Understated and elegant, buzzing with life but somehow preserving a laid-back way of life, Valencia is a city for connoisseurs.
Alicante
Alicante has accrued a long and illustrious history ever since it was founded by the Romans, who called it Lucentum (the City of Light). This city in the Valencian Community has its own identity and is well known for its beaches and cuisine.
The most noteworthy places of interest in Alicante include its imposing castle and the attractive seafront promenade, where you can take a quiet walk or relax at a café and enjoy the sea breeze.
What is there to see in the city of Alicante?
Santa Barbara Castle
Santa Bárbara Castle dates back to the 16th century and provides stunning views of Alicante from the top of Mount Benacantil. You can go up to the castle on foot, an effortless, rewarding stroll, and there is also a lift for those who prefer an easier ascent.
In addition to the views of the city, the marina and the Mediterranean Sea, this castle looks over the ruins of several fortified towers that were part of the network designed to defend Alicante from the Berber pirates.
Monuments of interest
Some of the most important points of interest in the capital city of Alicante are San Fernando Castle, the Cathedral of San Nicolas (built on the site of an old mosque), the Palace of Gravina (which was completed around 1800 and is now home to the Museum of Fine Arts.)
The Museum of Modern Art (dating back to the 17th century, where you will find works by Dalí, Miró and Picasso, among others).
The Central Market (built in 1912 and featuring various modernist architectural styles) and Casa Carbonell (one of the most spectacular buildings in the city, built in the 1920s by a wealthy textile baron).
Beaches
Sun, sea and sand ... Alicante boasts plenty of blue-flag beaches on which to enjoy a quiet swim. Some of the most noteworthy are:
- San Juan beach. 3 km of fine sand make it one of the main attractions for visitors to Alicante.
- Cabo de la Huerta. Small rocky coves with crystal clear water, located right next to San Juan.
- Aguamarga. Especially adapted for dogs.
- Playa de la Almadraba. Less crowded than others in the high season, with gentle waves that are conducive to enjoying a peaceful sunset.
- Playa de la Albufereta. Located to the north of the city, close to archaeological sites of interest and the place where Alicante was founded.
- Playa del Postiguet. A pleasant urban beach located just below Santa Bárbara Castle, next to the marina.
- Playa de Saladares-Urbanova. A quiet beach with delimited nudist areas around 5 km away from the city.
What is there to see in the province of Alicante?
Tabarca Island
Nueva Tabarca is the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community, a picturesque, not to be missed spot for tourists. A 45-minute cruise from Alicante will take you there. This small group of islands was once a refuge for pirates and Berbers, and is now famed for its charming fishing port, crystal clear water and quiet sandy coves.
Altea
Sweeping down from the cape of Mascarat and nestled in a bay, Altea carves a gap between the sea and the mountains, giving rise to a symbolic image of the Costa Blanca highlighted by the blue and white dome of its Parish Church. This delightful Mediterranean town in Alicante is well known for its beautiful beaches and pretty town centre.
Jávea
Jávea is a coastal town located between two capes, La Nao and San Antonio. The population of the entire area and each of the three environments into which it is divided (the town, the port and the sandy coastal areas) strike a balance between the important traces of the civilizations that decided to create a settlement there and the modernity of a tourist destination.
In the old town, whitewashed houses with stone doors, windows and balconies line the narrow streets; on the coast, beaches, coves and up-market residential complexes are linked by a network of viewpoints with amazing views of the sea.
Alicante - Campsites
Camping Benisol is a well developed and peaceful site with lush, green vegetation and a mountain backdrop. Mature hedges and trees afford privacy to each pitch and some artificial shade is provided where necessary. There are 270 pitches of which around 90 are for touring units (60-80 sq.m). All have electricity hook-ups (10A) and 75 have drainage. All the connecting roads are now surfaced with tarmac. Some daytime road noise should be expected. The site has an excellent restaurant serving traditional Spanish food at great prices, with a pretty, shaded terrace overlooking the pool with its palms and thatched pool bar.
Camping El Torres opened in November 2014 and with a spectacular backdrop of mountains, glorious views of the Mediterranean and close proximity to a long sand and pebble beach, this site has become very popular. The site is just north of the town of Villajoyosa with its ancient colourful buildings and chocolate factories. The white gravel pitches are large, fully serviced with water, 10/16A electricity (2-pin plugs) and drainage, and separated by young fir saplings. The campsite erected artificial shade on the pitches while the young trees mature. The beach is accessed directly from the site via a small wooded area.
Very efficiently run, Camping La Marina Resort has 450 touring pitches of three different types and sizes ranging from 50 sq.m. to 150 sq.m. with electricity (10/16A), TV, water and drainage. Artificial shade is provided, and the pitches are well maintained on level, well-drained ground, with a particular area allocated for tents in a small orchard.
Benidorm is increasingly popular for winter stays and Villasol is a genuinely good, purpose built modern site. Many of the 448 well separated pitches are arranged on wide terraces which afford views of the mountains surrounding Benidorm. All pitches (80-85 sq.m) have electricity and satellite TV connections, with 163 with full services for seasonal use. Shade is mainly artificial. Reservations are only accepted for winter stays of over three months (from 1 October). There is a small indoor pool, heated for winter use, and a very attractive, large outdoor pool complex (summer only) overlooked by the bar/restaurant and attractive, elevated restaurant terrace.
Lo Monte is an all-year site located at Pilar de la Horadada, the most southerly town on the Costa Blanca. It is just 1 km from Blue Flag beaches. There are 127 pitches, most of which are for touring units. All have 16A electricity (Europlug), water and drainage. Leisure facilities include an indoor pool (open all year), an outdoor pool (open May to September), and a wellness centre. This is a popular holiday destination with a good range of facilities.
The final approach to this site emerges from the bustle of the town and is decorated with palm, orange and pine trees, the latter playing host to a colony of parakeets. English is spoken at reception. The neat, boxed hedges and palms within the site and its backdrop of hills dotted with villas presents an attractive setting. Three hectares provide space for 214 numbered pitches with 193 for touring units. Flat, level and rectangular in shape, the pitches vary in size (60-80 sq.m). All pitches have a granite chip surface and 8A electricity. The restaurant provides great food, way above normal campsite standards.
Alannia Costa Blanca (formerly Marjal) is a fully equipped site situated 15 km. inland on the southern Alicante coast, close to the towns of Crevillente and Catral and the Parque Natural de El Hondo. Around 1,200 hardstanding pitches range in size from 90-95 sq.m, and all have electricity (16A), water, drainage, TV and high-speed internet connections (charged).
Camping Internacional Las Palmeras is set between palm trees in the south-east of Spain, located 10 minutes from Elche and 20 minutes from some of the cleanest beaches in Europe. Their outdoor pool area is perfect for small children as they have their own special little one, and for adults, there is also a lovely Jacuzzi to relax in. There is a dedicated place for barbecues and you will find a supermarket just 50 metres away where you can buy all of your provisions. If you are not interested in cooking, you can also try their fantastic restaurant. Here you will find specialities from various regions of Spain including paellas (rabbit, shellfish, lobster etc) and also an abundance of shellfish, fresh from the coast. In July and August, they offer a varied entertainment programme that is provided for children and adults and all activities are supervised by qualified staff. Camping Internacional Las Palmeras is the perfect place for creating good memories with your family in summer and for peace seekers who want to have a break in winter.
This campsite, open all year round, is tucked away in a residential neighbourhood and yet lies just 50 metres from the seafront. There’s a pleasant promenade, ideal for seaside strolls as the sun sinks. This stretch of coast is part of a natural marine reserve, with a rocky foreshore excellent for diving and snorkelling as well as a variety of watersports. There’s ample shade courtesy of tall palm trees, leafy eucalyptus and fragrant pines and the flowering cacti and vibrant bougainvillea provide a riot of colour. The site is small-scale and friendly with a family atmosphere and has a little restaurant - occasionally excellent paella nights are arranged. Denia is just 3 km away, an easy cycle, for shops and plenty of eateries depending what takes your fancy.
Vast sandy beaches fringe the coastline throughout this sunny region. But this campsite, situated in the resort of Jávea, is close to one of the finest. Just 500 metres from the campsite is El Arenal beach, a wide half moon beach, backed by a promenade, and in a natural harbour. On site there’s a good sized swimming pool, surrounded by tall palm trees and plenty of space for loungers. There’s a well stocked bar and a rather good restaurant offers a broad menu and serves tasty tapas and pizzas. A good range of accommodation units are available for rent. Shops, restaurants and bars are all close at hand in Jávea, which is well worth exploring for its ancient history and fishing village origins.
This neat hillside site, with some views over the town and marina, is quietly situated in an urban area amongst old pine trees just 400 metres from a sheltered bay. A striking, stilted and glass-fronted reception building gives great views. Ask about the innovative building features and prepare for pleasant design surprises. Terracing provides shaded pitches of varying sizes, some small (access to some of the upper pitches may be difficult for larger units). There are 17 pitches with full services (6/10A electricity). An attractive irregularly shaped pool with a paved terrace is below the bar/restaurant and terrace. The pool has large observation windows where you can watch the swimmers and divers as this is used for sub-aqua instruction.
Situated on the outskirts of Calpe, this small, quiet, well maintained site is an oasis of tranquillity. With a backdrop of mountains and a view of the spectacular Penon de Ifach Nature Reserve rising to a height of 332 metres, there are great views all around. The site has 107 fully serviced, numbered pitches (10A electricity, water and drainage). The pitches at the front of the site are divided by mature hedges and on these pitches units are sited sideways. At the rear of the site there are two separate extensions, both with 12 large, fully serviced, gravel pitches with young conifers separating each pitch. Access roads and pitches are good in the new areas.
This family run campsite is set within a residential neighbourhood, only 15 minutes walk from the nearest beach. It’s location means living is easy, with most services on the doorstep, including supermarkets and restaurants. The site has moderate shade as well as its own bar with plenty of shaded seating and is a great base from which to explore this dramatic coast. There are other beaches close by, the sandy sweep of Arenal-Bol is especially popular being close to the old town of Calpe and having a good range of cafés, shops and bars backing it.
This small site was untidy when seen, but it has direct access across a small but busy road to the attractive pebble beach and is within a few hundred yards of all Albir’s shops and restaurants. The 250 pitches on flat stone and gravel are of a good size with 5/10A electricity (extra charge for 10A). The site tends to be full in winter and is very popular with several nationalities, especially the Dutch. For winter stays, it would pay to get there before Christmas as January and February are the peak months. Although it is on the coast, the site is well sheltered and something of a sun trap. However, there is considerable traffic noise from the roads along two sides of the site and it is overlooked by the high-rise flats nearby.
A basic 'Aire' style site, suitable for motorhomes only. Conveniently located for Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada and the attractive town of Altea.
Santa Clara Camping is in an enviable position, just 2 minutes walk from the nearest pebble beach and with good access to many others north and south of the marina. This is a small and relaxed campsite, a family affair since 1961, and with a reputation for friendly charm. There’s no bar or organised entertainment so there’s a peaceful ambience so you can simply relax and enjoy the views. The owners pride themselves on the fig trees, oranges and bougainvillea that make this a lush, almost secret enclave.
Formerly known as Excalibur Medieval Camping, touring pitches are no longer available at this site. The resort offers lodge and mobile home accommodation only. This is a site you could either love or loathe. Unlike other campsites, it has a Medieval theme. An American theme park approach has been attempted here and we saw lots of families enjoying themselves. However, we also saw that there was a constant struggle to keep up with the high maintenance demands of such as populated site. At peak times amenities appear to be stressed.
Fancy getting to know the Costa Blanca? Need to park up and explore? Look no further than this camper park, set back from the bustle of Benidorm and surrounded by orange groves. It’s a family run site where you can expect a friendly welcome. There are good-sized pitches with a central bar area and swimming pool where you can cool off and little lanes around the site which are ideal for a pleasant evening stroll. If you fancy more activities tennis, riding, fishing and watersports are all available nearby.
Camping Almafrá is a good quality site, open all year and close to Benidorm. There are a good range of amenities here, most of which are open to the general public. These include a spa and wellness centre, a well equipped gym and tennis courts. There is a large outdoor pool and separate covered pool complex which also includes a steam bath and massage room. The site restaurant is large with a terrace overlooking the pool and surrounding gardens. Various grades of pitch are available, all including electricity (16A), and some with water, drainage and satellite TV and WiFi connections. Pitch sizes vary from 94-164 sq.m.
This small, uncomplicated site is 1.8 kilometres back from the eastern Benidorm beach (the one on the other side of the town is less crowded). Armanello is quietly situated just far enough away from the main coast road to avoid excessive noise. It is a plain and mature site, with 100 small pitches (60 sq.m), all with 16A electricity, marked out in bays of ten or twelve in former citrus and olive groves. The facilities here are rather basic and we see this as a site for transit stops and short stays rather than as a holiday site, but the rates are very good. There are 30 bungalows and mobile homes for hire.
This is a relaxed family-friendly campsite lying in the Rincón de Loix district of Benidorm and about 1 km from the nearest beach. This is the Playa de Llevant, a huge stretch of sand, justifiably popular with everyone. There’s a lively bar with food and live music, including flamenco nights, a good-sized swimming pool, small supermarket and a wide range of bungalow and chalet rentals. As you’d expect, local amenities are excellent with plenty of shops and restaurants on your doorstep, while the city centre is close by, as are various theme parks like Aqualandia (600 metres) and Terra Mitica, well served by handy bus services.
This is something exciting for youngsters. Set in the grounds of Terra Natura animal park and water park, this resort is 6 km from the beaches of Benidorm with views of the dazzling sea and of the mountains rising from the coast. It’s not your usual campsite – it’s huge, and there are elephants, amongst other animals! Motorhomes can stay in the Terra Natura camper area and there’s a huge range of lodges and rooms available.
Established in 1997 and currently managed by Luis Villamediana, this quality, the purpose-built 8-hectare clean, tidy site provides 650 pitches with approximately 250 reserved for visiting tourers, the remainder being long-term occupation. Located 1.5km from the town, Levante beach and promenade, this well-maintained, gently sloping site with tarmac roads has pitches of 80sq metres or more separated by manicured low cypress hedging and some trees which may provide a degree of shade. Units are in ‘close proximity’ to each other. Three of the five large sanitary blocks have recently been refurbished to the highest standards. The large bar/restaurant with its terrace overlooking the site is ideal for absorbing the setting sun with an impressive mountain backdrop. Plus there is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool and an exceptionally well-stocked shop, are all close to the entrance, some distance from the furthest pitches. All pitches have a water supply, 10amp electric hook-up and satellite TV connection. It is estimated that 65% of the site occupancy is British; therefore, the nearby bars, cafes and restaurants tend to cater for that nationality.
An all-year site with a good range of amenities, Villamar operates to high standards and rules. There are 584 pitches for long-term units, with 506 for touring positioned amongst them. The pitches are large and flat, with some shade from young trees. The central pool and amenities complex with its extensive grass areas dotted with palms, is cleverly designed and very smart. Sit on the terraces looking over the tropical scenery as you dine. You will find it difficult to remember that the teeming town of Benidorm is close by.
Camping Playa Paraiso is a small, well maintained campsite by the sea. It has been reopened by new owners who lost one of their other sites to housing developers. On the lower level, the main site road is of tarmac and the 70 gravel touring pitches are on shallow terraces as the site slopes gently down to the sea, which provides one of the boundaries. The views are pleasant and trees provide a degree of shade for some pitches, with overhead sunshades on others. Electricity (16A) is available to all. Since the opening of a new bypass, the site has become very quiet with only local traffic passing the gate, so pitches nearer the sea will hear no traffic noise at all.
A basic 'Aire' style site, suitable for motorhomes only. Conveniently located for the historic town of Sant Joan d'Alacant.
This small site has 80 pitches with 60 for touring units, some with views of the distant hills. Bungalows line three sides of the white-walled, rectangular site with a railway (not too busy) on the final side. Reception is efficient with keen staff members speaking several languages. The flat pitches are on gravel and all have 6A electricity. Some are small (40, 60 or 80 sq.m) and will be a challenge for large units. There is natural shade from trees and some artificial shade. A pleasant pool is the centrepiece with a bright poolside bar and a restaurant with a patio.
Camping El Jardin is a friendly place, right in the heart of the Costa Blanca between Alicante and Benidorm. The main beaches are just 500 metres away, offering vast swathes of white sand, clear waters and plenty of seafront bars and restaurants. The Muchavista and San Juan beaches are Blue Flag accredited and stretch out for 7 km - they are the main draw for many visitors and you’ll soon see why.
About 20 km south of Alicante, this terraced campsite is in a great location. Around Santa Pola are 11 km of Blue Flag beaches, with little coves overlooked by the lighthouse, so there’s lots of choice. On site there’s an attractive pool complex dotted with tall palm trees and with plenty of room for all – events and entertainment take place on the spacious terrace. Kids have their own organised activities in high season and they’ll never be short of things to do. The campsite has two café-bars, each with its own terrace, a small supermarket and an array of modern bungalow and chalet accommodation units to hire.
The site is located beside the estuary of the Segura river, alongside the pine and eucalyptus forests of the Dunas de Guardamar Natural Park. A fine sandy beach can be reached through the forest (800 m). This is a brilliant site with a vast tropical lake-style pool with a bar and a superb sports complex. There are 212 pitches on this award-winning site, 158 for touring with water, electricity (16A), drainage, high-speed internet and satellite TV points. The ground is covered with crushed marble, making the pitches clean and pleasant.
The coastline south from Alicante is one long silver sand beach, reaching Camping Palm-Mar after 35 km or so. The beach here, just a few steps from the campsite, is La Roqueta and is a Blue Flag accredited beach and the waters are reportedly the warmest of the Costa Blanca. Others nearby include Rebollo, Moncayo and Los Tusales and all are must-visit. On site the pitches are delimited and well shaded by leafy trees and there a profusion of tumbling bougainvillea. There’s a snack bar, a restaurant serving local specialities (takeaways are offered which can be useful), small shop and play ground.
Florantilles is an excellent site situated 6 km. west of Torrevieja, 60 km. south of Alicante and occupying an elevated position overlooking orange groves and the famous salt lake nature reserve, Salinas de la Mata. The site is terraced and well lit, with good sized gravel pitches and tarmac roads. All 262 pitches are separated by hedges and have 10A electricity (metered for long stays), water and waste water drainage. A third of the pitches are for touring, while the others are occupied by privately owned mobile homes or are seasonal pitches, mainly used by retired British owners who spend the winter months here.
Near the pretty mountain-top village of Campell, this new site is perched high on the side of a mountain with breathtaking views of hilltop villages, the surrounding hills and distant sea. With a wholehearted welcome from the owners, the well maintained site promises a real taste of Spain. The pitches, pool, terrace and restaurant all share the views. The 68 average sized gravel pitches (30 for touring) are on terraces and all have 6A electricity and water. Trees and hedges have been planted and now give ample shade. This is a great place to get away from the coastal hustle, bustle and high rise of the beaches.
