Spain · Costa Blanca · Alicante · Dénia · Benidorm · Beaches · Day Trips
Costa Blanca Travel Guide: Alicante, Dénia, Benidorm & Day Trips
Updated: July 2026 · Alicante, Dénia, Benidorm, beaches, boat trips, castles, waterfalls and transportThe Costa Blanca is the Mediterranean coast of Alicante province: city beaches, white towns, coves, castles, resort infrastructure, marine reserve trips and inland mountain villages.
This hub helps you choose the right base: Alicante for city and castle, Dénia for marine reserve and water sports, Benidorm for resort beaches, families and entertainment.
1 · Quick decision
Which Costa Blanca base should you choose?
Alicante
Choose Alicante if you want a real Spanish city with a beach, castle, food, port, Tabarca trips and easy airport access.
Open Alicante guideDénia
Choose Dénia if you want the northern Costa Blanca, marine reserve scenery, kayaking, diving, sailing and a quieter port-town feel.
Open Dénia guideBenidorm
Choose Benidorm if you want beaches, resort logistics, family attractions, nightlife, shows and easy access to Algar Waterfalls.
Open Benidorm guide2 · Coast overview
What makes the Costa Blanca different?
The Costa Blanca is not one single resort. It is a long Alicante-coast region with city beaches, rocky coves, marinas, inland villages, mountain routes, food towns and highly developed resort zones.
Alicante
Best for a first Costa Blanca trip because the city combines beach, castle, market, port and airport access.
Dénia and nearby coves
Best for a slower base with marine reserve trips, Montgó scenery and water-based activities.
Benidorm
Best for families, beach infrastructure, evening shows, theme parks and easy organized excursions.
Guadalest and waterfalls
The inland layer gives the Costa Blanca its contrast: villages, mountains, reservoirs and natural pools.
3 · Destination guides
Open the complete Costa Blanca guides
Alicante Travel Guide
Santa Bárbara Castle, Tabarca Island, food tours, bike tours, flamenco, catamaran trips and city planning.
Open Alicante guide
Dénia Travel Guide
Cabo de San Antonio, Cova Tallada kayak, beginners scuba diving, parasailing and sunset catamaran cruises.
Open Dénia guide
Benidorm Travel Guide
Levante and Poniente beaches, Mundomar, Benidorm Palace, Algar Waterfalls and Valencia day trip options.
Open Benidorm guide4 · Trip type
Choose by travel style
Start in Alicante
Alicante is the easiest first base because it gives you city life, beach, castle, airport access and organized day trips.
Base in Dénia
Dénia is stronger if you want kayaking, scuba, sailing, marine reserve scenery and a calmer base.
Use Benidorm
Benidorm is practical for families because transfers, beaches, attractions and evening plans are easy.
Combine two bases
For a 7–10 day trip, combine Alicante with Dénia or Benidorm instead of changing hotel every night.
5 · Transport
How to get around the Costa Blanca
Alicante Airport
Alicante-Elche Airport is the main gateway. The C6 airport bus connects the airport with central Alicante and key transport points.
Alicante Turismo: public transportCoastal public transport
TRAM d’Alacant is useful for moving along the coast, especially between Alicante, Benidorm and northern Costa Blanca towns.
TRAM d’AlacantInland trips
For Guadalest, Algar Waterfalls and some mountain routes, organized excursions or a rental car are usually easier than public transport.
6 · Bookable experiences
Compare Costa Blanca experiences
This widget pulls together useful Costa Blanca experiences across Alicante, Dénia and Benidorm. Check meeting point, transfer rules, language, minimum age and cancellation conditions before booking.
7 · Continue planning
More Spain travel planning
Valencia Travel Guide
Best nearby city pairing: paella, Old Town, Oceanogràfic, beaches, Albufera and nature trips.
Open Valencia guide
Andalusia Travel Guide
Better for historic cities, Moorish architecture, road trips, flamenco, Granada, Seville and Málaga.
Open Andalusia guide
Costa Brava Travel Guide
Compare Spain’s northeastern coast with Costa Blanca: coves, Camí de Ronda, villages and Barcelona pairings.
Open Costa Brava guide8 · Spanish for Costa Blanca
Useful Spanish for Costa Blanca travel
Useful words
- la playa – beach
- la cala – cove
- el castillo – castle
- el puerto – port
- la excursión – day trip
- el punto de encuentro – meeting point
Useful phrases
- ¿Dónde está la parada del TRAM? – Where is the TRAM stop?
- ¿Está incluido el transporte? – Is transport included?
- ¿Cuánto dura la excursión? – How long does the tour last?
- ¿Hay recogida en el hotel? – Is there hotel pickup?
More: Learn Spanish with MundoDELE.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Costa Blanca
What is the Costa Blanca?
The Costa Blanca is the Mediterranean coast of Alicante province in the Region of Valencia. It includes cities, beach resorts, coves, marinas, inland villages and mountain scenery.
Which Costa Blanca base should you choose first?
Choose Alicante for a first trip, Dénia for water sports and marine reserve scenery, or Benidorm for resort infrastructure, family activities and entertainment.
Is Alicante or Benidorm better?
Alicante is better for city culture, castle views, food and Tabarca. Benidorm is better for resort beaches, nightlife, family attractions and easy access to Algar Waterfalls.
Is Dénia worth visiting?
Yes. Dénia is a strong base for the northern Costa Blanca, especially if you want marine reserve trips, kayaking, diving, sailing and a quieter port-town atmosphere.
How do you get around the Costa Blanca?
Use Alicante Airport as the main gateway, TRAM d’Alacant for coastal public transport, and organized excursions or a rental car for inland villages, waterfalls and mountain routes.
How many days do you need?
For one base, plan three to five days. For Alicante plus Dénia or Benidorm, plan at least one week. For a slower full-coast trip, ten days or more works better.
Short conclusion
Start with the right Costa Blanca base
Choose Alicante for the easiest first trip, Dénia for water and nature, or Benidorm for family-friendly resort logistics. Then add boat trips, castles, waterfalls, food and Spanish practice around your base.