Costa Blanca – White Coast full of colors
As you perfectly know, my Spanish homeland is Costa del Sol, but this time I am taking you on a journey more to the east. We stop there in another picturesque tourist region – on the "White Coast". What to see on the Costa Blanca? What's the weather like there? Where are the most beautiful beaches? What is the cost of living? Keep reading to find the answers.
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Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca? I can't even count how many times I've heard this question from Dream Property customers. Well, the answer is not easy, because both coasts are the showpieces of touristic Spain. Of course, there are some differences between them. To give you the most complete picture of this magical place, I have prepared a short guide with key information about the Costa Blanca. With this guide making the decision will surely be a little easier.
The climate and location of the Costa Blanca
If you want to find the "White Coast", let's walk your finger on the map to the vicinity of Alicante. The Costa Blanca covers nearly 250 km of the Mediterranean coast and is one of the most famous tourist regions in Spain. What's the climate like there? When summers on the Costa del Sol are usually very hot and very dry, there the high temperatures go hand in hand with high air humidity. Also, the water is slightly warmer there, which is a consequence of warmer sea currents and the greater distance from the ocean.
Costa Blanca is also a picturesque terrain, one of the attractions are rocky headlands overlooking the sea. No wonder that the region is also the winter capital of cycling enthusiasts from all over Europe. Both those who drive more amateurs and professionals. This Spanish coast simply provides excellent conditions for training.
Costa Blanca weather
The weather on the Costa Blanca averages 25-28 degrees in the period from June to August, with air humidity reaching about 68%. Winter? Of course, it is also warm, because in the period from December to February there is an average of 13 degrees here. It is estimated that there are about 320 sunny days a year here, which means that every season many tourists come here to relax and get a huge dose of sun and vitamin D.
The most important cities and attractions of the Costa Blanca
Alicante
The most important center of the southern Costa Blanca is Alicante with over 300 thousand residents. This historic port city is the capital of this region. It is dominated by the imposing fortress Castillo de Santa Barbara, which is situated on the rocky Benacantil hill.
- Here is the old town, Barrio de Cruz, with the oldest church in the area. Strong Arab influences are clearly visible in the architecture. In Alicante, it is worth visiting numerous museums, taking advantage of the well-organized swimming pool, as well as trying the local wine and cuisine. The island of Tabarca is also nearby, especially loved by divers. This charming city also responds to the needs of tourists who dream of crazy fun. For this purpose, it is worth visiting the Rambla de Mendez Nunez. – so the prestigious "National Geographic".
Being in Alicante, you should direct your steps to the already mentioned port, which is one of the most important in the Mediterranean. It is no exaggeration to say that the port is the busiest place in Alicante. Tourist ships, exclusive yachts, smaller boats, fishing boats, seaside promenade, bars, restaurants... Life is vibrant here seven days a week, which attracts both tourists and residents, for whom it is one of the most popular places for walking .
What else will we find there? It is worth mentioning, for example, the former Lonja del Pescado fish market and the Museo de la Volvo Ocean Race, a museum of the famous regattas around the Earth – Volvo Ocean Race. Where does the presence of this museum in Alicante come from? In the past, several editions of this iconic sports event began in this city.
Benidorm
A unique place is Benidorm, the most famous resort of the Costa Blanca, which is located over 50 km north of Alicante. The very "nicknames" of this city say a lot: Spanish Las Vegas or Manhattan. All because of the numerous skyscrapers and the fact that Benidorm is basically one big amusement park. It's a perfect place for people who like entertainment (although it's not cheap there). On a very long list of attractions there are, among others Terra Mitica Park, Terra Natura Zoo or Aqua Natura Waterpark.
Elche
Another magical place is Elche. It has nearly 230 thousand of inhabitants, the city is not located directly on the coast line (about 25 km inland from Alicante), but it is definitely worth going there. Elche owes its fame to, among others, magnificent sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is about El Palmeral, the largest palm grove in Europe, as well as the Mystery in Elche, a medieval theatrical performance in honor of the Mother of God. Worth seeing are also the Palace of Altamira from the 15th century or the ancient Iberian sculpture – the Lady of Elche.
Denia
It is also necessary to mention Denia in the north of the Costa Blanca. The city is located halfway from Alicante to Valencia and is considered one of the most attractive places in the region. We will find there, among others, historic center, many monuments, yacht port and a beautifully preserved natural environment. This is a place for people who value peace, because it is not a typical tourist town. Although if someone likes to have fun, it won't be a problem either – Denia is a great base to make a trip to Ibiza and Formentera.
Calpe
When planning a vacation or a trip to the Costa Blanca, it is worth visiting the northern part of the coast, where Calpe is waiting for us. This relatively small city (a little over 20,000 inhabitants) is, however, a unique combination of a seaside resort, a romantic area and a place that is ideal for sports enthusiasts. Both water (e.g. kitesurfing, windsurfing, water skiing, diving, sailing) and cycling. Calpe is one of the most famous Spanish destinations among cyclists from around the world. It is here where both, amateurs and professional teams, who want to prepare for the competition, come every season.
Although, of course, Calpe does not live by sport alone. It also includes the old town, which is located on the top of the hill, and 332 meters of limestone adventure – a trip to the Penon de Ifach mountain. It is a real miracle of nature, the sight of which impresses all tourists. Importantly, it is also probably the smallest nature reserve in Spain, covering just over 40 hectares.
Other important cities and towns of the Costa Blanca are Javea, Villajoyosa and Altea. The undoubted attraction of many of these cities is their cultural wealth, above all, numerous evidence of the region's fascinating history. Traces of Romans, Phoenicians, Muslims and other historical cultures can be seen both in small settlements and in modern coastal resorts.
Beaches on the Costa Blanca
White Coast"– it is said that the name comes from the color of the sand of the beaches there. In turn, according to other theories, it is a reference to white houses and... white limestone rocks that are often found here. Anyway, it is worth stopping at the shoreline for a moment, because the beaches of the Costa Blanca in many cases have been preserved in their natural state. In the rankings of the most popular beaches, the following are most often mentioned:
- Playa La Granadella (Javea)
- Playa de Levante (Benidorm)
- Playa La Roda (Altea)
- Playa de San Juan (Alicante)
- Playa de Tabarca (Alicante)
- Playa La Caleta (Villajoyosa)
- Playa de les Marines (Denia)
- Playa de la Fossa (Calpe)
- Playa del Postiguet (Alicante)
As you can see, the tourist face of the Costa Blanca is very pretty. The one concerning the real estate market as well, but today I wanted to focus only on the general characteristics of this coast. However, I already have a list of real estate topics in my head, which I will share with you soon.