Calpe (Valencian Calp) is one of the most famous places on the Costa Blanca - not only because of the imposing Peñón de Ifach rock, but also because of the good infrastructure, the two city beaches and the well-functioning everyday life, which makes Calpe particularly attractive to international residents. The town has over 20,000 inhabitants - around half of whom come from other European countries, including many from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Calpe has Roman, Arabic and medieval roots - as evidenced by the foundations of the „Baños de la Reina“ and the old town centre. Tourism began here in the 1960s, initially by national visitors and later by international settlers. The development of high-rise buildings - especially around Playa Arenal - took place in parallel with the growth. Despite urban densification, Calpe emphasised the preservation of the Peñón de Ifach as a natural park and landmark. Today, the town is an example of the combination of tourism, urban comfort and access to nature.
Calpe has two central, well-kept city beaches:
Both main beaches are barrier-free, with sanitary facilities, surveillance in summer and excellent water quality.
Calpe consists of a modern town centre with retail, healthcare, schools and services. Directly connected to this are the beach promenades, residential areas, urbanisations and the marina. The proximity of housing, sea, shopping and leisure facilities makes Calpe one of the favourite places for people who want to live permanently on the coast.
Despite its urbanisation, Calpe maintains its regional festivals and traditions:
The Peñón de Ifach, a 332 metre high limestone rock, is not only the town's landmark, but also part of a protected nature park. The ascent - via a secured hiking trail with a tunnel - offers spectacular views of the coast and inland. For many residents, the rock is part of their everyday life - whether as a viewpoint, nature refuge or photo opportunity.
The great Weekly market takes place every Saturday morning on the edge of the centre (Avenida País Valencià). In addition to food and clothing, there are also plants, household items and typical products from the region.
There is also a small organic and craft market on Thursdays near the Plaza Mayor.
Whether it's the beach, cycling along the coast, hiking in the Sierra de Oltà or boat trips from the marina - Calpe offers a wide range of options for active and nature-loving residents. There are other excursion destinations in the surrounding area such as Benissa Costa, Moraira, Altea and the hinterland with the Sierra de Bèrnia.
Calpe has multilingual medical care, pharmacies, public and public schools, a municipal cultural centre, sports facilities and a wide range of restaurants. Many service providers speak German or English, which makes everyday life much easier for residents.
The property market offers everything from city centre flats to villas with sea views - both for rent and for sale. Demand is stable and the price structure is medium to high.
📌 Contact & information
Calpe Tourist Office
📍 Plaza del Mosquit, s/n - 03710 Calpe (Alicante)
📞 +34 965 83 69 20
✉️ calpe@touristinfo.net
🌐 www.calpe.es
