Our 2026 Costa Blanca travel guide is a comprehensive overview of the destinations where we operate and the tours we offer in each location. This page is organized by city, making it easy to explore our activities across the Costa Blanca and its surrounding areas.
Each section focuses on a specific destination — including Alicante, Elche, Orihuela, Valencia, and Novelda, Benidorm — and features an “Our Tours” section that displays the full list of guided tours available in that city. These lists allow you to quickly see what experiences we offer in each destination, from cultural and historical tours to local experiences and sightseeing activities.
By organizing the guide city by city, Our Costa Blanca travel guide in 2026 helps you compare destinations, discover where each tour takes place, and navigate directly to the tours that best match your travel plans. This structure makes the guide both informative and practical, serving as a starting point to explore and book our tours across the region.
⭐ Guided tours in Alicante
Why visit Alicante? Alicante combines Mediterranean beaches, historic landmarks, and a lively city atmosphere. From the iconic Santa Bárbara Castle to its vibrant old town and seafront, it’s an ideal destination for culture, relaxation, and local experiences all in one place.
🍽️ Food: Mediterranean cuisine with rice dishes, fresh seafood, and traditional tapas.
🏛️ Culture & History: A historic coastal city dominated by Santa Bárbara Castle and a lively old town.
🏖️ Beaches & Nature: Urban beaches with scenic coastal views and seaside promenades.
✨ What makes it unique: A perfect balance between beach life and cultural heritage.
🚶 Things to do: Explore the old town, visit the castle, and enjoy guided city tours.
Our Tours in Alicante
Guided tours in Elche
Why visit Elche? Elche is home to the largest palm grove in Europe and a rich cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. Its unique landscape, history, and traditions make it a fascinating destination for travelers looking for something different from the typical coastal route.
🍽️ Food: Traditional Mediterranean cuisine influenced by local products and inland flavors.
🏛️ Culture & History: A city defined by its UNESCO-listed Palm Grove and rich cultural heritage.
🌴 Beaches & Nature: Palm landscapes combined with nearby natural areas and quiet beaches.
✨ What makes it unique: Home to the largest palm grove in Europe.
🚶 Things to do: Discover palm groves, historic sites, and cultural landmarks with guided tours.
Our Tours in Elche
✅Tour Elche the European palm grove
Guided tours in Orihuela
What to See in Orihuela: Top Attractions & Things to Do
Orihuela is one of the most historically important cities in southern Valencia, playing a key political, cultural, and religious role between the 15th and 17th centuries, when it was one of the major urban centers of the region. During this period, Orihuela flourished as a city of churches, monasteries, noble palaces, and learning institutions.
Today, Orihuela offers visitors a rich historical and religious heritage, impressive monuments, excellent museums, and a well-preserved old town. It is an ideal destination for travelers interested in history, architecture, and authentic local culture away from mass tourism. It is also closely linked to Spanish literature as the birthplace of the poet Miguel Hernández.
This makes Orihuela a perfect choice for cultural tourism, guided city walks, and day trips from the Costa Blanca coast.
Local cuisine in Orihuela
Local cuisine in Orihuela is based on traditional recipes and seasonal Mediterranean ingredients.
The city is especially known for its monastic pastries and traditional sweets, a heritage of its historic convents. Visitors can try desserts such as almojábanas, tetas de monja, and other convent-made cakes and almond-based pastries.
Orihuela is an excellent place to discover authentic regional cuisine. In the historic center, small non-touristy restaurants still prepare traditional rice dishes, vegetable stews, and local meats using family recipes. The local cuisine is based on traditional methods and seasonal Mediterranean ingredients..
Culture & History:
Orihuela stands out for its exceptional concentration of religious and civil architecture, reflecting its importance during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Key cultural highlights include:
- Orihuela Cathedral – a former mosque transformed into a Gothic cathedral, later enriched with Renaissance and Baroque elements.
- Convento de Santo Domingo – a monumental 16th-century convent complex, one of the most important historic buildings in the city.
- Churches of Justa y Rufina and Santiago Apóstol – fine examples of Gothic and Renaissance religious architecture.
- Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art – home to an outstanding collection including works attributed to Velázquez and San Leocadio.
- Semana Santa Museum – dedicated to the famous Holy Week processions.
- The “Diablesa” Arch, noble palaces, and the historic city walls of the San Isidro quarter – reminders of Orihuela’s aristocratic and medieval past.
- The San Isidro quarter with its Miguel Hernández murals – an open-air gallery where colorful street art illustrates the poet’s verses and preserves Orihuela’s literary heritage.
Together, these monuments make Orihuela one of the most important historical cities to visit in the Vega Baja region.
Beaches & Nature:
Although Orihuela is an inland historic city, it belongs to a municipality with more than 16 km of Mediterranean coastline, known as Orihuela Costa. The area is famous for wide sandy beaches, small coves, and clear waters. Many beaches have been awarded Blue Flags. It is a perfect complement to a cultural visit, combining history with relaxation by the sea.
Five of the best beaches in Orihuela Costa are:
- Playa de Campoamor is a long, sandy beach stretching about 650 m, composed of several adjacent sections, including La Glea and Barranco Rubio. It’s well equipped with services and beach bars, and its wide shoreline is ideal for walking, swimming, and water sports.
- Playa de La Zenia is approximately 350 m long and offers fine sand and good facilities close to shops and restaurants. It is one of the most popular beaches in Orihuela Costa, with boardwalk access and water sport options.
- Cala Capitán is a smaller beach cove, approximately 152 m long, ideal for a quieter sea experience with soft, golden sand and favorable conditions for water activities. It’s part of the scenic Cabo Roig / Orihuela Costa stretch.
- Playa Flamenca refers to a beach area with several coves; two main parts — Cala Mosca (~108 m) and Cala Estaca (~175 m) — make up the beachfront, connected by a promenade with shops and cafés. This setup provides a relaxed seaside atmosphere with amenities
- Punta Prima is a small sandy beach about 234 meters long, located on the northern edge of Orihuela Costa. It offers calm swimming areas and a pleasant promenade with beach bars and seating areas..
These beaches are ideal for combining cultural sightseeing in Orihuela with a coastal escape.
Official info: Orihuela Costa official beach info Orihuela Costa official beach information
Famous festivals in Orihuela
Orihuela is well known throughout Spain for its traditional celebrations.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the most famous event and has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest. The city hosts impressive processions with historic brotherhoods, religious sculptures, and a deeply rooted local atmosphere.
The Fiestas de la Reconquista and Moros y Cristianos, held in July, commemorate the Christian reconquest of the city. The celebrations include historical reenactments, parades, and music.
The Feria and Fiestas of Our Lady of Monserrate take place in September. They honor the city’s patron saint with religious events, concerts, and street celebrations.
These festivals are a major attraction for cultural tourism in Orihuela.
What makes Orihuela unique
Orihuela combines deep historical roots, outstanding religious architecture, important museums, and a genuinely local atmosphere. Unlike more touristic coastal towns, the historic center of Orihuela has preserved everyday life, traditions, and a strong cultural identity.
It is one of the best places on the Costa Blanca to experience authentic Valencian history.
Things to do in Orihuela
Visitors to Orihuela can:
- Explore the historic center with an expert local guide
- Visit churches, convents, museums, and noble palaces
- Follow literary routes related to Miguel Hernández
- Discover the old city walls and traditional neighborhoods
- Combine a cultural visit with a trip to the beaches of Orihuela Costa
How to get to Orihuela
By train:
Orihuela has regular train connections with Alicante, Murcia, Elche, and other major cities. Regional trains and medium-distance services make it easy to visit Orihuela as a day trip or cultural stop.
From Torrevieja and other coastal towns:
Torrevieja has no train station, but Orihuela can be reached easily by regular bus connection or car in around 30–40 minutes. There are regular bus connections from Torrevieja, Guardamar del Segura, and other towns of the Vega Baja coast. By car, access is straightforward via the AP-7 and regional roads.
This makes Orihuela a convenient cultural excursion from the coast.
Our Tours in Orihuela
Guided tours in Valencia
Why visit Valencia? Valencia blends tradition and innovation like no other city in Spain. With its City of Arts and Sciences, historic center, Mediterranean cuisine, and vibrant cultural scene, it’s a must-visit destination for first-time and returning travelers alike.
🍽️ Food: World-famous for paella, Valencia offers one of Spain’s most celebrated culinary traditions.
🏛️ Culture & History: A city where ancient history meets modern architecture and innovation.
🏖️ Beaches & Nature: Long sandy beaches, urban parks, and the nearby Albufera Natural Park.
✨ What makes it unique: A perfect blend of tradition, innovation, and Mediterranean lifestyle.
🚶 Things to do: Explore historic neighborhoods, modern landmarks, and enjoy guided tours.
Our Tours in Valencia
Guided tours in Novelda
Why visit Novelda?
Novelda is a picturesque inland town in the Vinalopó Valley (Alicante province), known for its modernist architecture, medieval heritage, and strong agricultural and wine traditions. Unlike coastal resorts, Novelda offers an authentic inland Costa Blanca experience, where visitors can explore historical monuments, enjoy local gastronomy, and discover the region’s growing wine tourism scene. It is an ideal destination for travelers interested in culture, architecture, and local lifestyle beyond the beaches.
Local cuisine & wines of the Vinalopó Valley
Local cuisine in Novelda is based on traditional inland Mediterranean recipes using rice, vegetables, olive oil, and meat. Typical dishes include rice with rabbit and snails, baked rice dishes, gazpachos, and slow-cooked stews, reflecting the agricultural character of the region.
The area is also part of the Alicante wine region (DOP Alicante) and is especially famous for wines made from the Monastrell grape. Around Novelda, vineyards and historic wineries produce expressive reds, fresh rosés, and aromatic whites. Wine tastings and winery visits allow travelers to experience local wines, vineyard landscapes, and food-and-wine pairings, making Novelda an excellent stop for gastronomic and enotourism routes on the Costa Blanca.
Culture & History of Novelda
Novelda has a long history shaped by Iberian, Roman, Islamic, and Christian civilizations. Its most important period of growth came in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when economic prosperity led to the construction of elegant Valencian Modernist (Art Nouveau) buildings that still define the town’s identity today.
Thanks to this architectural heritage, Novelda is officially included in the Art Nouveau European Route, a cultural network that connects the most important modernist cities in Europe. This recognition highlights Novelda as one of the key inland destinations in Alicante province for travelers interested in Art Nouveau architecture and cultural tourism.
👉 https://www.artnouveau.eu
Today, Novelda stands out on the Costa Blanca as a town where medieval remains, modernist architecture, and living local traditions come together, offering visitors a rich and authentic cultural experience beyond the coast.
What to see in Novelda
- Sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena – an iconic modernist church inspired by Gaudí, located on La Mola hill and symbol of the town.
- Castillo de la Mola – medieval ruins with a unique triangular tower and panoramic views over the Vinalopó Valley.
- Modernist architecture route – including Casa Mira and the Gómez-Tortosa Cultural Centre, showcasing decorative façades and stained glass.
- Historical Museum of Novelda – introducing the archaeological and cultural history of the area.
- Historic town centre – ideal for a relaxed walk among traditional streets, local cafés, and heritage buildings.
What makes Novelda unique
Novelda is especially unique for its extraordinary Sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena, a striking modernist church inspired by Gaudí, dramatically rising above the town on La Mola hill. This singular monument, together with the nearby medieval castle, forms one of the most recognizable skylines in inland Costa Blanca.
The town is also distinguished by its rich collection of Valencian Art Nouveau buildings, which have earned Novelda a place on the Art Nouveau European Route. Elegant houses, cultural centers, and decorative façades make Novelda a small but important destination for travelers interested in modernist architecture.
Practical Travel Tips
Best Visit Time: Spring and autumn for pleasant vineyard tours and outdoor exploring. Summers can be hot inland.
Getting Around: Novelda is easily reached by road from Alicante and surrounding towns — ideal for a day trip if you’re based at the coast.
Wine Tourism: Book winery tours in advance, especially in peak seasons or weekends, to secure tastings and guided experiences.
Our Tours in Novelda
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)
