There are so many fun things to do in Denia Spain! This magical city sits on the Costa Blanca, with endless beaches, history, and delicious food to discover. Check out all of our favorite activities in and around Denia Old Town, from the castle to cool swimming spots, and see why we never miss an opportunity to visit!
How to Get to Denia Spain
Denia is a popular vacation destination on the southeast coast of Spain. It’s set between the larger cities of Alicante and Valencia, which makes it very accessible for travelers.
From either airport, you’ll be a little over 1 hour driving distance away from Denia. You can rent a car at Alicante Airport, or even take the Beniconnect Shuttle Bus as we have multiple times.
Valencia also offers cheap public bus connections, so you’ll be good to go no matter where you’re coming from! Still, the best way to get around is by renting a car. We always use this website to compare companies and find deals.
This will allow you to visit more unreal Costa Blanca towns such as Calpe, Moraira, and Villajoyosa from Denia. Javea is one of our personal favorites (more on this later), and is just 20 minutes drive on the other side of the Montgo Mountain.
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Where to Stay in Denia
These are the top hotels we recommend in Denia Old Town and the city center. They are all super highly-rated and have everything you need for a great visit.
La Posada del Mar – Elegant designed hotel at the foot of the Denia Castle. Set inside a 13th century building and complete with sauna, gym, and sea views.
Maison Marineta – Spacious rooms in the center of town with a rooftop pool and views of the Mediterranean Sea. You will be just steps to Denia Old Town and the marina.
Hotel El Raset – Popular hotel in the waterfront area. Enjoy the buffet breakfast and being walking distance to the best beaches.
15 Best Things to do in Denia Spain
1. Explore Denia Old Town
Many of the best things to do in Denia are around the winding streets of old town. This area sits under the Denia castle and is filled with a mix of colorful buildings and tasty tapa restaurants.
We often find ourselves simply strolling around Denia Old Town, getting lost in the maze of alleyways, sprawling squares, and architecture. If you don’t know where to begin, head to La Bahia Restaurant. The popular seafood hang out is right in the middle of all the action and a great starting point to explore from.
2. Visit Mercat Municipal
Speaking of food, our favorite place to eat in Denia is the indoor market! It’s open from Monday to Saturday and a fun place to grab lunch or drinks.
The Mercat Municipal de Dénia has everything from cafes and tapa bars to fruits and veggies, and fresh flowers.
We highly recommend grabbing a sandwich from Bar Viciano, which has been family owned since 1970. Try the Blanco y Negro (white and black sausage) or local Figatell bocadillo. You can even order a traditional Cremaet liquor coffee where they will light it on fire in front of you!
Another one of our favorite spots for tapas here is Terra de Sabor . You’ll recognize it by its hanging jamon legs, and it usually draws a crowd in the afternoons.
If you’re visiting Denia Spain on a Monday, you can also check out the outdoor market near the main bus station. This is where you’ll find all kinds of clothes, shoes, and souvenirs. There is also a local produce market every Friday right in Denia Old Town.
3. Relax at the Beaches in Denia Spain
There are honestly so many fun things to do in Denia that it’s sometimes easy to forget the beaches! Denia has some of the best beaches in the area with over 20 km of coastline.
One thing we love about the beaches here are almost all soft white sand, which is different from the pebbly beaches on Costa Blanca. The closest swimming spot to Denia Old Town is Platja Punta del Raset. It’s just a 10 minute walk to the left of the marina.
From there, you can walk or drive to Playa de Les Marines, Playa de Les Bovetes, and Playa de la Almadraba. 20 minutes walking to the opposite side of the Marina, you’ll find Platja de la Marineta Cassiana. There are even hidden rocky coves such as Punta Negro Beach, Playa El Trampolí, and the nudest zone of La Cala.
4. Climb to the Denia Castle
The shining star of Denia Spain is the Castell de Dénia, which sits on a hill high above town. The structure dates back to the 11th century when Denia was the capital of the Islamic Taifa Kingdom. One of the best things to do in Denia is to climb from old town to the top!
There are a few different ways to get there, but our favorite is through the Les Roques neighborhood on the slopes of the castle. This is the prettiest area in all of Denia with stunning white and blue apartments on both sides of you.
Once you go through the Denia castle gates you’ll be on a gradual incline to the peak. Stop and read the placards on the way that detail the impressive history. At the very top, there is a cafe for a drink and some fantastic views of the coast.
This is an especially beautiful spot to be during sunset. In the summer months, Denia castle even stays open until midnight!
You’ll also want to walk through the long tunnel underneath before or after your climb. This underground passage was used as shelter from air bombings during the Spanish Civil War.
5. Look for Street Art
Denia has a surprising amount of street art to discover. Specifically around the Denia castle hill, we couldn’t believe all the impressive murals along the walls.
Some of them are actually commissioned by the town, while others are just local graffiti pieces. Either way, it adds a certain flair to Denia that you won’t see in other places on the Costa Blanca.
6. Stroll the Marina Promenade
Did you know Denia is home to one of the busiest ports in Costa Blanca? The marina is full of everything from super yachts to catamarans and small fishing boats. It also serves as a ferry gateway to the world-famous Balearic islands.
We love to walk the boardwalk on a sunny day from old town and see all the boats. It’s also a great spot to be around golden hour assuming you’re not taking in the view from the Denia Castle.
There are a number of restaurants that have views of the port if you walk around to the beachside. There’s even a massive nightclub there called Sounders if you’re up for some dancing on the weekends.
7. Take the Denia Coastal Walk
This coastal walk is not to be missed on your trip to Denia Spain! The official path starts at La Marineta Cassiana, which you can easily walk to the start of from the city center.
From there, it takes along the rocky coast of Les Rotes on a paved walkway. There are countless swim spots and pebbly beaches to cool off at on the way.
Near the end of the path you’ll come across the beloved Restaurante Mena. Their outdoor balcony has amazing views of the sea and 16th century Torre del Gerro.
Doing this walk in its entirety from Denia Old Town will take you about 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. You can drive and do it in sections, or take advantage of the local bus line as well. Check out Alltrails for the exact route and more information.
More Fun Things to do in Denia Spain
8. Eat Seafood at the Denia Restaurants
Back to the food! Denia has been recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and for good reason.
The most popular dishes here are based around seafood and rice as Denia sits on the Mediterranean Sea. Be sure to try the Denia red prawns that are caught fresh daily and the tasty Arroz a Banda. These dishes can be found at both tapa bars and high-end restaurants.
You’ll also see paella, squid, clams, and mussels on almost every menu! Many of the best restaurants are located right in Denia Old Town.
For a special treat, you can book a 3 Michelin Star meal at Quique Dacosta Restaurante, and see why it regularly appears on lists as one of the best restaurants in the world.
→ Best Food in Spain: 45 Traditional Dishes, Tapas & Drinks!
9. See History at the Maritime Museum
Did you know Denia has an entire museum dedicated to its maritime history? Museu de la Mar de Dénia has dozens of artifacts dating back to Roman times inside the old fish market building.
This is a great stop in the port area to get a better understanding of Denia’s wild history. We were particularly in awe of the paintings showcasing what the town looked like hundreds of years ago, and the ancient ceramic jars that once held oil and wine.
It’s not that big, so it will only take you 10-15 minutes to walk through the entire museum. It’s also one of the best free things to do in Denia Spain!
10. Hike in Montgo National Park
By now you can tell that some of the most fun activities in Denia are just outside the city center. The Montgo Mountain sits high above town and acts as a natural barrier between Denia and Javea.
There are so many great hikes that take you through the desert-like atmosphere and up to the peak. The summit trail (Cim del Montgo) is a challenging route for experience hikers. You can also try the Cova de l’Aigua for something a bit easier on the Denia side.
Keep your eyes opened for falcons, eagles, lizards, and even wild boars along the paths. There are even some archeological sites dating back to pre-historic times and Roman inscriptions.
11. Hop on a Sailing Trip From Denia Spain
There are many different options from Denia if you’d like to get out on the water. Mundo Marino is a popular company that runs daily catamaran trips in the summer and early fall.
These tours range from kayak snorkeling excursions to catamaran sunset sailings, and so much more. You can even rent a private boat if you have a group!
One of our favorite catamaran boat tours runs between Javea and Denia Port. Take it one way or get a round trip ticket. This is such a fun way to get between the two towns without having to worry about driving or parking.
12. Snack at the Street Food Market
You already know that Denia has an abundance of traditional Spanish food to enjoy. When you’re ready for a fun switch up though, head to the street food market!
Also known as Els Magazinos, this lively food market has a mix of tapas and international cuisine. Are you feeling French food or Mexican cuisine? How about Asian fusion or lunch at an Argentinian grill?
In addition to the over 15 different restaurants, it plays host to cultural events, art exhibits, and live music. The covered street food market is a great place to hang out in the evenings, especially during the busy summer months.
13. Shopping on Marques de Campo
If you’d like to do some shopping in Denia, look no further! This is the main strip in the town center with all kinds of clothing, restaurants, and cafes.
It’s particularly gorgeous during the summer when the tall plane trees that line Marques de Campo are in full bloom. This is a nice place to grab a coffee or a beer and watch the Denia streets pass you by.
14. Day Trip to Javea
We’ve now mentioned Javea multiple times in our things to do in Denia guide. If you couldn’t tell, Denia’s neighbor holds a special place in our hearts!
Just 20 minutes drive around the Montgo Mountain, it makes for a fun day trip, even just for lunch or a swim. The beaches in Javea are some of the best in all of Costa Blanca and somewhere we’ve spent days enjoying the sun and sand.
This includes the renowned Arenal Beach, La Grava (Javea port), and Playa de la Granadella. Also, don’t miss out on the glorious Javea Old Town and its indoor market.
15. Ferry From Denia to the Balearic islands
Denia is one of the main ferry ports to get to the world-famous Balearic Islands! There are multiple boats per day that go from Denia straight to Ibiza and Mallorca.
If you hop on the fast ferry, you could even make a day trip out of it. The fast ferry takes 2 hours and 15 minutes one way to Ibiza, while the slow boat takes between 4 and 5 hours.
One thing that’s slightly off-putting is that these boat trips are quite expensive for non-Balearic Island residents. In fact, it’s typically just a fraction of the price to fly from Alicante or Valencia with tickets as low as 15 Euros.
If you’re interested in making a day trip to Ibiza, keep an eye out for special promotions that run in the swing season outside of the summer. With that said, it may be a much better idea to add an island onto your Spain itinerary and spend a few days in both places. Check the prices for the Balearia ferry here before your trip.
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Have any questions on this article or want to share more of the best things to do in Denia Spain? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
