Not every beautiful beach works with children. This guide only includes bays we have actually used as a family — sand rather than pebble where possible, gentle water, shade or a café nearby, and somewhere realistic to park.
Southern Costa Blanca
- Playa La Zenia, Orihuela Costa — sandy, lifeguarded, playground behind
- Punta Prima — wide sand and a long flat promenade
- Guardamar Playa de los Viveros — pine shade right behind the sand
- La Mata, Torrevieja — quiet and dune-backed
Northern Costa Blanca
- Arenal, Jávea — the easiest full-facilities beach day up north
- El Portet, Moraira — sheltered horseshoe bay, shallow for a long way
- Playa de la Fossa, Calpe — sand with the Peñón as a backdrop
- Playa Centro, Villajoyosa — town beach with the coloured houses behind
Bring with you
- Water shoes for the rocky coves
- A beach umbrella — shade is scarce in July and August
- Cash for the beach bar and the parking machine