Is Calpe worth Visiting?
Calpe was one of the places at the top of my list when planning our Alicante trip. Why? I wanted to do that Peñón de Ifach hike.
But not everyone may want to do that hike. For those: is Calpe still worth Visiting?
That might depend on what you expect from a visit.
In this post I’ll tell you what Calpe is like and what there is to do in Calpe. I’ll then conclude with my thoughts on whether or not I think Calpe is worth visiting.
Comparing Calpe to Benidorm
Size and Aesthetic
Calpe is a fraction of the size of Benidorm. As shocked as we were by the size of Benidorm, we were surprised by how small Calpe is. Benidorm is big and spread out, not just along the coast but also extending inland. Calpe is different: it has a small downtown section centred on the old town…with a thin line (a block or two deep) of modern high rises extending along the coasts on either side of the Peñón.
Whereas Benidorm is chock-a-block with bars and nightclubs screaming in bright neon lights, Calpe is pretty quiet. There are plenty of restaurants and (some) bars. We didn’t spot any nightclubs. I think “subdued” well describes Calpe.
Activity
We had spent 5 nights in Benidorm before coming to Calpe. Despite being in February, Benidorm was bustling: lots of tourists, lots of activity, the promenade and beaches were busy. If you like a vibrant place for a holiday, Benidorm is that. Even in February.
Calpe is in comparison very quiet. There were people walking the promenade and eating in the restaurants but, honestly, it felt like the typical beachside resort in the off season. Some restaurants were closed, their owners painting and/or doing renovations. We spoke to a Spaniard who happened to be from Benidorm: he told us that although Calpe does get busier at other times of the year, it never gets the crowds that Benidorm gets.
We were in Calpe 3 nights and appreciated the calmness; you could walk along the promenade in the evening and there was a scattering of tourists along with locals walking their dogs. It was tranquil and if you come wanting to appreciate the nature and stars in the sky then you’ll appreciate Calpe. On the other hand, if you’re looking for nightlife or a place that’s vibrant, you might find Calpe boring. Calpe just isn’t set up for the same type of crowd as Benidorm.
What to do in Calpe
Peñón de Ifach hike
It’s the main reason I chose Calpe. And it didn’t disappoint, although it was more challenging than I expected based on reading. All about the Peñón de Ifach hike.
As I mention in the post, even if you don’t do the hike you should walk the 20 minutes up to where the tunnel entrance is. Even if you’re older or with young children you can do that, it’s easy. And the views are great. It’s only after the tunnel that the hike gets more challenging.
Las Salinas de Calpe
In the heart of Calpe, within a few minutes walk of the center, is a natural saltwater lagoon that attracts lots of birds – the most famous being the pink flamingos.
The best time of year are the hot summer months when you can see lots of flamingos. But anytime you come you’ll see some. The trail around the lake has some wooden boardwalks as well as bird hides. We met a professional photographer at one of the bird hides who said he came here all the time just to see the bird life.
But it’s more than just birds – the lagoon produced salt dating back to Roman times and over the centuries it was an economic staple of Calpe.
The promenade and beaches
Calpe has really beautiful beaches, skirted by a seaside promenade with bars and restaurants. If you’re here for a beach vacation it’s pretty much ideal with hotels / beach /promenade all close to each other. While we stuck mostly around Platja de la Fossa (Playa de la Fossa), the promenade and beaches continue on the other side of the rock (and past the marina) to Platja de Cantal Roig (Playa de Cantal Roig).
Calpe Old Town
Calpe’s old town has some pretty corners. The main square is called Plaza de la Constitución. Here you’ll see what remains of the old city walls – because of Ottoman pirate attacks, the old town was inland away from the coast and was fortified by these walls.
You’ll see colourful Calle Punchalt, which is known for its stairs painted in Spanish colours. Carrer de Campanar has colourful buildings and on Carrer del Santissim you’ll find Casa de la Senyoreta, Calpe’s history museum (free). Walking around, in the same area as the museum, you’ll see lots of murals depicting Calpe’s history.
So is Calpe worth visiting?
I think Calpe is ideal for couples, families and those looking to hike the rock. If you’re younger and looking for a happening party place, then Calpe won’t be for you. I would also warn you about visiting in the off season: unlike Benidorm which was very busy even in February, Calpe was almost too quite (as you can see in some of the above photos).
We were in Calpe for 3 nights and, coming after 5 days of having Benidorm as a base, we found it eerily quiet. But we enjoyed the nature and I did the hike, which is one of my highlights of the whole Alicante coast. For me Calpe was definitely worth visiting.
Practical Tips
- Calpe’s train station is a bit out of town and seemingly in the middle of nowhere. But it is served by bus lines L1 and L2 (although buses don’t run frequently). You’ll find the schedule here. In our case we waited about 20 minutes until the bus showed up. It took about 25 minutes for the bus to wind its way through the old town and to Playa de la Fossa.
- We stayed in this apartment for 3 nights. Excellent in every way except for a bed that was too soft for us…and the position of the bed is such that it’s hard to get out of on the window side. If those things don’t bother you, it is otherwise a very good apartment that the owner has kept very clean and well equipped. It is located next to Mirador de Calpesa if looking for its location on Google Maps.
- Close to the apartment is a large Mercadona as well as Consum (in fact, the bus stop for us was listed as Maviro /Mercadona /Consum. The promenade is also next to the apartment and we were a few minutes walk from restaurants.
Related: Benidorm as a base on your Costa Blanca vacation
Related: Visiting the beautiful town of Guadalest (Alicante province)
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