The Jávea Old Town is also known as the historic centre of Javea. Find a complete guide to the Javea Old Town below. I cover how to find it, the best places to visit, things to do, the upcoming festivals, how to travel, and much more.
I’ve also offered some of my personal recommendations of my favourite places around the old town throughout the guide.
Where is the Javea Old Town?
The Javea Old Town is positioned behind the two key areas of Javea: the Port (2.5km distance) and the Arenal beach area (3.9km distance).
History of the Javea Old Town
The Javea Old Town dates back to medieval times, when locals built their homes behind fortified walls for protection against pirates. These 14th-century walls might be gone now, but the narrow, winding streets and whitewashed houses remain, telling tales of centuries past.
You’ll see that the architecture throughout the town is fairly unique, as many buildings are built with traditional tosca sandstone. You’ll spot this golden-hued stone throughout the Old Town, particularly in the window frames and doorways of the historic buildings.
Places to visit
Iglesia de San Bartolomé
In the heart of the Old Town, you’ll find The Church of San Bartolomé, a beautiful Elizabethan Gothic church which is impossible to miss.
The church served a dual purpose throughout the 14th and 16th centuries as a place of worship for the local community, as well as a fortress where townspeople could shelter during pirate raids.
The church was built using stone from Cabo San Antonio, its walls are an impressive metre-and-a-half thick. You can see openings for artillery such as guns and cannons on the walls.
Visiting info
- Free entry, but donations are welcomed
- Open from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday
- Photography is permitted outside service times
- The mass is held in the afternoons of Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Javea Muncipial Market
The Old Town is home to two of Javea’s largest markets – one which is centrally based in the town called Mercat Municipal, the other market held within the Plaza de la Constitucion on Thursdays.
Mercat Municipal
The Municipal Market sits at the centre of local life in the Old Town. This renovated building hosts various fresh produce stalls and local vendors.
You’ll mostly find food here including local produce such as fruit and veg, meats, fish, cheeses, pastries and more. There are bars which serve food and drinks, with sitting areas for you to enjoy inside the market,
Opening hours are between 8:00 and 14:00 (Monday to Saturday).
Javea Thursday Market
Stroll down the winding narrow streets
My top recommendation of things to do in the Old Town is the most simple one – treat yourself to a morning walk down the narrow streets of the Old Town.
My recommendation for a great route – start in Placa del Convent Placeta.
You’ll see the unique architecture of the Iglesia San Felipe Neri y Santa Mónica.
Walk towards the circular sitting area (feel free to sit on it) and take a walk towards the plaza.
Stroll down and you’ll find local bars and restaurants to sit down in if you’d like a coffee or glass of wine. From there, I’d recommend taking any of the narrow winding paths that travel up to the top of the town (on the left as you walk into the plaza).
The walking street called Calle Major is my favourite path to take. Along most routes, you’ll see whitewashed townhouses built Gothic style, with accents of Tosca sandstone and surrounded by plants. It really is beautiful to see!
As you reach the top, you see Placa de Baix which is usually lined with restaurants serving tapas, meat s and seafood in the summer.
Viewpoint
If you travel towards the west from Placa de Baix, you’ll eventually reach a roundabout and see the flat grey OAC building.
Above this building you can see a panoramic view of Javea, with the Javea port and Arenal beach located above the OAC and near the skatepark. There are sitting areas for you to see the sunset!
Old Town Events
The Old Town hosts Javea’s traditional festivals throughout the year. The historic streets come alive during these celebrations with processions, music, and traditional costumes.
Travelling from the Old Town
There are several ways to travel to the other main parts of Javea from the Old Town.
Public Bus Stops in the Old Town
The local bus service connects the main areas, including the Old Town, Arenal Beach, and the Port area.
There are two bus stops in the Old Town:
- Farmacia
- Estacion Autobuses (bus station)
- Rotonda L’Olivera (music school)
See the timetable below:
Bus routes aren’t very frequent and run every hour, so I recommend checking the timetable in advance to plan your journey.
Old Town Tourist Train Stops
The Javea’s tourist train is a large blue and yellow train cruising throughout the town and one off the top things to do in Javea.
It has two stops in the Old Town:
- The Plaça del Convent Placeta
- Restaurante Trinquet
See the stops below:
The tourist train runs every hour. Tickets are valid for the whole day (meaning you can hop on and off) and will take you to the Port, and the Arenal in the most stylish way possible.
Javea Bus station
At the bottom of the old town you’ll find a bus station with a range of bus companies travelling to local towns such as Denia, Calpe, and even cities including Benidorm, Alicante or Valencia.
This makes for a brilliant day trip from Javea if you don’t have a car.
You can buy tickets which depart from Javea:
