Moraira Travel Guide

Nestled in a pretty bay on the southeast coast of Spain, the small Spanish resort town of Moraira is an oasis of traditional charm on the busy Costa Blanca. The destination has grown from a small fishing village into an attractive resort surrounded by luxury villas without losing its Spanish character, which is entrenched in its impressive marina, variety of shops, colourful weekly markets, atmospheric old town, and waterfront restaurants and bars.

The relaxed traditional ambience of Moraira is complemented by two main beaches with European Blue Flag status, which are separated by a promontory crowned with a medieval fortress. There are also plenty of sport and leisure facilities on offer. When it comes to holiday weather, Moraira is one of the best Spanish beach resorts as it claims an average 325 days of sunshine a year, and temperatures stay pleasantly warm. Fresh sea breezes ensure that it's never sweltering in summer, and the surrounding mountains protect the town from the chilly winter winds.

This beach resort is easily accessible as its about 62 miles (100km) by motorway from both Alicante and Valencia airports. For those who enjoy a taste of the high life, it's also within easy reach by car or bus of the busier, glitzier Costa Blanca resorts of Javea, Calpe and party-mad Benidorm. The countryside around the holiday destination of Moraira offers some lovely scenery dotted with unspoilt villages to explore.

Shopping

There are no large supermarkets and shopping malls within the confines of the holiday resort of Moraira itself, but these can be found nearby in the approaches to the town and surrounding suburbs. In the main avenues of old Moraira, shoppers are well catered for with all manner of boutique stores selling local arts and crafts, souvenirs, holiday gear and bric-a-brac. The most fun to be had shopping, though, is at the Friday weekly market where the wares range from fresh fruit to leather goods, pottery and rugs. Good buys include wicker furniture, handbags and wrought iron objects. Serious shoppers can make expeditions to the larger resorts and towns. The street market in Teulada, a few miles inland, is worth a visit.

Restaurants

Despite being relatively small, central Moraira has numerous good quality restaurants, several of them Michelin starred, offering great value for money. Naturally, fresh seafood is the most common cuisine in this charming fishing community, with many local restaurants specialising in it.

For a budget meal, visitors should look out for the menu del dia (menu of the day) offered by many restaurants, which usually consists of different courses with wine and coffee for a set price. 'Workman's specials' also feature on some menus, and are good value. Most Spanish bars serve tapas selections during the day, which are good for a satisfying local snack meal. Those with diverse tastes will find a variety of international cuisines among the local establishments, from English fish and chips to Greek delights, and Indian curry to pizza.

Nightlife

The nightlife of Moraira is considered sedate compared to some of the larger and flashier Spanish resorts, but the town buzzes happily after dark. Many of the restaurants offer live entertainment of some description, including flamenco dancing and karaoke, and there are one or two open-air dance venues. The main club for youngsters is the Costa Sur, just outside of town, which offers a range of entertaining evenings with foam parties, striptease and the like. Other Moraira nightlife options include Saxo Disco and the music pumping Algas Beach Bar. Those who holiday in Moraira during the months of April, June, July and November will catch lively fiestas full of local colour and tradition. Calatalud Drive in the old town is generally closed off during summer and fiesta nights.

Holiday activities

Moraira's lovely beaches offer plenty of fun in the sun through a wealth of water sports. Local leisure facilities include golf courses, as well as tennis and squash courts. Several day excursions are on offer to places of interest, such as the mountain-top fortress of Guadalest, Europe's largest palm forest, and the nearby ancient city of Murcia. Families can enjoy the Moraira go-kart track, or an outing to the Aqualandia water park near the large resort of Benidorm.

Any negatives?

There are no huge nightclubs or discos in Moraira and the clubbing scene is fairly low key when compared with other Spanish beach resorts in the Costa Blanca region.