If you only visit one part of Jávea during your holiday, most locals — myself included, after a decade living here — would tell you to make it the port. The Puerto de Jávea is the beating heart of this Costa Blanca town: a working fishing harbour, a buzzing marina, a seafront promenade lined with restaurants, and the launch pad for some of the best sea activities on the Spanish coast. Whether you arrive in June when the summer energy is just hitting its stride, or in the quieter shoulder months, the port always delivers.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what to see, where to eat, how to get there, and why staying close to the port — in a quality holiday rental in Jávea — might be the best decision you make this summer.
What Is the Puerto de Jávea?
Jávea has three distinct zones — the Old Town (El Pueblo), the beach area of El Arenal, and the port. The Puerto sits roughly in the middle, tucked inside the natural shelter of Punta del Arenal to the south and the rocky headland of Cap de Sant Antoni to the north. It's a genuine working port: you'll see fishing boats heading out before dawn and returning mid-morning with their catch, which often ends up on the plate at lunch in one of the portside restaurants a few hours later.
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Find rentals →But the port is far more than a fishing harbour. The Club Náutico de Jávea (the yacht club) manages a modern marina with berths for hundreds of private boats. In June and July this fills up with yachts from across Europe — French, Italian, British, German — all drawn by the same thing: the extraordinary clarity of the water and the protection of this natural bay.
The Promenade: A Walk You Won't Want to Rush
The Paseo Marítimo del Puerto is about 1.2 kilometres of seafront walkway connecting the fishing harbour to the yacht marina and beyond. It's lined with palm trees, terraza bars, and restaurants, and at this time of year it stays busy well into the evening. Early morning is magical — locals walking dogs, fishermen mending nets, the light turning the limestone cliffs of Cabo de la Nao deep gold.
My personal tip: walk the full length north towards the Mirador del Príncep, the viewpoint at the northern end of the port area. On a clear June morning you can see all the way to Ibiza. It never gets old.
Where to Eat at the Port
The port area has the best concentration of quality seafood restaurants in Jávea. Here are my honest recommendations after years of eating my way through them:
La Perla on the main paseo is the go-to for traditional arroz a banda — rice cooked in fish broth served separately from the fish. It's the dish this coastline is famous for and La Perla does it without theatrics, just well. Expect to pay €14–18 for a main.
El Tiburón (The Shark) is more relaxed, right on the water's edge, great for grilled dorada (sea bream) or lubina (sea bass) done simply with olive oil and sea salt. Their terrace is one of the nicest spots in town for a long lunch.
La Bodegueta del Port is where I go when I want something lighter — excellent tapas, cold local wine from the Alicante DO, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere even in peak season.
For breakfast, avoid the tourist traps on the main drag and head to Cafetería Levante just back from the waterfront. Coffee, tostada con tomate, and a view of the boats for under €4. Locals only.
Things to Do at the Port
Hire a kayak or paddleboard: Several operators based at the port — including Jávea Paddle and K2 Kayak — rent equipment by the hour. The calm water inside the bay is perfect for paddleboarding, and you can paddle north to reach hidden sea caves near Cap de Sant Antoni within about 20 minutes.
Take a boat trip: Cruceros Jávea and Kontiki run glass-bottomed boat trips from the port most mornings and afternoons throughout the summer. These are genuinely worthwhile — the sea floor around Cap de Sant Antoni is spectacular, and the trips usually include a stop at Cala del Portitxol or the sea caves at Cova Tallada.
Watch the fishing boats come in: Between 8am and 10am most mornings, the fishing fleet returns. It sounds like a small thing but it's one of those authentic Mediterranean moments that you don't find everywhere anymore. Some of the catch goes straight to the fish market (lonja) at the port, where a small auction takes place — worth a look if you're an early riser.
Evening tapas crawl: The port area comes alive around 8pm in June. Start at one of the bar terraces for a cold Estrella Levante or a glass of vermut, then work your way through two or three tapas bars. This is how locals spend a summer Thursday evening, and it's one of the great simple pleasures of living on the Costa Blanca.
Getting to the Port
The port is about 3km from Jávea's Old Town and around 2km from El Arenal beach. If you're driving, there's a large free car park just inland from the fishing harbour — arrive before 10am in July and August to secure a space. There's also a paid underground car park near the Club Náutico.
In summer, the Jávea Bus (the local minibus service) runs between the Old Town, the port, and El Arenal every 20-30 minutes. It's cheap and it means you can have a proper lunch without worrying about driving.
Staying Near the Port
If you want to be within walking distance of all of this, a holiday rental in the port area makes total sense. You can walk for breakfast, be on a paddleboard by 9am, and be back on your terrace with an evening glass of wine before 8pm — that's a proper day.
Browse holiday rentals in Jávea to find apartments and villas within easy reach of the port. And a word to the wise: booking direct with JV Properties saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb or Booking.com — that's a proper dinner out at La Perla, right there. See all available properties and check availability for your dates.
Practical Tips
- Best time to visit the port: Early morning (7–9am) for atmosphere; evening (7–10pm) for dining and the paseo scene
- June parking: Still manageable, but arriving before 10am saves headaches in July and August
- Cash: Most restaurants take cards but a handful of the smaller tapas bars are still cash-preferred
- Sunscreen: The port promenade offers very little shade midday — factor 50 and a hat are not optional in June
- Prices: Budget €25–35 per person for a proper sit-down lunch with wine at a mid-range port restaurant
The port is, in my opinion, the most complete part of Jávea — it works for couples, families, solo travellers, and groups. It's where the town's real identity lives, caught between the old fishing tradition and the modern influx of European visitors who've fallen in love with this corner of the Costa Blanca. Come for an hour; stay for the whole day.
