Life’s a beach, and Spain has some of the best ones in the world. From quiet secluded coves to full on restaurant beach bar nightclub promenades, you will be spoiled for choice. The Costa Blanca region in Spain has over 200 kilometres of beautiful coastline with mainly golden sandy beaches alongside a stunning turquoise blue sea. In combination with beautiful sunny weather nearly all year round, it is no wonder this is one of the most visited beach destinations in Spain. And rightfully so.
It will be difficult to describe all the Costa Blanca beaches there are to visit but here is a short list of some of our favourite beaches on the Costa Blanca in Spain.
10 Best Costa Blanca beaches to visit
Playa de la Granadella in Jávea
Playa de la Granadella is one of the hidden treasures of the Costa Blanca. Surrounded by steep cliffs, this small pebbled beach has such a picturesque location. The cove is 160 metres long and the clear, transparent turquoise waters are perfect for scuba diving. Even the drive to the beach is wonderful, a steep winding road through the local woodland. This beach has become very popular and during summer time it can get very crowded. Parking space is very limited and is basically along the steep and narrow road out of the valley. During the months of July and August the road into the valley gets closed off once the parking is full. The parking on top can be used and a tourist train or bus will take you down to the beach.
Cala de la Granadella is definitely a beach you need to visit, but rather visit out of season to make the most of your visit to this beach in the Costa Blanca.
Levante Beach in Benidorm
The 2 kilometre long Levante beach with fine golden sand and crystal blue water is the most visited beach in Benidorm. It’s a very clean, well-maintained Blue flag beach, at times very crowded but with still enough space to find a fairly quiet and relaxing area. There are plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas for rent or you can find a space for your own beach towel and chair. And if you don’t want to spend the whole day sunbathing, there are plenty of activities to do; various water sports are offered, children’s play grounds, volleybal nets or walk the whole 2 km along the beachfront. The water is generally warm and great for swimming. Just beware of the rocky areas in between the sand when going in the water.
The beautiful promenade alongside the beach offers plenty of beach bars, restaurants and shops to keep the whole family entertained day and night.
Playa Racó de L’Albir in Alfàs del Pi
White pebble beach with spectacular views of the surrounding Sierra Helada on the one side and the famous Peñon d’Ifach, or the Calpe Rock on the other side. There are lots of sun loungers for rent if you don’t want to lay with your towel on the pebbles.
A lovely white marble promenade lined with palmtrees and dotted with cosy beach bars and some lovely eateries and shops. The promenade is called ‘Paseo de las Estrellas’ or the so called Walk of Fame where celebreties are immortilized as stars into the white marble pavement. The seaside town of Albir as well as the beachfront are much more quiet than the nearby resort of Benidorm, although Albir does receive quite a crowd of tourists during holiday season and during the yearly film festival which is hosted in Alfàs del Pi in July.
Playa del Centro in Villajoyosa
The Playa del Centro or Villajoyosa beach is located right by the colourful old town. It’s a long stretched beach intercepted by rows of palm trees which provide nice shade for beach goers. It’s a blue flag beach with fine golden sand and a length of nearly 2 km which runs all the way to the marina. This Costa Blanca beach never gets very crowded and is perfect if you are looking for a quiet but very nice day on the beach. The promenade along the beach is dotted with local restaurants and bars where you can find local Spanish food and refreshments. And when spending the day in town, take the time to discover the fun things to do in Villajoyosa, like the narrow streets between the colourful houses and indulge yourself in the rich chocolate history in the local chocolate museum.
El Racó cove in Calpe
El Racó cove or Cala El Racó is located on the foot of the Peñon de Ifach, a massive limestone outcrop, the iconic landmark of Calpe. It’s a small 80 metres long pebbled beach with some very clear water which is perfect for snorkelling. And that is what most visitors to this beach do to enjoy the beauty of the seabed and local marine life.
The beach is accessible through the port where you can find parking spaces. There is a pleasant walk from the beach along a stretch of the rocky outcrop where one can spot various marine birds.
Playa de Cabo Roig in Torrevieja
Playa de Cabo Roig, located around 10 km south of Torrevieja, is a sheltered beach accessible via steps or a sloped pathway. Due to its location it’s protected from the wind, making it a great place to sunbath during the cooler winter months. The bay also ensures there are less high waves from the sea, so it’s mostly quite calm and pretty shallow to swim.
There are public toilet facilities as well as a beach bar (or chiringuito as its locally called), which is open all year round selling refreshments. The beach is quite popular during the summer months of July and August, so if you are looking for a quiet and relaxing time at the beach, rather go out of season.
Playa San Juan in Alicante
Playa San Juan or San Juan beach is one of the more popular beaches located a short drive outside the city centre of Alicante. A near 7 kilometres long sandy beach on the Costa Blanca with bars and cafés along the beach promenade decorated with lots of palmtrees. Have a taste of some traditional Spanish food, a nice drink while meeting people and enjoying the scenery.
Take a walk along the beach to find the quieter areas for sunbathing and swimming in the crystal clear water. The children will have lots of fun playing in the play parks which you’ll find along the beachfront.
La Cala in Finestrat
Even though it is located right next to Benidorm, La Cala is a small beach in a little bay, surrounded by bars and restaurants. Benidorm is just a bus ride away but staying in this area will be more relaxed although it might get a bit crowded in the summer season.
Playa de El Pinet in Elche
Located at the southern tip of the Nature Reserve of Las Salinas, or the Salt Lakes, the beach of El Pinet is a real hidden gem close to Santa Pola. A wonderful narrow strip of quiet sandy beach surrounded by dunes. At one end of the beach you’ll find some old fisherman’s houses, one of which is a hostel and a few restaurants with a beautiful setting and wonderful beach views.
The sea is quite shallow here making it great for a safe swim.
Cala la Fustera in Benissa
Stunning little white sandy beach, perfect for snorkelling and paddle boarding (SUP). It is located on the coastal walk to and from Calpe. At the side there is a charming beach restaurant with parking overlooking the beach and the Mediterranean sea. It might get crowded in peak season since it’s quite small, so make sure to get there early to guarantee a spot on the sand.
That concludes our selection of some of our favourite beaches on the Costa Blanca that we think are well worth a visit. But, this list is far from complete as there are many more beautiful beaches in the area to discover. In time, we may well add more to this article.
