13 Places in Calpe You Must Not Miss
This guide with the best attractions in Calpe helps you explore this beautiful coastal town in Alicante, especially known among travelers who each summer enjoy the fantastic beaches and the wide range of recreational activities.
Calpe is located in the Marina Alta region and boasts the impressive rock formation Peñón de Ifach in the background. The town offers more than 12 kilometers of coastline, where you will find both small, hidden coves and large sandy beaches with all facilities, large salt lakes with flamingos, a charming old town, and a rich cuisine based on the sea. Although you can see the town’s main attractions in one day, it is advisable to stay at one of the many hotels during the summer and take excursions to some of Costa Blanca’s best coves and the most beautiful towns in the Alicante province, such as Jávea, Villajoyosa, or Altea.
Based on our own experience from our self-driving tour in the Valencia region, we have compiled this list of the 13 places you should see in Calpe. Let’s get started!
1. Peñón de Ifach
One of the best experiences in Calpe is climbing Peñón de Ifach, a large limestone rock that stands 332 meters high, which is one of Costa Blanca’s landmarks and among the most beautiful places to see in the Valencia region. To reach the top, located in the Peñón de Ifach Natural Park, you must reserve a free spot via this website to avoid overtourism and protect the cliff’s ecosystem. Once you have your confirmed reservation, you can hike up (note that parts of the trail may be slippery) from Calpe’s harbor along Carrer del Peñon until you reach the visitor center, or you can park at the entrance to the natural park (which is often full in the summer). After passing through security, follow the trail through a tunnel and past various viewpoints, such as Mirador de Carabineros, with beautiful views over Calpe and the Mediterranean Sea. The climb to the top takes about one and a half hours and is quite steep. You can also book a guided tour in Spanish to learn more about the cliff’s history and features.
2. Las Salinas, One of the Places to See in Calpe
After descending from Peñón de Ifach, you can visit Calpe’s salt lakes, Las Salinas, which have been used for salt extraction since the Roman Empire. Salt was important then for preserving and seasoning food such as fish and meat, as well as for barter trade, until production ceased in 1988. In 1993, the area was declared protected, and although the salt lakes are surrounded by high buildings and traffic, it is fascinating to see the many flamingos (especially from May to September) and other migratory birds. To preserve this unique nature, the water level is artificially maintained with pumps to sustain the salt lakes’ fragile ecosystem. Therefore, it is essential to be very responsible when walking along the trails and using the viewpoints by the salt lakes, and to remember not to litter.
3. Baños de la Reina
If you wait to explore the harbor until sunset when the fishing boats return home, in the meantime, you can visit Baños de la Reina, a over 2,000-year-old fish farming facility and another place you should visit in Calpe. This valuable archaeological site, located by the calm waters along Calpe Bay, consists of three parts: a Roman luxury villa called Vicus Romana, a bathing facility at Muntanyeta, and the so-called “Baños de la Reina mora” – a fish farming facility carved into the rock, forming six interconnected pools where you can swim or snorkel just like the Moorish queen who, according to legend, gave the place its name.
4. Torre Molí del Morelló
Next to Baños de la Reina, right by the Mediterranean Sea, lies Torre Molí del Morelló, a fine example of the old mills in the Marina region and one of the interesting buildings to see in Calpe. The mill, built under Philip II as a watchtower to monitor the coast and prevent Berber pirates from attacking, was repurposed in the 19th century as a flour mill. The tower, which is 7 meters high with solid walls, overlooks the sea.
5. A Walk Along Paseo Marítimo – One of the Best Things to Do in Calpe
One of the best activities in Calpe is strolling along the long beachfront promenade, Paseo Marítimo, while enjoying views of the Mediterranean Sea and Peñón de Ifach. This approximately 2-kilometer promenade stretches from Playa del Arenal-Bol to the fishing harbor and is the town’s most atmospheric area thanks to the many terraces, cafés, ice cream parlors, and shops that bustle with life every afternoon. Here, you will also find some of the best restaurants in Calpe, where you can taste rice and fish dishes, such as Blau Mar, Romántica, or Capri, all offering sea and beach views.
6. Calpe’s Beaches
If you travel between June and September, it’s ideal to take a refreshing dip in Calpe’s crystal-clear waters and relax on the fine, golden sandy beaches. In front of the promenade, you have Playa del Cantal Roig and Playa Arenal-Bol, both with blue flags and all imaginable facilities – perfect for a day with family or friends. Another blue flag beach near the center is Playa de la Fossa or Levante, where you have an impressive view of Peñón de Ifach. If you’re instead looking for rocky and cliff beaches suitable for snorkeling, you can visit El Penyal, Les Bassetes, or El Racó, while more secluded coves like Racó del Corb and Cala del Gasparet can only be reached by boat or kayak and offer peace and idyll. If you have more time, you can check out this list of the best beaches in Alicante.
7. Torreón de «La Peça»
After seeing the lower part of Calpe, you can drive, take a bus, or walk up to the upper part of the town, where you will find the old town, one of the most important places to see in Calpe. Here, you enter through Torreón de «La Peça», a defense tower that was once part of Calpe’s city walls and protected the town from Moorish attacks. Today, it houses the Museum of Collections (Museo del Coleccionismo).
The Old Town in Calpe
Once inside the old town, you can explore the narrow, cobblestone streets filled with flowers and plants until you reach Plaza de la Villa, where the modern church Nuestra Señora de las Nieves stands. This square is another place you should visit in Calpe. Other must-sees in the historic center include the 15th-century old church, the former town hall, Forat de la Mar (a hole in the city wall), Plaza dels Mariners, and the streets Dos de Maig, San Roc, Campanar, Mayor, and Puchalt – the latter being the colorful stairway painted like the Spanish flag.
If you want to learn more about the town’s history and not miss anything important, we recommend booking this guided tour or a free tour.
9. Ermita de San Salvador
From the old town, you can follow a staircase with Via Crucis stations on Avenida Masnou up to the chapel Ermita de San Salvador, which was built in the mid-20th century on a high hilltop. The chapel itself is a small Gothic-style building with only one nave, but the best part is the fantastic panoramic view of Calpe from the park surrounding the chapel.
10. La Muralla Roja
La Muralla Roja in the Urbanización de la Manzanera district is an original building complex created by Ricardo Bofill in 1973, and one of the places you should see in Calpe. These buildings, inspired by North African kasbahs and earth towers, house 50 apartments with terraces, sea views, inner courtyards, and an outdoor pool. It is important to be considerate towards residents and take any photos from the outside. At the base of La Muralla Roja, you will find Cala Manzanera, where an abandoned building with round windows forms a photogenic frame around Peñón de Ifach.
11. Calpe’s Port
A pleasant experience in Calpe is walking down to the harbor at sunset to watch the fishing boats unload their catch and possibly have dinner at one of the restaurants, such as El Cantal. The harbor is sheltered behind Peñón de Ifach at the end of the bay and is used by both fishermen and pleasure sailors. Once you’re done at the harbor, you can extend your walk along the paved path Príncipe de Asturias, which winds along the base of Peñón de Ifach close to the sea and leads across the cliff on the other side.
12. Boat Tour
From the same harbor, you can engage in various water sports activities, such as a boat tour or a kayak trip, where you sail along Costa Blanca. Among the best-rated are:
- Catamaran Tour at Sunset
- Boat Rental with Skipper in Calpe
- Catamaran Tour with Barbecue
- Trial Diving
- Catamaran Tour
13. Mirador del Morro de Toix
To conclude this list of places to see in Calpe, you can take a drive or walk up to Mirador del Morro de Toix at sunset. From here, you will get a magnificent view over Calpe Bay and Peñón de Ifach in the background. After enjoying the view, you can continue a short route up to the antennas in Sierra de Toix, where you will get another fantastic panoramic view of the coast. If you love hiking, you can spend half a day in Sierra de Oltá, which has a popular approximately 10 km loop (route PR-CV 340) starting at Zone Recreativa de la Sierra de Oltà (marked on the map below) with views that will take your breath away.
Excursions from Calpe
If you have more time in Calpe, we suggest taking an excursion to some of the wonders nearby, such as:
- Altea: Located half an hour from Calpe and on the list of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Altea charms at first glance with its whitewashed facades and the photogenic church. To ensure you don’t miss anything, you can follow this list of places to see in Altea.
- Moraira: A coastal town only 20 minutes from Calpe, offering excellent beaches and restaurants where you can enjoy a good rice dish like the one from Rincón de Moraira. For more information, you can consult this list of places to see in Moraira.
- Coves in Alicante: If you’re looking for paradisiacal coves with turquoise-blue waters surrounded by cliffs, you can take a drive passing Cala del Moraig, Cala Granadella, and Cala del Portitxol.
- Jávea: This town, about a 35-minute drive from Calpe, impresses with its well-preserved old town. You can find more information in this post about what to see in Jávea.
- Benidorm: A tourist town filled with impressive skyscrapers, having become one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe thanks to the sun, the beach, and the endless range of recreational activities. To ensure you don’t miss anything, you can follow this list of places to see in Benidorm.
- Villajoyosa: One of the most beautiful towns in Alicante, impressing with its colorful houses along the beachfront promenade and the old town. For more information, you can consult this post about places to see in Villajoyosa.
Accommodation in Calpe
On our recent trip to Calpe, we stayed at Hotel RH Ifach, located next to Las Salinas and only 250 meters from La Fossa Beach. In addition to its fantastic location, the hotel offers an outdoor pool, restaurant, full breakfast, private parking, and rooms with views of Peñón de Ifach.
Other well-located accommodations with excellent quality/price ratios include Hotel Porto Calpe, Hotel Bahía Calpe by Pierre & Vacances, or Hotel Maravillas del Mundo.
For a romantic holiday, we also recommend checking out this list of charming hotels in Alicante.