Altea: white streets and a blue dome
- Driving time
- About 1 hour 30 minutes by car
- Area
- Marina Baixa
- Town
Altea is a white hill town with a blue and white church dome, high above the sea. It is about 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Lago Rosa Apartment.
Walk up, because the old town is the reason you came. Between Portal Vell and Portal Nou you follow Calle Salamanca, past houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, white facades, shades of blue and bougainvillea. At the top stands the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo with its striking dome of blue and white tiles, and close by the Torre de Bellaguarda.
For the view, go to the glorieta del Maño, and there are more lookouts dotted around the old town. The town is part of a protected historic ensemble, with remains of the old fortified walls.
The beaches are different from those around Torrevieja, being gravel and pebbles. So pack water shoes. For snorkelling, choose Playa de la Olla, with an islet you can reach by swimming or by kayak. There are also Cap Negret, Cap Blanc, Cala del Soio and Mascarat. For a walk, drive to the Sierra de Bèrnia, where the Forat de Bèrnia route ends at a viewpoint above the sea.
Tuesday market
On Tuesday morning: food on Avenida de La Nucía, clothes on Camino del Algar.
Summer evening
From 1 July to 8 September there is a craft market every evening on Plaza de la Iglesia, at the top of the old town.
Good to know
The old town has many steps and steep lanes, so bring sturdy shoes and water.
Frequently asked questions
What day is the market in Altea?
Tuesday morning, on Avenida de La Nucía and Camino del Algar.
Are there sandy beaches in Altea?
The beaches here are gravel and pebbles. For sand you are better off on the coast around Torrevieja.
Where is the best view in Altea?
At the glorieta del Maño and the lookouts in the old town.
