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- Destinations
- Europe
- Spain
- Costa Blanca
- Altea
Altea
Away from the madding crowds of Benidorm, the peaceful town of
Altea offers plenty of amenities for those who prefer a less
frenetic beach holiday, without the glitz, glamour and gusto. Of
all the towns on the Costa Blanca, Altea is probably the one that
remains the least exploited and overdeveloped, where daily life
remains uninterrupted by tourists and huge hotels have yet to be
built. Altea has a long jetty and attractive walkway fronting a
calm stretch of shoreline with pebbly beaches encircling the town.
The town's central Plaza de la Iglesia leads onto narrow
cobblestone streets and offers beautiful Mediterranean views.
Information & Facts
Activities
Don't miss seeing the church of Nuestra Senora Del Consuelo,
famous for its hand-painted blue tiles. Mountain tours into the
surrounding countryside can be arranged in town. There are golf
courses both north and south of town that accept day visitors. Boat
cruises, fishing and diving trips can be arranged in town, while
other activities on offer include horse riding, windsurfing and
even tennis.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely
understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and
Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.
Money
Spain's official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided
into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and
major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards
and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels,
restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the
cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.
Negatives
Altea is quiet and traditional and not ideal for those wanting a
party scene close to town.
Night Life
All the nightlife is in Benidorm, a short trip by bus or car up
the coast. Bar Plaza, on Altea's main square, has live music and
jazz on summer evenings.
Restaurants
Altea is unusual in that it has more local, paella-style
eateries than pubs. The Hotel San Miguel gets good reviews for its
food and has great views over the sea. El Castell in the old town
serves some of the region's best pizzas, while La Maja is the
perfect spot for a cooling cocktail or a stylish Mediterranean dish
after a long day at the beach.
Shopping
Quaint local shops can be found around town. They are mostly
open until late at night, but closed for siesta in the early
afternoon. From Easter until September there is an interesting
market in the Altea town square - great for buying local produce
and gifts such as embroidered linen, leather goods, pottery and
olive oil. The Altea market is open on Tuesdays and has become
known as one of the larger markets on the Costa Blanca. Visitors
wanting a bigger shopping experience should head to either Benidorm
or the Sunday market at La Nuncia, just north of Altea.
Time
Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March
and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). The Canary
Islands: GMT (GMT +1 in summer).