Welcome to Albir, Costa Blanca
The little resort of Albir in the area of Alfaz del Pí is wedged between Benidorm and Altea. It is ideally suited for those who’d like an alternative to the busy beaches of Benidorm, but still like to enjoy ‘sol y playa’ and all the other amenities of a good beach resort.
Accomodation: Albir Playa Hotel & Spa
Located 10 minutes’ walk from Alfàs Beach in L’Albir, this hotel offers an outdoor pool, spa and gym. Each modern, air-conditioned room offers free WiFi, a minibar, satellite TV and a rental safe.
The hotel also features a game room and a children’s play area. Bicycles can be rented from the hotel.
Benidorm is just a 10-minute drive from the Hotel: Levante Beach is 5 km away, Aqualandia or Benidorm Palace are about 4 km away and Cala Tio Ximo is 6 km away from here.
So… once you have arrived in this lovely place and are preparing to have the time of your life, you may as well put some facts under you hat – while you’re ahead.
Albir Beach and Sea
Albir’s beach is called Playa de Racó de l’Albir and is approx. 590 meters long, continually receiving the coveted European Union Blue Ribbon award annually since 2001.
If you’re early enough – or just lucky, you can park your car right on the ‘Paseo de Estreles’, behind the beach with views across to the impressive ‘Peñon de Ifach’ and the resort of Calpe. Almost as pleasant as the view, is the spacious and quiet atmosphere of the beaches. Find our more:
Restaurants, Cafes and the Bars
In the quiet and calm atmosphere of Albir, you will still find plenty of occasions to excite your senses. Because the service providers of Albir are geared towards catering to the northern European public, you won’t find much to be desired for. You’ll discover an abundance of restaurants, bars and café’s – some having cool and shady terraces – all on the roads leading from the entrance of the village to the beach, so you don’t have to walk a marathon to be able to enjoy them all!
Get yourself a front row seat at one the many places on the boulevard with excellent food, drink and fair prices.
Getting around
Now there are times when you may get the urge to swap Albir’s tranquility for some serious Benidorm shopping, eating, drinking or partying. Then you should know how to get around. You can make your way from Albir to Benidorm by bus or by taxi. Bus stops, called parada’s, are conveniently located along Albir’s main roads (see the map) and are no more than a 10 minute walk apart. Bus nr. 10 leaves every 15 minutes to Benidorm from 10:00 in the morning until 21:00 in the evening
The ride takes approx. 20 minutes and you can get off at the stops in the Benidorm Levante area (you should change buses in case you like to visit other areas of Benidorm). A single ticket costs € 0,90. A 20-ride pass will set you back € 16,20. Do not hesitate to ask the busdriver any details, they are very friendly and helpful.
Nature and Walking near Albir, Costa Blanca
Apart from all “man made” facilities in Albir, the town also has a wonderful nature park, the “Sierra Helada”, or frozen mountain. The name is derived from the way the cliffs look from the sea on a moonlit night. Fishermen found it looked like an iceberg, hence the name. However, once you trekked the mountain (like we did) you’d wish there was some ice around to cool your head or your drink – if you were smart enough to bring some that is. The summit of the Sierra Helada is 438 meters above sea level and once you’re there the view is breathtaking indeed. Looking to the north you can see as far as the Cap d’Or of Moraira and to the south the city of Benidorm shines in all its splendor. Like we said, one route leads to the summit, but there is also a less steep path which has some very nice views in store as well. So let us briefly explain what you will encounter underway.
Starting out from where you park you car you follow the well paved and clearly marked path towards the lighthouse or “el faro”. First you come to a recreational area where you can sit at shaded tables and have a picknick or just relax. As you continue, you come across the “Cala del Metge” or the doctor’s cove. If you like, you can follow a separate path down (approx. 500 meters down) which leads you to the actual cove.
Should you not choose to take that path to the cove, but continue onwards you cannot miss the lookout spot providing very impressive views on Albir, Altea, Calpe, the “Peñon de Ifach” and, of course, the Mediterranean.
From the lookout spot you carry on towards the tunnel which will then lead you to the lighthouse. From the main path you will be able to take other paths toward the “Cova del Bou” or bull’s cove and an abandoned ochre mine.
The complete walk from the parking area to the lighthouse is approx. 4 kilometers. As the path leads though mountainous terrain there are some gradients, but the average person can make the journey without difficulties. The path is well paved and the railings (preventing one from wandering too much towards the deep ends) are well maintained. Should you decide to go “all the way” we recommend you wear proper shoes and take something to drink. You will be rewarded with some magnificent views.
Taxis
A ride from the taxi ranks at the Avenida de l’Albir to the Benidorm old town takes approx. 10 to 15 minutes (depending on traffic) and will cost anywhere between € 8,- and € 11,-. You can either call the taxi-central for a ride at 966 810 010 or 902 075 073, or just stroll to the taxi rank and get into one over there.
Groceries & Shopping
Should you be staying at one of our beautiful apartments, and need to get some groceries into ‘the house’ or just want to get some thing to snack on the beach, again Albir will not let you down. Scattered across town are some excellent supermarkets with an internationally oriented assortment of food, snacks and drinks. Some of them even stock articles from home. And in case your mindset is ‘hypermarket’ instead of ‘supermarket’, then you can make your way to the Benidorm Finestrat shopping area. The Carrefour hypermarket is big enough to park a Boeing 747 in and still have room for some manouvering – we kid you not!
Leisure
Right in the centre of Albir, lies a true gem, Albir Golf. This is a wonderful, multifunctional piece of… well, grassland actually. It’s covers approx. 2 hectares and is lined with beautiful trees and shrubs. It is owned and cared for by the council of l’Alfaz del Pi. One very nice consequence of this is that the grounds are freely accessible to the public and that using the grounds are free of charge.
On Albir Golf people play cricket, football and of course golf. There’s room to practice both your drive on the 130 meter range, as well as your put. The lookers on are certainly not forgotten. They can sit and watch what’s going on from fixed wooden benches or plastic seats which can be picked up at the wooden building at the entrance of the premises. Refreshment and snacks are also available there. Is there something you cannot do there? Actually there is, you cannot walk your dog there for obvious reasons. But perhaps best of all, Albir Golf is at walking distance from nearly every hotel, apartment and the beach. The timetable for the different activities may vary a little from season to season, but for the time being (summer 2005) the golf-schedule is as follows: weekdays 09:00 – 12:30 and 16:30 – 19:00 (except op Wednesdays), Saturday and Sunday 09:00 – 12:00. On the other times other sports can be performed.
Fiestas
Well, you can blame the Spanish for lots of things, but lack of fiestas is certainly not one of them. And, again, Albir is no exception. Aren’t we the lucky ones!
On the 19th of March the fiesta of San José is celebrated. In the month of May, at the first weekend, the “fiesta de la Creuta” takes place. In the first week of July one of the highlights of the season is organized: the film festival. By the way, the sea boulevard, called “Paseo de las Estrellas” is aptly named because all the famous moviestars who attended the early film festivals have their names mentioned on the very marble you walk on. From August 1st until 15th the summer fiesta is celebrated. And finally in the months of November end December the fiestas of “Honor del Santisomo Cristo” and “El Buen Acierto y la Purisma”, take place respectively.
Culture
During wintertime Albir does not get much quieter than in summer. When the tourists leave, the (semi) residents return. You will not see a noticeable drop in activities, facilities or services. Of course, the beach activities will cease. The “Casa de Cultura” in Alfaz del Pi offers activities in wintertime like language lessons, theatre, concerts and expositions.
Albir is simply a fun place to be. One of the best spots on the Costa Blanca for grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren to have family fun.
Book your apartment or hotel in Albir online with Booking.com and Benidorm Spotlight.