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Welcome to Altea
Welcome to Altea – Travel, Holidays and Vacation: altea.me offers information about the Province of Alicante in the Valencian Community. Not only to the coastline, the Costa Blanca. Because also to travel in the mountain region and the Inland and to make there vacation is very delightful.
Altea Holidays & Travel
The picturesque coastal town of Altea
Altea lies at the beginning of the northern third of the Costa Blanca coastline. At the border of Comarca Marina Baja to the northern county of Marina Alta. It is the coastal centre of the two Marina counties. The originality of the old town with the white houses and much art enchants everyone. Because the politics and administration of the coastal town Altea always pay attention to the preservation of architecture and culture of their city. In contrast to Benidorm (approx. 10 km in the south) and Calpe / Calp (approx. 12 km in the north). Altea has managed to preserve its Mediterranean originality despite the steady growth of tourism. This does not only concern the preservation of old buildings. Also new buildings must follow strict rules. Altea is an ideal place for your holidays and always worth a visit. Holidays in Altea – a dream.
Links
- Altea Addresses – Travel & Holidays
- Photo Gallery – Altea Holidays Photos & Pictures
- Videos – Holidays in Altea
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Altea Arrival
Flying to Altea
Airports
Valencia is about 140 km (90 minutes) away. The one from Alicante (L'Altet) is only 70 km (45 minutes) away. The airport Alicante / L'Altet is a good destination. Almost all European airlines land here with high frequency. Also the well-known cheap airlines. The airport is modern and very well organized. There are the usual short-term and long-term parking spaces directly at the airport.
Parking Spaces
As many long-term holidaymakers and residents live in the Province of Alicante, there are also inexpensive providers of long-term outdoor and indoor parking around the airport. The main direction is Torrellano, a town near the airport. They offer a shuttle service and cost between 300€ and 400€ per year. All of them I have heard work very well and are recommendable. I myself have been with Aqua Cars for 10 years and am very satisfied. So also this naming is no advertisement. They simply do a very good job. Therefore I say with this recommendation gladly thank you that you always picked me up so fast ;).
Car rental companies
There are also many car rentals for short term holidaymakers. The process is simple. The offices are in the exit hall of the airport. The cars are in the nearby multi-storey car park. This is directly accessible from the exit hall via a bridge. The company Goldcar can be seen most subjectively on the streets. However, this is not a quality judgement about whether the supplier is also good. In the high season you can expect longer queues and waiting times at the car rental counters. Booking in advance secures you a rental car also in these times. Because then there are also bottlenecks.
A good alternative are the providers of long-term parking spaces. Compared to the global car rental providers, these are rather small and local providers. The prices are absolutely competitive, and sometimes much cheaper. These companies are not as well positioned on the web as the big international ones. But it is worth to call directly. All of them are multilingual. I have also called the tenants of my apartments Aqua Car. Full satisfaction with the price and the service.
Other means of transport
Also the bus connection at the airport Alicante is very good. For example, every hour an ALSA bus goes to Benidorm for about 10 € – sorry, I don't know exactly anymore. Of course there are still taxis and private shuttle services, the latter are recommended for longer distances and easy to find and book over the Internet. About is rather frowned upon and very regulated and limited in Spain.
Journey to Altea by car
A trip to Altea by car is also very easy. Because the coastal road N311 leads directly into and through the village. The parallel running motorway AP7 bypasses the city a little north in the inland. It is subject to tolls. Therefore there are hardly any traffic jams. A motorway connection at Olla de Altea or the exit Benidorm / Playa Poniente are the Altea closest. Coming over the national road from the north from direction Calpe, you reach first the low developed suburb La Olla / Olla de Altea. Here there is also a small beach worth visiting. It is not a sandy beach, but I like it very much. It is not overcrowded. The beach restaurants and bars directly at the sea are an experience. A drink with the sound of the sea has something.
Arrival by train.
In La Olla there is also a station of the Tram Linie 9. This narrow-gauge railway runs in small distance to the coastal road. It connects Denia and Benidorm. An extension and electrification planned for a long time will soon make it possible to travel directly to Alicante without changing trains. Of course there is also another tram station in Altes itself. Directly at the foot of the hill to the old town. An international journey to Altea by train runs via Alicante and then by narrow-gauge railway or bus.
Arriving by car from the north via the national road
Just before the suburb of La Olla there is an important turn to the right towards the mountains. There is Callosa de Ensarriá / Callosa d'en Sarrià. and El Castell de Guadalest. On the way there are the waterfalls of the Rio Algar – Fonts d'Algar. The junction is also the access road to the nearby motorway junction Altea. And to the worth seeing district Altea la Vieja / Altea la Vella.
This is a dreamlike, small but self-sufficient village with its own municipal administration connected to the Altea town hall. Near the village there are numerous urbanisations on the mountain slopes of the Sierra Bernia. The place is still lovably familiar. Its development in recent years is brilliant. I will certainly write a separate article about Altea la Vella, because I have known and loved him for over 40 years.
After passing La Olla with the mini port El Portet and a few high-class hotels, as for example the Cap Negret, the bridge comes over the Rio Gaudalest, and the Rio d'Algar that have united shortly before the coast. In the high season the traffic through Altea often jams up to the bridge and on to Olla. Then you need at least half an hour to pass the city.
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Done – at the entrance of Altea
After passing the bridge and the following sports field to the right, the urban space begins. Altea is roughly divided into 6 areas.
- Sea & beach, harbour – from Altea to Albir – fun & holidays
- Strandpromenande Altea – Food & Drink – A promenade for the holidays
- Coast road (50m from the sea) – Journey to Altea & Shopping Mile
- The centre – town hall square, shops, bars – urban life
- The Old Town – Holidays with a great view and upscale gastronomy
- arterial roads – shops & crafts for tourists and residents – holiday home needs
This article is still under construction. The 6 areas of Altea mentioned here are still under construction. I ask for some patience, until the final completion. First of all here is a section as not yet corrected article. The old town of Altea. A dreamlike place for holidays in Altea.
Altea – the Old Town
Altea holidays – the Old Town
The old town of Altea is a must if you are already there. You can only reach it on foot. From all directions, winding and sometimes very narrow lanes lead you up the mountain. On the way up you don't see any building sins. But picturesque, Mediterranean architecture and art at the houses. So one could say here appropriately, already the way is the goal. Despite the touristic development of the place, many things seem original and authentic. This is the perfect way to get into the right mood for your successful holiday in Altea. And your efforts on the way up to the church square will be amply rewarded. Because when you arrive at the spacious church square of Altea, a fantastic vantage point awaits you. The wide panoramic view from Benidorm over the port of Altea to Calpe in the north is famous and unique.
Altea Old Town – Gastronomy
Bars
You'll find very good restaurants & bars up here. Around the church square there are many bars next to the dominant church. All have tables outside on the square. Besides drinks they also offer tapas – small Spanish snacks. The big crowd of visitors probably prevents them from having the quality I expected. But I didn't try them all. That's why I'm sure it's a bit too sweeping. And I don't want to generalize and I don't want to do injustice to any bar. But I prefer to go to the side streets for a tapa dinner. Or directly into the center and to the beach promenade. But there's nothing to complain about at the drinks. It is a good place to relax after the ascent. You can watch the new arrivals and arrive in Altea's old town in peace. That's the way holidays have to be.
Restaurants
From my point of view, the restaurants offer much better quality. No matter which of the streets you explore. Here you will find restaurants in picturesque old buildings. These are safely built on the steep slope. They offer a fantastic view from your terrace or from the mostly glazed guest room. On the long coastline, the Mediterranean Sea, the harbour or the Sierras.
Such places are perfect for a romantic dinner. And it's never too late for that 😉 The prices are slightly higher than at the first line – Altea's beach promenade. But the performance ratio in relation to the location and the quality offered is comparatively very good. You will find international cuisine everywhere. The finest traditional, Mediterranean, Spanish cuisine. But also upscale gastronomy with French, Indian, Italian or Asian dishes. Also the restaurants which are located towards the mountain region offer this quality. They are marginally cheaper because of their location. But that should not be the reason to go there. Because also the view to the mountains rising up to 1.400 m is truly impressive. After all, you see these Sierras from almost sea level. And that shows how high they are. A real mountain range.
Altea Old Town – the church square
Altea Old Town – the church square
The church Nuestra Señora del Consuelo / La Mare de Déu del Consol dominates the large square. Unfortunately it is mostly closed for tourists. On the place there also the frequent Fiestas take place. The blue dome of the church is the landmark of Altea. It is visible from far away.
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Supplementary Articles to Altea Holidays
Here you can find independent articles with information for travel and holidays in the Valencian Community and its southernmost Province of Alicante.
- Valencian Community / Comunidad Valenciana – Travel, Holiday & Vacation
- The Province of Alicante – Travel, Holiday & Vacation
- Costa Blanca – 200 km coast and beaches
All Counties of the Province of Alicante
Information for Travel & Holiday
- Vega Baja del Segura. Coastal district on the Costa Blanca. In the south to Pilar de la Horadada
- Vinalopó Bajo. Coastal county on the Costa Blanca. North of Vega Baja.
- Vinalopó Alto and Vinalopó Medio continue the Vinalopó region. In the inland and in the mountains.
- Campo de Alicante. Coastal county on the Costa Blanca. City & county provincial capital Alicante.
- Hoya de Alcoy. Mountain region inland of the Campo de Alicante. With the Sub Comarca Hoya de Castalla.
- Marina Baja / Baixa. Coastal district. North of Campo de Alicante. Tourist capital Benidorm.
- Condado de Cocentaina / Comtat. The interior mountain region of the coast Comarcas Marina Baja / Alta
- Marina Alta – Coastal district. In the north on the border with the Province of Valencia, capital Denia.
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