The Ultimate Costa Blanca Travel Guide for 2026

If you have been thinking about a holiday on Spain’s Costa Blanca, you are not alone. Every year, millions of visitors from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the UK, and Scandinavia make their way to this 200km stretch of Mediterranean coastline in Alicante Province — and most of them come back.

The Costa Blanca is more than just a beach destination. It is a region of genuine contrasts: buzzing resort towns and silent hilltop villages, world-class restaurants and humble tapas bars, family-friendly coves and dramatic cliff-backed sea caves. Getting the most from it requires knowing where to go, when to go, and — critically — where to stay.

This guide covers everything.

What Is the Costa Blanca?

The Costa Blanca — literally “White Coast” — is the Mediterranean coastline of Alicante Province in the Valencian Community of southeastern Spain. It stretches roughly from Dénia in the north to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, passing through Jávea, Benidorm, Altea, Calpe, Alicante city, and Torrevieja along the way.

It is one of the most visited holiday destinations in Europe, and consistently one of the sunniest — with an average of 325 days of sunshine per year and summer temperatures typically between 28°C and 34°C.

The Best Towns on the Costa Blanca

Alicante City

The capital of the region and its beating heart. Alicante has everything: a magnificent medieval castle (Castillo de Santa Bárbara) overlooking the city, a long sandy beach (Playa del Postiguet) right in the city centre, a beautiful palm-lined Explanada promenade, and a genuinely excellent food scene. It is also home to Alicante-Elche Airport, making it the most convenient entry point for the whole region.

• Best for: City breaks, culture, nightlife, families
• Don’t miss: Castillo de Santa Bárbara, Mercado Central, MARQ archaeology museum, El Barrio neighbourhood for tapas

Benidorm

Love it or hate it, Benidorm is one of Europe’s most popular beach resorts — and for good reason. Two enormous sweeping beaches (Playa de Levante and Playa de Poniente), a buzzing nightlife strip, excellent water parks, and a surprisingly sophisticated restaurant scene make it enduringly popular with families and groups.

• Best for: Families with children, large groups, first-time visitors, beach holidays
• Don’t miss: Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint, the old town, Terra Mítica theme park

Jávea (Xàbia)

For many visitors, Jávea is the jewel of the Costa Blanca. Sheltered by the Cabo de la Nao headland, it has clearer water and a more upmarket feel than the main resort towns. The old town, port area, and beach area are distinct zones each with their own character. It is enormously popular with Dutch and German second-home owners.

• Best for: Couples, sailing enthusiasts, walkers, upmarket villa stays
• Don’t miss: Cala Granadella, El Arenal beach, Saturday Soler market, Cabo de la Nao lighthouse

Altea

One of the most beautiful towns in all of Spain. Altea’s white-domed church and cobblestone old town perched above the sea is genuinely stunning, with a strong artistic community — galleries, craft studios, and independent restaurants tucked into its narrow lanes.

• Best for: Couples, art lovers, photographers, quiet stays
• Don’t miss: The old town at sunset, the seafront promenade, the Wednesday artisan market

Calpe

Dominated by the iconic Peñón de Ifach — a 332m limestone rock that rises straight from the sea — Calpe is one of the most visually dramatic towns on the coast. The rock is a natural park and can be climbed (allow 2 hours return). The town also has two excellent beaches and a busy fishing port with outstanding fresh seafood restaurants.

• Best for: Hikers, seafood lovers, families, photography
• Don’t miss: Climbing the Peñón de Ifach, the fish market, Playa de la Fossa

Torrevieja

Often overlooked by first-time visitors, Torrevieja is one of the most authentic and affordable destinations on the Costa Blanca. Known for its two salt lakes — one of which turns a remarkable pink colour in summer — it has 23km of coastline, a lively Sunday market, and some of the best value holiday rentals on the whole coast.

• Best for: Families, budget travellers, off-season stays, nature lovers
• Don’t miss: The pink salt lake (La Laguna Rosa), the Mercado de la Sal, Playa de los Locos

Dénia

At the northern end of the Costa Blanca, Dénia is a sophisticated market town with an excellent gastronomy scene, a medieval castle, and beautiful beaches on both sides of town. It is also the departure point for ferries to Ibiza and Mallorca.

• Best for: Foodies, families, culture, day trips
• Don’t miss: The Castillo de Dénia, the Monday market, the gamba roja (red prawn) tasting menu

When to Visit the Costa Blanca

Insider tip: September is the single best month of the year for most visitors. The sea is at its warmest, the summer crowds begin to thin, and prices start to fall. For couples or anyone without school-age children, it is unbeatable.

How to Get There

By air: Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC) is the main gateway, with direct flights from Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Dublin, Berlin, Copenhagen, and dozens of other European cities. Journey time from most northern European cities is approximately 2.5–3 hours.

By car: The AP-7 motorway runs the length of the Costa Blanca from north to south. Driving from Barcelona takes around 4.5 hours; from Madrid, approximately 4 hours.

By train: Spain’s Renfe AVE high-speed rail connects Alicante to Madrid in 2 hours 20 minutes and to Valencia in 1 hour 45 minutes.

Getting Around the Costa Blanca

A hire car is strongly recommended if you plan to visit more than one town or explore the inland areas. Roads are well-maintained, signage is clear, and parking in most Costa Blanca towns is free or inexpensive.

The TRAM light rail connects Alicante city and Benidorm, with scenic sea views along much of the route. ALSA buses link all major towns along the coast. However, for towns like Jávea, Torrevieja, Calpe, and the smaller inland villages, a hire car is essential.

Where to Stay

For the best value and the most authentic experience, we always recommend booking a private holiday home directly. You get more space, more privacy, a fully equipped kitchen, and — if you book through Casatorent — zero booking fees.

Casatorent lists over 50 verified holiday homes across the Costa Blanca, from modern apartments in Alicante city to large private villas with pools in Jávea and Torrevieja. Every property is personally vetted and every calendar is updated in real time.

What to Eat on the Costa Blanca

The food on the Costa Blanca is outstanding — and criminally underrated internationally. Key dishes to try during your stay:

• Arroz a banda — Rice cooked in rich fish stock, served with the fish on the side. Considered one of the great rice dishes of Spain. Best found in restaurants between Dénia and Alicante.
• Paella valenciana — The real version: rabbit, chicken, flat green beans, and saffron. Not the tourist version with prawns.
• Gamba roja de Dénia — The red prawn of Dénia is one of the finest seafood products in all of Europe. Sweet, intense, and best eaten simply grilled with sea salt.
• Horchata with fartons — The region’s beloved tiger nut drink, served ice-cold with sweet pastry fingers for dipping. Non-negotiable.
• Tapas — Order a caña (small beer) in a local bar in Alicante’s El Barrio neighbourhood and a free tapa will often arrive with it.

Final Tips Before You Go

• Book early for summer. The best properties on the Costa Blanca sell out by January for July and August. September and October offer almost identical weather at significantly lower prices.
• Get a local SIM card or ensure your European roaming is active. Google Maps is essential for navigation between towns and coves.
• Learn five words of Spanish. Por favor (please), gracias (thank you), cerveza (beer), agua (water), and la cuenta (the bill) will get you a long way.
• Book direct. Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com add 10–20% in fees to your booking. Booking through Casatorent means you pay the real price — no service charge, no hidden fees.
• Explore inland. The Costa Blanca’s interior — Guadalest village, the Jijona turrón factories, the Alcoi mountains — is genuinely beautiful and almost entirely tourist-free.

The Costa Blanca in 2026 is as good as it has ever been. Go — and book direct.