Moraira is genuinely one of the finest bases on the entire Costa Blanca — and not just because of its own beaches, restaurants and relaxed atmosphere. Its position midway along the northern stretch of coastline means you can reach some of Spain's most spectacular towns, medieval villages and dramatic landscapes in under an hour. After ten years living here, I still get excited loading up the car for a morning excursion, knowing I can be back in Moraira in time for a sunset swim.
If you're staying in a holiday rental in Moraira, here are the seven day trips I personally recommend — with honest advice on what to skip, what not to miss, and how to make each one work in a single day.
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Find rentals →1. Jávea (Xàbia) — 15 Minutes Away, Totally Different World
Jávea is Moraira's closest neighbour and its most popular day trip — and for good reason. The town divides into three very distinct parts: the old village (pueblo) with its fortified Gothic church and stone-paved streets, the port area packed with fish restaurants, and the beach zone around Arenal. In June, the Arenal beach is buzzing but not yet overwhelmed — it's genuinely one of the most attractive sandy beaches on the northern Costa Blanca.
Don't miss the fish market at the port (mornings only) and La Siesta restaurant for a proper arroz a banda. Parking near Arenal is tight in peak summer — aim to arrive before 10am or take the road along the cape towards the Parador for smaller, wilder coves.
Drive time from Moraira: 15–20 minutes
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2. Guadalest — Medieval Castle Village in the Mountains
About 50 minutes inland from Moraira, Guadalest is one of the most photographed villages in the entire Valencia region — and once you see it perched on a rock pinnacle above a turquoise reservoir, you'll understand why. The village itself is tiny (around 200 permanent residents) but packs in a Moorish castle, an old cemetery clinging to the cliff face, and views that stretch all the way to the sea on clear days.
Go early. I mean it. By 11am the tour buses arrive and the single main street becomes a slow shuffle. Get there at 9:30am, have the place almost to yourself, then stop for breakfast at one of the cafés overlooking the Embalse de Guadalest on your way back down.
Drive time from Moraira: 45–55 minutes
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3. Altea — The White Village That Earns Every Photograph
Altea's blue-domed church and whitewashed hilltop old town look almost too picturesque to be real. But it's completely authentic — artists have based themselves here for decades and the galleries and craft shops in the casco antiguo are genuinely excellent. The lower town has a good pebble beach and a long promenade lined with restaurants.
For lunch, I always head to La Costera in the old town — the terrace views over the bay towards Calpe's Peñón de Ifach are extraordinary. If you want to compare Altea and Moraira as bases for your holiday, we wrote a full comparison guide here.
Drive time from Moraira: 30 minutes
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4. Calpe and the Peñón de Ifach — The Rock You Have to Climb
Calpe's giant limestone rock, the Peñón de Ifach, is one of the most iconic sights on the entire Costa Blanca. It's a Natural Park and a proper hike — about 1.5 hours up, with a tunnel through the rock near the top and genuinely vertiginous views at the summit. Wear proper shoes, take water, and go early in June before the heat builds.
After the hike, Calpe's old quarter (Casco Antiguo) is charming and often overlooked by visitors who head straight for the beaches. The fish auction (Lonja de Calpe) runs in the afternoon — you can watch the day's catch being auctioned off from the public gallery.
Drive time from Moraira: 20 minutes
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5. Dénia — Castillo, Beaches and the Best Rice on the Coast
Dénia is a proper working Spanish town as well as a resort, which gives it an energy that purely tourist towns lack. The castle dominates the skyline and is genuinely worth the entrance fee — the views over the port and out towards Ibiza (visible on clear days) are spectacular. Down below, the northern beaches (Las Marinas) are long and sandy; the southern rocky coves (Las Rotas) are wilder and more beautiful.
Dénia is famous for its red prawns (gamba roja) — some of the best in Spain. El Pegolí and La Seu are both excellent for rice dishes and fresh seafood. Book ahead in June.
Drive time from Moraira: 30–35 minutes
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6. Villena — Inland Fortress Town Few Tourists Bother With
If you want a completely authentic Spanish experience with almost no other tourists, drive 70 minutes inland to Villena. The castle (Castillo de la Atalaya) is one of the best-preserved in the entire Valencia region and the views from the walls over the surrounding plains are dramatic. The Museo Arqueológico houses the famous Villena Treasure — a Bronze Age gold hoard that rivals anything in Madrid.
Villena is also serious wine country — the Bodega Volver winery is worth a visit if you ring ahead. Lunch at any bar in the old town will be cheap, excellent and served by people who are genuinely surprised and pleased to see foreign visitors.
Drive time from Moraira: 65–75 minutes
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7. Benidorm — Yes, Really. Go Once, Do It Properly.
I know. Bear with me. Benidorm is a genuine phenomenon — a purpose-built resort city with 40,000 hotel beds, a skyline that looks like Miami, and two of the best urban beaches in Spain (Levante and Poniente). It's loud, it's brash, and on a clear morning from the Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint it's actually quite breathtaking.
Go for a single afternoon rather than the whole day. Walk the beaches, have a horchata at one of the seafront cafés, take the lift up the skyscraper viewpoint if it's open, then drive home to Moraira for dinner. It genuinely puts your lovely quiet base into perspective — and you'll appreciate your apartment or villa in Moraira even more when you return.
Drive time from Moraira: 35 minutes
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Practical Tips for Day Trips from Moraira
Car hire or your own vehicle is essential — public transport connections from Moraira are limited. Most of these destinations are on good roads and parking is manageable if you arrive early (before 10am in June).
June sweet spot: The days are long (sunset after 9pm), crowds are lighter than July/August, and the heat is warm but rarely brutal. Perfect day-trip weather.
Combine trips: Jávea and Dénia make a great combined day along the coast. Guadalest and Altea work well together inland-then-coast. Calpe is close enough for a half-day.
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Stay Central, Explore Everything
The beauty of basing yourself in Moraira is exactly this — you're within striking distance of extraordinary variety, yet you return each evening to one of the quietest, most genuinely beautiful corners of the Costa Blanca. Narrow streets, excellent restaurants, unspoiled coves, and none of the high-rise chaos of the big resorts.
Browse our holiday rentals in Moraira — villas with private pools, apartments steps from the beach, and properties for every group size. Book direct with JV Properties and save up to 18% compared to Airbnb, with no platform fees and personal service from a team that actually lives here.
Check availability and view all our Moraira properties — and if you have questions about any of these day trips, we're always happy to give personal recommendations.
