On Spain’s Mediterranean coast, sheltered between the Cap de la Nao and San Antonio headlands, Javea has become a popular destination for visitors from all over the world. With a resident population of around 30,000 from some 30+ countries, Javea is as diverse a town as you will find on Spain’s Costa Blanca.
Town planners in the 1960s banned high-rise buildings (you will find only 3 in Javea), and limited apartment buildings to 4 or 5 storeys. But the main development in the town has been in the outlying areas where hundreds (maybe even thousands) of villas have been built.
Javea is roughly split in to 3 distinct areas.
- The Historic Old Town (Casco Antiguo). This is the original village of Javea, with narrow winding streets, the large fortified church, covered market and Town Hall. Here you have a selection of shops, restaurants, bars and a wonderful covered market. In the market (Mercado de Abastos) we have a butcher, fish monger with freshly caught fish from the Port fish market, vegetable stalls and a couple of great eateries.
Javea market 
Mt Montgo 
Dining out 
Javea Old Town – Casco Antiguo
- Aduanas del Mar is the original port of Javea. Javea Port is now home to a small fishing fleet of around 18 boats. These boats go out daily and return in the evening, selling their catch in the fish market in the Port. At a bar/restaurant nearby you can order fish straight off the boats. It doesn’t get much fresher than that. Also in the Port you have the Yacht Club (Club Nautico Javea), a couple of pebble beaches offering good swimming, and of course lots of shops, restaurants and bars to suit all tastes.
Javea fishing port 
Mending nets 
Javea Port Coastline 
Playa de Grava, Javea Port
- The Arenal. Javea’s only sandy beach is situated 2.5Kms to the south along the coast from the Port. A recently created one-way system gives priority to cyclists and walkers between the two areas. The Arenal beach is dominated by a promenade about 650m long, lined with shops, restaurants and bars. The beach itself is sandy, and shelves out gently in to the small bay. It is a family friendly beach also popular with surfers and paddle boarders.
