Meaning the 'white coast', Costa Blanca offers spectacular beaches and a warm welcome that, over the years, has made it a firm favourite with British holidaymakers. Boasting soaring skyscrapers, the main resort, Benidorm, is reminiscent of Manhattan and is just as vibrant with its heady mix of sizzling nightlife and bustling boulevards lined with bars, shops, cafes and restaurants. Inland, it's a different story altogether. The tranquil hillsides of the Costa Blanca play host to tiny whitewashed villages that look out over citrus groves and lush vineyards. Head away from the Costa Blanca's coastal resorts and discover olive and citrus groves, rugged mountain scenery and colourful hilltop villages. Perhaps the most famous is the whitewashed town of Guadalest. Boasting a dramatic Moorish fortress, it's well worth a visit and provides a real insight into Spanish life and culture.This region really has got it all – glorious sunshine, long swathes of sugar-soft sands, and resorts to suit all tastes. What more could you ask for?

Food & Wine
The freshest seafood, the finest spit-roasted meat, the sweetest of fruit and the ripest of vegetables – Costa Blanca cuisine combines top quality ingredients and imaginative recipes to make your mouth water. Paella tops most menus – a delicious dish combining rice, vegetables and meat or shellfish, sprinkled with generous handfuls of flavoursome herbs. If you’re tempted by tapas, head for Alicante where you’ll find some of the finest tapas restaurants in the region. Sit back and relax as you’re presented with a plethora of small plates piled high with everything from shellfish, ham and sausage to olives, almonds and vegetables. For dessert, you’ll find succulent fruits including oranges, lemons, peaches and cherries crammed into tarts, flans and puddings. The Costa Blanca produces some excellent wines to complement your meal. Try the dessert wine Fondillon from the Monovar region, which takes 20 years to mature.

Days & Nights
Nightlife on the Costa Blanca is legendary. Whether you want to dance the night away until the early hours or enjoy the chitter-chatter of locals in a Spanish tapas bar, you’ll be spoilt for choice. There's no shortage of nightlife in Benidorm with its vast array of cabaret bars, discos and karaoke venues geared towards fun-loving Brits. For a more authentic Spanish feel, head to the old town or one of the fishing harbours dotted along the Costa Blanca where you can while away an evening over a jug of fruity sangria in a waterside bar. If you want to get with the Spanish glitterati make a beeline for Alicante’s exclusive marina which comes to life once the sun’s gone down with its tempting selection of trendy bars and cafés.

Sights & Sounds
Sightseeing:

Benidorm

Developed from a tiny fishing village, Benidorm is now one of the cleanest and most popular resorts in the Mediterranean. Besides its beautiful beaches and superb array of shops, bars and restaurants, Benidorm has plenty of other attractions within easy reach to keep the entertainment in full flow. Visit the Moorish castle at picturesque Guadalest, go rambling in the nearby hills or visit Europe's newest theme park - Terra Mitica. For local culture and artistic activities, visit Parque de Aiguera Park. Designed by Ricardo Bofill and situated in the centre of Benidorm, there are two large green zones and two auditoriums where a wide variety of artistic and cultural activities take place.

Castell de Santa Bárbara
High on a hill, the stately Castell de Santa Bárbara towers over the city of Alicante. The fortress's grand scale is evident in its moats, drawbridges, guardrooms, barracks, dungeons, tower and keep. Offering superb views of Alicante and its striking coastline, the fortress should be your first stop in this magical city.

Cuevas de Canalobre
Head north of Alicante and you’ll find the hills of Cabeco d’Or complete with fascinating caves and tucked away grottoes. Of particular interest is Cuevas de Canalobre, a hauntingly beautiful limestone cavern coated in dramatic stalactites, stalagmites, and unusual limestone formations.

Elche
Surrounded by swaying palms, the ancient city of Elche is one of the most fascinating places in the region. Europe’s largest palm forest forms a lush oasis around this enchanting city, dotted with verdant parks, shady squares and lush gardens. The city’s main sights are clustered around the Baroque basilica of Santa Maria, whose blue-tiled dome dominates the ancient town centre.

Monovar
Wine-lovers will love this thriving little town rising majestically from a sea of rolling vineyards. Try the deep reds for which the region is famous and don’t forget to sample the aromatic dessert wine, Fondillon. Delicious!

Valencia
Further along the coast from the Costa Blanca lies Spain's largest city, the cosmopolitan metropolis of Valencia. Originally founded by the Romans in 138BC, it was later taken over by the Moors before being captured by Spain's great hero, El Cid. Today, Valencia is best known as the home of paella and no visit to the city is complete without sampling the famous Spanish national dish in an al fresco restaurant. Valencia itself boasts a resplendent historic quarter, crowned by a magnificent Romanesque cathedral that's said to house the legendary Holy Grail, and most of the city's monuments are within easy walking distance of the triangular-shaped main square, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Sun & Sand
For sweeping golden sands melting into magnificently clear waters and all the facilities you need for a great day on the beach, head for Alicante’s Playa del Postiguet, a Blue Flag stretch of sand in the heart of the city. Hop on a bus and head north for Albufereta, where you’ll find soft sands, sheltered bays and rocky coves, or perhaps select a sunlounger on the 7km stretch of velvet sands in San Juan. During the summer months San Juan’s beaches become a centre for parties day and night with people of all ages coming together on the fine white sand. During winter the beaches remain busy, although they’re a little less hectic and provide the platform for fantastic live concerts. The crystalline waters surrounding Alicante are a magnet for water-sports enthusiasts. Scuba diving is particularly popular with a truly unique underwater world waiting to be explored to the south, in the direction of the island of Tabarca. Just 2 hours from Alicante lies Benidorm, one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Costa Blanca. The suburb beaches of Poniente and Levante – both broad and gently shelving – are clean and safe for swimming. Regarded as two of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, the two bays are south facing and sheltered by a breathtaking mountain backdrop.

Benidorm

Sun & Sand
The superb beaches of Poniente and Levante – both broad and gently shelving – are clean and safe for swimming. Regarded as two of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, the two bays are south facing and sheltered by the mountain backdrop.

Food & Wine
Benidorm's streets are quite literally packed with bars and eateries: you can dine on fish and chips, chop suey, bratwurst or paella and drink sangria, lager or pina colada. The old town brims with more traditional Spanish restaurants and cafés where you can sample tapas dishes and fresh fish cooked 'a la plancha', on the grill.

Benidorm – a Mecca for the fun-loving British holidaymaker – sprawls happily up the hills and off into the horizon. Developed from a tiny fishing village, it is now one of the cleanest and most popular resorts in the Mediterranean. New York-style high-rise buildings greet you and the resort is well-planned and maintained to high standards. There's also an attractive old town to explore. Benidorm is home to a sea life centre and children of all ages love to splash around in the water park.

Local information
There are plenty of places of local interest around Benidorm, such as the Moorish castle at picturesque Guadalest, and there's the old town to explore from within. You can go rambling in the nearby hills or visit Europe's newest theme park - Terra Mitica. In June the locals celebrate the 'Gathering of the Corpus' with a street parade, lots of dancing and a fairground. Later on in the season, during the last weekend in September, a colourful street parade takes place for the 'Moors and Christians' festivities. For local culture and artistic activities, visit Parque de Aiguera Park. Designed by Ricardo Bofill and situated in the centre of Benidorm, there are two large green zones and two auditoriums where a wide variety of artistic and cultural activities take place.

Days & Nights
Benidorm is well known for its party atmosphere and you can dance the night away at numerous cabaret bars, discos, nightclubs or, if you'd rather be the entertainer for the night, there's always karaoke!

Transfer time: 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes