Best Sunset Beaches on the Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca faces east — which is great for sunrise swims but means most beaches don't see the sun actually drop into the sea. There are exceptions: a handful of west-facing bays and clifftop miradores where every evening turns gold. Here are the very best.
The Costa Blanca faces east — which is great for sunrise swims but means most beaches don't see the sun actually drop into the sea. There are exceptions: a handful of west-facing bays and clifftop miradores where every evening turns gold. Here are the very best.
Why most Costa Blanca beaches don't see the sun set on the sea
The Alicante coastline runs roughly north–south, with most beaches facing east or south-east. The sun rises out of the Mediterranean in spectacular fashion, but in the evening it sets behind the mountains inland — beautiful in its own way, but no sun-into-sea moment. To find that, you need a west- or north-west-facing bay, a long sandy curve that catches the side-light, or a clifftop high enough to look over the inland sierras.
The 8 best sunset spots on the coast
| Spot | Town | Why it's magical |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Poniente | Benidorm | West-facing — the only major Costa Blanca beach where the sun drops over the sea |
| Mirador del Castillo | Benidorm | The old-town clifftop balcony — golden-hour classic |
| Cala Mascarat | Altea | Side-lit cliffs and the Sierra Bernia turning pink |
| Playa del Albir | Alfaz del Pi | Faro de Albir lighthouse walk at sunset |
| Mirador del Morro de Toix | Calpe | Above the Mascarat cliffs — full panorama |
| Peñón de Ifach base | Calpe | Sun sets behind the rock — surreal silhouette |
| Tabarca harbour | Santa Pola | Looking back at the mainland mountains catching fire |
| Punta del Moraig | Benitachell | Clifftop above the cala — pine-frame view |
Sunset chiringuitos & rooftop bars
- ✦Bali Beach (Albir) — Balinese day beds at the water's edge
- ✦Beach Garden (Villajoyosa) — designer bar on a quiet cove
- ✦Olas (Moraira) — clifftop pool club, west-facing terrace
- ✦Tossal Cliff Bar (Altea) — high above the bay, cocktails at golden hour
- ✦Sky Lounge — Gran Hotel Bali (Benidorm) — 50-floor rooftop
- ✦Cala Baladrar (Benissa) — the most romantic toes-in-the-pebbles spot
On the Costa Blanca, sunset varies from ~17:50 in late December to ~21:40 in late June. The 'golden hour' starts about 60 minutes before sunset. For photography, arrive 90 minutes early to scout the spot and stay 15 minutes past sunset for the deepest pink.
Sunset walks worth planning the day around
- ✦Faro de Albir — flat 5 km return walk, lighthouse over the sea
- ✦Peñón de Ifach base loop — Calpe, easy 90 minutes
- ✦Sierra Helada ridge from Albir — for fit walkers
- ✦Cabo de San Antonio lighthouse — Jávea, easy clifftop drive + walk
- ✦Tossal de la Cala — Benidorm, Iberian ruins with 360° views
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