Denia is a family-oriented tourist resort on the Costa Blanca, situated around half-way between Alicante and Valencia. This small town is a favourite amongst German and British holidaymakers. It is also an important port and commercial centre. Denia has some lovely beaches, and a short distance inland is the Montgo natural park which is popular with walkers.



The resort has a long history, and this is reflected within the town's old streets. Denia's major tourist attraction is the hill-top castle overlooking the resort. Parts of the castle date back to Roman times, although the towers and porticos are Moorish. The Museum of Archaeology, which explores the history of the town, is housed within the castle. Denia has had a long association with the toy industry, with the first factory producing high-quality toys opening here in the early 20th century. The Denia Toy Museum houses a wide range of children's games, wooden toys and tin-plate models.

For more insight into the town's history, the Museum of Ethnology is worth visiting. Exhibits include items of jewelry and clothing, plus a collection of paintings by Francisco Dassi. The museum also looks at the raisin industry, which was a main contributor to the town's economy for over a century.

Denia's coastline stretches for around 12 miles (20km) and features a mixture of rocky coves and long sandy beaches. Many of the beaches have been awarded a European Blue Flag for quality. There are various amenities including showers, lifeguards during the summer season, sun lounger hire and volleyball nets. The clear waters mean that Denia is also popular centre for scuba diving. Several companies offer boat hire, including Denia Charters who also run trips the neighbouring resort of Javea.

The town is good for shopping, especially in the area around Plaza de Glorieta. Along with the high-street names, there are smaller boutique shops selling designer clothes. There are many street cafes along Denia's central avenue, calle Marques de Campo, but the resort is particularly known for the cakes and sweets made by local confectioners. No visit to Denia would be complete without sampling these delicious products.

One of the biggest celebrations in Denia is the Bous al Mar, during which local youths attempt to force bulls in to the sea. Although this may not be to everyone's taste, the event is an important part of the town's traditions. The Fallas festival, which takes place in mid-March, has more widespread appeal. Enormous papier-mache effigies are put up around Denia, and then set alight as part of a huge bonfire party. There are more bonfires in the town during the Fogueres de San Juan on the 24th of June. Another important local tradition is the Moors and Christians festival in mid-August, when streets parades mark the end of the town's Moorish occupation.

Denia is one of the main ports on the Spanish coastline for ferries to the Balearic Islands. There are direct services from here to Ibiza Town and Palma de Mallorca, with the high-speed ferries completing the trips in a matter of hours.