My top 7 best places I visited on the East Coast of Spain

Travel is one of my greatest passions in life, especially when I do it in my van. I have been traveling at least once a year for as long as I can remember. It started with my family, and as I grew older, I did it with both my family, friends, and by myself. The trips evolved from family holidays at all-inclusive resorts to more educational, cultural, adventurous, and local interactions.

Last winter, I decided to go on my first travel with my van Carlos down to France and Spain. Even if I’m pretty used to traveling around the world, this was my first time doing a trip like this in a van. I was both nervous and excited and didn’t really know what to expect!

These are my recommendations for you if you are planning a trip to the East Coast of Spain. I wasn’t even close to visiting every place or town along the coast, but these are some of the ones I visited and suggest you take a look at. Most places are outside of the big cities since I’m not a big fan of them and prefer forest, nature, beaches and small, cute little villages instead.

1. Nerja & Maro

   I stayed in an Airbnb in Maro for a couple of days. I got my own apartment with a small balcony and an ocean view. Maro is a small little town outside Nerja where you can either take a bus, bicycle or walk. It’s perfect for those who want some peace and quiet and not to live in the noise. It goes the other way around if you want to visit Nerja. Here you can find beaches, shopping, cafes, pubs and cozy streets to walk around.

   
   

   

   

   
   

2. Villajoyosa

   This cute little village became one of my favourite places to visit. It’s famous for it’s colorful tiny houses along the beach and you don’t find these types of houses everywhere. There is a longer walking path along the coast that you can enjoy.

   
   

   

   

   
   

3. Cabo de Gata

   Well worth a visit in this huge national park. You can hike, bike or do it by horse riding. Some other activities you can do are boat trips, snorkeling & kayaking at the beautiful beaches & ocean.

   
   

   

   

   
   

4. Peníscola

   Beautiful hiking in Parc Natural de la Serra d´Irta. If you want a good place to stay during the day and night, search for Cala Ordi and you will find lots of amazing places to park your van along the way. I was supposed to only stay here over the day but I ended up here for 2 nights since I loved the view!

   
   

   

   
   

5. Collioure & Cadaques

   Collioure is located in France but very close to the border with Spain. The villages are close to each other and both have these small, cute streets with souvenir shops and charming cafe’s and restaurants.

   
   

   

   

   
   

6. Benidorm

   I didn’t spend a lot of time at all in this town but if you like nightlife, shopping and relaxing at the beach, all in one, I think this is a great place to visit for a few days. If you drive up to Mirador de Taiwán, which is a look out point just outside the city, you will get a great view over the high modern buildings and the long beach.

   
   

   

   
   

7. Cerro Gordo

   Beautiful lookout point over the ocean with the little town La Herradura on one side and the mountains with Maro and Nerja on the other side. You could do a little hike around the area and finish off with something to eat or drink at their little café.

   
   

   

   

   
   

Even if I got to see a huge amount of cities, towns, villages and nature, there are still a few places I wish I had visited or at least stayed longer in:

• Torrevieja

  This town seem to have a lot of tourism, especially by Scandinavians, and I guess there is a reason for it.

  
  

• Benidorm

  I could imagine going back here and staying a night or two with a friend or partner. I think it’s a nice place for a night out or going out for dinner, combined with shopping and beaches.

  
  

• Cabo de Gata

  I loved this National park but I only did 2 hikes here. My recommendation is to stay here for a few nights or even a week, depending on how much you love hiking and nature. The peaceful environment is beautiful!

  
  

Most places I visited where amazing and had their own experiences to offer but there was actually one town I wasn’t a big fan of..

• Almería

  Walking around here felt a bit uncomfortable, not unsafe, but uncomfortable. On one side, you had these nice new buildings with people walking around in costumes or at least a bit dressed up – on the other side, like only two streets away, people were living in small buildings I can’t even call a house and it looked like they would fall apart at any second. The difference felt huge...

  

  

  
  

Hope you enjoyed these recommendations from me. If you want to know more about each place or others, I suggest you do your own research since these are only my own tips.

Remember, wherever you are or park your van or car, listen to your gut feeling. If something doesn’t feel right or unsafe, move straight away to a different spot.