A weekend in Altea, Spain

My husband Alan and I are lucky enough to have our own apartment on the Costa Blanca. We, sometimes with friends, like to visit different places in Spain using our apartment as a base. A couple of weeks ago we drove 1.5 hours up the coast to the hilltop town of Altea, just the other side of Benidorm. We have been many times and we stay in a small hotel called the Abaco Inn, just at the foot of pretty Altea.

Altea has many hotels down on the coast and a few in the old town which is where I prefer to stay. Both are easily walkable, although it is a very steep walk up to the top of the old town, but well worth it. The beach area has recently been renovated and there are lots of swish bars and restaurants along the coastline. On summer evenings, Altea artists set up along the promenade wall towards the centre of the town (by the sea wall parking) and sell their paintings.

At night, the old town really comes alive and has a buzzing nightlife. Restaurants are in abundance and vary in what they offer and in price. You can get traditional tapas, pizza, pasta, Mediterranean food, Indian food, French food - there is so much choice! I have a couple of favourites - a Mediterranean restaurant called La Cappella which has great views over the Sierra Bernia mountain range - it was wonderful. Also, a gourmet tapas restaurant called Xef Pirata where we had a tapas taster menu where the courses just kept coming! It seemed small inside, but there was an upstairs too; a great vibe!

Stroll up to the top of the hill to the square overlooked by the church with its famous blue tiled dome. There are hundreds of ancient, narrow cobbled streets and walkways, some with shops and others just with houses. They are all so pretty with the beautiful coloured flowers against the whitewashed walls. Little bars can be found tucked away in the narrowest of streets where it’s nice to stop off for a cold beer or glass of chilled wine and a plate of tapas!

If you wander around in the heat of the day, be sure to have your sunscreen on and a hat but always with a camera in hand as there is a photo opportunity around every corner. A terrace off the Plaza de la Iglesia offers fine views over Altea town, the harbour and Albir in the distance and Benidorm beyond - truly spectacular.

Just 45 minute drive from Alicante airport, Altea is an ideal weekend away!