Altea Hills

The destination for celebrities seeking privacy and luxury

We are here to introduce you to the wonderful, the dreamlike, the one and only Altea Hills. Who knows, maybe your journey to your perfect home is about to begin with you reading this article, and you will soon join those lucky ones who are having the time of their life there right now. Let’s go!

Altea Hills is an elite urbanization in the suburbs of the charming town of Altea, on a mountainside, which makes for breathtaking views of mountains and sea. It covers a total surface area of 34.43 km2. Altea Hills caters to all needs and tastes, offering a wide variety of real estate options: apartments, bungalows, duplexes, villas, all of them stylishly designed when it comes to both exterior and interior. Whether you want a place to lease to tourists, to use as a second residence during holidays, or to live permanently, Altea Hills has you covered.

The urbanization is truly a private haven from the nerve-wrecking chaos of global megapolises, allowing for the utmost relaxation and all the other pleasures of slow living.  You needn’t worry about security, thanks to the highly professional personnel monitoring the twenty-four seven surveillance footage, registering the license plates of every vehicle entering the territory, and patrolling the urbanization. Altea Hills is well-beloved not only by the Spaniards themselves, but also among the rich and famous from all over the world, and can boast of a buoyant multicultural community at all times of the year. Altea Hills became home to Julio Iglesias, one of the most popular Spanish singers, a renowned gymnast Svetlana Chorkina, Jean-Claude Van Damme and other recognizable personalities with elevated taste and high standards. Perhaps the most famous personality surrounding the Altea Hills development is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is said to have a house here (although no one can confirm this).

Fun fact: Amy Schumer, the comedy actress famous for her punchy stand-up routines and roles in films like I Feel Pretty and Trainwreck named Altea her favorite place in the world outside her home in the United States in her 2016 memoir The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo. She even said she would move to this small town if Donald Trump won the presidential election, a promise she is yet to act on.

The Orthodox Church of Altea Hills

If there is one famous place in the hills of Altea Hills, it is its most sacred place: the Temple of St. Michael the Archangel, also known simply as the Church of Altea Hills.

It was the first Russian Orthodox church built in Spain. It was founded by the Russian businessman Mikhail Valerievich Bocko. Construction began on 21 November 2002 and the church was consecrated on 11 ovember 2007 by the Pope of the Russian Orthodox Church, Cyril.

The Altea Hills Orthodox Church is known for its distinctive Byzantine architecture and traditional Orthodox iconography. The building is an exact replica of another 17th century wooden church in the Russian city of Arkhangelsk and features 5 golden domes, an octagonal floor plan and colourful mosaics inside. The icons that adorn the place of worship are a characteristic feature of the Orthodox Church and depict Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and other important saints of the faith.

The Altea Hills Orthodox Church is not only a place of worship, but also a place of fellowship and connection for its members. They offer regular services and also organise cultural and social events to foster unity among the members of the orthodox community.

A curiosity is that both the material used to build the Altea Hills church and the workers were all of Russian origin.

If you want to visit this unique church in Spain, you can do so by car. The exact address is Calle Noray, nº 1 and it can be reached by the N332 national road in the direction of Calpe.

How to get to Altea Hills by car?

The first thing you should know is that to enter the Altea Hills complex, like any other private development, you will need prior authorisation or invitation. Otherwise, the security of the development will not allow you to enter.

To get to the Altea Hills urbanisation from Altea by car, drive along the national road N-332 in the direction of Calpe-Valencia.

First, leaving Altea, we will pass L'Olla beach and the Villa Gadea hotel on our right. We will see a couple of signs indicating that we can continue to Calpe-Valencia or take the motorway (blue sign). In our case, we will continue straight on along the national road towards Calpe-Valencia.

We are not far from our destination. We must continue for a minute more through a couple of bends until we reach the small turning to the left that will take us to Altea Hills (be careful not to miss it).

Now, simply continue straight on, following the signs that will always indicate the direction to the Altea Hills urbanisation and all its services (Golf Club, access to the Resort...).

Finally, we will know that we have arrived at our destination when we reach the security checkpoint where we will be identified in order to enter.

Travelling from Altea Hills to other places

You won't believe how easy it is to travel from here! Should you ever find yourself wanting a change of ambiance and scenery, Altea is less than a half-an-hour ride away from several of the most beautiful, lively resorts of Costa Blanca, such as Calpe, La Nucia, and Benidorm. The road to Guadalest is just a tiny bit longer – about 45 minutes, which is still impressively short.

As to the closest airport (Alicante), it is reachable in 45 minutes, and the airport of Valencia - in about an hour and a half. Both airports have national as well as international flights. If you’re afraid of taking planes or simply would rather travel by train for any reason whatsoever, there are train stations in both Alicante and Valencia. By the way, the AVE (high-speed train) station in Alicante is within 40 minutes, providing a rapid means of reaching Madrid (in just a little over two hours!). And if a sea voyage tickles your fancy, ferries to Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca depart from Denia, another neighboring city on Costa Blanca.

The weather in Altea Hills

The climate alone is enough to declare this place paradise. Another enticing factor is the unique microclimate. Altea Hills is shielded from harsh winds by the mountain chain of Sierra de Bernia while also enjoying the light fresh breeze from the bay below. Both winters and summers are mild here, without sudden and brutal temperature changes. There is neither suffocating heat in summer nor snow and freezing cold in winter (the lowest the temperature gets is about 11С°. Plus, the rain is confined to about 494 mm a year. What’s not to love?

International Schools near Altea Hills

If you are considering the possibility of moving to Altea Hills and thinking about whether your children will have a good place to study, there is in Altea an international British school, AIS, which prides itself in providing holistic education and creating perfect conditions for the children to be authentic, to develop and learn in a supportive creative environment through working in co-operation with one another, their lessons being blended with various outdoor activities. The school’s ratio of Spanish students to international students is 50:50. Overall, there are as many as 25 nationalities represented. Yearly fees vary from 5,830 euros to 8,870 euros.

It should be noted, though, that it is far from being the only viable option for foreign kids in proximity: some other variants include Harmony Montessori School and Elian’s British school in La Nucia, the Lady Elizabeth School in Benitachell or Lope de Vega High School in Benidorm. Yes, not all of them are situated in Altea itself, but a lot provide school buses.

What does Altea Hills has to offer in terms of leisure?

Generally speaking… Life in Altea Hills is propitious for all sorts of outdoor activities: sailing, diving, fishing, windsurfing, and kayaking, to name but a few. It will suit perfectly those who wish to lead an active lifestyle. Beautiful beaches await you close by, whether it is for water sports that you seek them out or for pleasurable sunbathing sessions.

Marina Greenwich/Puerto Deportivo Campomanes

The Luis Campomanes Marina, also known as Marina Greenwich, is one of the main tourist attractions on the Costa Blanca. It is located in the town of Altea, in the province of Alicante, and is an ideal place for sports and nature lovers. It is the only marina in the world located exactly on the 0 meridian of Greenwich, hence its name.

The marina has 542 moorings and is home to a wide variety of boats, from sailing yachts to mega yachts and luxury yachts, thanks to the number and size of its moorings (30m maximum length and 6m maximum draught). It is also one of the best areas for water sports such as jet skiing, diving, canoeing and sailing.

In the area surrounding the Campomanes marina you will also find a wide variety of restaurants, shops and even discotheques, as well as boat repair and maintenance services. In case you need to do any kind of work on your boat, Marina Greenwich has a travelift of up to 50 tons.

Altea Hills Tennis Club

The urbanization actually has its own tennis club that has earned a great reputation among the lovers of this sport because of the quality of the courts, impeccable service, and the availability of a massage room. It is open all year round, with no membership required, to people of all ages and abilities. You can get individual or group lessons from qualified couches. And for those with a competitive streak, singles, double matches, and tournaments are organized.

Address: calle de Suecia 9, urb. Altea Hills, 03590 Altea

Altea Golf Club

Outside, but in immediate vicinity, stands proudly the prestigious Altea Golf Club with more than a century long history. In addition to everything you could possibly expect from an excellent golf club, it also offers such perks as a golf school, a well-equipped fitness center (Bernia), and two petanque fields. It also often serves as the venue for weddings and other celebrations.

Address: Sierra Altea Golf s/n 03599 Altea la Vella

Restaurants in Altea Hills

Spice up your diet with specialities from around the globe. Foodies are sure to enjoy their stay thanks to the variety of cuisines available in the restaurants nearby: Mediterranean (La Bodega), Brazilian (Restaurante la Galera), Belgian (Restaurante Sergio Clasico) and Thai (Siam Beach). Once again, the multicultural aspect of the local life shines through.

Hotel Melià Altea Hills

Take your self-care to the next level. For those who want to treat themselves from time to time and relax (even more so than you already do simply by staying in the urbanization for a while), there is a spa in the grandiose five-star hotel Melia Altea Hills, which has harbored members of the royal family and massive global superstars.

Jardín de los Sentidos

Speaking of greenery, definitely don’t miss out on the Jardin de los Sentidos, an exotic teashop with tropical plants and gardens from faraway lands such as Madagascar, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil. They also serve delicious homemade cakes with tea there, so it makes for a nice tea party location.

Theme parks near Altea Hills

Want a good adrenaline rush or a look at cute animals? Over in Benidorm, which, need I remind you, is a quick car drive away, the whole family can have lots and lots of fun.

Firstly, there is Terra Mitica, a theme and amusement park dedicated to the history of ancient Mediterranean civilizations: Greece, Egypt, and Rome.

Secondly, there is Terra Natura, a giant zoo with animals of 200 different species that recreates the habitats of all continents. By going there, you are, in some capacity, doing a good deed, since Terra Natura is actively contributing to different international programs for the reproduction of endangered species, working towards the preservation of current biodiversity.

Thirdly, there are two amazing water parks: Aqua Natura and Aqualandia, both offering a wide array of slides for adults as well as kids.

Discover the town of Altea

Altea, nicknamed by some the Spanish Santorini, is a lovely coastal city with 22.558 inhabitants as of 2020. Poetically enough, the name Altea comes from the Greek Althaia which means “I cure”.

It is considered to be the cultural capital of Valencia, and not without reason. It is home to numerous art galleries, a history museum, a musical conservatory, the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Miguel Hernández university, and Palau Altea - a thriving arts center that hosts exhibitions, theatre plays, concerts, etc.

The excellently preserved Old Town is especially worthy of attention, built entirely in white, with quaint paved alleyways, charming belvederes and a sublime church (la Iglesia de Nuestra Senora del Consuelo) that is one of the most photographed spots in the entire city, all of it on the backdrop of postcard views and lush greenery.

Buy a house in Altea Hills

If you want to buy a home in Altea Hills, the most luxurious and exclusive area of the Marina Baixa region, the location of Altea Hills is perfect, with panoramic sea and mountain views and a warm and sunny climate all year round. Of particular note are the strict security measures in the development, with 24-hour surveillance and a security check of vehicles entering the development. The area is very well developed and is close to all the amenities and services you need.

The properties in Altea Hills are high-end and luxurious, with first-class finishes and luxury features such as private swimming pools, Jacuzzis and private gardens. There is a wide range of properties on offer, from detached villas and detached houses to luxury flats and penthouses with sea views.