Best Beaches on the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida

Javea is famous for La Granadella and its smaller coves, where the water is clear and snorkelling is excellent. Parking fills by 10am in July and August, so early arrivals win. Moraira has a relaxed marina feel and the sheltered El Portet bay, popular with families because the water stays calm and shallow near the shore.

Calpe has the long, sandy Arenal-Bol beach with a wide promenade, cafés, and good access from apartments in town. Benidorm is the full-service option: Levante and Poniente are wide, lifeguarded, and packed with facilities. Villajoyosa balances a traditional fishing-town atmosphere with a broad, sandy beach that stays lively but not overly hectic. These towns are the easiest for walk-to-the-sea living, especially if you want shops and restaurants open most of the year.

Alicante gives you a true city beach with Playa del Postiguet right below the castle, plus the tram links to El Campello for a long, open beach and easy parking outside peak hours. Santa Pola and Guardamar are reliable family picks with wide sand, showers, and seasonal chiringuitos. La Mata is more natural and open, while La Zenia stays busy thanks to restaurants, lifeguards, and shopping nearby.

Heading south toward Costa Calida, Torre de la Horadada has small coves with calmer water, and Los Alcazares on the Mar Menor is ideal for young children and water sports because the lagoon is shallow and warm. Mazarron is the surprise star: a chain of small bays with their own micro atmospheres, where you can find quiet corners even in summer. The trade-off further south is that some restaurants and beach services close earlier in the year, so the off-season feels quieter and more local.

Timing separates locals from tourists on the Costa Blanca. In high season, the classic tourist pattern is arriving at noon and staying until 5pm—right through the hottest, most crowded hours. Locals do the opposite: early morning for peace and calm, then home before the crowds arrive, or a late lunch followed by late afternoon and evening at the beach when temperatures drop and the atmosphere improves.

If you are considering a home near the beach, test this rhythm in July and August. Check how parking works early and late, look for Blue Flag signage, and ask whether lifeguards and cafés are open outside the high season. In shoulder and winter months, the midday beach visit becomes the best option—sheltered corners stay warm, and some days feel like pure summer even in November.