Calpe is a great town to explore! It has two very different beaches, both with promenades full of cafes, restaurants and shops as well as a modern town centre and an historic old town. It also has a working harbour.
A few personal recommendations around Calpe and beyond:
First, a quick tip: On arrival in Spain, look out for discount vouchers for the theme parks. The best vouchers are usually at the airport!
RESTAURANTS: Rather than bore you with long lists of directions, we will tell you the names and a brief bit about our favourite restaurants and feel sure that you will find them as you explore the town.
LA DOLCE VITA (IL PADRINO) Located on Calle Pintor Sorolla, this fabulous Italian restaurant is fast becoming our favourite place to eat. The main courses are not only delicious, but incredibly good value.
HARBOUR RESTAURANTS.
There are at least 5 restaurants next door to each other by the harbour. They all have waiters outside offering you Sangria and appetisers, just to look at the day’s fresh fish on display in refrigerated cabinets, so if you went along the whole line you may not want anything else to eat!
That would be a pity though, as a 3 course Menu del Dia of (as an example) Battered Whitebait followed by Dover Sole with chips and salad with a Creme Caramel for dessert, a fresh bread roll and half a bottle of wine per person will cost as little as €15 .
THE YACHT CLUB.
Right next to the harbour, and sitting at the foot of the Rock of Calpe, is the Yacht club. On the sea-ward side is a restaurant called the Salpicante. It looks and feels like an exclusive private club, with thick linen tablecloths and a more refined air. Ask for the Menu del Dia and you will be most pleasantly surprised at the value of a 3 course meal here, starting at around €15. Great value, great food and beautiful surroundings. Well worth a visit.
BRISA ANDALUSA.On the seafront to the left of the Rock of Calpe. This wonderful restaurant serves terrific Paella and fresh fish, but also serves children’s portions and plenty of meat-based dishes. The sangria is excellent here.
BUMPY ROAD CHICKEN! Not its real name of course, just how we know it. One of the routes from Imperial park to Calpe is a long, straight road with 13 speed humps, and halfway along the road is a cooked chicken and artisan pizza place, hence the nickname. Great value for a cheap meal at the villa of take away chicken and chips or pizza. The cafe is licensed and is a pleasant place to have a cool beer while you are waiting for the food to be cooked. This restaurant has seating too, indoors and outside.
PUERTO BLANCO:
This is a special occasion restaurant just outside Calpe on a cove front/harbour. The most beautiful setting, service and food imaginable. Booking in high season is probably a must, especially if you want to sit on the terrace. Really worth a visit, but do expect to pay around 40 – 60 Euros a head for three courses and drinks. A minute’s walk away is the fantastic cove, where you can watch the waves crash against this dramatic piece of coastline.
Close to La Dolce Vita is another nice restaurant with outside seating, Tavino.
This is located on the Calle Blasco Ibanez.
THE OLD TOWN IN CALPE
Head uphill on the Gabriel Miro from the seafront and you will come to an archway with brightly coloured steps leading to Calpe Old Town. This area has a completely different feel to it and the cobbled streets and wonderful Spanish architecture depict Calpe from another era. The ancient walls of the town surround an area full of excellent restaurants and bars, as well as the beautiful 15th century church. We especially recommend two restaurants, Los Dos Canones and Patio de la Fuente.
There is also a heartbreakingly beautiful bar called La Fragata, full of sea-faring memorabilia. Inside is like a smuggler’s cove.
In high summer and late autumn, the old town hosts various celebrations for the festivals of the Virgen de las Nieves and The Moors and Christians. In summer, the old town also opens its streets to an artisan market, full of hand-made goods such as jewellery, wooden ornaments and cookware, soaps and personalised trinkets.
A visit to the Old Town is a must – you won’t be disappointed!
SHOPPING AND MARKETS:
FOOD: There are at least 5 big supermarkets, a Lidl and an Aldi in Calpe as well as many smaller shops selling everything you could want. Consum, Mercadona and Mas y Mas are nation-wide; a new one called Mymercat with two shops in the town is proving to be very popular.
ALEHOP. A great little shop on the Gabriel Miro. Sells household wares, novelties and pictures. Worth a look around. The chain has been so successful that another one has now opened on the seafront to the left of the Penon.
AITANA. Just up the road from Alehop is this “proper” department store, like something from 1950s England. Huge electrical, bedding and lighting departments may not be of interest to you on holiday, but useful for everyday bits you may have forgotten.
CASA. A little harder to find as it is hidden away a bit, but CASA is one of a chain of shops selling housewares etc. This is situated very close to the Wednesday market.
CALPE SATURDAY MARKET. By Lidl, just town side of the salinas (salt lake). Don’t get there too early, before 10 and some of the stalls will still be setting up. Everything and anything is on sale here, leather goods, shoes and clothes are inexpensive.
ALTEA TUESDAY MARKET. This market is a bit bigger than Calpe’s Saturday market. Generally in most people’s opinion, this is the best market on the Costa Blanca.
FURTHER AFIELD
The mountain top castle town of Guadalest is certainly worth a visit. Stunning scenery and an entertaining drive to get there!
On the way to Guadalest are the waterfalls at Algar. Breathtakingly beautiful, these natural waterfalls allow you to dive into and bathe in freshwater pools. Don’t park at the first car park you see, all the cafes in the locality offer parking, drive up into the village and park as close as possible. There is a small car parking fee, but usually this is discounted if you use the cafe or bar the car park is attached to. Entrance to the falls is very inexpensive and you can even jump straight in, the water is clean and deep!
BENIDORM with all that it has to offer the British tourist, is only about 25 minutes away. What people tend to forget is that it is only as popular as it is because of the quality of its beaches. You can get some amazing value meals and gifts there. It also has 5 theme parks:
TERRA MITICA is normally quiet and almost queue free. Dozens of great rides and attractions, and it has smaller versions of some of the big rides for younger children to go on as well. Even the food is good and not overpriced. 
TERRA NATURA. This is an animal park and nature reserve and perfect for small children especially. On the same site and next door is….
AQUA NATURA. An excellent water park right next door to Terra Natura. Not very big, but some truly great rides in a beautiful setting. 
AQUALANDIA. This is a much bigger waterpark, with lots of great slides and pools. It is great fun and worth a day out. It is right next door to, and has a ticket deal with… 
Not a full day visit, more of a long half day excursion. An animal park with several shows, including a dolphinarium where for an additional cost you can be photographed stroking a Dolphin or being kissed by a seal! A bit hilly, but well worth the trip and entrance fee.
AQUALANDIA. This is a much bigger waterpark, with lots of great slides and pools. It is great fun and worth a day out. It is right next door to, and has a ticket deal with… 
