Costa Blanca Travel Guide

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Costa Blanca

Benidorm © po.psi.que

Lying on the eastern coast of Spain, the Costa Blanca draws millions of tourists each year to its turquoise waters and miles of white sandy beaches. Alicante is the capital and major city on this stretch of coast, but it is Benidorm that attracts the most visitors and this is the place to go for those looking for a lively and entertaining holiday with hundreds of bars and all-night clubs catering mainly for British tourists. However there is more to the Costa Blanca than crowded beach resorts - within the mountainous interior are a series of fascinating medieval towns and fortified villages which have been largely unaffected by modern development.

Resorts

See our separate guides to the following Costa Blanca holiday resorts: Benidorm, Altea, Alicante, Moraira and Javea

Attractions

Castell de Santa Barbara © Blai Server

Castell de Santa Barbara

The impressive castle that towers over Alicante was originally built by the Carthaginians in 400 BC and later used by the Romans and Moors. The fortress is massive, encompassing moats, drawbridges, tunnels, cisterns and dungeons, not to mention a stately tower and keep. From... see full details

Salvador Dali © Arniep

Museo de Arte del Siglo XX Asegurada

In the Plaza de Santa Maria stands Alicante's oldest building, a former granary dating from 1685. Ironically the city's oldest building contains its most notable modern art collection, donated by painter and sculptor Eusebio Sempere in 1977. Among the noteworthy paintings on display are... see full details

Terra Mitica

Situated on the outskirts of Benidorm, Terra Mitica is Spain's largest theme park and, with its rides, shows, restaurants and shops, can be a great day out for all the family. Rides like the Tizona, an inverted roller coaster that reaches speeds of... see full details

Excursions

Elche

For a change from beaches, just 12 miles (19km) inland west of Alicante is Europe's only palm forest, forming a lush oasis around the city of Elche (Elx). The city boasts several beautiful parks and public gardens. The Parque Municipal is one of... see full details

Isla Tabarca

The tiny islet of Tabarca is becoming an increasingly popular day trip destination from Alicante, with its quiet fishing village offering an old fort, several very reasonably priced fresh seafood restaurants, a rocky beach with clear turquoise water, and several coves and tidal pools... see full details

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