The Costa Blanca is best known for its high-rise package holiday resort, but 30 minutes from Benidorm is a town that offers a slower pace, hidden coves, and authentic local culture.
When one thinks of Spain’s Costa Blanca, the mind often leaps to Benidorm with its towering skyline, relentless nightlife, and throngs of tourists guzzling cheap sangria in comical outfits. However, a mere half an hour up the coast lies a place that couldn’t be more different – a town I called home for seven years, and one that remains one of the region’s best-kept secrets.
In stark contrast to its renowned neighbour, Denia hasn’t attempted to transform itself to cater to the package holiday crowd. Instead, it offers a slower pace of life, hidden coves, and a blend of mountains, Mediterranean coastline, and genuine local culture.
Denia also serves as an excellent starting point for sampling straightforward local dishes – and, naturally, authentic paellas.
Nestled between the Mediterranean and the formidable Montgó mountain, Denia is a spot where you can enjoy a morning hike and an afternoon swim in crystal-clear waters – all while soaking up a balmy 24C, the average September temperature recorded by Holiday Weather.
The town spans two contrasting coasts: to the north, Las Marinas offers miles of sandy, family-friendly beach, whilst to the south, Las Rotas is a rocky, protected stretch perfect for snorkelling, kayaking, or hiking along the waterfront path.
Denia is genuinely inhabited year-round and doesn’t depend on tourism to thrive. This means restaurants remain open throughout the year, serving traditional cuisine designed for the local palate – not Instagram.
Here, you won’t find as many laminated menus in six languages, making it a breeze to discover fresh arroz a banda, grilled octopus, the renowned Denia red prawn and traditional cocas for less.
Denia is also recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy – a title that becomes immediately apparent as soon as you sit down for a meal.
At the top end, there’s Quique Dacosta’s three-Michelin-starred flagship restaurant, but the town’s culinary worth shines just as brightly in the local bars, where you can enjoy a glass of vermouth and a tapa for your almuerzo – the region’s cherished pre-noon snack – for a few euros.
Sure, the summer gets busy – but it’s mostly Spanish families and low-key visitors who return year after year, attracted by the town’s laid-back rhythm and sense of continuity.
Life in this town revolves around market mornings, beach sunsets, and spontaneous trips to the neighbouring towns of Jávea, Moraira and Altea to explore more charming old towns and picture-perfect beaches and coves.
Summer evenings in Denia might involve strolls up to the castle that overlooks the entire bay, bike rides to the marina, or if you’re feeling adventurous, ferry rides over to Ibiza that depart directly from the port.