Experts reveal the ‘Santorini of Spain’ as the next great European beach escape

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Santorini is so beautiful, but also remote, which is why we understand the hesitation to go so far away.

But the good news is that our expert team here at Travel Off Path believes we have found the best alternative yet (with a little help from Airbnb), which just unveiled the ‘Santorini of Spain’ as Europe’s next big beach getaway.

You’ll find a gleaming whitewashed cityscape, vibrant blue coasts and phenomenal fresh seafood – all that’s missing is the symphony of meowing stray cats and ‘evil eye’ decorated door frames, but there’s no denying that this largely overlooked Spanish gem will leave you awestruck.

Spain’s bright spot for tourism

When you listen to the mainstream news, you might imagine Spain as if there were people on every corner ready to tell you to go home, but that’s not the case.

Sure, the locals voiced their displeasure – and it worked. They made headlines in many of Spain’s most notable cities, including Barcelona.

That said, Spain is such a huge country. There are still many pockets embracing tourists and the ‘Santorini of Spain’ is certainly one of them.

We’re not saying any Spanish holiday destination is Karen-proof, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find any negativity for it Alteaa whitewashed paradise by the sea that exudes the same atmosphere as a Greek island.

In fact, you will find more negativity about it factual Santorini, since prices and crowds have skyrocketed.

Although, here? Not so much.

Altea is one of those places where you don’t need an Instagram filter, even though this seaside town trades vibrant blue domes for terracotta roofs, and it won’t break the bank either.

With costs rising across the board for Spain’s most popular holiday destinations (hence the outrage), Altea has many boutique hotels under $100 in the spring, meals should cost no more than $15 per person, according Expat exchange – and that’s on the high side for waterfront splurges.

Cobbled dreamscape meets beautiful coastlines

When we dream of Europe, we typically imagine sprawling iconic cities or timeless towns not often found in the United States.

While you can find paradise beaches across the United States, with a few exceptions to the rule, it’s hard to find storybook Old Town and vibrant shorelines within walking distance.

Altea meets both requirements. Being a fairly small town with less than 25,000 inhabitants, it’s perfectly walkable to work on your tan for a few hours and then head to a local wine bar to enjoy a round of tapas and cheap wine, likely sourced from the nearby Jalon Valley.

You’ll definitely want to score a terrace if possible, because the views are absolutely breathtaking, whether you’re looking out over the shimmering turquoise waters of the Mediterranean or looking inland at ancient cathedrals like, yes, the blue domed Parish of Our Lady of Consolation.

Best time to visit and how to get here

While there’s nothing wrong with making Altea your next beach holiday this spring, Airbnb claims this isn’t the best time of year to visit.

They claim May and June are the perfect time to book your trip before the experts descend in mid-summer.

And they’re probably right. Altea is still sunny now, but stable 70-degree days don’t begin to appear until April, followed by 80-degree days from June to September, for ideal beach temperatures for cooling off in the bathwater-like conditions of the Mediterranean.

Being only 15 kilometers from popular Benidorm, reaching Altea is more feasible than you might think.

There are plenty of bus connections and even more convenient train connections to zip around the coast in style – a place where you’ll definitely want to grab a window seat.

From Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC), you are advised to board the TRAM line L9 (Alicante-Denia coastline).

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.