Calpe Costa Blanca

Calpe Map Costa Blanca, Spain

Panoramic view of Calpe from the wooded slopes of the Penon de lfach nature reserve

Calpe located on the Costa Blanca, Spain is a true mix of an old fishing village, with narrow streets, a modern town with it's tourist and business hotels, 2 beautiful and long beaches and a major natural attraction, it's famous rock the Penon de lfach

Click Photographs to enlarge.

Calpe beach

Calpe

Calpe

Calpe 3

Calpe fountain

Calpe fountain

Calpe sculptures

Calpe sculptures

Calpe marina

Calpe jetty

Real Club Nautic Calpe

Holidays Hotels & Apartments in Calpe

Holidays Hotels & Apartments in Calpe Opens in a new page

Attractions in Calpe

Penon de lfach rock

Calpe town almost dwarfed by the Penon de lfach

Calpe harbour adjacent to Penon de lfach

Calpe view

Penon de lfach buildings of Calpe in forground

Penon de lfach, building & palm tree

Penon de lfach & Calpe Street

Calpe has a massive attraction the impressive and famous332 metre high Rock, the Penon de lfach, that is visible from the entire area. The Penon de lfach rock is located on the headland to the East of the main town and adjacent to the harbour

More Information on the Penon de lfach

Llavador of the Font (Llavador de la Font)

The site of springs that acted as a water source for the area. This site was developed and a charge made for water and also for laundry facilities. The current buildings and rectangular pool surrounded by colonades dates back to 1878.

The site is next door to the bus station

Pou Salat

A 19^th century stone well and small storage room for water pitchers

Churches

There are 3 churches worth a visit in the centre of Calpe

• The Old Church (Iglesia Antigua). Part of the old defensive wall of Calpe, and formed a simple defensive bastion and goes back to the 14^th century. Location Town Square (Plaza de la Villa)
  
  
• The New Parochial Church (Iglesia Parroquial  Nuestra Señora de las Nieves) Location Town Square (Plaza de la Villa), next to the Old Church. Built in the mid 1970's it is noted for it's
  • Facade depicting old and new testiment scenes
  • Stained glass windows
  • Mosaic decorations
  • Wall murials
  • Images of Cristo del Sudor and the Virgen de las Nieves
• Iglesia Vieja

Museums

• Archeological museum is located opposite by the Plaza de la Villa . Next to the museum are Roman ruins, ruins of a Roman Villa called the Banos de la Reina (Queen's Bath) and the old tower, the Torreon de la Peca
  
  
• Fester Museum located Calle Jose Antoni. This Museum depicts the story festival about the Moors and Christians in Calpe. Located in abuilding that has in it's past been usued as council buildings and later on a tavern.

San Juan Hermitage

• A 17century 2 storey hermatage with a bell in the apex of the end wall above the entrance. 3 ond well are in the fore court
  
  
• The San Juan Hermitage is the starting point for the San Juan celebrations that occur yearly on the 24^th of June

Feasts

• Feast of St. Joseph (14^th century). 19 March
  The start of Sping is celebrated by burning large statues made from carboard and wood at midnight, along with a firework display.
  There is also the cooking of a massive paella in Constitution Square, which is helped down by copious amouts of Sangria.
  
  
• Moors and Christians Festival (Moros y Cristianos). Third week in October for 3 days.
  Musical acts, firework displays lots of drink and food and of course the very famous enactment of a Moors and Christians along the beach at a purposly built for the occasion castle.

The Marina

• Interesting to stroll around watching the sights
• Boat trips, including trips to Benidorm
• Watersports
• Sailing lessons

Calpe Bars & Calpe Restaurants

Calpe has a good selection of Bars, Tavernas and good restaurants. Many of these are located along the very long promenade, Paseo Maritimo.

Playa la Fossa beach is very popular with Spanish tourists and many of the restaurants that face the beach offer spanish cuisine. There are also several British Restaurants as well with there typical British seaside menus. It's up to you if you follow the motto "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" There is also a variaty of Cocktail bars that come alive later in the Evening presenting a hub for lively nightlife.

As can be expected in an active fishing port there are excellent restaurants specialising in fish and shellfish delights. Without doubt the most popular ingredients in local cuisine are fish and rice, also popular in cooking are figs, almonds and raisons.

Try out the

La Botella Bar

La Botella Bar, an English owned bar that is very popular. The bar was up for sale so may now be under different ownership.

La Botella Bar, Edificio Desiree, Calle 18 de Julio, Calpe, 03710 (Alicante) Spain

Calpe Beaches

Calpe Arenal beach just visible

Calpe Playa de la Fosse beach

Calpe Playa de la Fosse beach

Calpe has the benifit of 2 long sandy beaches one on either side of the massive rock peninsular Penon de Ifach both are blue flag beaches and other smaller beaches

 Playa Arenal

Playa Arenal sometimes called Arenal Bol beach located in front of the old town and to the west of is over 2 kilometres long, with beautiful fine light golden sand. The beach with full facilities can become very crowded in the high season. The promenade has mant restaurants, bars and shops.

 Playa Levante / La Fossa

Playa Levante / La Fossa is a a blue flag beach with plenty of facilities, water sports, bowling green, childrens playgrounds, tennis courts

 Playa Cantal Roig

Playa Cantal Roig. A small sandy beach with some rock outcrops,is located just to the west of the Marina.Next to the beach on the other side from the harbour is a stretch of rocky coast line before the start of the very long Playa Arena beach

 Cala Les Urques

Cala Les Urques A rocky stretch with a small boulder and gravel beach immediatly to the south west of the small harbour in the western outskirtd of Calpe

 Cala del Penyal

Cala del Penyal is a cove located under the lower northern cliffs of the Penon de lfach rock near the entrance building.  Access is via tracks. The cove is suitable for snorkling, scuba diving and fishing.

Calpe Bus Station

The Calpe Bus Station is located on the junction of Avinguda de la Generalitat Valenciana & Av de la Diputacion. 200 metres north of the old town centre.

Local Buses

3 bus routes L1, L2 & L3

• Line 1.   FGV tram station Biblos(Trams from the West Benidorm etc.- Calpe Town - Biblos - Parque de la Vallesa - - La Caleta (Calalga)
• Line 2.  Similar to Line 1 basically extra buses Mon - Sat   & extending to the north east to   - Biblos - Parque de la Vallesa - La Caleta
• Line 3.  Does NOT connect to the Tram stations but extends further north beyond Maviro to MaviroMoraira - Teulada
• Line 4. Jul & Aug Mon to Sat only  La Niña - Imperial Park

Bus Timetable

Times, Route & Map

where you can download a printable timetable

Intercity Buses

Calpe Rail Station

Calpe Rail Station is a very small station and is 100 metres higher than sea level, located just over a mile inland from the beach near the town centre. The tram and railway system is run by FGV and runs between Alicante and Denia.  A local bus runs between the station and town centre to coincide with most trains.

Because of it's location I would recomend nearby inter town transport by bus. Longer distances such as to Alicante would be OK

Shopping in Calpe

Besides an array of shops throughout the town , esspecially around the Main High Street (Av. Gabriel Miro) you may be interested in the following:

• Calpe street market every Saturday
• Calpe flea market every Wednesday
• Crafts fairs in the old town only during Summer months
• Daily fish auction in the port at La Lonja

True shopperollics should take a trip to Benidorm

Tourist Information office

Calpe tourist information can be obtained at the Avenida Ejercitos Espanoles Tourist Information office