WHAT TO DO IN VILLAJOYOSA, COSTA BLANCA, SPAIN
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Villajoyosa, or La Vila Joios, is a beautiful – and especially colorful – town in the Province of Alicante at Costa Blanca.
Before I actually landed in Alicante, I had not even heard of it. As a lover of colorful places (I should mention that I am totally in love with Burano and other such places in Europe), this place was a real revelation.
Villajoyosa, with a population of about 33,000 inhabitants, is probably not a place you can spend weeks exploring. Still, it is a lovely, charming, and fun (and, of course, colorful) place with a beach, cute houses, and a great cafe.
QUICK VILLAJOYOSA TRAVEL GUIDE
So, before talking about the best places to see and the best things to do in Villajoyosa, here are a few travel tips. Then, you can find out how to spend a day in Villajoyosa.
Villajoyosa Travel Tips
Here are, quick and short, a few travel tips for your Villajoyosa trip.
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How to Get to Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa is located in between Alicante and Cape (Benidorm). It takes about 30 minutes from Alicante by tram (Line 1). It is a great day trip from Alicante, and tickets for public transportation are quite affordable.
From Benidorm, it takes a bit less, and to beautiful Altea, it also takes about 30 minutes (and to Cape, a bit more).
Best Time to Visit
We visited Villajoyosa in late November – Costa Blanca has a mild climate, even in the winter months. However, if you prefer spending more time at the beach (yes, Villajoyosa has a lovely beach), then I suggest visiting between May and September (I rarely recommend visiting in the summer months – but that’s just because I dislike heat and Europe can be crowded in the summer months of July and August).
Where and What to Eat
I was super happy to find out that Villajoyosa is actually quite affordable (compared to major cities in Spain).
There are several restaurants lined up along the beach.
The restaurants offer a whole menu for just 12 €. It would probably have been great food (though I have to say – unpopular opinion – that the food I had at Costa Blanca was never really great) if the vegetarian food I ordered had actually been vegetarian. A vegetarian salad came with tuna, and the pasta Aglio e olio came with seafood. So, I recommend always checking four or five times if it is really without seafood (unless you like seafood, in which case, enjoy).
Where to Stay
We (this time I wasn’t traveling solo) stayed in Alicante and just did a day trip to Villajoyosa. There are a few hotels in Villajoyosa that you can book (personally, I would have loved to stay for two days if it had been warmer. It must be amazing on a sunny summer day).
- For a luxury stay, check out this 5-star hotel that is located at the beach and comes with great views.
- For a more budget-friendly yet still lovely hotel, check out this 3-star hotel.
- Find out more about the best things to do in Alicante
What to Do in Villajoyosa – Best Villajoyosa Activities
Okay, here are my recommendations for a day (or two) in Villajoyosa
Stroll the Town
I don’t even claim to have seen many Spanish towns or cities, but I am sure that Villajoyosa is one of Spain’s most colorful places.
Villajoyosa´s colorful houses made my heart jump.
When we got out of the tram, we could already see some colorful buildings, but it got even better when we walked down and strolled the town. Houses in all colors and shapes make it so Instagrammable, and even though I am not into Instagram as much these days, I wanted to snap pictures of all the houses and buildings.
Pretty, pretty Villajoyosa – walking along your narrow, cobblestone streets with all the colors was fun! This is my tip for the best thing to see in Villajoyosa (or even Costa Blanca).
Walk Along the Promenade
The promenade is a beautiful, long stretch. With views of the ocean on one side and views of all the colorful (and bright) houses on the other, this place is probably the best one to visit in Villajoyosa (especially on a warm and sunny day).
There are quite a few restaurants and cafes (as mentioned, if you are picky with food, make sure you confirm what is in your food several times). Food is quite affordable. Note that fewer restaurants seem to be open in the wintertime, and they – naturally – close earlier.
Spend Time at the Beach
Villajoyosa has a beautiful sandy beach, perfect for kids and adults alike. Since it was not very warm, we did not spend too much time at the beach.
Friends Cafe
I am not sure about you (it is probably an age thing), but I am the biggest, biggest fan of the TV show “Friends.” Like really – I still watch it regularly (even in 2021).
Puente del Río – River Bridge
It is almost impossible to miss Villajoyosa’s River Bridge designed by the engineer J. González in 1859.
It separates the new town neighborhood from the Old Quarter and the rest of the city, and from here, you have some of the best views of many colorful houses.
Valor Chocolate Factory Tour
If you have more time or like to experience a few unique things at Costa Blanca, you can do a Valor Chocolate Factory Tour.
Villajoyosa Thursday Market
There is a market next to the town center where more than 200 (!) stalls sell everything from fresh fruits to sweets and more from 8 am to 3 pm on Thursdays.
READ MORE: A little bit of Santorini in Spain? You don’t believe it? Then visit this beautiful town near Villajoyosa.
This place was so cute. I wish I had more than this day to spend here. Though Villajoyosa is small, it is also a great place to stay for two or three days in the summer because of its lovely beach.
I also visited Valencia during my Costa Blanca stay – travel tips for Alicante.
Read more: The best day trips from Alicante and Valencia – find out more.
