Altea is a small town (about 25,000 inhabitants) beautifully situated on the Costa Blanca coast in the province Alicante. The city is primarily a holiday resort and many people have "secretly" enjoyed the city's pleasant climate and taken advantage of its picturesque character over the years. The city is far from being as well known as, for example, Torrevieja, which attracts more tourists and home buyers (more about homes for sale in Altea at the bottom of the article).
Entertainment Altea
Altea has a fairly quiet character and the entertainment scene is relaxed, which is the complete opposite of what applies to other places on the Costa Blanca (Benidorm for example). Most of the town's restaurants and bars are located next to the beach in the central parts of the town, but there is also a range of entertainment further into the town centre. If you are looking for about the same peace and charm as Altea, but a little more pulse We recommend Calpe.
Attractions Altea
Altea's old town is one of the coziest and most well-preserved on the Costa Blanca. The area, which goes by the name El Fornet, is just as cozy as you can imagine an old town center in southern Spain. The alleys are very narrow and on the winding paths up towards the hills north of the town are many beautiful old chapels.
A specific landmark worth visiting is the church of La Mare de Déu del Consol, adorned with blue and white domes.
The long stretch of beach can also be seen as an attraction. Cypresses and palm trees line the promenade and in the background the mountains tower up as a lovely backdrop.
History of Altea
The history of Altea dates back to a few hundred years BC. The Iberians were the first to arrive. However, they did not establish any major settlements and it was only when the Greeks arrived to establish a trading post that Altea (then called Althaia) became a small town.
During the late 700s, the Moors came to Altea, but they did not make any major impact except for building a fortification. Today, however, nothing remains of the walls.
Over the centuries, Altea has been more or less forgotten. The renaissance came in the 1950s when tourists began to discover the Costa Blanca. Today, almost the entire economy of Altea is based on tourism.
Public Transport Connections and Accommodation
Altea is served by Alicante Airport. It is easy and quick to travel to Altea from the airport by bus, tram or car. Once in Altea you can park your car. Everything the town has to offer is within walking distance.
- Tips on rental cars.
- Read our article with the cheapest players in terms of hotels in Spain, including Altea.
- Article with tips on cheap flights to all of Spain.
Weather in Altea
Thanks to the proximity to the sea and the relatively high mountains inland, Altea does not get as hot as in many other places in southern Spain. Temperatures are relatively pleasant even during the summer months. There are many hours of sunshine but the rainfall is a little more abundant than in, for example, Benidorm and Alicante.
The housing market in Altea – houses and apartments for sale
The Costa Blanca is generally one of the cheapest coastal areas in Spain. However, the northern Costa Blanca (Altea, Benidorm, Denia etc) is more established and exclusive compared to the southern part (Torrevieja, Guardamar) which is in an expansion phase. Another reason why the prices of houses and apartments are relatively high in the area is because there is limited space to build on.
Bank Repossession is an option…when there is something for sale
There are very few bank repossession in the area, but at the time of writing we have two listing , one of which is an apartment in central Altea with 2 bedrooms for 118,000. Just like with other places in Spain, these attractive bank repossession sell out quickly when they come out. If you are going to make a good investment in or around Altea, it is important that you are well prepared and have financing etc. ready (you can apply online in advance at a Spanish bank and get more or less a loan promise). Write to info@spanskafastigheter.se for more information.
