Altea: white lanes, blue domes and the Mediterranean as far as the eye can see
Altea’s hilltop old town, its blue ceramic domes, its viewpoints and its artistic soul: our guide to visiting Altea, parking, wandering and enjoying the bay.
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There is the Altea you see from the motorway — a white village on a hill, crowned with blue domes shining in the sun — and the Altea you discover on foot, step by step, thinking you were right to come. Between Benidorm and Calpe, the town has kept an old quarter (casco antiguo) of rare elegance, where artists found refuge long before influencers did. Warm up your calves and get your camera ready: the climb is well worth the effort.
Climbing into the old town
Leave the car at the bottom and tackle the hill via the steps and cobbled lanes. Whitewashed houses, colourful doors, pots of geraniums, wrought-iron balconies: every bend offers a new postcard. The old town is largely pedestrianised, which makes the stroll especially pleasant.
At the top, the church square is the heart of the old town. The church of the Mare de Déu del Consol (Our Lady of Consolation), built in the early 20th century, is famous for its domes covered in blue and white ceramic tiles, which have become the symbol of Altea and even of the whole Costa Blanca.
The viewpoints
Right next to the church, the mirador offers one of the finest views on the coast: Altea bay, the Serra Gelada on one side and, on a clear day, the silhouette of the Peñón de Ifach on the other. Contemporary sculptures dot the walk.
Altea, a town of artists
Altea is home to a fine arts faculty, and it shows: galleries, craft workshops, small designer boutiques and terraces where people put the world to rights until late. In summer, the old town comes alive in the evening, when the heat eases and restaurants set their tables out in the lanes.
Down below: the seafront
Head back down to the paseo marítimo, a long, lively promenade along the pebble beaches. It isn’t Benidorm’s fine sand, but the water is often very clear — bring water shoes. It’s the perfect moment for an ice cream or a drink facing the sea.
Our tips
Comfortable shoes, seriously. Altea is gorgeous, but it clearly wasn’t designed to spare your calves.
Come in the late afternoon: the golden light on the white façades is magical, the heat drops, and you can follow up with dinner on a terrace in the old town.
Avoid driving into the upper village: the streets are narrow and parking is almost impossible.
Around Altea
Carry on north to Calpe and the Peñón de Ifach, a quarter of an hour away. Inland, Guadalest and the Fonts de l’Algar make a superb day out. To the south, the colourful houses of Villajoyosa show another side of the coast. And for wilder swims, see our hidden coves.
