The Denia Guide

The Spanish coastline Costa Blanca is a popular destination for holidaymakers. The vast beaches, the wonderful climate and the many restaurants mean ultimate relaxation for many. One of the lesser known places on the Costa Blanca is Dénia. This seaside resort is located north of Benidorm in the province of Alicante and is a nice and attractive destination.

The narrow Moorish streets that meander through the center show that Denia is a city with a special history. The Baix la Mar district next to the harbor is a good example of a traditional fisherman’s quarter with colored houses nowadays. Here you can eat delicious! In addition, you can clearly see from the modernist architecture in the city that Dénia flourished as a trading place, especially in the late 19th century. The port of Dénia is still very important for the area. However, it still has the charming and typical appearance of a Mediterranean port. From Valencia it is an hour’s drive to reach Dénia. You then go via the AP-7 toll road.

THE CASTLE OF DÉNIA
“El Castillo” is located on the hill next to the harbor. This castle was built between the 11th and 12th centuries and therefore has an Islamic style. Since then many changes have been made to the castle, so that it also has influences from the Renaissance. The castle was largely destroyed in 1859, but later restored to its former glory. In the evenings, concerts are often held in the castle in the evenings. The museum of the castle also houses the archaeological remains of a Roman settlement called “Diannium” found in the area.

Location
Calle Cavallers 1
29640 Denia
Website

Opening hours
November to March: 10 am to 6 pm
April and May: 10 am to 7 pm
June: 10 am to 9 pm
July to July 15: 10 am – 0.30 am
16 September to 30 September: 10 am to 8 pm
October: 10 am – 6.30 pm

Entrance fee
Adults: € 3
Children 8 to 16: € 1
65+ and students: € 2

MARKETS
When you think of the Spanish coast, you think of fresh fish, fruit and olives! There are two food markets in Dénia, the market hall and the fish market. The Mercado Municipal market hall on Calle Magallanes is open Monday to Saturday from 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM. You will find various stalls with fruit, nuts and all kinds of other fresh products. At the fish auction Lonja de Pescado (in the port – Muelle Pesquero) fresh fish and shellfish are sold every Thursday and Friday from 5 pm.

BEACHES OF DÉNIA
The city has a number of beautiful, vast beaches that have been awarded the Blue Flag by the European Union. This is a sign that the beach is safe and clean. To the north of Dénia you will find the sandy beaches Punta del Raset, Les Marines, Les Bovetes and Els Molins. You can sunbathe and swim at these family beaches. South you head towards the mountain and the beaches are somewhat rugged. First you will pass the sandy beach of Las Marinas Casiana, but then the rocky bays of Las Rotas follow. A little further is Cabo San Antonio with beautiful cliffs. Here you can dive and snorkel very nicely. If you want more information about this, you can go to Nautica Marina.

THE MONTGÓ MOUNTAIN
Right next to the city of Dénia is a large mountain, this is the Montgó. On the other side of this mountain is the city of Jávea. The mountain stands out enormously because the rest of the immediate area is fairly flat. From the mountain you have a beautiful view of the sea and the surrounding towns. There are various hiking trails on the mountain, but there is also a motorway. You reach the mountain by car via the CV-736 motorway. For more information about the hiking trails and routes you can go to the tourist information of Dénia. This is located on Calle Manuel Lattur 1.

ACCESSIBILITY
FROM THE VALENCIA AIRPORT
– It takes approximately 45 minutes by car to get to Denia when you take the AP-7 toll road.
– You can also get to Denia by bus. This costs from € 25 for a return trip and takes almost 2.5 hours. The bus station is located on the outskirts of Denia. You can also choose to go by bus from the airport of Valencia to the port of Denia. The price is somewhat higher and you can order a bus ticket about 1 or 2 months in advance on this website. Choose at the departure point for “Valencia Airport (Manises)” and at the end point for “Denia” or “Puerto Denia”.

FROM THE ALICANTE AIRPORT
– It takes about an hour to get to Denia by car when you take the AP-7.
– The bus takes about two hours to get to Denia and it costs from € 30 for a return trip. You can order your bus tickets about 1 to 2 months in advance on this website. Choose at departure point for “Alicante Airport” and at end point for “Denia” or “Puerto Denia”.