WHAT TO DO IN VILLAJOYOSA, COSTA BLANCA, SPAIN
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.
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VILLAJOYOSA TRAVEL TIPS
Here are, quick and short, a few travel tips for your Villajoyosa trip.
How to Get to Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa is located between Alicante and Cape (Benidorm).
- It takes about 60 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 about half an hour to get to Villajoyosa.
- From beautiful Altea, it also takes about 30 minutes.
Best Time to Visit
We visited Villajoyosa in late November – Costa Blanca has a mild climate, even in the winter months. It is the perfect time to visit for leisurely strolls and sightseeing. 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).
If you prefer to spend more time at the beach (yes, Villajoyosa has a lovely beach), then I suggest visiting between May and September.
For me, the best time to visit Costa Blanca, in general, is between September and May.
Where to Stay in Villajoyosa
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
BEST THINGS TO DO IN VILLAJOYOSA
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 off 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. 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 all the colorful (and bright) houses on the other, this is probably one of the best places to visit in Villajoyosa (especially on a warm and sunny day).
There are quite a few restaurants and cafes and the food is quite affordable. Fewer restaurants seem to be open in the wintertime, and they – naturally – close earlier but there are some open during lunchtime.
TIP: If you are picky with food, make sure you confirm what is in your food several times, I ordered a vegetarian salad that had seafood in it.
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 but this place is where you might want to spend most of your time on warm days.
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 2024).
So, when I stumbled upon La Vila Central Perk (Avenue Jose Maria Esquerdo Zaragoza) right at the promenade, I got so overly excited that I had to take some pictures.
Since we had just eaten and were full, we could not even have a drink there, but that cafe made me happy. It doesn’t look exactly like the Central Perk in the show, but you should definitely check it out – if you are a Friends fan.
Puente del Río – River Bridge
It is almost impossible to miss Villajoyosa’s River Bridge designed by the engineer J. González in 1859 which separates the new town neighborhood from the Old Quarter and the rest of the city. 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.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON A VILA JOIOSA
I think that you can get a good glimpse of the town in one day. It is a beautiful day trip from places like Alicante, Benidorm, or Valencia. However, if I revisited Costa Blanca in the summer months, I could see myself staying longer than one day.
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.
READ MORE:
- A little bit of Santorini in Spain? You don’t believe it? Then visit this beautiful town near Villajoyosa.
- 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.