Often referred to as a “hidden gem” of the Costa Blanca, the lovely town of Albir nestles in an idyllic position between the mountains and the Mediterranean. Its geography opens up a host of opportunities to explore the gorgeous landscape and the more bustling neighbouring towns (like Benidorm and Altea), with the pleasure of being able to truly relax in an unassuming and authentic Spanish town in the “in-between” times. If you’ve got three days to spend in Albir, here’s a few ideas for how to use them.
Contents:
- Albir: A Town Between the Beach and the Mountains
- Day One: Explore the Town
- Day Two: Altea
- Day Three: The Natural Park
- Where to Stay
- How to Get There
Albir: A Town Between the Beach and the Mountains
Albir’s stunning location makes it a popular place for visitors looking to get out and about into nature as well as delving into some local culture. It’s a lot more laid back and relaxed than some other towns along the Costa Blanca, which is a major part of its appeal to people looking to be a little “off the beaten track”. Here are some ideas for a three-day itinerary.
Day One: Explore the Town
The beach: It’s pretty hard to resist making the beach the first stop on the itinerary, and the town’s beautiful Blue Flag beach, Playa de Racó de l’Albir, is pretty hard to miss! With its pebbly shores and great facilities, it’s a fantastic place to relax, take a dip, or try your hand at some watersports.
Wander along the promenade: The promenade runs along the seafront and, if you want to go that far, all the way up to the neighbouring town of Altea. It makes for a lovely gentle stroll along the flat, paved path, taking in the coastal scenery.
Visit the lighthouse: The Faro del Albir (the lighthouse trail) is one of the most popular walks to do from the town. It’s a round trip of about 5km, with stunning views and a pretty impressive prize at the half-way point – the lighthouse.
Discover the Old Town: The charming Old Town is where you’ll really get to see the authentic Spanish heritage in action. Step into the picture postcard perfection of whitewashed buildings strewn with bougainvillaea, and narrow cobbled streets with tiny bars, cafes and eclectic shops.
Day Two: Altea
Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the lovely town itself, it’s time to spread your wings a little further and head to neighbouring Altea.
Much more vibrant and busy than Albir, Altea is no less charming and authentic, but in a different way. Known as an artist’s haven, the town’s creative community is on show at every opportunity in its host of artisan ateliers and workshops.
There are numerous cultural and historic highlights that will grab your attention, including the Old Town (of course!), the lovely church of Our Lady of Consolation, easily identified by its distinctive blue dome, the bustling street markets, with their plethora of aromatic food stuffs and local crafts, and Plaza de la Iglesia, the real heart and soul of Altea.
Day Three: The Natural Park
On day three, head out into the nearby Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada, a protected conservation area that encompasses both marine and land environments. Taking in more than 5,650 hectares of cliffs, coastal havens, dunes, islands, and mountains, the park is too massive to see in its entirety, but for keen walkers and hikers there are plenty of trails for varying abilities. Alternatively (and the best idea if you’re only in Albir for a few days), you can book a full or half-day guided tour to explore in various ways including hiking, biking, kayaking, segway tours, buggies, and quad tours.
The region is rich in local flora and fauna, much of which you’ll encounter along the trails, and the coastal views are nothing short of breathtaking.
There are plenty of other things to explore around Albir, and other ways to spend a day are to take a winery tour, visit the famous Algar Waterfalls, or pay a visit to explore the history of the two Sierra Helada watchtowers. On second thoughts, maybe you’ll need a few more days…
Where to Stay
Serenity Villa by NRAS: This wonderfully spacious villa delivers style, comfort, top class amenities, and a fantastic location. A genuine “home from home”, the interior space, with its four bedrooms and expansive living, is complemented by a fabulous terrace and outdoor swimming pool for those days spent at home. With comfortable, welcoming furnishings and decor, a well-appointed kitchen, and easy access to the beach, this is an excellent option for a private escape in Albir.
Hotel La Riviera: Cosy, homely, and with an authentic Spanish vibe, this outstanding hotel offers spacious, well-appointed rooms with lovely far-reaching sea views. Located just a few steps from the beach, you can sunbathe on the sand every day, or take advantage of the onsite sundeck, garden and outdoor swimming pool of the hotel. A perfect place to make a base to explore the surrounding Albir region.
Edificio Albires: Set in a spectacular beachfront location, you can step out of bed and onto the beach from this comfortable, modern apartment complete with terrace to take in the stunning ocean views. Fully air conditioned and featuring a well-equipped kitchen, fresh decor and furnishings, private parking, lift access, and a lovely garden setting, these quality apartments can’t be beaten for facilities and location.
How to Get There
Getting to Albir for a well-deserved holiday is easy. Your best bet is to fly into the popular Alicante Airport, which is about 2 hours and 45 minutes from various UK airports. It’s a very well-serviced route, with numerous carriers offering regular flights, including Jet2, British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Tui, to name a few. The cheapest month to fly is usually June, but you can find well-priced flights throughout the year.
When you land at Alicante, the most convenient and stress-free way to get to your accommodation so you can start your holiday is on a pre-booked airport transfer with Shuttle Direct. With everything from economical shared shuttle buses to top-of-the-range luxury private vehicles, getting from Alicante Airport to Albir is a breeze with us.
Overview
UK to ALC Flight Time: 2 hours, 45 mins approx.
ALC to Albir: 65 kilometres
Shuttle Direct Transfer: 40 minutes approx.
Types of Transfer
At Shuttle Direct we fully understand not everyone wants the same things, which is why we offer multiple options to get you quickly, comfortably and efficiently from Alicante Airport to Albir. There’s something to suit every budget and every style of traveller when you pre-book with us.
Shuttle Bus: The most popular and economical of all our services, a shared shuttle bus offers the guarantee of comfort and safety without the price tag of a dedicated private service. You’ll meet at a designated place at the airport and travel to a central drop-off point in Albir along with other passengers. What you lose in door-to-door convenience you’ll more than gain in cost savings, and the drop-off will be as close as possible to your accommodation.
Taxi: A pre-booked local taxi is a great way to get the convenience of a door-to-door service without having to stand in a queue after you land. Pre-book through Shuttle Direct and a local taxi driver will be waiting just for you, to get you from Alicante Airport to Albir immediately. No queues, no waiting around.
Private Transfer: If you’re looking for a touch of luxury to start (and end) your holiday, and paying a little extra isn’t a problem, one of our private transfers from Alicante to Albir will have you travelling in style. You’ll be met inside the terminal by a professional driver who’ll then escort you to a comfortable, late-model vehicle and get you to the doorstep of your accommodation in the fastest possible way.
Minibus Transfer: If you’re coming to Albir with a large group of friends or family, pre-booking a minibus for your Alicante transfer is one way to simplify the logistics, This larger capacity vehicle has plenty of room for passengers and luggage, and because you can all travel together it’s the perfect door-to-door service.
Choosing the Right Transfer
The selection of which airport transfer suits your needs the most appropriately will come down to two basic factors: cost and convenience. Deciding which of those is your priority makes your decision of how to get from Alicante Airport to Albir a lot easier.
Cost: If you’d rather spend your holiday budget on more fun things than transport, then one of our very affordable shared shuttle services is a good choice. While it isn’t a door-to-door service, you’ll be taken to a central drop-off point that’s as close to your accommodation as possible. Travelling in a shared shuttle bus for your Albir transfers is safe, comfortable and very economical.
Convenience: If it’s important that you get the convenience of being taken all the way to the door of your accommodation without any stops along the way, a private transfer or a pre-booked local taxi is the way to go to get you from Alicante Airport to Albir in style. Because the vehicle is dedicated to you and only you, there’ll be no delay in getting to your accommodation in quick smart time.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct has a well-earned reputation for providing the most affordable, efficient and comfortable airport transfers to and from a vast range of destinations throughout Europe and the world. With services to suit every budget and traveller, our great communication, friendly, professional drivers, and comfortable modern vehicles are our hallmarks. No matter where you choose to holiday, we can provide you with a ride to get to your final destination with the least possible stress. Pre-book online today then sit back, relax and let us do the driving.
