By Laura Kemp • Updated: 01 Mar 2023 • 16:05
Image - Madrugada Verde/shutterstock
Located amongst some of the Costa Blancas main tourist destinations including Benidorm and Calpe, the municipality and town of Altea has a relaxed vibe with no shortage of things to do and see. With its beautiful old town, shops, cafes and restaurants, Altea is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the Spanish culture but is still popular with British tourists moving to Spain.
So, you are thinking of moving to Altea, but where do you go for all that essential information on the types of property on offer, the best schools and the most popular restaurants?
To make moving to Altea a bit easier, the Euro Weekly News has put together this handy guide to everything you need to know before heading over.
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Altea is located between two tourist giants, Calpe and Benidorm, just 35 miles from Almeria Airport and 66 miles from Valencia Airport.
For this wanting to move to Spain, Altea is a great location to easily visit other areas of the Costa Blanca and is just a 40-minute drive along the coast to the popular Alicante.
As one of the most popular areas on the Costa Blanca, Altea has a thriving property market offering modern flats as well as rustic townhouses to choose from when moving to Spain.
Costing from around €55,000 for a small but high-spec studio close to the coast to €7 million for a luxurious villa in the Altea Hills, Altea is a great spot for single people, couples, families and retirees with different budgets looking at moving to Spain.
Located at the highest point of the town with its labyrinth of meandering streets, Altea old town is the perfect place to wander around and admire the architecture, discover the historic buildings or have a drink outside one of the many cafes under the Mediterranean sun.
With its sparkling clear waters and an abundance of cafes along the promenade, the beaches in Altea are the perfect place to spend the day soaking up the sun or snorkelling in the beautiful Mediterranean sea.
With lots of various stalls including clothes and handmade goods, wander around Altea market and pick up a couple of gems or your weekly local produce for a great price.
Part of the Serra de Bernia walking trails, Castillo de Bernia is definitely worth the effort for its spectacular views and admiring a piece of classic Spanish history that dates all the way back to the 16th Century.
An area popular with locals and tourists, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento de Altea is the perfect place to stop off and have a coffee or visit one of the many restaurants, bars and shops in the area.
A charming and impressive church that is well worth the walk through Altea’s winding streets and passageways. Also called “the church above” this majestic building is a main focal point in Altea.
A beautiful and unusual Russian church nestled amongst the trees, this stunning piece of architecture is worth a visit for some calm away from the bustling streets.
With its crystal clear waters, Altea is the perfect place to get adventurous and join one of the many diving tours or clubs in the area. It is also a great place to try water sports such as paddleboarding, snorkelling, kayaking and sailing.
One of the cleanest marinas in Spain, Greenwich Marina is a beautiful place to stop for a drink in the sun and admire the stunning views and incredible yachts docked up.
This plaza has it all. Surrounded by little boutique shops, cafes and restaurants as well as a buzzing vibe in the balmy summer evenings. It offers great views of the town and the bay below.
La Costera de Altea is a beautifully decorated little restaurant just off the old town serving up French, Mediterranean, European and Spanish dishes.
Open: 7pm until 10pm Wednesdays to Fridays, 1pm until 3pm and 7pm until 10pm Saturdays, 1pm until 3pm Sundays, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Address: C/ Mestre Musica, 8, 03590 Altea
Booking: 652 45 62 12
Price: €€-€€€
If you’re looking for healthy Spanish and Italian cuisine, Quel Que Quieres serves up beautifully presented dishes with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
Open: 12pm until 3pm and 6:30pm until 9:15pm Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm until 3:30pm Sunday, closed Mondays
Address: Calle Alcoy 2 Calle Alcoy 2, 03590 Altea
Booking: 633 56 19 59
For something a little special, L’etiquette Restaurante offers French and European cuisine including snails, frogs legs and fine wines.
Open: 12:30pm until 6pm, closed Thursdays
Address: Calle Conde de Altea 28 Promenade Mediterraneenne, 03590 Altea
Booking: 625 61 12 48
A typical Spanish bar serving fantastic cocktails and tapas, AlteArte is a firm favourite with locals and tourists, offering a truly Spanish atmosphere.
Open: 6pm until 2am Thursday to Sunday
Address: Calle Concepcio 4, 03590 Altea
Booking: 608 81 45 89
Price: €
If you’re craving some fresh Italian pizza, 345 Pizza Fusion Today is a little gem of a restaurant that is perfect for families and couples. Their capriccioso is a must-try!
Open: 12pm until 11pm, 12pm until 12am Fridays and Saturdays, closed on Tuesdays
Address: Calle Sant Pere 34, 03590 Altea
Booking: 965 84 03 24
A charming restaurant with an ocean view, Felix dishes up Mediterranean, Spanish and international dishes with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Open: 1pm until 4:30pm, closed on Tuesdays
Address: Paseo Mediterrani 48, 03590 Altea
Booking: 965 84 01 25
If you love your meat, Restaurante la Galera’s Brazillian BBQ is the perfect place to enjoy the warm evenings with a great atmosphere.
Open: 12pm until 4pm and 7pm until 10pm, 12pm until 6pm on Sundays, closed on Wednesdays
Address: La Galera Baja 7, 03590 Altea
Booking: 617 17 38 42
Crown of India serves up traditional Indian dishes with spectacular views on their terrace.
Open: 12:30pm until 4pm and 6pm until 11:30pm, closed on Mondays
Address: Calle Major 2, 03590 Altea
Booking: 865 67 32 59
Voted the best burger in the Valencian Community 2020, El Bar de Confianza is an American burger restaurant with a cool vibe and vegetarian options.
Open: 1pm until 3pm and 8pm until 12am Friday to Sunday, 8pm until 12am Wednesdays and Thursday, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Address: Calle de Alfaz del Pi 2, 03590 Altea
Booking: 638 26 50 62
Located on the beachfront, Mana Lounge is the perfect place to enjoy some seafood or share a paella.
Open: 12:30pm until 4:30pm and 7pm until 11pm, closed on Tuesdays
Address: Calle San Pedro 41 Local A, 03590 Altea
Booking: 966 57 62 94
When moving to a new location, making sure there are some great schools is essential, and Altea has some impressive local schools.
Altea International School is a British school teaching the British curriculum making it a great option for expats aged 6 to 18 moving over from the UK. Another popular British School is the Sierra Bernia School, teaching children from ages 3 to 18.
CEIP Garganes Foyeta is a public school in Altea that is great for infant and primary school children wanting to learn that language and immerse themselves in the Spanish education system.
Our top pick Clinica Britannia Clinica Britannia is an officially registered private healthcare centre, complying with all the standards and regulations of local health authorities. Their main language spoken is English, however, German, Russian, French and Spanish is also fluently spoken by the staff who deal with all of your healthcare and dental needs. Both expats living permanently on the Costa Blanca and visitors are welcomed at the surgery, where they provide services including nurses, general practitioners, dentists (veneers, orthodontics and implants), medical specialists (consultant physician, skin and hair specialist, gynaecologist, urologist, psychiatrist, ophthalmologist, aesthetic medicine), non-surgical treatments (haemorrhoids & varicose veins), surgeons (general, digestive, orthopaedic, plastic & aesthetic), allied health professionals (counsellor, psychologist, physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor, podiatrist, chiropodist, audiologist), and well-being specialists (detox & anti-ageing treatments). Address: Avenida Ejercitos Españoles 16-BIS (next to 16), First Floor, 1D 03710 Calpe Open: 9am until 5pm Telephone: (+34) 965 837 553 or (+34) 965 837 851 Emergency 24/7 telephone: (+34) 607 255 755 Email: britannia.calpe@gmail.com Website: Click here
Our top pick
Clinica Britannia is an officially registered private healthcare centre, complying with all the standards and regulations of local health authorities.
Their main language spoken is English, however, German, Russian, French and Spanish is also fluently spoken by the staff who deal with all of your healthcare and dental needs.
Both expats living permanently on the Costa Blanca and visitors are welcomed at the surgery, where they provide services including nurses, general practitioners, dentists (veneers, orthodontics and implants), medical specialists (consultant physician, skin and hair specialist, gynaecologist, urologist, psychiatrist, ophthalmologist, aesthetic medicine), non-surgical treatments (haemorrhoids & varicose veins), surgeons (general, digestive, orthopaedic, plastic & aesthetic), allied health professionals (counsellor, psychologist, physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor, podiatrist, chiropodist, audiologist), and well-being specialists (detox & anti-ageing treatments).
Address: Avenida Ejercitos Españoles 16-BIS (next to 16), First Floor, 1D 03710 Calpe
Open: 9am until 5pm
Telephone: (+34) 965 837 553 or (+34) 965 837 851
Emergency 24/7 telephone: (+34) 607 255 755
Email: britannia.calpe@gmail.com
Website: Click here
Moving somewhere new is exciting but it’s important to know the contact information for the emergency services.
That´s why we have included information on important contacts when moving to Altea.
Emergency services, including health, fire and police: 112
National police: 091
Local police: 092
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Originally from UK, Laura is based in Axarquia and is a writer for the Euro Weekly News covering news and features. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
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