Sun-Kissed Shores: The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca

Costa Blanca is located in the province of Alicante in the Valencian Community and is a stretch of coastline in southeastern Spain that extends from the town of Pilar de la Horadada in the south to Denia in the north. It spans over 240 kilometers of coves, beaches, and cliffs, bordered to the north by the Costa de Valencia and to the south by the Costa Cálida.

Its location, climate, and air connections with the rest of Europe make the Costa Blanca a very popular destination in Spain attracting millions of visitors every year. Some of Spain’s most touristy cities, such as Alicante, Benidorm, and Calpe, are located here, so if you decide to visit this part of the country, you’ll have a wide range of services and tourist activities to choose from. You can opt for stunning beaches, numerous outdoor activities or enjoy its lively nightlife.

In addition to enjoying the best of Costa Blanca and all kinds of services and tourist offerings, this area is an excellent gastronomic destination, as it’s the birthplace of iconic Spanish dishes such as paella.

The Valencian Community is famous throughout the country for its delicious rice dishes, so you can’t leave without reserving a table at a good restaurant to taste authentic Valencian paella, arroz a banda, black rice, or fideuà. And a piece of advice: if you truly want to have a memorable gastronomic experience and enjoy the local cuisine, steer clear of beach bars. They’re fine for a quick bite during a day at the beach, but the perfect rice dish cannot be cooked “industrially”. To be just right, it needs to be prepared with care and served at the exact moment. So, set aside a day to order a rice dish made with love, it will be worth it!

Now, after making my mouth water recalling the extraordinary rice dishes from Alicante, let’s get to the topic of this post: the 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca. This selection is divided between the most visited beaches and quieter ones, so you can choose whether you want to spend a beach day in a lively atmosphere or prefer to disconnect and relax on a cove.

The best beaches in Costa Blanca for a day trip

1. Postiguet Beach (Alicante)

© Photo by Paco Cameo on Flikr // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa del Postiguet (Alicante)

We begin this review of Costa Blanca beaches with Postiguet Beach, located in the old town of Alicante, next to the port and a wide palm-lined promenade that stretches along its 900-meter length. Postiguet is an ideal place to spend a beach day without leaving the city or simply take a pleasant stroll by the sea enjoying its picturesque setting, as it is located at the foot of Mount Benacantil, crowned by Santa Bárbara Castle.

Due to its central location, it’s very easy to access, whether on foot or by public transport. It’s not recommended to go by car, as it tends to be quite crowded and parking is difficult to find. In any case, its location is not a problem, as it’s a short distance from any point in the city.

This popular beach with fine sand offers all kinds of services, such as rental of sun loungers and umbrellas, showers, recreational areas for children, and areas for sports such as beach volleyball, as well as walkways and access for people with reduced mobility. There are also plenty of bars and beach bars for eating or having a drink, and in the surroundings, you’ll find numerous terraces, cafes, ice cream parlors, and craft and souvenir shops. Its calm and shallow waters and its good location make it a very popular spot for families.

SERVICES:

2. San Juan Beach (Alicante)

© Photo by Before Cuiviénen on Flikr // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de San Juan (Alicante)

This enormous soft golden sand beach, six kilometers in length, is located on the outskirts of the city of Alicante, shared with the neighboring municipality of El Campello, although the stretch corresponding to this municipality is also known as Muchavista Beach. San Juan Beach is probably the most famous beach on the Costa Blanca and is fully urbanized, with an abundant offer of nearby restaurants and entertainment and a lively promenade.

Nearby is the Alicante Golf Course, and it also has spaces for sports activities: beach volleyball courts, soccer goals, and areas for water sports where you can rent pedal boats, surfboards, and windsurfing equipment, and receive lessons. Also, this beautiful beach of white sand and crystal-clear waters has all kinds of amenities and services: toilets, sun loungers, lifeguards, children’s play areas…

Along the promenade, you will also find an interesting range of dining options, with good restaurants, ice cream parlors, and beach bars.

It’s also worth mentioning that during the traditional celebration of the night of San Juan, on June 24th, the beach is the main festive spot and becomes a spectacular and massive succession of bonfires. An event you shouldn’t miss if it coincides with your visit to the region.

SERVICES:

3. Levante Beach (Benidorm)

© Photo by Concepcion Muñoz on Flikr // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de Levante (Benidorm)

Levante Beach is located in the center of Benidorm, which is one of the most popular destinations in the region. This beach, over 2 kilometers long, enjoys a fantastic orientation, allowing sunbathing almost all day long, and the pleasant microclimate of this city makes it possible to enjoy it for most of the year.

Furthermore, it’s connected to the promenade, which is full of bars, terraces, and restaurants, and it’s also an area of nightclubs and pubs, so you can continue enjoying yourself after sunset.

Levante Beach offers the usual services of urban beaches, such as sunbed and umbrella rental, available for 11 months a year. It also has very interesting entertainment offers, such as the cable ski station, the water banana, or the water parachute, and even a beach library open all year round!

SERVICES:

4. Poniente Beach  (Benidorm)

© Photo by Jose A. on Flikr // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de Poniente (Benidorm)

Poniente Beach in Benidorm is also located in the center of this city, adjacent to the previous one, and extends over more than 3 kilometers. Its location is equally perfect for relaxing under the Mediterranean sun for most of the year.

The beach is connected to the promenade of Benidorm and offers a wide range of bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, where you can eat, have a drink, or have fun until the early hours.

Poniente Beach offers the same services as its counterpart, so both form the perfect tandem to enjoy a great day at the beach and even extend it into the night.

SERVICES:

5. La Fossa Beach (Calpe)

© Photo by James F Clay on Flikr // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de la Fossa (Calpe)

The next beach on our list is also another urban beach, located in the center of the town of Calpe. La Fossa Beach is probably one of the favorite spots for photographers who come to this town, as its shore offers a postcard view of the Ifach Rock, one of the most emblematic points of the Costa Blanca. Isn’t the idea of sunbathing while listening to the sea and contemplating those beautiful views tempting?

On its promenade, you will find restaurants, ice cream parlors, pubs, and all kinds of shops. Furthermore, La Fossa Beach has an accessible point with bathing areas assisted by monitors and equipped with an amphibious chair, an amphibious crutch, toilets, showers, and adapted changing rooms to facilitate bathing for people with reduced mobility.

SERVICES:

The previous beaches are all urban beaches with all kinds of services and amenities and very good connections. However, you should bear in mind that these cities, especially Benidorm, are hotspots for tourism and in peak season, the beaches can be extremely crowded, which could ruin your day of relaxation if you seek a quiet beach day. Just to give you an idea, in Benidorm, it’s common for people to go to the beach at dawn in the summer months to secure a spot.

Therefore, it’s advisable to go in low or mid-season, as the weather is usually pleasant most of the year with many days of sunshine, and you will be able to enjoy the surroundings much more.

However, on the Costa Blanca, you can also find coves away from the hustle and bustle of urban centers, perfect for a day trip to disconnect and relax by the sea.

6. Granadella Cove (Jávea)

© Photo by J.A. Paredes on Flikr // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de Granadella (Jávea)

This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain and a perfect choice if you are going to be on the Costa Blanca and want to spend a day at the beach in an idyllic setting. It is located within the Granadella Forest Park, south of Jávea, and its 160 meters of crystal-clear waters, turquoise and emerald tones, are a wonderful place for snorkeling or diving.

One of the most popular activities you can do here is the kayak excursion in Granadella, which will take you to the Cova del llop marí (Cave of the Sea Lion), a huge cave of great depth ideal for snorkeling.

7. Moraig Cove (Poble Nou de Benitatxell)

© Photo by Concepcion Muñoz on Flikr // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de Moraig (Benitatxell)

Moraig Cove is located in Poble Nou de Benitatxell, between Moraira and Jávea, and it’s a beach about 300 meters long located in a wonderful setting, surrounded by cliffs and vegetation. Access to Moraig Cove cannot be done by vehicle; you have to leave the car in the parking lot and walk the last stretch.

Despite being a small cove, it offers a multitude of services, such as access for people with reduced mobility and amphibious chairs to facilitate bathing, lifeguards, and nursing services. It`’s also a perfect place for water activities and to have fun diving and snorkeling.

To complete the day, you can climb to the viewpoint above Moraig Cove and enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding area.

8. Portitxol Cove or La Barraca (Jávea)

© Photo by Joanbanjo on Wikimedia Commons // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de Portitxol (Jávea)

La Barraca Cove, also known as Portitxol Cove, is also located in Jávea and is one of the most beautiful beaches in the province of Alicante.

This cove with turquoise waters is located in an area of impressive cliffs covered with Mediterranean vegetation. In front of it, about 300 meters away, is the Island of Portitxol, which is an ideal spot place for diving.

Part of the charm of La Barraca Cove is reflected in the white fishermen’s houses that dot its shore and give it an appearance reminiscent of the Greek islands. This cove is a great spot for snorkeling enthusiasts, as you can enjoy beautiful reefs.

9. Bol Nou Cove (Villajoyosa)

© Photo by Diego Delso on Wikimedia Commons // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de Bol Nou (Villajoyosa)

This beach in Villajoyosa is closed off by rocky cliffs, making it particularly beautiful. This also means that as the afternoon falls, shadows take over, so if you want to sunbathe, it’s best to go in the morning. It’s a gravel and pebble beach, so it’s highly recommended to wear water shoes to walk along the shore comfortably.

Bol Nou Cove has the usual services of urban beaches: lifeguard, public toilets, foot wash… In addition, there is a picnic area – a picnic area next to the beach with about ten wooden tables.

Keep in mind that, despite the beauty of its cliffs, you should be cautious and try not to stay too close, as it’s a living area and there is a risk of landslides.

10. El Portet de Moraira Cove (Teulada-Moraira)

© Photo by MollySVH on Flikr // The 10 best beaches in Costa Blanca: Playa de El Portet de Moraira

El Portet de Moraira is a beautiful semi-urban beach with crystal-clear waters located in the town of Teulada-Moraira, in a particularly beautiful setting. It’s located in a small bay next to the Cap d’Or peninsula, on which stands a 16th-century watchtower.

The seabed of El Portet Bay has an important meadow of Posidonia oceanica, a plant that filters waste and gives the waters of this beautiful beach a spectacular turquoise color and transparency. In addition, El Cap d’Or protects El Portet Beach from the waves, making it a great spot for water activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, or paddle surfing.

In conclusion, on Costa Blanca, you will find stunning beaches and a multitude of options for all tastes. You can choose between the most popular beaches such as Postiguet in Alicante, San Juan Beach, or the lively beaches of Benidorm, or if you prefer, you can also get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in beautiful coves such as Granadella in Jávea, Moraig Cove in Benitatxell, or La Barraca Cove in Jávea, to relax and connect with nature.

The beauty of the beaches of Costa Blanca and its pleasant climate make it a very popular destination. For this reason, my recommendation is to try to avoid the high seasons, especially July and August, as the influx of tourists is very, very high, and the municipalities may restrict access to beaches and coves. If you cannot avoid traveling during those times, it’s advisable to visit official channels to check the information of interest and make sure you can access your destination. Here is the link to the Costa Blanca Tourist Board for more information. Enjoy!