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A breathtaking high-angle panoramic view of Altea coast and the Mediterranean Sea bay, showcasing the coastal town buildings, the marina port with boats, and the majestic Sierra Helada mountain cape in the background under a clear blue sky.

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Altea Old Town, Spain.

45 minutes from Alicante. A completely different world.

Home/Day Trips/Altea Old Town

Altea is what you drive to when Alicante starts to feel familiar.

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.

Petro — AlicanteCompass
Petro

AlicanteCompass Guide

A Town Built to Last — and to Confuse Invaders

Altea's origins go back further than the white walls suggest. The settlement dates to the first millennium BC, with Roman and Moorish remains found in the area. The name itself comes from the Moorish period — Althaya, meaning “health to all.”

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 Altea Old Town

Everything you need to know about visiting. Distances, parking, crowds, restaurants and what to do — covered below.

How Far is Altea Old Town from Alicante?
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.
Is There Public Transport from Alicante to Altea?
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.
What is Altea Old Town Known For?
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. The whitewashed streets are the other constant. The maze-like layout dates back to Moorish times — narrow, steep, designed to confuse. 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 rooftop restaurant terraces with views over the Mediterranean are another reason people come — and come back.
Is Altea Worth Visiting?
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.
What is the Best Time to Visit Altea Old Town?
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. 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.
Is There Parking in Altea Old Town?
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.
What Can You Do in Altea Old Town?
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. 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 dressed up to look like them.
Are There Good Restaurants in Altea Old Town?
The old town has plenty of options — cafés, tapas bars, and restaurants spread throughout the streets and around the main square. 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. If you're planning dinner on a rooftop terrace, book in advance or arrive early — by early evening walk-ins become difficult.
Is Altea Old Town Crowded?
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.

Altea Old Town — Streets, Views & Atmosphere

Real photos, taken on visits. No filters — just what it actually looks like.

A scenic view of a narrow paved street in Altea old town (Casco Antiguo) with traditional white-washed houses under a clear blue sky, capturing the authentic Mediterranean architecture of Costa Blanca, Spain.
A picturesque narrow street in the old town of Altea, Spain, featuring traditional white houses with wrought-iron balconies, vintage street lamps, and pink window blinds under a clear sunny sky, framed by green Mediterranean plants.
A beautiful cobblestone street in Altea old town featuring a whitewashed house with vibrant pink flowers on a wrought-iron window grille, a traditional wooden door, and the iconic blue-and-white tiled church dome visible in the background under a bright blue sky.
A close-up frontal view of a traditional house facade in Altea old town, numbered 22, showcasing a rustic wooden double door with a sun curtain, textured stone and whitewashed walls, and a wrought-iron window grille bursting with vibrant pink flowers.
A high-angle view of a scenic cobblestone stepped street in Altea old town, with a person and a large white dog sitting on the stairs, surrounded by white houses with vintage street lamps, overlooking a majestic mountain under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view from a viewpoint in Altea, Spain, showcasing vibrant purple bougainvillea flowers in the foreground, green cypress trees, and terracotta rooftops, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea bay and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
A perspective view of a traditional cobblestone street in Altea old town, lined with whitewashed houses and vintage street lamps, leading directly toward the iconic blue-and-white tiled church dome under a clear blue sky.
A sunny street in the old town of Altea, Spain, featuring a white scooter parked on a cobblestone road, a green palm tree, and stone steps leading up to the iconic blue-and-white tiled church dome, surrounded by traditional white houses under a clear blue sky.
A high-angle perspective of a quiet, sunlit cobblestone street sloping down in Altea old town, lined with traditional whitewashed houses, vintage black street lamps, and green decorative plants, revealing a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea in the background under a clear blue sky.
An outdoor cafe terrace in a narrow cobblestone alley of Altea old town, featuring wooden tables with blue and white chairs set against whitewashed walls with a vintage street lamp, overlooking a dramatic mountain landscape under a clear blue sky.
A scenic perspective of a sunny shopping street in the old town of Altea, Spain, lined with traditional whitewashed buildings housing local craft boutiques and shops, with a neat row of green potted trees dividing the cobblestone pavement under a bright blue sky.
The entrance of MÓN Restaurant & Boutique in the old town of Altea, Spain, featuring white walls with 'BOUTIQUE' and 'RESTAURANT' signs, an open doorway topped with artificial green foliage, and advertising boards for a panoramic terrace overlooking the city.
A street view in Altea old town showcasing the exterior of De Sabors Gelateria, with a cream-colored awning and a pink circular logo sign. The traditional white building features a rustic stone retaining wall on a sunlit cobblestone road under a clear sky.
A bustling open-air square in Altea old town, featuring the whitewashed facade of La Mascarada Bar Museo, established in 1986, and Little Italy pizzeria, with outdoor cafe tables, sun umbrellas, and historical signs under a clear blue sky.
The main church square, Plaza de la Iglesia, in Altea old town, Spain, showcasing the stone bell tower of the Consuelo church, a large central palm tree, and crowded outdoor restaurant terraces under white sun umbrellas under a clear blue sky.
A breathtaking high-angle panoramic view of Altea coast and the Mediterranean Sea bay, showcasing the coastal town buildings, the marina port with boats, and the majestic Sierra Helada mountain cape in the background under a clear blue sky.
The outdoor terrace and entrance of Little Italy Pizzeria & Trattoria in Altea old town, featuring wooden tables with red-and-white chairs, large sun umbrellas, restaurant menus on display, and the whitewashed facade with a tomato logo under a bright blue sky.
A wide-angle shot of the historic church square, Plaza de la Iglesia, in Altea old town, highlighting a massive vintage ship anchor on a stone pedestal next to a tall palm tree, with outdoor restaurant terraces and whitewashed buildings under a clear blue sky.
A traditional whitewashed Mediterranean house in Altea old town, Spain, featuring a unique multi-trunk palm tree in a stone planter on the foreground, wooden doors, and ornate wrought-iron balconies under a clear bright blue sky.
A high-angle perspective looking down a narrow cobblestone street, Carrer Concepció, in the old town of Altea, Spain. The view is framed by traditional whitewashed houses with vintage metal signs, leading to a restaurant alley with mountains in the background under a clear sky.
A bustling and narrow historical street, Carrer Major, in Altea old town, Spain, lined with whitewashed houses, the prominent sign of Oustau restaurant, and vibrant pink bougainvillea flowers. The scene features a decorative pebble-patterned pavement, vintage street lamps, and tourists under a clear blue sky.
A picturesque view down Carrer Major street in Altea old town, Spain, leading towards the historic Portal Viejo stone arch. The cobblestone street features a beautiful black-and-white pebble pattern, lined with whitewashed buildings, artisan souvenir shops, and traditional wrought-iron balconies under a blue sky.
An open-air square and restaurant terrace in the old town of Altea, Spain, featuring empty wooden tables and chairs on a cobblestone pavement, vintage street lamps, and a panoramic view of distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
A scenic street view in the old town of Altea, Spain, showcasing the outdoor terrace of Restaurante Casa Vital with white umbrellas. Tourists walk down a cobblestone path next to a stone wall overlooking the deep blue Mediterranean Sea under a clear sky.
A metal silhouette sculpture of a family by artist Toni Marí stands on a scenic viewpoint overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the coastal town of Altea, Spain, under a clear blue sky.
A sweeping panoramic view from the old town of Altea, Spain, overlooking white coastal buildings with terracotta tiled roofs, the Mediterranean Sea, and the distant iconic rock of Peñón de Ifach in Calpe under a vast clear blue sky.
A wide panoramic overlook from Altea old town, Spain, showing traditional terracotta tiled rooftops, the dense coastal town layout, the majestic Sierra Bernia mountain range in the background, and the blue Mediterranean Sea under a clear sky.
A wide panoramic coastal view from Altea old town, Spain, showcasing traditional white buildings with terracotta tiled roofs, a lone palm tree, the deep blue Mediterranean Sea with a boat wake, and the distant Peñón de Ifach rock under a massive clear blue sky with flying birds.
A charming narrow street in the old town of Altea, Spain, showcasing the whitewashed facade of El Amante Suites Altea with its sign. The cobblestone alley is decorated with a potted banana plant, a tall white flowering bush, and traditional wrought-iron balconies under a bright sky.
A view through the historic stone archway of Portal Vell in the old town of Altea, Spain. The arch frames a sunlit cobblestone square with white houses, a parked white compact car, and the blue Mediterranean Sea in the distance.
A view looking up a stone staircase in the historic old town of Altea, Spain. Whitewashed buildings, potted cypress trees, and flowering plants line the steps, with the tower of the iconic Consuelo church visible in the background under bright sunshine.
A scenic coastal view from a shaded terrace in Altea old town, Spain. A large Mediterranean pine tree frames the top and right side of the image, overlooking vintage street lamps, distant tourists, and the vibrant blue sea with coastal breakwaters under a clear sky.
A stunning panoramic view from an Altea old town viewpoint in Spain, framed by green pine branches and purple bougainvillea. The image shows the Mediterranean coastline, beachfront buildings, the Altea marina port, and the prominent Sierra Helada mountain ridge on the horizon under a clear blue sky.
A view looking down a narrow, sunlit street in the old town of Altea, Spain. The whitewashed buildings feature traditional wrought-iron and carved stone balconies with vintage street lamps, framing a glimpse of the blue Mediterranean Sea and a distant beach at the end of the slope.
An outdoor restaurant terrace on the lively Plaza de la Iglesia in Altea, Spain. Tables are set with white tablecloths, plates, and 'Reserved' signs, surrounded by red and white woven chairs. The historic tower of the Consuelo church and a tall palm tree stand in the background under a clear sky.
A symmetric view along the historic Calle San Miguel in Altea old town, Spain. The cobblestone pedestrian street is lined with whitewashed boutique shops, vintage black iron lanterns, and a neat row of green bushes in rectangular stone planters under a bright blue sky.
A perfectly symmetrical view looking up Calle San Miguel in Altea, Spain. The whitewashed pedestrian street features souvenir boutiques with striped awnings and potted plants, leading directly towards the iconic blue-tiled domes and bell tower of the Consuelo church under a clear sky.
A close-up of the whitewashed facade of the Gaia boutique in Altea old town, Spain. The shop front features a large decorative wooden elephant head, the word 'gaia' in stylized dark letters, and a colorful display of embroidered traditional Indian umbrellas covering a window.
The colorful wooden window storefront of Esearte juice and smoothie bar in Altea, Spain. The display features baskets of fresh apples and oranges, hanging hand-painted wooden fruits like watermelon and avocado, framed menus in English and Spanish, and a blue painted shutter with the text 'Viva la vida y viva el arte'.
A large public outdoor parking lot packed with cars near the old town of Altea, Spain. The image shows an asphalt road intersection with a pedestrian crossing, streetlights, a palm tree, and a speed limit sign, with the mountains visible in the distance under a bright sky.
A scenic road in Altea, Spain, lined with tall palm trees and modern white buildings, leading towards the Sierra Bernia mountains in the background. The asphalt street features a yellow 'BUS' lane marking, driving cars, a traffic sign, and a view of the valley under a bright sky.
A traditional narrow street in Altea old town with whitewashed buildings and cobblestone pavement under a bright Mediterranean sky, Costa Blanca, Spain.
Street scene in the historic old town of Altea, Spain, with traditional white architecture and charming local details along the cobblestone path.
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