Albir vs Altea: Which Costa Blanca Town Should You Choose for Your Holiday?

If you've been searching for the perfect base on the Costa Blanca and keep going back and forth between Albir vs Altea, you're not alone. These two towns sit just 4 kilometres apart on the same stretch of coastline — yet they feel like completely different worlds. I've lived between these two places for a decade and I still get asked this question almost every week. So let me settle it once and for all.

The Short Answer

Altea is a postcard-pretty Moorish hilltop village. Albir is a modern, walkable resort with a brilliant beach and real value for money. One isn't better than the other — but one is almost certainly better for you, depending on what kind of holiday you want.

Altea: The Artist's Village

Altea's old town — the casc antic — sits on a hilltop crowned by a gorgeous blue-domed church, the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo. The narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed walls and art galleries give Altea a genuinely bohemian, romantic feel that you don't often find on the Costa Blanca. In September, when the summer crowds thin out, walking through Altea old town at dusk with a glass of local wine in hand is one of the genuinely magical things you can do in this part of Spain.

Altea's beach is actually two beaches — Playa del Albir bleeds into Playa de Altea — but the town's own stretch is a pebbly affair, backed by a pleasant promenade. It's beautiful but not ideal for families with small children. The old town itself sits a good 15-minute walk uphill from the seafront, which is worth knowing if you're travelling with grandparents or anyone with mobility issues.

Restaurants in Altea are genuinely excellent — El Capri and La Costera are long-established favourites — but you pay a premium for the setting. Expect to spend 10–15% more for a similar meal than you would in Albir.

Albir: The Practical Gem

Albir doesn't have a hilltop old town. What it has is one of the best beaches on the Costa Blanca — Playa del Albir, a wide, clean pebble beach with calm turquoise water, no jellyfish (thanks to the rocky seabed), and a Blue Flag to its name. The town itself is flat, compact and very walkable, which makes it enormously practical for families, couples and anyone who wants to just be on holiday rather than navigating steep streets.

The town centre — Paseo de las Fuentes and the streets around it — has a genuinely good selection of restaurants, cafés, supermarkets and shops. It doesn't try to be Altea. It's relaxed, unpretentious and very liveable. I'd argue the quality of life day-to-day in Albir is actually higher precisely because it's not trying to be a tourist attraction.

Serra Gelada Natural Park starts right at the northern end of Albir beach. The walk up through the park to the lighthouse — about 6km return — is one of the finest coastal hikes on the whole Costa Blanca, with views south to Benidorm and north past Altea all the way to the Peñón de Ifach in Calpe. In September, the heat has eased enough that this walk is genuinely enjoyable again.

Beach Comparison: Albir Wins

This one isn't close. Albir's beach is simply better for swimming: the water stays calm, it shelves gently, and the pebble floor means the water stays crystal clear. Altea's beach is narrower, gets busier in summer, and — if you're being honest — the pebbles are sharper underfoot. For families with kids or anyone who wants to spend real time in and around the water, Albir is the clear winner.

Atmosphere & Nightlife

Altea has a quieter, more refined evening scene — think cocktails on a terrace overlooking the bay, local art exhibitions, occasional live jazz. Albir has a solid bar strip along Calle Londres and the surrounding streets, which gets lively in summer without ever approaching Benidorm levels of intensity. In September, Albir evenings are perfect: warm enough to sit outside, quiet enough to actually hear the person you're with.

Getting Around Between the Two

This is one of the great advantages of staying in either town: they're genuinely close. The TRAM coastal train connects Albir (L'Alfàs del Pi station, a 10-minute walk from the beach) with Altea in about 6 minutes. You can absolutely stay in Albir and spend an afternoon wandering Altea's old town — and then come back to your apartment for dinner at a fraction of the price.

Cost Comparison

Holiday rentals in Albir consistently offer better value than comparable properties in Altea. You'll typically get a larger apartment, closer to the beach, for the same budget. September is the sweet spot — prices drop compared to August but the weather (27–29°C, minimal rain, warm sea at 25°C) is still excellent.

If you book a holiday rental in Albir directly through JV Properties, you'll save up to 18% compared to booking through Airbnb or similar platforms — that's a meaningful amount on a week or two in the sun.

Our Verdict

Choose Altea if: You want a romantic, cultural, photogenic base and don't mind paying a bit more and walking uphill.

Choose Albir if: You want a better beach, more practical day-to-day living, better value for money, and easy access to Altea as a day trip.

For most families, most couples and most first-time visitors to this stretch of the Costa Blanca, Albir is the smarter choice — and I say that as someone who loves Altea dearly.

Ready to make it happen? Browse our holiday rentals in Albir — September availability is still good, and booking direct with us saves you real money.

Have questions about which part of town to stay in, or which property suits your group? Drop us a message — that's what we're here for.