Altea Old Town, Spain.
There's no real alternative to it on the Costa Blanca — nothing that gives you quite the same combination of narrow white streets, rooftop terraces, and views over the Mediterranean that genuinely make you stop walking. If you're looking for a place to photograph, this is it. Every corner of the old town works.
Have lunch or dinner on one of the rooftop restaurant terraces. The food is secondary to the view — though the food is usually good too."
A Town Built to Last — and to Confuse Invaders
The Moors shaped the town in ways that are still visible today. The maze-like layout of the old town streets was deliberate — designed to disorient anyone trying to attack. It works just as well on tourists with no sense of direction.
In 1244 the town was conquered by King Jaime I of Aragon and granted official town status in 1279. By the 18th century Altea had grown into a prosperous fishing and agricultural community of around 5,000 people. Two ancient stone arched gates from this period still stand — Portal Vell from the 17th century and Portal Nou from the 18th — and walking through either of them still feels like crossing into a different time.
The church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo with its distinctive blue and white domes was built at the end of the 19th century, replacing an earlier 17th century structure. It's the defining silhouette of the town and visible from kilometres away.
From the 1960s onwards Altea became known as an artistic hub — painters, sculptors and writers drawn by the light and the landscape. That reputation has never really left. The Miguel Hernández University Faculty of Fine Arts is based here, and the galleries and workshops in the old town are not decorative — they're working studios.
Plan Your Visit to El Campello
Around 45 kilometres — roughly 45 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic. The drive north along the coast road is worth doing with the windows down.
You park at the entrance to the old town. The car park sits at the same level as the old town itself — no long climb before you've even started. From the car park you walk straight in.
Technically yes — but it takes around two hours with multiple transfers. For a day trip, it's not a realistic option.
Altea is a drive. Rent a car if you don't have one — the journey itself is part of the experience.
Several things — and most of them are visible the moment you arrive.
The blue and white domed church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo is the defining image of Altea — visible from kilometres away and the centrepiece of the old town's main square. It's been the symbol of the town since the end of the 19th century.
The whitewashed streets are the other constant. The maze-like layout dates back to Moorish times — narrow, steep, designed to confuse. Today they confuse tourists in the best possible way.
Altea has been an artistic hub since the 1960s — painters, sculptors and writers drawn by the light and the landscape. The Faculty of Fine Arts of Miguel Hernández University is based here. The galleries and workshops throughout the old town are working studios, not tourist shops dressed up to look like them.
The rooftop restaurant terraces with views over the Mediterranean are another reason people come — and come back.
Yes — without hesitation.
Altea old town is one of the best day trips from Alicante. Close enough to do in an afternoon, different enough to feel like you've actually gone somewhere. The combination of the white streets, the church square, the rooftop terraces and the views over the Mediterranean is genuinely hard to find anywhere else on the Costa Blanca.
Most people who visit once come back.
If you're planning a day out from Alicante and want something closer, El Campello is 20 minutes north — a working fishing town with a long beach and a completely different feel.
It depends on the time of year — but if you're visiting in summer, timing matters.
The old town sits on a hill with narrow streets that trap heat. In July and August, midday is genuinely uncomfortable — the stone reflects the sun and there's limited shade between stops. After 4:00 PM the temperature drops to something manageable and the light on the white walls is considerably better for photos.
If you handle heat well, mornings work too — cooler, quieter, and the town hasn't filled up yet.
Outside of summer — spring and autumn — time of day matters less. The temperatures are comfortable throughout the day and the crowds are smaller. Arguably the best time to visit.
Yes — and it's easier than most hilltop towns on the Costa Blanca.
There are several parking areas at the start of the pedestrian route into the old town. If those are full, head slightly further down the street — spaces open up regularly. In my experience you rarely wait more than 5 to 10 minutes before someone leaves.
No need to stress about parking here. It's not that kind of place.
More than most people expect from a two-hour visit.
Walk the streets. The maze-like layout means there's always another alley to turn into, another viewpoint you didn't plan on finding. Give yourself time to get slightly lost — it's the point.
Visit Plaza de la Iglesia. The main square in front of the blue-domed church is the natural centre of the old town. Sit down, have a coffee, and watch the town move around you.
Eat on a rooftop terrace. Several restaurants in the old town have terraces with unobstructed views over the Mediterranean. Lunch or dinner here is the reason many people make the drive.
Browse the galleries and workshops. Altea has been an artistic hub since the 1960s. The studios and galleries throughout the old town are working spaces — not souvenir shops. Worth stopping in even if you're not buying.
The old town has plenty of options — cafés, tapas bars, and restaurants spread throughout the streets and around the main square.
I can only speak from personal experience: the pizzeria on Plaza de la Iglesia was genuinely good. Simple, unpretentious, and the pizza was excellent. Sometimes that's enough of a reason to sit down.
For rooftop terraces with sea views — they exist and they're worth it. The food is secondary to where you're eating it, but from what I've seen, the quality holds up.
It depends on the time of day.
In the morning and early afternoon the old town is relatively quiet — easy to walk, easy to find a table, easy to actually look at things without navigating around tour groups.
After 5:00 PM the dynamic changes. The streets fill up, the restaurants and cafés reach full capacity, and the main square gets busy. If you're planning dinner on a rooftop terrace, book in advance or arrive early — by early evening walk-ins become difficult.
In summer this pattern is more pronounced. In spring and autumn the crowds are lighter throughout the day.