Costa Blanca: the top things to see

Castles with sea views, huge caves, cliff-top villages and cold-water waterfalls. The short list of what actually earns your time on the Costa Blanca.

The Costa Blanca is far more than a beach strip. Within an hour you go from a castle over the sea to a cave the size of a cathedral, from a cliff-top village to a cold-water swim between rocks. Here's the short list of the essentials, for when you have a few days and don't want to waste them deciding.

The icons

Santa Barbara Castle crowns Alicante with the best view of the coast. Inland, the Guadalest Castle tops one of Spain's most photographed villages — two castles, two worlds, half an hour apart.

Nature that impresses

The Algar waterfalls are the perfect summer swim, and the Canelobre Caves in Busot hold one of Spain's highest cave vaults. Easy nature, no impossible hikes.

Culture and parks

For culture, the MARQ Archaeological Museum is one of the most modern in the country. Travelling with kids? The Benidorm area packs animal and water parks like Terra Natura and Aqualandia.

See all 26 places with prices, hours and a map →The full guide in three languages, with ready-made day routes and an assistant that builds a plan to your pace.

One tip: two or three things a day, no more. The Costa Blanca rewards a slow pace and room for a long lunch.