Villajoyosa: Important Information for Home Buying and Vacation Planning

Villajoyosa Complete city guide: location, weather, how to get here. Explore the Villajoyosa area, its beaches, museums and attractions. Learn the history of the city. The best shops, restaurants and hotels. How much does it cost to buy a property here?
  • Province: Alicante
  • Population: 34000
  • Area: 20.45 km2
  • Elevation: 27 m
  • Timezone: Central European Standard Time
Villajoyosa is a small but cosy town on the Costa Blanca. It has a great location: half an hour drive by train will take you both to the capital of the province Alicante, and the largest resort here – Benidorm.

The city offers a great infrastructure, wide beaches, and traditional Spanish charm. All of this attracts many tourists, so real estate in Villajoyosa is in high demand.

Villajoyosa is perfect for families with children and those who value a relaxing holiday by the sea, while being close to the big city.

1. Location, nearest airports and cities

Villajoyosa (La Vila Joiosa) is a municipality of the Valencian Community on the Costa Blanca. It is the capital of the Marina Bach region. The city is located at an altitude of 27 meters above sea level, and the length of its coastline is 15 kilometres. The Amadorio River flows through the town, originating in the reservoir of the same name (Embalse del Amadorio).

Villajoyosa is located 32 km northeast of the city of Alicante and is bordered by the municipalities of Relieu (25 km), Aguas de Busot (20 km), Campello (19.7 km), Finestrat (9 km), Orcheta (9 km) and Benidorm (12 km). Calpe is 35 km away from Villajoyosa, and Denia is 60 km away.

You can get here from Alicante by car via AP-7 or N-332 roads. Alicante is also connected with Villajoyosa through the urban rail transport of Alicante (TRAM Metropolitano de Alicante). Line 1 that connects Alicante with Benidorm has 5 stops in Villajoyosa: Paradís, La Vila Joiosa, Creueta, Costera Pastor and Hospital Vila. At Creueta station, you can change trains to go to other destinations.

Villajoyosa is a city of old fishing traditions. Still, tourism and chocolate are the main contributors to its economy.
Colourful houses on the beach in Villajoyosa

How to get there

The nearest airport is located in Alicante, 49 kilometres away from Villajoyosa. You can use public transport – it will take you 1.5 hours to get to the city. A bus arrives at the Vázquez de Mella or Plaza de Los Luceros stations in Alicante, where you need to catch the train line 1 of the Alicante urban rail transport and get to the last station La Vila Joiosa.

A shuttle bus from the airport to Alicante runs every 20 minutes; travel time is 25 minutes, the ticket price is 3.85 EUR. The train from Alicante runs several times per hour; it takes about 55 minutes to get to Villajoyosa.

2. Climate and Weather

Villajoyosa has a warm and dry climate, with little rainfall during the year. The driest month is July, while the most rainy days are in October. The average annual temperature in Villajoyosa is 18 °C. In the high season, the average temperature ranges from 24 degrees in June and September to 26 degrees in July and August. The lowest average temperature is about 11 degrees Celsius – in January. The summers in Villajoyosa are hot and clear, and the winters are cool and windy, sometimes cloudy. The winter season lasts from late November to late March.
The annual temperature in Villajoyosa
The water temperature in the sea heats up to 25 degrees in June and September, to 27 degrees in July and August. From mid-December to late April, the water temperature drops below 16 degrees. The best time for swimming in the sea and sunbathing in Villajoyosa is from June to mid-September. For lovers of outdoor activities and various sightseeing tours, we recommend planning a vacation from March to June and from September to November.

3. History of the city: Old Town of Villajoyosa

On the territory of the Villajoyosa people lived back in the Bronze Age; later, the current old city was an old Iberian settlement. In Roman times, here was established the lively town of Alonis. Now it is impossible to say for sure where exactly Alonis was located. Still, it is believed that its enclave was in the centre of the current municipality – Plaza de la Generalitat, Calle Colón, the Old Town. In this place, archaeologists discovered the remains of hot springs and a military settlement, which also confirms the version about the location of Alonis around the Amadorio river bed.

Alonis was founded around the 5th century BC as a colony of Marseilles. It is believed that by the year 74 in times of the emperor Vespasian, it had achieved the status of a municipality. About 3 km from nowadays Villajoyosa, the mention of municipal departments was made (duumvirate and flamen), as well as a commemorative inscription on the reconstruction of the municipal market (macellum). Several villas and two large necropolises of that time were excavated under the city centre not so long ago.

In the Middle Ages, this place remained deserted for a long time. However, some farms were spread over the territory, such as Torres, mentioned in the "Llibre dels Fets" of King Jaime I - an autobiographical chronicle of the monarch.

As the Christian city of Villajoyosa (in the Valencian it means "Joyful Place") was founded in 1300 by Bernardo de Sarria, admiral of King Jaime II. The admiral pursued strategic goals, making a base here to repel Muslim attacks from the sea. In 1321, power over the city passed to the Infante Pedro, earl of Ribagorza. Later the town was owned by various noble families, until in 1443 it received the long-awaited privilege of becoming a royal residence.
Defensive walls of Villajoyosa (Murallas de Villajoyosa)
Defensive walls of Villajoyosa (Murallas de Villajoyosa)
In the 16th century, Villajoyosa played an essential role in protecting the coast of Alicante from the numerous severe attacks of the Barbary pirates. For this reason, King Philip II ordered the construction of new walls, which were completed in the middle of the 16th century and are still standing. As part of that defensive system, coastal watchtowers were also erected, as well as numerous "garden towers" of the Masiyah rural houses. Around the same time, work was completed on the construction of the fortified church of the Assumption of the Virgin in the style of Eastern Gothic. At the end of the 17th century, the attacks of pirates were stopped, which allowed residents to begin developing their settlement.

In 1911, King Alfonso XIII granted Villajoyosa the title of city.

4. Monuments and landmarks

Villajoyosa impresses with its small colourful houses; they look especially picturesque thanks to their location on the waterfront.

The old quarter, the defensive walls of the Renaissance and the church-fortress of the Assumption of the Virgin (Gothic style), included in the list of properties of cultural interest, comprise the historical and artistic ensemble "La Vila".

The construction of the defensive walls of Villajoyosa (Murallas de Villajoyosa) was carried out between 1551 and 1565. In 1538, the city was attacked by Berber pirates, which was the impetus for the start of an intense strengthening of the defence system. In 1551, the Royal Order was issued on the construction of walls and fortresses along the coastline between the cities of Alicante and Valencia.

Initially, the walls surrounded the city with four cubic towers, three of which were facing south. Two more towers were located on the sides of the only entrance to the town. At the beginning of the 18th century, during the War of the Spanish Succession, the defensive walls were seriously damaged, and they ended serving as an essential defence system.

Now the north-western part of them remained with the cubic tower on Generalitat Square at one end and the second tower on the other, on Pal Street. Other protected fragments of walls and towers are located in various parts of the city.
Defensive walls of Villajoyosa (Murallas de Villajoyosa)
Defensive walls of Villajoyosa (Murallas de Villajoyosa)
The Church of the Assumption (Iglesia parroquial de la Asunción) was built at the same time as the walls of the Renaissance, on the site of an earlier temple. It resembles a fortress and is part of a defensive complex. Of particular value is the interior of the church, made in the style of Valencian Gothic. The main portal of the mid-18th century is decorated in the classical Baroque style.

On the eastern outskirts of Villajoyosa, on its coast, you can see the Tower of Agilo (Torre del Aguiló) - a defensive unit built in the 16th century during the reign of Philip II and which was part of the system of surveillance and protection from pirates.

In the northern part of Villajoyosa, there are the remains of the square Tower of Dalt (Torre de Dalt), belonging to the "garden towers" - structures attached to the Masiyah houses, which transmitted an alarm received from coastal towers.

Among the other surviving towers, it is worth noting the round Tower del Charco (Torre del Charco) of the 16th century, the Tower of Torretta (Torre La Torreta) of the 15th century, the observation Tower of Simeon (Torre Simeón) and the Tower of the Cross (Torre de la Cruz).

Villa Giacomina was built in 1920 on the coast of Malladeta Hill by Dr Alfonso Esquerdo, a plot of land acquired in the late 1870s by his uncle, psychiatrist and head of the Spanish Republican Party, Jose Maria Esquerdo, to build a psychiatric sanatorium and a tower in a neo-medieval style. A citizen of Villajoyosa, Alfonso Esquerdo married Giacomine Bellamy in Argentina, and the building was named after his wife. However, they lived in this villa for only two years - in 1922, Esquerdo died.

During the Civil War, a part of the Swedish-Norwegian military hospital was temporarily functioning here. After the war, the villa was occupied by the 133rd Italian Panzer Division Littorio, which caused the first damage to the building.
The Church of the Assumption (Iglesia parroquial de la Asunción)
The Church of the Assumption (Iglesia parroquial de la Asunción)
In architectural terms, the building represents the style of historicism, typical of the last decades of the 19th century and 20th century. The western facade imitates Andalusian palaces, with the star of David in every window. The opposite facade, which is the main one, and the arcade of the courtyard are referred to the Gothic style with curved lines, pointed arches and other elements. The mixture of three religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism), tiled black and white cells at the main entrance and other details are associated with Masonry, who were the villa owners.

The tower, built on top of a hill at the end of the 19th century by Dr Jose Maria Esquerdo as a library and a place of research, has been preserved to this day. Around the tower are the ruins of the Malladeta sanctuary dating from the 4th century BC. Excavations of 2005-2009 discovered here a religious complex dedicated to the Virgin Mother, the goddess of Carthaginians – Tanit.

In the centre of the city, at Calle de Colón, you can see the Chalet de Centella, built between 1927 and 1930. At that time, Colon Street had already become a favourite place for citizens to walk along, with unique houses of various styles, such as the Olympia Cinema, Alvaro Esquerdo College and houses built in the avant-garde style of rationalism in the 1920s and 1930s. Chalet Centella, on the contrary, looks classic. This chalet was designed by the famous architect from Alicante, Juan Vidal Ramos, in an eclectic style typical of the time, which is a mixture of classical and modern elements. Now in this building you can find a tourist office.

The Tower of Hercules (Torre de Hércules), located three kilometres northeast of Villajoyosa, is a 2nd-century Roman funerary tower. The tower is considered one of the main symbols of the archaeology of Ancient Rome on the territory of the Valencian community. It is the largest of the three best-preserved funerary monuments on the Iberian Peninsula, along with the Scipio Tower in Tarragona and the Ciega Tower in Cartagena.

The monumental public baths of Allon (Termas públicas monumentales de Allon) were built between 85 and 110 AD near the place where the forum was probably located (Generalitat Square). They were discovered in 2007 and are still unavailable for visiting.
The Tower of Agilo (Torre del Aguiló)
The Tower of Agilo (Torre del Aguiló)
The area of the excavated Roman term is currently 900 square meters: the thermal building itself, which occupies approximately 250 square meters, as well as the road and adjacent service areas of 650 square meters.

On the northern outskirts of Villajoyosa, there is a unique natural attraction – the oldest olive tree (Olivera Grossa) of enormous size. It is over 2500 years old.

5. Beaches of Villajoyosa

Villajoyosa offers 3.5 kilometres of excellent beaches, many of which have obtained the Blue Flag award. Ones that are worth noting are Playa Centro, Playa Paraíso, La Caleta and Playa del Torres with crystal clear waters.

The central beach of the city is called Playa Centro. This beach connects with the port and the marina club and stretches for 1380 metres, while its width reaches 30 metres. This beach of fine golden sand is well equipped: there are umbrellas, sun loungers and hammocks, walking paths, toilets, a playground, a water park, a rescue service, jet ski and kayak rental. Or you can simply hide from the sun under palm trees on the promenade.

On the other side of the port, you will see the beaches of Varadero, Estudiantes and Tío Roig.

The student beach (Playa Estudiantes), with a length of 140 metres and a width of 8 metres, consists of pebbles and gravel. Young people love to spend time here and have fun at night in local bars.

Next to Playa Estudiantes is a 160-meter pebble beach - Playa del Tío Roig, and on the other side is Playa Varadero, where you can snorkel among picturesque pitfalls and reefs. Lying in the sun here is a great idea too!
The central beach in Villajoyosa​ —​ Playa Centro​
Playa Centro
At 1 km from the city centre, there is a long sand, and pebble beach (1060 metres) named Playa Paraíso. This beach is perfect for spending family time or relaxing with your friends - there is a lot of space for doing sports, for example, soccer. Also, the beach is equipped with showers, toilets, paths, a playground, a volleyball court and a rescue service.
Paraiso beach view
Playa Paraiso
Nearby is the beach of El Bol Nou, wide and quiet, where small stones are mixed with sand. The beach is protected on both sides by cliffs, so the bay is very calm, and its water is clear. There are picnic areas in the surroundings. The beach is 220 metres long and 30 metres wide.

A little further to the southwest, towards Alicante, you will find the 222-meter nudist beach of Esparrello (L'esparrelló). It is located 1.8 km from the city centre.

Next to it, between two hills with palm trees, there is a sand and pebble La Caleta bay, which also has the Blue Flag award. Its length is 160 metres, and a width is 30 metres. The surrounding area is very picturesque, and the water is crystal clear.

2 km from the centre of Villajoyosa in the direction of Benidorm you can visit Playa del Torres. It is attractive not only due to its services and entertainments, but also for its proximity to the ancient Roman monument – the Tower of Hercules. This gravel beach stretches over 500 metres; there you will find parking, pedestrian walkways, toilets, kayaks and jet ski rentals. You can also go scuba diving and fishing at this beach.

A little further towards Benidorm, between the mountains, is El Racó del Conill - a sandy-pebble nudist bay, divided into two parts by a rocky cape. This is one of the most famous nudist beaches in the Marina Baixa area – fans of unity with nature have been relaxing there since the 70s.
The beach of El Bol Nou​
The beach of El Bol Nou
At 3.5 km in the direction of Alicante, there is one of the remote bay - Playa del Charco (or El Xarco). Its length is 580 m, and its width is 6 m. Thanks to its distance from major tourist centres, this sand and pebble beach is a tranquil and calm place with clear water and stunning views of the cliffs.

The furthest from Villajoyosa is Carritxal Beach - at the very end of the coastal boundary of the municipality in its southwest. Its length is over 3.5 km, which makes relaxing there very comfortable.

6. Leisure

Outdoor activities

Villajoyosa has many opportunities for outdoor activities: there is a yacht club (Club Nautico Vila Joiosa) near the port. Sports complex (Polideportivo Marta Baldo) and Skate Park Vila Joiosa are located nearby.

Besides, kayaks and jet skis can be rented on many beaches in Villajoyosa; along the coastline, there are various places for snorkelling to enjoy the underwater world.

In the bay of Cala del Xarco, under the watchtower Xarco, you can see a picturesque coastline. To the right of the tower, there is an excellent place for scuba diving. Underwater cliffs with lush thickets of Mediterranean algae Posidonia serve as home and food for numerous species of fish and other creatures.
The Yacht Club (Club Nautico Vila Joiosa)
The Yacht Club (Club Nautico Vila Joiosa)
Through the clear turquoise water of Racó Conill Bay, you will see colourful reefs and various fish, just like in L'Esparrelló beach, but among large stones.

Excellent snorkelling spots can also be found on the beaches of La Caleta and Varadero.

Сasino

Unfortunately, all casinos in Villajoyosa were closed, so the nearest gambling option you have is located in Benidorm and is called Casino Mediterraneo. There you'll find a couple of roulette tables, blackjack and poker tables, and a few machines. You can read more about Benidorm's options for tourists here.

Bars

Villajoyosa is the right place if you are looking for a quality time in peaceful surroundings with your family. That's why it is hard to find any night clubs and bars here. For this, we would suggest you to take a short drive to Benidorm. In case you still want to attend something, here is our suggestion: Yorkos bar. There you can order some cocktail classics with snacks. To learn more about the richest nightlife in Costa Blanca, follow this page.

Walking Routes

1. Sightseeing walking route

The first stop is the symbol of the city, the colourful hanging houses. Like many other fishing villages, citizens of Villajoyosa had the habit of painting the houses in bright colours so that when fishers returned from work and approached the port, they could identify their village. You can also see this custom in Cudillero in Asturias. If you follow the way to the beach, you will see the colourful architecture of beachfront apartments.

In case you cross the bridge and walk down to the river, you can enjoy a beautiful landscape. Besides, the river bed has been converted into a park.

If you go to the other side of the river, you will see the remains of what was the old defensive fortress of the city, of which remain only a few canvases of the wall.

Nearby is the Gothic-style church-fortress of the Assumption. While walking through the streets of the old town, you will find some pieces of what was the wall.

Some of the watchtowers, responsible for transmitting the alarm signal to the interior, are still preserved from the defensive system against pirate attacks. These towers' names are: Torre del Aguiló, Torre de Dalt, Torre del Baix, Torre La Turret and others.

In case you prefer to enjoy this place, even more, the best period is between July 24 to 31, when the Moors and Christians festival, declared of international tourist interest, is celebrated. Locals carry out a naval combat and a landing on the beach, recalling an attack by the Berber pirates in 1538.

2. Villajoyosa — La Malladeta route

A route from the port of Villajoyosa to the Iberian Sanctuary of La Malladeta along the coast. It is a circular route that starts and ends at the flags at the beginning of Central Beach in Villajoyosa. The way starts at the beach and runs in the direction of El Paradis. A short walk takes you to Tossal de la Malladeta. From this coastal hill, where the sanctuary of Iberians was located more than 2000 years ago, you will enjoy magnificent panoramic views.

Distance: 3.17 km.
Type of route: linear.
Altitude difference: slight.
Duration: 1.5 hours.
Level of difficulty: low.
Route signs: no.
La Malladeta route map

3. La Vuelta al Cantal route

This circular route covers the most mountainous area of Villajoyosa. Long, but rather easy, it runs mainly along forest paths. In autumn and winter, a walk along it will bring you an unbeatable pleasure. Rock Cantal surrounded by pristine nature is one of the local attractions. The path to it lies from the stone cross of the chapel of St. Anthony in Villajoyosa, crosses the Amadorio river and leads further along the La Mola canyon to El Cantal. From there, you will need to go down the l'Aigueta ravine to the old Roman bridge and the "enchanted" stone, from where you will return to the beginning of the route.

Distance: 19.20 km.
Type of route: round trip.
Altitude difference: 540 m.
Duration: 5 hours.
Level: Intermediate.
Route signs: yes.
La Vuelta al Cantal route map

7. Museums in Villajoyosa

The Museo Municipal de Villajoyosa is located on the site of the former Alvaro Esquerdo Community College, an eclectic building with a unique facade. Some essential archaeological, ethnographical, paleontological and other collections can be found there. Among the most important exhibits of the museum are Phoenician, Carthaginian and Greek objects from the necropolis of Poble Nou and Casetes – gold jewellery, Etruscan bronze strainer, attic vases with black figures, collections of Egyptian amulets and Iberian ceramics and much more.

In the Barbera dels Aragonés House Museum you can find collections from the 16th and 19th centuries. This museum belonged to the Aragonese family, whose members held important political and military posts from the late Middle Ages to the 19th century. Visitors can learn about a fascinating collection of furniture from the Romantic era and clothing from the late 18th - early 20th centuries, dishes and household items from the 17th to 20th centuries.
The Museo Municipal de Villajoyosa
The Museo Municipal de Villajoyosa

Chocolate Factory in Villajoyosa

In mid-August you can witness the Xocolatissima festival taking place in Villajoyosa — these days cocoa bean delicacies are distributed on the streets of the city. But at any other time, you can try the chocolate of the famous Spanish factory Valor and learn about the history at the museum.

Perhaps the most visited museum of Villajoyosa is the Museo del Chocolate Valor, dedicated to products made from chocolate and to the manufacturing process. The museum belongs to the Valor chocolate factory, founded in Villajoyosa in 1881. Nowadays the museum offers regular tours free of charge. Several rooms of the museum are devoted to the history and the development of the factory.

The Valor factory, which occupies 22,000 square meters, makes high-quality products: chocolate bars, hot chocolate, and various confectionery. Valor exports its products to 50 countries: 40% to the USA, 25% to Latin America, 25% to Asia, and the remaining 10% are sold in other countries. As for today, Valor has 35 chocolate shops (Chocolaterías Valor) around Spain.

Through the huge windows, you can trace the entire production, up to the packaging of chocolate bars and sweets. Children and adults love the fact that the tour of the museum and the chocolate factory ends with a free tasting. This chocolate you can also buy in the store at the end of the tour. There you can try some famous desserts, including traditional churros with hot chocolate.

Keep in mind that you cannot get into the museum without a guide. The tour is conducted in Spanish or English.

Schedule:
Monday to Friday: 10.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00.
Saturday: 10.00-13.00.
They let a group of people enter the museum once an hour.
On working days, tours in English: 11:00, 16:00. On Saturday, a tour in English is only at 11:00.

To learn about the museum's non-working days or to book a group tour visit the official website of the Valor factory — https://www.valor.es/en/chocolate-museum/.

8. Holidays and festival

The traditional Moors and Christians Spanish festival has been celebrated from July 24 to 31 in Villajoyosa for 250 years. The event is dedicated to the attack of the Berber pirates under the command of Zale Arraez in 1538, which was repelled by locals. The most spectacular part of the holiday in Villajoyosa that distinguishes it from similar events in other cities is the landing of the Moors on the shore after a naval battle.
The traditional Moors and Christians spanish festival
The traditional Moors and Christians spanish festival
Preparations for the holiday begins two months earlier, on the first Sunday of May, when a floral offering in honour of the "Tears of St. Martha" takes place, which helped to defeat the ships of Zale Arraez. The enemy fleet then stopped the flood that occurred while anchoring at the mouth of the river.

The festivities begin with the processions of the Moors and Christians on July 25 and 26 through the streets to the loud music. And at dawn on the 28th, a landing happens. By five in the morning, people begin to come to the beach, where they can enjoy fire, mascleta and drums. At the same time, Christians prepare defensive artillery on the shore, and over 30 Moors ships approach from the sea. With the first ray of the sun, the Moors land and the battle begins. Moors push Christians to the foot of the castle and capture it. In the afternoon, Christian troops return to conquer the fortress. At first, they try to persuade the invaders to surrender. Still, the negotiations fail, and the great battle begins, which ends with the defeat of the Moors and their return to the sea.
The traditional Moors and Christians spanish festival
The traditional Moors and Christians spanish festival
July 29 is a festive procession in honour of St. Martha.

Other vital holidays of Villajoyosa include the traditional carnival that takes place in all regions of Spain, Holy Week (Semana Santa), a holiday in honour of the Virgin of Carmel (Virgen del Carmen), the patroness of sailors and fishermen, celebrated in July.
Xocolatissima poster
In August, during the tourist season in the Old Town of Villajoyosa, you may take part in a sweet event – Xocolatíssima, and try a chocolate tasting.

9. Food and restaurants

The basis of the cuisine in Villajoyosa is the food of the Valencian coast and the entire Iberian Mediterranean. So, the main ingredients are fresh fish and seafood, and of course, a thousand ways to cook rice, among which the most famous dish is paella.

And although there is a considerable number of paella recipes, in local restaurants you can try some other favourite rice dishes. For example, a variety of fish broths with rice (caldo de peixe), rice with dorado fish (arròs amb llampuga), anchovies, mackerel or other fish, rice with onions and pumpkin (arròs amb ceba i carabassa), rice with spinach (arròs amb espinacs). Other traditional dishes of the region are potato with fish in broth (suquet de peix), octopus with garlic and oregano (popets amb ceba) and the famous "fish pot" (calder de peix).

It is important to mention pickles: caviar of tuna or other fish, salty Atlantic bonito (bonitol), dried tuna (moixama). These delicacies can be purchased in markets or as tapas in some bars and restaurants.

Concerning the dishes of rice, it is worth noting baked rice with legumes. This dish is cooked and baked in a clay pan, and served in it. The main ingredients are chickpeas and pork (sausage, black pudding, meat, chopped meatballs). Potatoes, a tomato and a garlic are also added to the casserole.

No less popular is the tasty stew named Borreta de Melva, consisting of potatoes, spinach, a ñora pepper and salted fish (usually mackerel or cod). Pebrereta is also a type of local food that is made of peppers, garlic, pumpkin, paprika and tuna.

One of the most popular dishes of Villajoyosa is Puchero amb Tarongetes (puchero stew with meatballs). It is usually made from lean pork and veal, eggs, parsley and pine nuts mixed with breadcrumbs. In some places, meatballs are made from poultry (chicken or turkey). Puchero is usually prepared in the winter months or at popular festivals and served hot.

The sweets of Villajoyosa are represented by traditional Valencian confectionery: sweet seginoses (which are popular during Christmas festive, served with nardo vilero – coffee with ice and absinthe), sweet potato cakes, almond cakes and many other, especially from the famous local Valor factory. Valencian cocas are small baked pieces of dough with different fillings on top, resembling a pizza.

You can try delicious local cuisine in the numerous restaurants in the city, most of which are of high quality. The most popular restaurants and bars are located on the coast, by the beaches and boardwalks. However, in other areas of Villajoyosa, you can easily come across the excellent representatives of Mediterranean cuisine. For example, the gourmet restaurant "Casa Elordi", the restaurant "Zerca" and the tapas bar "Taperia El Barrio", which are located in the historic centre of the city.

A short distance from the centre, on Avenida del Puerto, 35 you will find the French and Mediterranean restaurant La Caravelle with a great selection and excellent service.

Several of the most popular places are located on the promenade of Central Beach. Among them, it is worth noting Thai and Indian restaurants – Taj Tandoori and Maharaja, as well as PUUR Food and Drinks, where you can eat quickly and tasty enjoying a sea view. We recommend trying the famous Spanish tapas and traditional rice dishes at Taverna Valenciana El Pòsit, which is located in the eastern part of Playa Centro.

Pizza lovers will enjoy visiting the best local pizzerias named Pizzajoyosa at 13 Calle Cervantes, Pizzas Liberty and Gusta pizza on the seafront of Central Beach.

10. Shops and Markets

In the port of Villajoyosa, in the Cofradía de pescadores de Villajoyosa every afternoon you can take part in a fish and seafood auction. There you can buy both freshly caught fish and a variety of marine delicacies.

Villajoyosa also has various supermarkets like Mercadona, Masymas and Spar.

8 km from the city centre in the direction of Benidorm you will find the shopping and entertainment centre La Marina (La Marina Centro Comercial) with many shops, restaurants, a cinema, a bowling alley and a children's playing area. It is one of the best shopping centres in the entire region!

11. Villajoyosa Hotels

Perhaps the most comfortable accommodation with stunning panoramic sea views in Villajoyosa are offered by the five-star Hotel Servigroup Montiboli, located in a spectacular Moorish-style building in the southwestern part of the city, near L'esparrelló beach. The hotel has two swimming pools and a SPA area, spacious sun terraces and a great restaurant. The cost of staying in Montiboli is from 180 to 220 EUR per night for a double room, depending on the season.
Hotel Servigroup Montiboli
Hotel Servigroup Montiboli
It is easy to find budget hotels with a friendly service, located within the central part of the city close to the beach. For example, small hotels in the centre like Rosal B&B and Censal are popular options with an excellent reputation. The cost of living in them is from 60-75 to 130-150 euros, depending on the season, the price per night for a double room.

Almost on the seashore, you can rent good apartments, among them "HappyVila Apartments" (from 68 to 125 euros) and "Casita de Pescadores" (or "Old Fisherman's House"), located near Central Beach. A little to the west are the La Punta apartments, which offer an excellent location, welcoming staff and a spacious, clean room with everything you need.

The cheapest hotels in Villajoyosa, with a good rating and price/quality ratio, offer double rooms for around 50 EUR per night.

12. Villajoyosa Real Estate – Price Overview

The average cost per square meter in Villajoyosa is lower than in the entire municipality – it is 1462 EUR (as of January 2020). Compared to January 2019, the price has increased by 4,7%.
The average cost per square meter in Villajoyosa
The minimum price of apartments two km from the sea, in an old house without an elevator costs about 60,000 euros. Within walking distance from the beach, the cost of resale studio starts from 80,000 euros.

Resale Housing near the beach of a high demand costs from 110,000 euros for a small studio and 170,000 euros for a two-bedroom apartment.

In case of buying housing, new options seem more profitable. So, an apartment in a new residential complex 300 meters from the sea can be purchased from 160,000 euros, a townhouse in a new gated complex on the first line of the beach - from 280,000 euros.
You can learn more about real estate prices in Villajoyosa from our catalogue.
Thank you for your attention! If you are interested in real estate in Villajoyosa contact our agents!
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