Most visitors to Calpe spend their days on the beaches, staring up at the Peñón de Ifach, or browsing the waterfront restaurants. And honestly, that's not a bad way to spend a holiday. But after ten years of living on the Costa Blanca, I can tell you that the single most underrated thing in Calpe is the old town — the Casco Antiguo — tucked away behind the modern seafront, largely ignored by the crowds who never make it more than 200 metres from the shore.
If you're planning a stay in Calpe this June or summer, do yourself a favour: set aside a morning for the old quarter. It will completely change how you see this town.
Where Exactly Is Calpe Old Town?
The historic centre sits on a low hill just inland from the Playa del Arenal-Bol, roughly a 10-minute walk from the beach. The easiest approach is to head up Carrer de la Mar from the port area — you'll notice the streets narrow, the pavements get uneven, and the whitewashed walls start to glow in the morning light. You're in the right place.
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Find rentals →The heart of the old town is the Plaza de la Villa, a quiet square shaded by orange trees that feels like a completely different world from the chiringuitos and tourist shops down on the seafront. On a June morning, with the heat still gentle and the locals out for their café con leche, this is genuinely one of my favourite spots on the entire Costa Blanca.
The Church of Our Lady of Las Nieves
Dominating the Plaza de la Villa is the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, Calpe's parish church, dating back to the 16th century. It's built in a robust, almost fortress-like Gothic style — which makes sense, because churches along this coast doubled as refuges during the pirate raids that plagued the region for centuries.
Step inside if it's open (mornings are your best bet, usually 10am–12pm and late afternoon around 6pm). The interior is cool, quiet, and refreshingly simple. There's a small side chapel dedicated to the Virgen de las Nieves that locals still visit daily. It takes about 15 minutes to look around properly — this is not the Sagrada Família, but that's rather the point.
The Old Arab Quarter and the Muralla
Calpe was a Moorish settlement before the Christian Reconquista, and you can still see the traces of the old Arab quarter in the tight grid of lanes behind the church. Look for Carrer del Portal and Carrer de la Presó — these narrow streets follow the original Moorish layout almost exactly.
More impressive still are the remains of the medieval muralla (town wall). Sections of the original defensive wall survive on the northern side of the old town, and there's a preserved torre (tower) that gives you a good sense of how fortified this hilltop settlement once was. You won't find a sign pointing you there from the beach — you have to wander in and find it, which is half the fun.
The Ethnological Museum (Museo Etnológico)
On the Plaza de la Villa, keep an eye out for the small Museo Etnológico de Calpe — it's housed in a traditional townhouse and covers the local history of fishing, salt harvesting, and rural life. Entry is free or minimal cost, and it's worth 30–40 minutes of your time.
The salt flats (Las Salinas) that you can see from the road into Calpe have been worked for over 2,000 years, and the museum explains this in a way that actually makes sense. June is a good time to visit because the flamingos are often visible on the salinas from the road — a genuinely surreal sight with the Peñón rising behind them.
Practical Tips for Visiting Calpe Old Town in June
Best time to go: Early morning (9–11am) before the heat builds. The old town faces east and the light is gorgeous then. By noon in June it can be uncomfortably hot in the narrow streets.
Wear proper shoes: The streets are cobbled and uneven. Flip-flops are not a good idea here.
Combine with the market: Calpe's Saturday market sets up near the old town — a perfect combination. Get there by 9am before the crowds.
Eat here, not on the seafront: There are a handful of local bars around the Plaza de la Villa serving bocadillos, tostadas, and cold beer that cost roughly half what you'd pay on the beachfront. Bar La Plaza has been there for as long as I can remember and the café con leche is excellent.
Parking: If you're driving, there's a small free car park at the top of Calle Colón — much easier than trying to park near the beach in June.
Walking Route: Old Town in 90 Minutes
Here's a rough route that covers the main highlights without rushing:
- Start at Plaza de la Villa — sit, have a coffee, get your bearings
- Enter the Iglesia de las Nieves (if open)
- Walk down Carrer del Portal into the Arab quarter lanes
- Find the muralla remains on the north side
- Double back to the Museo Etnológico
- Exit via Carrer de la Mar back towards the port
- Optional detour to view Las Salinas from the road on your way back to the beach
This takes about 90 minutes at a relaxed pace, which leaves the rest of your morning free for the beach.
Why Stay in Calpe Rather Than Just Day-Tripping
You really need at least 4–5 nights in Calpe to do the town justice — the old quarter, the beaches, the Peñón hike, the boat trips. Day-trippers from Benidorm get maybe two hours here and leave thinking they've seen it. They haven't.
If you're looking for a holiday rental in Calpe with easy access to both the beach and the old town, the area around the port and the Playa del Arenal-Bol puts you within walking distance of everything mentioned in this guide. Booking direct through JV Properties saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb or Booking.com — that's a meaningful saving on a week's accommodation, and you get direct contact with the property owner if anything comes up.
The Honest Verdict
Calpe Old Town is not dramatic. It won't make your Instagram blow up. It's a quiet, genuine, occasionally crumbling bit of real Spain that most package tourists never bother to find. That, to me, is exactly why it's worth your time.
Spend a morning up there in June, when the bougainvillea is at its most insane and the smell of jasmine hits you in the narrow lanes, and you'll understand why people who come here once end up coming back every year.