Things to Do in Finestrat

The only beach is La Cala de Finestrat, a 270-metre cove running from La Barreta to Sorigueret, with fine sand and clear, sheltered water. It is a genuinely small beach - not a long promenade like Benidorm's Levante. The setting protects it from the feel of the bigger resorts, which is exactly why many residents choose it.

There is no published Blue Flag status for La Cala on the official tourism pages, so ask at the tourist office if certification matters to you. The beach does attract families and is used for water sports, and being so close to the La Marina shopping centre means you can park once and have lunch or run errands before or after.

Puig Campana, at 1,410 metres, is the mountain that looms over the whole town. It is one of Alicante's most iconic peaks, and routes start from Finestrat. It is a serious climb, not a stroll - allow a full day, take water, and check conditions in summer heat.

Around the town the hills are covered in pine, almond, olive and carob trees, with small orchards of oranges, loquats and pomegranates. These are working landscapes, so treat gates and property signs with respect. The tourist office can point you to the usual routes; there is no need for a car to start walking, as several paths leave from the old town.

Finestrat's cooking is rooted in the Valencian countryside. Look for arròs amb fesols (rice with beans), coca (a savoury flatbread or pie), tarongetes (an orange-based sweet) and arrop i talladetes (grape syrup with preserved fruit). These turn up at family restaurants and at fiesta time rather than on every tourist menu.

The Casa de la Cultura at Carrer Fonteta, 14 has been Finestrat's cultural heart since March 1995. It hosts theatre, debates, cinema, galas, concerts and presentations - mostly in Spanish or Valencian, but open to everyone. It is the best place to meet residents and get into local life.

The fiesta calendar runs through the year: Sant Antoni on 17 January, Sant Blai on 3 February, Holy Week, and L'Ereta in summer. These are village fiestas - processions, paellas, live music - not tourist spectacles. They are the closest thing Finestrat has to a community glue, and newcomers are welcome.

The municipal sports complex includes a swimming pool, fronton and multipurpose court - good for keeping fit without driving to Benidorm. Karting Finestrat is a long-running local attraction for families and groups. For organised team sports, the nearest large facilities are in Benidorm and Villajoyosa.

Finestrat is well placed for exploring the coast. Benidorm is about 10 km, Villajoyosa about 12 km, Altea about 15 km and Alicante about 45 km. Alicante–Elche airport is about 55 km, Valencia about 150 km.

Getting out by public transport is limited: no train or TRAM stops in Finestrat itself, and the nearest TRAM Line 1 stops are in Benidorm and Villajoyosa. ALSA buses do stop in Finestrat, and extra trips and new urbanisation stops were added from September 2026. Most residents drive, and for day trips a car is the practical choice.

Finestrat does not shut down in winter. The Casa de la Cultura runs all year, restaurants in the old town stay open, and the mountain is at its best from autumn to spring when it is cooler. Summer adds the beach, L'Ereta fiestas, and a livelier evening scene around La Cala, and that is when the Gastronomic and Traditional Market tends to be busiest.

The trade-off is that some services, like beach bars and the tourist office's out-of-season events, follow a seasonal rhythm. In winter, most things still operate, but expect quieter evenings and fewer organised activities.

• Discover - Gastronomy | Turismo Finestrat (Turismo Finestrat (municipal tourism office))
• Finestrat - Visit Benidorm Official Tourist Website (Visit Benidorm (Benidorm municipal tourist board))
• Culture – Ayto. de Finestrat (Ayuntamiento de Finestrat (municipal government))
• Actualitat: ¿Dónde comer en Finestrat? 5 restaurantes donde se come muy bien | Turismo Finestrat (Turismo Finestrat (municipal tourism office))
• Topicality: Finestrat celebrates this weekend the first decade of the Gastronomic and Traditional Market | Turismo Finestrat (Turismo Finestrat (municipal tourism office))
• La Marina Shopping Center | Official website (La Marina Shopping Centre)
• Folleto Genérico Finestrat (tourist brochure PDF) (Ayuntamiento de Finestrat (municipal government))
• Finestrat, Spain: All You Must Know Before You Go (2026) - Tripadvisor (Tripadvisor)