How to Plan a Romantic Costa Blanca Getaway
Moraira, Dénia, Altea & Alicante: where to stay, how to get around, what to do, and what to know before you go
For years, my summer escape from Barcelona was almost always Costa Brava. It’s beautiful, familiar, and easy to repeat. I still love it. But this stretch of the Costa Blanca, around Moraira, Dénia, Altea, and Alicante, gave me something different: a warmer, slower, more spread-out version of the Spanish coast.
Moraira also holds a special place for me because it was the first romantic getaway I took with my partner. We got around mostly by moto, played tennis together for the first time even though it was wildly hot, found local flavor at a tennis club, and discovered a side of Spain that felt fresh after years of defaulting north.
This guide is my practical edit of that trip: where to base yourself, how to get around, what to do, where to stay, and how to make it feel romantic without turning it into an overplanned production.
Why Costa Blanca instead of Costa Brava?
Costa Brava is the obvious Barcelona escape for a reason. It is closer, dramatic, and full of beautiful coves. But if you have already done it a few times, Costa Blanca feels like a different kind of Mediterranean trip.
Why this area is worth considering:
Dénia has more than 20 km of coastline, with sandy beaches in the north and rockier coves in the south.
It also gives you access to Montgó Natural Park and the Cabo de San Antonio marine reserve.
Dénia is recognized by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy, which makes it a strong base if your version of romance includes eating well.
Altea brings the whitewashed old-town charm, sea views, and nearby nature like Serra Gelada Natural Park and the Sierra de Bernia.
Alicante is worth more than just flying in and out of. Santa Bárbara Castle sits on Mount Benacantil, 166 metres above the city, with panoramic views and serious history.
The vibe
This is not the trip I’d recommend if you want to land somewhere and have everything happen within a five-minute walk.
It is better if you like:
small coastal towns
scenic drives
beach days with a little history mixed in
long lunches
local-feeling plans
romantic but not cheesy energy
having a car or moto
building in slow time
It is especially good for couples because it gives you options. You can do a beach day, a tennis club afternoon, a moto ride, an old-town dinner, a castle visit, a garden, a boat plan, or nothing at all.
Where to base yourself
Moraira: best for a romantic, relaxed base
Moraira was the heart of the trip for us. It felt relaxed, pretty, and easy in a way that made the whole getaway feel low-pressure.
The best decision we made was getting around mostly by moto.
Why the moto worked so well:
parking was easy
the distances felt manageable
we could pull over whenever we wanted
the trip felt more spontaneous
it avoided the constant “where are we going to park the car?” problem
We rented from American Bike Rental & Bar on the Moraira-Teulada road, and it was honestly one of those little travel details that made the trip better. The place has a cool American-themed biker-bar feel, and the owner was genuinely lovely. He had spent time living in the U.S., so it was nice to connect with him beyond the usual rental counter transaction.
American Bike Rental & Bar
Carretera Moraira-Teulada 119, 03724 Teulada/Moraira, Alicante
Dénia: best for food, history, and a useful base
Dénia is a good choice if you want a base with more going on: restaurants, castle, port, beach access, and easy day-trip potential. I’d use it if you want the trip to feel Mediterranean but not sleepy.
Things to add to your Dénia plan:
Castell de Dénia
Gastrobàr 21
Bar La Cabana
Xiringuito Olalà
Ziba.Active
Les Rotes / Las Rotas if you want a rockier, more dramatic coastal feel
Altea: best for pretty old-town romance
Altea is the more visual, romantic stop. Think white streets, sea views, old-town wandering, and dinner somewhere that feels like a proper vacation moment.
I wouldn’t necessarily make it the whole trip unless you want something very pretty and slow, but I would absolutely include it.
Best for:
old-town wandering
pretty photos without trying too hard
a romantic dinner
sea views
a slower afternoon
Start with the old town of Altea and leave room to wander.
Alicante: best for history, city energy, and a strong final stop
Do not treat Alicante as just the airport.
Downtown Alicante has enough history, sea, food, and city energy to deserve at least half a day. The obvious must-do is Santa Bárbara Castle, but I’d also leave time to wander the old town, stop for a drink, and actually feel the city before heading home.
Add to your Alicante plan:
Barrio de Santa Cruz
Explanada de España
Alicante Old Town
a final lunch or aperitivo before leaving
What to do
Rent a moto around Moraira
If you are comfortable riding, this is one of the best ways to explore around Moraira. It makes parking easier, gives the trip a romantic/free feeling, and lets you move around without overthinking every stop.
I would still recommend a car if you are trying to connect Moraira, Dénia, Altea, and Alicante in one trip. But once you are based around Moraira, the moto is the move.
Where we rented:
American Bike Rental & Bar
Carretera Moraira-Teulada 119, 03724 Teulada/Moraira, Alicante
Play tennis at Solpark Moraira
One of my favorite memories from the trip was playing tennis together for the first time at Solpark Moraira.
Was it objectively too hot? Yes. Did we do it anyway? Also yes.
But that is exactly the kind of thing I love when traveling: not just seeing the pretty places, but slipping into the local rhythm for a second.
Solpark Moraira has:
tennis
padel
pickleball
restaurant/cafeteria
equipment rental
free parking
changing rooms
Wi-Fi
You can also find it on Playtomic.
I’d recommend it especially for couples who like doing an actual activity together. It gives you a story, a little sweat, a little local flavor, and probably a drink afterward.
Visit Castell de Dénia
Castell de Dénia is a good anchor activity because it gives the town more depth than just “beach and lunch.”
I’d do it before:
a long lunch
a walk around the old town
a port drink
a beach stop later in the day
Spend time in Altea’s old town
Altea’s old town is made for wandering.
Go for:
white streets
sea views
old-town terraces
little shops and galleries
dinner somewhere that feels like a proper vacation night
Explore downtown Alicante
Alicante surprised me because it is easy to underestimate.
If you are flying through, build in time for:
Alicante Old Town
Barrio de Santa Cruz
Explanada de España
one proper lunch, drink, or sunset walk
Add a nature stop
If you want to break up the beach-and-town rhythm, add one nature plan.
Good options in the area:
Montgó Natural Park near Dénia
Penyal d’Ifac Natural Park near Calpe
Serra Gelada Natural Park near Altea
Sierra de Bernia for hiking and views
A simple long-weekend itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and settle into Moraira
Keep the first day easy:
arrive
check in
pick up your moto if you are renting one
do a simple dinner
don’t overplan the first night
This is the day to land, breathe, and get into the rhythm of the trip.
Day 2: Moraira + tennis + beach
A relaxed Moraira day could look like:
slow breakfast
swim or beach time
moto ride
tennis, padel, or pickleball at Solpark Moraira
drink afterward
dinner near the coast
This was the day that made the trip feel personal for us.
Day 3: Dénia day trip
Use Dénia for a slightly more structured day:
visit Castell de Dénia
walk around town
have a long lunch
explore the port or old town
add beach time around Les Rotes / Las Rotas
If you are staying in Dénia, reverse this and use Moraira as the day trip.
Day 4: Altea + Alicante
For the final day:
start with Altea old town
have lunch or coffee with a view
continue to Alicante
visit Santa Bárbara Castle
walk through the old town
head home or fly out
Where to stay for a couples getaway
1. Hotel Ábaco Altea
Best for: romantic old-town charm.
Hotel Ábaco is in the heart of Altea’s old town and is set in a former 18th-century bakery. This is the kind of place I’d choose if I wanted the trip to feel intimate, charming, and a little more special than a standard hotel.
2. Nomad Hotel & Spa Altea
Best for: design, spa, and sea/mountain views.
Nomad Hotel & Spa Altea is a design boutique hotel with spa, views of the sea and mountains, and a restaurant called La Naya. This feels like the polished couples option if you want comfort and a more elevated stay.
3. Boho Suites Dénia
Best for: relaxed adults-only energy.
Boho Suites Dénia is a small bed-and-breakfast style stay with cozy rooms, homemade breakfast, and a relaxed feel. I’d consider this for a calmer Dénia base.
4. Hotel Nou Romà Dénia
Best for: historic Dénia character.
Hotel Nou Romà is a boutique hotel in Dénia’s historic center, next to the castle, in the Les Roques area. It is located in an 18th-century manor house and has individually styled rooms.
5. VIVOOD Landscape Hotel
Best for: a design/nature splurge.
VIVOOD is not in Moraira, Dénia, or Altea directly, but it is in Alicante province, in the Guadalest Valley. It is the one I’d look at if you want to turn the trip into a more romantic nature escape.
Airbnb tip
If you prefer an apartment, I’d search for:
a sea-view apartment in Altea old town
a small house or apartment near Moraira
a Dénia stay near the old town, castle, or Les Rotes
an Alicante old-town apartment if you want one city night
Prioritize:
parking
air-conditioning
terrace
walking distance to dinner
strong recent reviews
In summer, those details matter.
Practical tips before you go
You probably need a car
If you want to connect Moraira, Dénia, Altea, and Alicante, a car will make the trip much easier.
This is not a “wander out of your hotel and everything is right there” kind of itinerary.
Rent a moto locally if you are based around Moraira
For shorter local movement, the moto made the trip easier and more fun.
It helped with:
parking
spontaneity
short local drives
beach stops
making the whole trip feel more romantic and free
Do not underestimate the heat
We played tennis in the heat, and I loved the memory, but I would plan active things early or late next time.
Midday is for:
swimming
lunch
shade
naps
not pretending you are stronger than the sun
Book the good meals
In summer, do not assume you can just walk into the place you saved on Google Maps.
Book ahead for:
dinner
beach restaurants
popular lunch spots
anything with a view
anything you’d be sad to miss
Build in slow time
This area works best when you do less.
A good day can be as simple as:
one town
one activity
one long meal
one swim
one sunset drink
That is enough.
Who I’d recommend this trip for
This is a great trip for:
couples who want something romantic but not cliché
people who have already done Costa Brava and want a fresh Spain idea
travelers who like food, beaches, and small towns
people comfortable renting a car
anyone who likes a mix of pretty towns, local activities, and relaxed exploration
I would not recommend it if you want:
everything to be walkable
a fully car-free trip
an ultra-polished resort feeling
a packed itinerary where every minute is scheduled
The charm is in the movement, the little discoveries, and the fact that it feels less pre-packaged.
Final thought
After years of spending summer escapes on the Costa Brava, Moraira and the Costa Blanca gave me a different version of Spain: warmer, wider, slower, and tied forever in my mind to our first romantic getaway.
It is not the most obvious trip from Barcelona, and that is part of why I liked it.
Come with a loose plan, rent the moto, book the good meals, play the tennis match even if it is too hot, and leave room for the little moments. That is where this part of the coast gets good.