Vacationers are being advised to overlook Benidorm and head to this hidden gem of a seaside city simply quarter-hour away.
Vacationers are being advised to overlook Benidorm and head to this hidden gem simply quarter-hour away (Picture: Getty)
Dwelling to chalk-white homes, domed blue-tiled church buildings and a maze of flower-lined streets tumbling down towards the Mediterranean, one Spanish coastal city is quickly turning into the Costa Blanca’s most talked about escape. Travellers who as soon as headed straight for Benidorm’s high-rise beachfronts are actually turning their consideration to this postcard-perfect different simply quarter-hour away – one many have dubbed “Spain’s reply to Santorini”.
Perched on a hillside only a brief drive north of Benidorm and three hours from Madrid is Altea, which provides a hanging distinction to its louder, party-central neighbour. Its historic previous quarter, El Fornet, boasts a picturesque internet of cobbled streets house to artisan workshops and family-run cafes, all topped by the hanging blue dome of the Church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, constructed in the beginning of the twentieth century. Paired with the city’s cliffside views and vivid white facades, comparisons to the Greek islands, comparable to Santorini or Mykonos, have turn into more and more frequent amongst guests.
Altea ‘felt like Santorini however higher,’ wrote one customer on Tripadvisor (Picture: Getty)
Altea “felt like Santorini however higher,” wrote one customer on Tripadvisor. “Altea is wonderful, particularly the previous city. Stunning views, enjoyable and quiet. Good eating places, little native outlets and pleasant folks. Altea must be in your bucket checklist!”
In contrast to Benidorm’s bustling nightlife and neon-lit avenues, Altea is a city of calm. Days listed below are spent admiring the views, looking boutiques or settling into waterfront eating places alongside its palm-lined promenade. The seashores are smaller and pebbled, with quiet coves like Cap Negret or family-friendly areas like La Olla, providing clear waters that appeal to paddleboarders, snorkellers or these merely in search of a peaceable patch of sunshine.
Talking of sunshine, Altea enjoys a stunning Mediterranean local weather, characterised by lengthy, sizzling, dry summers (July is hottest, averaging round 32C) and delicate, sunny winters (December sees highs round 17C and lows close to 7C). Protected by hills, it has a beneficial microclimate, making it nice year-round, with heat, sunny days and minimal rain, particularly between Could and September.
Tourism is claimed to have surged lately, notably amongst these in search of a extra genuine Spanish expertise. Holidaymakers ceaselessly describe the city as a hidden gem – energetic sufficient to supply a wonderful perception into the native tradition, but relaxed sufficient to really feel a world away from the large resorts elsewhere on the Costa Blanca.
But, regardless of rising reputation, Altea nonetheless retains its attraction, with string-lit eating places and delightful sundown seascapes that evoke the romantic atmosphere that has fuelled its comparisons to Greece.
One other wrote on Tripadvisor: “A stunning characterful previous city space – excessive on a hill, so loads of views obtainable of sea and mountains. Appears to be rising much more in reputation however then this place is quintessentially Spanish.”
Altea doesn’t have its personal airport; the closest and essential airport serving the world is Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC), situated roughly 37 miles away, with connections obtainable by way of bus, taxi, or automobile rental. Based on Skyscanner, direct return flights in January begin from as little as £43 with Ryanair, flying from Stansted on January 6 and returning 4 days later.
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