Altea

Altea is a town in Alicante with lots of charm, mountains, and sea, and the best part is the historic old town and its square. To reach the Plaza de Altea, the best bet is to head up the “cuesta de las narices,” a hard 25-minute hike or a rather stress-free five-minute car ride. Unsurprisingly, I recommend going up in car. You can park in the free parking lot in Palau, but the ascent is worth it.

You can access the plaza through different streets, all of which invariably lead to the square. You can see the church dome from a mile away. The charming part begins in the streets themselves: they’re pedestrian-only, cobblestoned, and have a selection of stores offering clothing, jewellery, art, and the “balconadas,” art exhibits put on by local students of the prestigious Altea Fine Arts School.

I have to admit that I have a rather limited experience with Spain's ultra-touristy Costa Blanca, but from what I've seen, Altea is one of the most charming and beautiful towns in the area. Although it's located only 20 minuted from the high-rise resort complexes and tour groups of Benidorm, Altea still retains its quiet fishing village feel and its white-washed buildings, incredible views, and flower-lined cobblestone streets make it one of the most enchanting and romantic destinations in the area.

The village itself it perched upon a seaside hill and topped by a historic church and its iconic blue domes. And while that means lots of hills and endless stairs, it also means that you'll be able to enjoy amazing unspoiled views of the coast at basically every turn. The city was orginially a fishing village which became a magnet for artists and bohemians and has since become home to a higher-end clientele, both Spanish and international. This means that the town offers a lovely mix of traditional restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and cocktail bars, all the while maintaining its authentic village feel.

The first time I visited Altea, I wanted to stay there forever. Despite being so close to Alicante, I’d never been there and when I finally did, I fell in love.

The stone streets, the white houses, the flowers flowing off the balconies, the church that shines in the distance, the atmosphere of harmony and peace…what else can I say about Altea? I could stay there forever, because I was enchanted from the moment I set foot there.

One of the few jewels of the Mediterranean that hasn´t been taken over by the massive tourist demands. It´s true, each day there´s more tourism in the area and during the summer everything is packed, but it´s a special place with a certain charm to it. The crystal-clear water and its main square are more than enough worthy of the visit themselves. It´s also a great place to eat. The town´s full of high-quality restaurants and cafes for grabbing a drink.

Looking down on the town from afar is also spectacular.