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Major city · Spain

Altea

Give Altea 2 nights: one for the old town and church at sunset, one for the beach and a chiringuito lunch. Skip it as a base if you want nightlife.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (hot, crowded, peak prices)
Airports
ALC · VLC
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
  • Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
  • Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
  • Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
  • Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
  • Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
  • Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.

Altea is a small Costa Blanca town of about 24,000 people between Benidorm and Calpe, built around a whitewashed old town on a hill above the sea. It stayed low-rise while Benidorm went vertical, so it works as a quiet 2-night stop or a day trip from Benidorm or Calpe rather than a full beach holiday base. The old town is steep, the beaches near town are stony, and the tram and buses put Alicante, Dénia and Benidorm within easy reach.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Altea, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
  • BeerBeer: caña at a bar / can at a supermarket€2–3.50 (≈ US$3–5) / €0.60–1.20 (≈ US$1–2)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxicheck€8–12 (≈ US$10–14)
  • Metro or bus rideTram ride, short hopFare depends on distance; check the official app.€1.35–7.15 (≈ US$2–9)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€8–20 (≈ US$10–25)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €95 (≈ US$120) · High €160 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Casco Antiguo whitewashed old townEsglésia de la Mare de Déu del Consol and its blue-tiled domesCoca a la llumàPlatja de l'Olla chiringuitosMoros i Cristians festival
Airports
ALC Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández (About 60 km south; tram or bus to Altea with a change in Benidorm, roughly 1.5–2 h) · VLC Valencia (About 140 km north; train or bus via Alicante or Dénia, longer and less direct)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Altea: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

17°C

8°C

4 rd

Feb

18°C

9°C

4 rd

Mar

20°C

10°C

4 rd

Apr

22°C

12°C

5 rd

May

25°C

15°C

4 rd

Jun

29°C

19°C

2 rd

Jul

31°C

22°C

1 rd

Aug

32°C

23°C

2 rd

Sep

29°C

20°C

4 rd

Oct

25°C

16°C

5 rd

Nov

20°C

12°C

5 rd

Dec

18°C

9°C

4 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The old town, port and beachfront are walkable but the old town is steep, with steps and cobbles. Llorente Bus routes 010, 012 and 031 link Altea with Benidorm and Albir; routes 027 and 028 run to the northern beaches. Tram Alicante (el Trenet) stops at Altea on the Dénia–Alicante line, with a change at Benidorm for Alicante. Parking in the Casco Antiguo is restricted to residents; use the free car parks on the edge of town.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Benidorm

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Llorente bus 010/012/031 or tram from Altea station

Big beaches, towers and nightlife; useful as a contrast, not a base.

Calpe

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Tram north from Altea, or bus

Peñón de Ifach and a sandy beach; combine with a walk along the port.

Alicante

go

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

Tram with a change at Benidorm, or bus

Castle, old town and airport; a full day or an overnight.

Dénia

go

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

Tram north along the coast

Ferries to the Balearics and a castle; check tram times before you go.

Xàbia

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Bus or car; the tram does not serve Xàbia

No tram stop: check the bus timetable or drive.

Elche

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Bus or train via Alicante

Palm grove and Misteri; long for a day trip from Altea.

Torrevieja

skip

Door to door: About 2 h

Bus or car south along the coast

Too far south for a comfortable return day from Altea.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Casco Antiguo (old town)

Views and quiet, but steep lanes and steps; parking is residents-only, so arrive on foot or by taxi with bags.

Port and beachfront

Flat walk to the beach and restaurants; 10–15 min uphill walk to the old town.

Platja de l'Olla / Cap Negret

North of town along the coast; beach hotels and chiringuitos, reached by bus 027 or car.

Albir and El Albir

Just south, sandy beach and more services; a tram or bus stop away from Altea.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
Mid
€85–140 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
High
€140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 2 nights × €120€240
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €95€380
Tram Alicante, Alicante–Altea one way2 × €7 · check€14
Llorente bus, Altea–Benidorm one way2 × €2 · check€4
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10€20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€66
Trip total≈ €181 per person per day, bed included€724≈ US$850

2026 estimate in euros; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
Menu del día at lunch€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)
Tapas plate€7–13 (≈ US$9–16)
Beer: caña at a bar / can at a supermarket€2–3.50 (≈ US$3–5) / €0.60–1.20 (≈ US$1–2)
5 km taxicheck€8–12 (≈ US$10–14)
Tram ride, short hopFare depends on distance; check the official app.€1.35–7.15 (≈ US$2–9)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€8–20 (≈ US$10–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Altea is a low-crime small town and safe for tourists day and night. The real risks are the steep, uneven old-town lanes, summer heat, and pickpockets in crowds at the September Moros i Cristians festival.
  • The old town is steep with uneven steps: wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops.
  • Beaches at Cap Negret, La Roda and l'Olla are stony; the nearest sandy beach is Racó de l'Albir to the south.
  • Parking in the Casco Antiguo is residents-only; leave the car in a peripheral car park.
  • Many chiringuitos on Platja de l'Olla are seasonal and open in summer only.
  • Restaurant La Capellá closes in February, the last two weeks of September and November; check before booking.

Emergency numbers

All services (police, fire, ambulance)
112
National police
091
Guardia Civil
062

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

AlteaAltea

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All services112
  • National police091
  • Guardia Civil062

Embassy

No embassies in Altea; the US has a consulate in Valencia, the UK and Ireland have consulates in Alicante, and most other countries keep embassies in Madrid.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Tram Altea → Benidorm: about €2–3 (≈ US$3–4), 20–30 min (check)
  • Tram Altea → Alicante: about €5–7.15 (≈ US$6–9) with a change at Benidorm, under 2 h (check)
  • Taxi Altea station → Casco Antiguo: €8–12 (≈ US$10–14) (check)

Say or show

  • Hola — Hello (OH-lah)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syas)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
  • ¿Tienen mesa? — Do you have a table? (TYEH-nen MEH-sah)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
  • ¿Dónde está la playa? — Where is the beach? (DON-deh es-TAH la PLAH-yah)

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Altea. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, crowded, peak prices) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ALC: last tram and bus times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Casco Antiguo, port and beachfront, Platja de l'Olla, Albir.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (church, Torre de Bellaguarda, Fundación Schlotter, Museo Navarro Ramón) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Festival fixtures for Moros i Cristians and El Castillo de la Olla so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Spain

Sources