Costa Blanca
All You Need To Know

Sightseeing In Costa Blanca

Further along the coast from the Costa Blanca lies Spain's largest city, the cosmopolitan metropolis of Valencia. Originally founded by the Romans in 138BC, it was later taken over by the Moors before being captured by Spain's great hero, El Cid. Today, Valencia is best known as the home of paella and no visit to the city is complete without sampling the famous Spanish national dish in an al fresco restaurant. Valencia itself boasts a resplendent historic quarter, crowned by a magnificent Romanesque cathedral that's said to house the legendary Holy Grail, and most of the city's monuments are within easy walking distance of the triangular-shaped main square, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Head away from the Costa Blanca's coastal resorts and discover olive and citrus groves, rugged mountain scenery and colourful hilltop villages. Perhaps the most famous is the whitewashed town of Guadalest. Boasting a dramatic Moorish fortress, it's well worth a visit and provides a real insight into Spanish life and culture.

Local Specialities

From steaming dishes of paella to sizzling fry-ups of bacon and eggs, there's something guaranteed to tickle your tastebuds on the Costa Blanca. As the largest resort, Benidorm is home to a vast selection of eateries. Traditional Spanish tapas bars jostle with fast food outlets serving pizzas and hamburgers. So, whether you want to sample local specialities such as grilled prawns with garlic mayonnaise or prefer hearty British fare such as roast beef and fish and chips, you won't have to look far!

Beaches

The Costa Blanca is renowned for its immaculate sandy beaches. Lively Benidorm is home to two broad Blue Flag beaches which shelve gently into the glittering waters of the Mediterranean making them great for swimming. The liveliest beach, Levante, is considered to be among the top 10 beaches in the world and so it's no surprise that it can get crowded, especially in July and August. Benidorm is particularly fortunate in that the main sweep of its beaches face south, catching the rays as long as the sun shines. Nearby Albir plays host to a relaxed, pebble beach while Cala Finestrat is home to a quiet, sandy cove. The Costa Blanca's principle city, Alicante , overlooks the sea and is served by the popular Postiguet beach and vast swathes of sands can be found at La Albuferta and Sant Joan.