Towns of Southern Costa Blanca: Sunlit Shores, Hidden Histories, and Timeless Strolls

First impressions from the air

For many travelers, southern Costa Blanca is little more than a view from an airplane window—a coastline framed by golden light, dotted with whitewashed towns, glimpsed just before landing at Alicante's busy international airport. Others see it through the windshield of a hire car, luggage in the back, the promise of holiday ahead. But to only pass through is to miss the region's real treasures: towns that blend Spanish tradition with seaside charm, each with its own rhythm and story.

Alicante – more than a gateway

It's easy to think of Alicante as simply the place you arrive. But step beyond the airport road and the initial urban sprawl, and the city begins to reveal itself. The palm-lined promenade along the harbor is a place where locals and visitors drift in the evening light, the sea to one side, cafes and bars to the other. There's a tree-lined shopping avenue where boutiques and bakeries spill their scents into the warm air, and just to the south, miles of golden sand stretch into the distance.

Alicante's history runs deep. The Romans knew this coast, and long before them, prehistoric settlements stood here. Today, traces of its layered past hide behind modern façades—quiet courtyards, old stone walls, churches that have stood for centuries. Spend a day wandering, and you'll find a city that's equal parts modern Mediterranean energy and historic Spanish soul.

Torrevieja – salt, sea, and summer markets

Forty minutes south of Alicante, Torrevieja hums with life. It sits between two vast saltwater lagoons where salt has been harvested for centuries. The salt industry still shapes the town's identity, but the lagoons are also home to flamingos and a kaleidoscope of birdlife—splashes of pink and white moving across the water at dawn.

The town itself feels unapologetically Spanish: apartment blocks in ordered streets, small plazas where neighbors greet each other, a busy fishing port and marina where boats return with the day's catch. In summer, trips run from here along the coast, the decks filled with sun-hatted tourists and children leaning over railings to spot dolphins.

The refurbished main promenade is the town's social heart—perfect for a slow stroll or a coffee by the beach. Souvenir stalls line the harbor most days, and on Fridays, the town hosts a sprawling open-air market. Arrive early if you want to park; the streets swell with shoppers hunting for fresh produce, textiles, and the occasional unexpected treasure.

Beaches fringe the town in every direction, each with its own character. There's even a water park for those who want their holiday with a splash of adrenaline. Golfers, meanwhile, have their pick of courses: Villamartin, Las Ramblas, Campoamor, and Quesada, each offering well-kept greens and sunny fairways. Accommodation is abundant—luxury villas, beachfront apartments, townhouses tucked into quiet urbanisations. Whatever your budget, Torrevieja has a place for you.

Villamartin – golf's green heart

Villamartin's name is synonymous with golf on the Costa Blanca. The course here is legendary, and the area has grown to include the neighboring greens of Las Ramblas and Campoamor. For the dedicated golfer, this is paradise: three courses within minutes of each other, each offering its own challenges and views.

But Villamartin isn't only about golf. Within five minutes' drive lie Blue Flag beaches, including the much-loved Cabo Roig, watched over by its old stone tower—now transformed into a restaurant where fresh fish is served with a sea view. The resort's commercial center buzzes with bars, restaurants, and shops, making it as much a social hub as a sporting one.

Stay options range from affordable golf apartments to urbanisations with shared pools, right up to luxury villas on the fairways with private pools and panoramic views. For many visitors, days here are divided neatly: mornings on the course, afternoons on the sand, evenings in the plaza with a drink in hand as the sun fades.

Every town along this coast holds its own shade of blue, its own way of slowing the hours.

La Manga – between two seas

Southwest of the Costa Blanca, near Murcia, lies La Manga del Mar Menor—a strip of land caught between the open Mediterranean and the calm waters of the Mar Menor ("Little Sea"). The Mar Menor is a vast saltwater lagoon, its surface often glassy, its shores lined with beaches that stretch for over 40 kilometers. The calm, shallow waters make it a favorite for water sports, from sailing and windsurfing to paddleboarding and kayaking.

La Manga is more than just the sea. Hotels, holiday apartments, and restaurants run the length of the strip, while nearby towns like San Pedro del Pinatar and San Javier add their own charm. A short drive takes you to Murcia or Cartagena—cities rich with history, architecture, and culture. The old fishing village of Los Alcázares still holds traces of its past, with narrow streets and small squares that seem unchanged by time.

For sports enthusiasts, the famous La Manga Club is a destination in itself, with world-class golf courses and facilities that draw professional football teams in winter. It's the kind of place where a day can begin with a swim in calm waters, move to a round of golf, and end with dinner overlooking the sunset-pink lagoon.

The southern Costa Blanca rhythm

These towns share a coastline, but each moves to its own rhythm. Alicante offers the balance of city life and seaside ease. Torrevieja blends tradition with tourism, its salt lagoons a constant reminder of history. Villamartin's fairways stretch under endless skies, while La Manga lives between two seas, its breezes carrying both calm and energy.

To truly know southern Costa Blanca, you have to step off the plane and let your days stretch here—through markets and marinas, along promenades and fairways, between the glittering sea and the warm stone of old towns. It's in these unhurried moments that the coast reveals itself, not just as a holiday spot, but as a place with a pulse all its own.