Altea – a hilltop beauty with white walls and blue domes 🏛️🌊

Altea – a hilltop beauty with white walls and blue domes 🏛️🌊

If you ever feel like trading beach towels for cobblestones, Altea is just the place. About an hour’s drive from Jávea, this little town clings to a hillside like a sleepy cat in the sun – and it's seriously pretty. Think whitewashed houses, blooming bougainvillea, and narrow streets that twist their way up to a church square with sweeping views over the sea.

The kids played “spot the cat” as we wandered (Altea seems to have more cats than cars), and we took it slow – no rush, just a proper Mediterranean pace. The church with the blue-tiled dome is the star of the show, perched at the very top, and the surrounding terraces are perfect for grabbing a coffee or an ice cream with a view.

View on the Benidorm in the back

It’s not really a “do-all-the-things” kind of place – more like a “sip something cold, take 200 photos and maybe buy a handmade ceramic” kind of day. And sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

We didn’t even make it down to the beach this time – the old town had enough charm to keep us happily wandering. But hey, that just gives us an excuse to come back.

P.S. – We passed Benidorm on the way and let’s just say... if you ever wondered what would happen if Las Vegas and a cruise ship had a baby – that’s your answer. Keep driving. Altea’s the real gem. 😉