Altea
TownAltea is the white town of the Costa Blanca: a tangle of cobbled lanes climbing to a blue-tiled church dome high above the sea, long a magnet for painters, potters and musicians.
Why visit Altea
The old town (Altea la Vella) is among the prettiest hill villages on the coast, its lime-washed houses framing sudden views of the Mediterranean. Below, a pebble seafront and a relaxed promenade run for kilometres, while the surrounding hills hide artists studios and miradors.
The whitewashed casco antiguo
Steep cobbled streets of white houses, bougainvillea and craft shops, climbing to the church square.
The blue-domed church
Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, its blue-and-white tiled domes the symbol of Altea and the whole coast.
Plaça de l’Església
The lookout terrace beside the church, with one of the finest sea views in town — best at sunset.
The artists’ quarter
Galleries, ceramics workshops and small bars tucked into the lanes have given Altea its bohemian name.
The promenade
A long pebble beach and palm-lined Passeig with seafood terraces stretching towards Albir.
Marina Greenwich
A quirky marina just south, sitting almost exactly on the zero meridian, with restaurants and dive trips.
Practical information
- Getting there: about 50 minutes by car from Alicante airport (ALC) via the AP-7 and N-332.
- Best time to visit: late spring and early autumn for warm evenings and quieter streets.
- Getting around: park below and explore the old town on foot — the lanes are steep and pedestrian.
- Don’t miss: sunset from the church square and a drink in the artists’ quarter afterwards.
Explore more of the Costa Blanca
Altea is one of 39 destinations on the CostaMap interactive map — browse beaches, villages, castles and viewpoints across the whole coast.
