The old town climbs white and leafy up the hill towards the blue-domed church, overlooking the bay. Around it the palm-lined promenade, pebble beaches, the Campomanes marina and hillside villas with sea views. Below is an honest overview.
Composition Altea is best known for the whitewashed old town set on a hill above the bay, with the blue-domed church Nuestra Señora del Consuelo as its landmark. Narrow streets, small squares and sweeping views define the upper town.
Character The town has an artistic, bohemian character with galleries and artists, partly thanks to the Bellas Artes faculty of the Universidad Miguel Hernández. Along the coast lie pebble beaches and a palm-lined promenade that is alive year-round.
Nature & harbour Behind the town rise the Sierra de Bèrnia and the Sierra de Altea, sheltering the bay. Towards the Mascarat zone, on the border with Calpe, lies the Campomanes marina (Luis Campomanes). Inland lies the authentic old village of Altea la Vella.
Location Altea lies between Calpe to the north and Benidorm and l'Albir to the south. This lets you combine the calm and character of a white coastal town with the amenities of the wider region close by.
Conclusion The choice between the old town, the seafront, Altea la Vella and the hillside villas is above all a choice of lifestyle: walkable art and village life, a year-round promenade, authentic inland living or peace with a view. That is where we advise most.
Altea is not one single place: the old town on the hill, the seafront, the inland village and the villa slopes each feel different. Below are the six main ones, with what defines them, who they work for and roughly what properties cost. Prices are indicative and vary widely by location and sea view.
01The whitewashed old heart on the hill, with the blue-domed church, galleries, artists and sweeping views over the bay. Walkable, lived in year-round.
For those seeking artistic, village life and views, less car-dependent but with steps and slopes.
Village houses, townhouses, restored properties and small apartments.
02The seafront with pebble beaches, the palm-lined promenade, terraces and restaurants that stay open outside the season too. Lively but not noisy.
For those who want the sea on their doorstep with year-round life and dining within walking distance.
Apartments on the promenade, penthouses with sea views and homes in the complexes behind.
03The authentic old village inland, at the foot of the Sierra. Quiet, Spanish and lived in year-round, with village amenities.
For those seeking authentic inland village life and calm, with the car as a basis.
Village houses, fincas and villas with gardens in and around the village.
04The Campomanes marina (Luis Campomanes) and the Mascarat zone on the border with Calpe. Exclusive, close to the sea and the boats, with villas on the slopes.
Buyers seeking proximity to the sea, a marina and an exclusive setting.
Villas with sea views, apartments by the marina and homes in smaller complexes.
05Villa zones on the hill with sweeping panoramas over the bay. Plenty of greenery, privacy and sea views, sheltered by the Sierra.
For those who prioritise peace and views over proximity to the beach, with the car as a basis.
Detached villas with private pools on spacious plots, often with sea views.
06The residential districts around the centre, close to schools, shops and daily life. Practical and lived in year-round.
Families and year-round residents who want convenience and short distances to amenities.
Apartments, townhouses and homes with a small garden near amenities.
Altea combines outdoor living, an artistic atmosphere, a lively promenade and family-friendly amenities, year-round and close by.
01Hiking in the Sierra de Bèrnia and the Sierra de Altea, swimming at the pebble beaches, coastal paths along the bay, sailing from the Campomanes marina and cycling through the inland. Not seasonal, but year-round.
02Restaurants and terraces on the palm-lined promenade, cosy bistros and art cafés in the white old town, and a lively weekly market for daily shopping.
03Altea is known for its galleries, artists and cultural life, partly thanks to the Bellas Artes faculty. In the white streets you find studios, exhibitions and a relaxed, creative atmosphere.
04Public schools in Altea and international options in the wider region, quiet beaches, sports clubs and safe residential districts. An environment where children can live outdoors year-round.
Altea has a broad offering, with large price differences within each type depending on zone, sea view and year of construction. Below are the four main types with indicative ranges.
From compact apartments in the old town to spacious apartments with sea views on the promenade or by the marina.
Terraced or semi-detached home with its own outdoor space, often in a quiet residential district or urbanisation with a shared pool.
Detached home with a private pool and garden, often on the slopes of the Sierra with sea views or in the Campomanes zone.
Top floor with a large roof terrace and panorama, often on the promenade or by the marina.
Alicante (ALC) is about 50 minutes via the AP-7. Valencia (VLC) about 1 h 30. Both have daily connections with Northern Europe.
From Alicante and Valencia direct to Amsterdam, Brussels, Eindhoven and Rotterdam among others, usually in around 2.5 to 3 hours.
The AP-7 and N-332 open up the entire coast. Benidorm is about 10 minutes away, Calpe 15 minutes and Benissa about 25 minutes.
In the old town and on the promenade much is walkable, though the centre has steps and slopes. For the villa zones and Altea la Vella a car is needed in practice.
In Altea there are public schools (CEIP/IES) for Spanish, partly bilingual education (Valencian/Spanish). For international education you generally look to the wider region, towards Benidorm and l'Albir and the Marina Alta.
The international options in the area often follow the British curriculum. Which school fits depends on how long you are coming and what you want for your child; we discuss the current options and accessibility per family during the intake.
Tuition at international schools is generally between €6.000 and €12.000 per year; public education is free.
Altea has its own health centre (Centro de Salud) for primary care. The regional hospital is Hospital de la Marina Baixa, near Villajoyosa and Benidorm, a short distance away.
In addition there are private clinics towards Benidorm and specialists in the area. Many residents take out a supplementary private policy (such as Sanitas, DKV or Adeslas) to limit waiting times for specialists.
There are English-speaking GPs, dentists and physiotherapists in the area. For public care via the SNS system: accessible to those with EU pension or employment rights.
Many foreign residents in Altea combine the public basic care with a supplementary private policy, with the private clinics towards Benidorm within reach. We share our personal list of care contacts during the intake.
Altea is a pleasant place to live, but a few things are good to know in advance. No deal-breakers, but reality.
The white old town lies on a hill with narrow streets, steps and slopes. Charming, but less practical for those with limited mobility.
Especially around the promenade and the centre it is busier in July and August, with more traffic and fuller terraces. The villa zones stay quieter.
In the villa zones, Altea la Vella and on the slopes a car is needed in practice. Only the centre and the promenade are truly walkable.
Homes in urbanisations and complexes have monthly comunidad costs for maintenance, garden and pool.
Altea's beaches are predominantly pebble beaches, not sandy beaches. A deliberate choice if a beach feel matters to you.
The old town, the seafront and Altea la Vella really feel different. A choice that works on paper may not quite fit your daily rhythm in practice.
I'm originally from Amsterdam and now live in Benissa Costa. I love helping people make their dream of a home in Spain come true, across all budgets on the Costa Blanca. I know the region inside out, from daily life to the property market.
I often hear about quiet listings early through my network, before they officially come to market. Clients most often describe my guidance as friendly and helpful, because I genuinely listen and help you honestly with such a big decision.
Friendly, helpful and always honest.
Altea is versatile, but not the right choice for everyone. Three nearby places with a different character.
White hilltop town with an artistic character, pebble beaches and the Campomanes marina.
Lively coastal town with a sandy beach and the striking Peñón de Ifach rock.
Authentic inland with a historic centre and a quiet coastal strip.
Smaller-scale and more exclusive coastal village, quiet and green.
The questions we get most from people looking specifically at Altea. Missing something? Ask your question via the contact form.
Altea is known for the whitewashed old town on the hill with the blue-domed church, and for its artistic, bohemian character with galleries and artists. That gives the town a different atmosphere than the more touristy coastal towns nearby.
After an introduction with our team you will know whether the white old town, the seafront, Altea la Vella or the villa slopes suit you, what is realistic in terms of budget and which type of property you will look for. No sales talk, only local knowledge.
