Dénia is a relaxed port town at the northern end of the Costa Blanca, sitting below a medieval castle at the foot of the Montgó massif. Unlike the resort strips to the south, it has a functioning town centre with a year-round population and a fishing harbour that still operates.
The town divides neatly into the old quarter around the castle and the Las Marinas beach zone stretching north along the coast. Dénia is also the departure point for ferries to Ibiza and Formentera, which makes it a practical staging post even if you're not staying. The food scene is more serious than the beach-resort setting might suggest: Dénia holds UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status, earned on the strength of its celebrated red prawns and rice dishes. The Civil War tunnels beneath the castle add an unexpected layer of 20th-century history to what is otherwise a very pleasant beach holiday town.