If you've ever searched for a postcard-perfect Spanish village and ended up underwhelmed, Altea old town will genuinely stop you in your tracks. I've been living on the Costa Blanca for ten years, and I still make excuses to wander up through those whitewashed lanes at least once a month. There's something about the blue-and-white tiled dome of the church catching the May light, the bougainvillea spilling over terrace walls, the smell of fresh coffee drifting out of a doorway — it never gets old.
This guide covers everything you need to know to make the most of Altea's old town: what to see, where to eat, the best viewpoints, practical tips on parking and timing, and why May is arguably the single best month to visit.
Why Altea's Old Town Is Worth the Climb
Altea sits on a hillside above the Mediterranean, and the old town — the casco antiguo — occupies the crown of that hill. Getting up there requires a short walk through increasingly steep, cobbled streets, but the reward is spectacular. From the terrace beside the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, you get an unbroken panorama: the Sierra Bernia in the distance, the island of Benidorm shimmering in the sea, and on clear days (which in May is most of them) you can pick out Calpe's Peñón de Ifach to the north.
JV Properties
Looking for accommodation in Altea?
Book direct with JV Properties and save up to 18% vs Airbnb. No commissions, personal service.
Find rentals →The church itself is the symbol of Altea — that blue-and-white azulejo-tiled dome is visible from kilometres away and appears on roughly every second Instagram post from the region. Step inside if it's open; the interior is simple and cool, a relief after the bright sun outside.
Plaza de la Iglesia in front of the church is the beating heart of the old town. In May the square is framed by flowering jasmine and geraniums, café tables spill across the cobblestones, and the whole place has the relaxed energy of somewhere that knows it's beautiful but doesn't try too hard about it.
The Best Things to See and Do in Altea Old Town
Wander the Calles Without a Map
I mean this literally. The old town is compact enough that you can't genuinely get lost, and the best discoveries happen when you duck into alleys that aren't on any tourist leaflet. Look for Calle Mayor, the main artery running through the upper village, and then explore the lanes branching off it. You'll find ceramic studios, a handful of jewellers selling handmade silver work, and small galleries run by resident artists — Altea has a long-standing reputation as an artists' colony, something the town wears lightly but genuinely.
Shop at the Artisan Market
On Sunday mornings, the old town hosts one of the best small craft markets on the Costa Blanca. Local artisans sell ceramics, leather goods, handmade textiles, and original artwork. It starts around 10am and is largely finished by 2pm. If you're staying in one of our holiday rentals in Altea, Sunday morning in the old town followed by a long lunch is the definitive Altea experience.
Mirador de la Iglesia: The Best Viewpoint
The terrace behind and beside the church is the classic viewpoint, but locals tend to use a slightly lesser-known spot: the small mirador at the very northern edge of the old town walls, accessible via a short flight of stairs off Calle de la Mar. In May, when the air is clear and the sea is a deep, saturated blue, this view is extraordinary. Bring a camera or accept that your phone photos will never quite capture it.
Eat and Drink Like a Local
The restaurant quality in Altea old town is genuinely high, and the competition keeps standards up. A few specific recommendations from personal experience:
- Oustau de Altea on Calle Mayor — refined Mediterranean cuisine in a beautifully converted old house. Book ahead in May.
- La Costera — a classic, family-run spot with arroz a banda (the local rice dish cooked in fish stock) that I'd put up against anywhere on the Costa Blanca.
- Café Troya on Plaza de la Iglesia — for breakfast or a late afternoon café con hielo, this is my default. The terrace is perfect and the tostada con tomate is exactly right.
- For a glass of local wine, Bar La Plaça keeps a good selection of wines from the nearby Marina Alta DO and doesn't charge tourist prices.
Practical Tips: Getting There, Parking, Timing
How to Get to Altea Old Town
Altea is on the AP-7 motorway, exit 64. From Alicante it's about 55 minutes; from Valencia around 1 hour 40 minutes. The train (Tram d'Alacant) also runs from Alicante to Altea, which is genuinely enjoyable as a coastal journey.
Parking in Altea
This is worth knowing before you arrive: you cannot drive into the old town itself. The cobbled lanes are pedestrian-only and in any case too narrow for cars. The best option is the Parking Municipal near the Avenida del País Valencià, a short walk from the base of the old town. In May it's usually easy to find space on weekday mornings; weekends are busier but rarely a crisis. Free street parking exists further down the hill, but add 10-15 minutes of walking.
Best Time to Visit the Old Town
May is close to perfect: warm (typically 22-26°C), the crowds of July and August haven't arrived, and the town is in full spring flower. My personal favourite time of day is early morning (before 9am, when the light is golden and the streets are quiet) or late afternoon from around 5pm, when the day-trippers leave and the village settles back into itself.
Avoid the midday heat in July and August — the old town is mostly exposed stone and sun, and the restaurants fill up quickly.
Altea Old Town with Kids
The old town is manageable with children, with one caveat: the cobbled streets and steps are tricky with buggies or pushchairs. If your children can walk independently for 20-30 minutes, they'll love the Sunday market and the church terrace. There's a small playground near the Avenida del País Valencià at the base of the hill. The old town is best treated as a 2-3 hour experience with kids, followed by the beach.
Staying in Altea: Book Direct and Save
If Altea old town has done its job, you're probably thinking about how long you could stay. My honest answer: at least a week. The old town is one piece of a larger picture — there are beaches, boat trips, the Thursday market down in the new town, day trips to Guadalest and the Fonts de l'Algar waterfalls, and some excellent hiking in the Sierra Bernia.
Browse our Altea holiday rentals — we have apartments and villas ranging from the old town itself to the seafront promenade. Booking direct through JV Properties saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb or Booking.com, because you're cutting out the platform fees entirely. You also get direct contact with us before, during and after your stay — no automated messages, no disputes handled by an algorithm.
Search available properties for your dates and feel free to message us directly if you want a recommendation based on exactly what you're looking for.
Altea old town is one of those places that earns its reputation. Come in May if you can — the light alone is worth the trip.
