Javea, Spain: Ex-Pat Paradise on the Costa Blanca
- Maria DiCicco
- 2 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Imagine sandy beaches, topless beaches, sea glass filled beaches, and well, beach drinking at chiringuitos (bars on beaches). All things lead to the beaches in Javea, and for good reason.
With over half of the residents of Javea being foreigners and even more being tourists, the town of Javea is paradise for sun seekers and those looking for the best beach vacation in the Costa Blanca.
Below, learn about some insider secrets to the coastal town of Javea, where I have visited my dear friends from the UK over the course of more than 15 years. I'll share some of their favorite watering holes, some good days out for fun, and even some great places to stay the night for the full beach effect.
Let's dive in!
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Short on Time?Getting to JaveaGo through Valencia or Alicante, or take the ferry to Denia from the Balearic Islands of Ibiza or Mallorca. Top Activities in JaveaBeach days, shopping, and beachfront eateries are the best way to spend time in Javea! Don't miss the Miradors, the windmills, and all the secret coves with beach bars. Where to Stay in JaveaParador de Javea for beachfront convenience, or one of the many boutique hotels offering chic bohemian beach vibes! |
In this article you will find:
Where is Javea, Spain?
Javea, also known as Xabia in Valencian (pronounced ha-vee-ay, or ha-bee-ay), is located on the tip of the northern Costa Blanca, between Valencia and Alicante.
Both Valencia and Alicante are popular port towns for cruise ships heading out into the Mediterranean. Both MSC Cruises and Costa Cruise Lines offer some great deals out of these ports, making them an excellent starting point for a cruise vacation.
But, some travelers may want to tack on a weekend at the beach beforehand, which is where Javea comes in!
Learn more about how to get to Javea at the end of this article.
Where Is the Main Beach in Javea?
Playa de Arenal (Platja de l'Arenal) is the main beach in Javea.
The beachfront is lined with a pedestrian friendly promenade full of boutiques, souvenir shops and restaurants spilling out onto the boardwalk.
What is there to do at Playa de Arenal?
People enjoy flying kites, building sandcastles, playing volleyball and enjoying the sun.
When I visited in July the weather was perfect. Then the following year in April, when my Floridian blood felt cold in the 60-something degree weather, everyone was out in their bathingsuits and happy to be having a beach day. You do you, I'm keeping my clothes on unless it's 80!
Secret Beach Coves and Miradors in Javea
Cala del Portixol
If you have a car, definitely venture up the hillside towards Cala del Portixol, a surprising alcove of sunseekers, many of them topless, looking for a relaxed beach day.
On the tip of the beachfront visit the oh-so-chic Cala Clémence del Portitxol, a beautiful restaurant perched on the cliff overlooking the sea.
Enjoy tapas, a full English breakfast (in the right morning hours), and some lovely dishes.
Afterwards, grab your seashell bag, because there are SO MANY pieces of colorful sea glass to be found on this beach. I could have been there all day excavating the beautiful different colors of sea glass!
The Windmills
Seeing the windmills is another great little trek for an hour or two of your day. You can find them at Molins de La Plana. Enjoy the cliff and sea views and a nice gentle stroll up the hill. This is one of 15 Miradors, or scenic overlooks, in Javea that is definitely worth visiting.
The Miradors
You can find another scenic vista at Punta de l'Arenal, which looks out over the main beachfront, and then there are 13 others you can read more about here.
In fact, the Miradors seem to be practically everywhere. See this beautiful visita of Cala Ambolo, shot a whopping 13 years ago (thanks for the old photos dad!) with a view of the Faro del Cabo de la Nao (Cape Nao Lighthouse) from the Mirador d'Ambolo. Photos like these - wow.
Here's a bunch of other vistas from viewpoints like the mills, and more! (Yes, all 13 years ago!)
If you are interested in the Miradores walk, it's about a 5 mile circular route. All the info you need to make the walk is here, or you can grab brochures at the tourist office in town.
Cala de la Granadella
Seafood is a big thing in Javea, with obvious reasons, so be sure to find fresh sardines, squid (chipirones), and more to satisfy those beachside seafood cravings.
A secret cove for finding just the thing - seek out Cala de la Granadella.
There are several beach bars there to enjoy some local dishes:
Shopping in Javea
Another great way to spend time in Javea is to go shopping!
Shopping in Javea is a favorite pastime of mine, namely popping in and out of the shops on the promenade at Playa de Arenal.
One fateful trip we lost our bags in Canada for a week, so we spent a good hour or two scouring the local Chinese Bazaars along the beachfront for new clothes.
We actually got some pretty great stuff, and then spent more money at theÂ
Portal de la Marina shopping mall in Ondara the next day. (What a treasure trove!)
Foodies will also enjoy a visit to the local Javea fish or food market, and there's a weekly Thursday market for clothing and souvenirs.
Where to Eat in Javea
If you want to find a locals-only vibe in Javea, look no further than Taberna Andares Ibéricos. Enjoy typical tapas and cañas, and of course a plate of jamon.
Afterwards, make the two minute walk to the impressive Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Loreto, designed to look like a ships hull.
Wandering on foot some more, you may run into several chiringuitos along the strip of beach from the Parador de Javea towards the Port de Xabia. Try chiringuitos La Siesta or Maraki Beach.
Where to Eat at Playa Arenal?
Pizzeria Pepa
Chabada
La Fontana
No matter where you decide to eat, booking a table in advance is advised! Go for sunset meals so you can enjoy the lovely sundown scene.
The ex-pat locals recommend Restaurant Terra in addition to one I've personally been to - Casa Lili Javea Asian. This is another great pick from the locals offering Asian fusion cuisine up on the hillside. And, as you will read below, it's part of the Hotel Casa Lili, so you don't have to venture far for a great meal!
Where to Stay in Javea
Because Javea is a beach town, there are numerous options for chic boutiques, whitewashed villas with pools, and beachfront comfort. Depending on your style, there's something for everyone.
Here's what I recommend based on my own research:
Note that we have never stayed in these hotels as we have friends who own a villa in the hills of Javea. However, these are all affordable options with wonderful amenities!
How To Get to Javea Spain
Fly into either Valencia or Alicante, then you can take a bus, rent a car, or go by train. Optionally, you can also take a ferry to the neighboring town of Denia, which easily connects mainland Spain to the Balearic islands of Mallorca and Ibiza.
How to Get from Valencia to Javea
Valencia - Javea is 1hr 15 min by car, 2 hrs 20 by bus.
There is a train but it will not take you the whole way (Gandia would be the getting-out point).
How to Get from Alicante to Javea
Alicante - Javea is 1 hr by car, 1.5 hrs by bus.
One suggestion might be to visit Benidorm first, taking the 1 hr 17 minute direct train from Alicante. In Benidorm you'll find lively beachfronts, nightlife, and some seriously cheap Marriotts. I'm finding their new Four Points hotel for 12,000 points a night!.
Pro Tip: Psst...this hotel also comes with included admission to the fun and kitschy Terra MÃtica, and Mundomar Theme Parks!
How to Get to Javea by Ferry (to/from Denia)
If you are traveling from the islands of Ibiza or Mallorca, taking a ferry can be a fun and very direct way to get to Javea. These ferries operate from Denia, a short 25 minute bus, taxi or car ride away.
If you do go through Denia, the town is worth a visit and they have some adorable overnight stays.
Check out these lovely historic properties in Denia:
These two apartments: Apartment 1, Apartment 2
Being only 25 minutes from Javea, Denia could be a potential great home base if you want to experience less English-speaking tourism.
Overall
In honesty, most of our days spent in Javea are not siteseeing, but rather enjoying time with family (in the most Spanish way), which means lots of long lingering meals and occasional beach walks.
And frankly - that's OK! That's what Javea is all about.
We are lucky to experience their gorgeous sunsets, their (very chilly) pool, and a touch of southern Spain as a difference to our holiday home in Zaragoza, which endures a much different climate!
Seek out kayaking, sea caves, hillside hikes, and more for a full experience, or just be lazy like me and eat, shop and soak up that Spanish sunshine! Ole!
Whether you are an ex-pat looking to relocate to sunny Spain, or a traveler looking for something new to do along the Costa Blanca, I hope that this short introduction gave you some insights to a new area to be explored and discovered!
For more on Spain, discover my part-time home of Zaragoza, or perhaps one of these other well visited areas below:
11 Picture Perfect Places to Visit on the French and Spanish Border
Northern Spain Road Trip Planning Guide
7 Reasons Why Ainsa Spain is a Great Road Trip Stop
Wine Tasting Along Spain's Somontano Wine Route
Unique Day Trips From Zaragoza (Under 2 Hours Drive)
Where To Stay In Zaragoza's Historic Center (From A Local)
6 Best Ways to Travel Around Spain
