus service operated by Alsa or Beniconnect at about 1 hour 35 minutes. The same source describes a longer public-transport route by airport bus C6 to Luceros station, TRAM Line 1 to Benidorm and Line 9 on to Altea, in about 2 hours 24 minutes. These are estimates from a third party, so check Alsa and TRAM d’Alacant for current times.

By tram. TRAM d’Alacant runs from Luceros station in Alicante to Benidorm in a little over an hour. Line 9 between Benidorm and Dénia has 17 stations and runs without a change since it reopened on 28 January 2025; Altea was the second-busiest station in its first year, with 290,000 passengers. The line uses dual-mode trains, which combine electric and diesel power. Check the TRAM site for disruptions before you plan a day trip.

By car. The old town lanes are too narrow and steep to drive through, so park below and walk up. The market is held in the town’s parking areas and streets, so allow extra time on Tuesday mornings.

Best time to visit

The old town and the Serra Gelada trails are outdoor activities, so the weather decides how much you enjoy them. We found no official climate figures for the town itself, so check a current weather forecast before you go, and walk the exposed coastal trails early in the day.

The tourism site spain.info lists fireworks at the Castell de l’Olla in August and Moors and Christians celebrations in late September. We have not confirmed the dates for any specific year, so ask the tourist office or the town hall before you plan a trip around them. If you want to see the old town without the market traffic, plan it for a day other than Tuesday.

FAQ

Does Altea have a sandy beach?

No. The tourism board describes about 6 km of beaches that are pebbly, with small coves and cliffs. If you want a wide sandy beach, nearby Calpe and Benidorm are better choices.

Can I reach Altea by tram?

Yes. Altea has a station on TRAM d’Alacant Line 9 between Benidorm and Dénia. From Alicante you take Line 1 to Benidorm and continue on Line 9; check the current timetable first.

Is Altea suitable for people with limited mobility?

Parts of it are. The old town has steep cobbled lanes and many steps, so the seafront is easier. A local visitor guide recommends the Cap Blanc cove as the most practical beach for reduced mobility.

What is the Albir lighthouse walk?

It is a 2 km trail in Serra Gelada Natural Park, starting from a car park in the northern part of the park. The Comunitat Valenciana tourism site calls it accessible and describes views over the bay of Altea.

Sources and freshness

Checked October 2026 · 9 sources Show

Last checked: October 2026. Sources:

• INE (population, 1 January 2025)
• Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Altea (old town route, beaches, nature)
• Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Albir lighthouse trail
• spain.info, Altea (beaches, old town, fiestas)
• Palau Altea (address, seats)
• TRAM d’Alacant, Line 9 and TRAM tourism page
• Blue Sardine, airport transfer (a local guesthouse
• distance and times)
• PostPosmo visitor guide and altea-turismo.com (market, beaches, food). Opening times, programmes and market locations change, so confirm them before you travel

Main photo: Jack globetrotter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.