You haven’t truly felt Altea until you’ve climbed up through its winding cobblestone alleys to Mirador de los Cronistas de España. Tucked beside the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, this viewpoint is the kind of place where time slows, letting you soak in one of the most beautiful panoramas on the Costa Blanca. From there you’ll see Altea’s famous white houses stacked up the hillside, the dome of the church glowing in the sun, the bay stretching out toward Albir, the silhouette of Sierra Helada and if conditions are clear, the Peñón de Ifach in the distance.

The walk up is part of the charm: narrow streets, steep steps, balconies drenched in bougainvillea, little shops and cafés where locals pause mid-morning for espresso or afternoon for tapas. Visit at dusk if you can. The sunset here? It paints the sea gold, the church domes in warm light and the lights of Altea begin to twinkle. There’s magic in the air.