Tourist Information
Villajoyosa
Costa Blanca.

The best kept secret on the Costa Blanca

Villajoyosa (the name means ‘happy town’) which dates back over 700 years is a working town and the sea has played a vital role in its history and culture. Fishing boats return to the port in the afternoon and there is also a marina.

The distinctive, brightly painted facades of the houses in the old town were designed to guide weary fishermen home from afar, and the daily afternoon fish market is a delight.

A colourful history saw the Romans first settle here, and the old town, built on top of an ancient castle, with its ancient bridges and gothic church has been declared a historic site. Cool narrow cobbled pedestrianised streets lead from flower-adorned balconies to the Mediterranean sea.

 

Today, the towns main income still comes from fishing and, interestingly, chocolate! Visit the Museum of Chocolate and taste the samples: pure heaven!

The town is famous for its mouthwatering locally made Valor chocolate factory from which chocolate is exported around the world.

The scenery is stunning, with a mountainous backdrop and surrounding citrus plantations giving way to assorted coves and secluded beaches.

 

The town is especially popular with the Spanish during the summer months for its tranquility, beautiful walks, marina/port, restaurants and parks together with its kilometres of golden sandy beaches.

Although only 7 kilometres south of the tourist resort of Benidorm, Villajoyosa is a world apart with no high-rise hotels or package holidays. It has a small expat community mainly from Norway, the UK and France.

During the summer months the old town comes into its own with many local festivals and events culminating in the week long re-enactment of the battle between the Moors and Christians during the last week in July. Out of season the weather is mild, an average of 19 degrees and 300 days of sunshine per year.
 

Apart from enjoying the town itself, it is in easy reach of both Alicante, Campello, Benidorm, Altea, and Denia. A half-hourly tram runs along the coast from Alicante to Denia and there is also a local bus service.

Also in easy reach are the theme parks of Terra Mitica, Aqualandia, Terra Natura and Mundomar.

The town has a central tourist office which offers a wide range of information, including local maps, day trips, and monthly information on cultural events and festivals.

Villajoyosa is a typically Spanish seaside town, which has retained its original character and charm. It is located on the Costa Blanca between the Historic City of Alicante and the lively commercialised town of Benidorm. It boasts one of the loveliest and best kept beaches in Spain and some of the finest and cheapest seafood served on a splendid promenade. It is one of the most effortlessly atmospheric little seaside towns you could wish to visit, it is the sort of place that revels in its relative obscurity, the kind of place Spaniards keep quiet about so that they have somewhere civilised to go on holiday themselves. It was featured on the BBC series, Eastenders in August 2000.

The crumbling multi-coloured houses of the old quarter, which lean together like a drunken film set, have been recognised as the architectural treasure they really are. The gnarled old town of Villajoyosa is an experience well worth a visit on its own, but the big deal here is the beach. Its a beautiful beach (Blue Flag), of golden sands and clear waters, fringed by a balustrade promenade lined with a series of restaurants and bars whose tables fan out to provide a perfect place to unpeel some garlicky prawns and drink cold beers.