In this tourist guide to the tourist resort of Oliva in Spain we help visitors who are planning a trip with useful and practical advice on many tourism related subjects.
We help with tips and advice for car hire, accommodation, hotels, hostels, apartment rental, villa rental, map, sightseeing, weather, where to go, where to stay, travel information and what to see and do in Oliva.
To make the best of your visit and holiday we cover everything you need to know about Oliva.
We also have photos, picture galleries, views, videos and webcams of Oliva.
Oliva is a fantastic place for a holiday and much of the town’s economy is reliant on tourists and tourism.One key reason for its draw as a tourist resort is it’s over 300 days of sunshine each year, the weather in Oliva and climate is one of the best in the world.
Oliva is at the southernmost tip of the Costa Azahar coast (also known as the Orange Blossom coast) where it meets the Costa Blanca coast of Spain, a huge tourist destination.
Oliva has absolutely stunning beaches.
Most tourists to Oliva are Spanish, many of whom have holiday homes here but increasingly the secret is getting out and many other tourists are discovering Oliva. It is still small, quiet and unspoilt, ideal for the relaxing getaway holiday.
Where is Oliva?
Oliva is at the far north of the Costa Blanca coast where it meets the Costa del Azahar. Oliva is located in the region of Valencia. The city of Valencia with it’s airport is only an hour away to the north. To the south, Alicante airport is about an hour and a half away.
Once at the airport you have a range of different airport transfer options to Oliva including private shuttle buses, taxis or Oliva car hire.
The main motorway (A7 autoroute) that runs the length of Spain’s eastern coast passes close by Oliva so road access is excellent.
Oliva Beaches (Playa)
The key reason for Oliva’s tourism popularity are the beaches. The wide beach of Oliva stretches for over 10km which means you can always escape other people if you are prepared to walk far enough.
The other big difference with Oliva’s beaches is the fact they are very natural with sand dunes giving a real feel of nature and unspoiltness.
Oliva beach has lovely golden white sand. There are three main beaches, these are: Terranova-Burguera Playa, Pau Pi Playa and the Aigua Blanca Playa (beach).
The backdrop to Oliva’s beaches are many apartments – thankfully low-rise. Oliva is full of tourists in summer but has a very deserted feel in winter when most of these apartments which are just used as holiday homes for the Spanish sit empty and shuttered up.
Oliva has plenty of good restaurants, bars and shops.
Needless to say most types of watersports are possible in Oliva. Especially because the winds on Oliva beach are often strong. Ideal for windsurfing and kitesurfing which can be hired on the beach.
Restaurants
Oliva restaurants worth visiting include El Eden, Soqueta, La Canadiense, Viva España, La Sota, La Cueva, Bar Restaurant La Cassola, Cafe Bar Molino, Restaurante Lancora, Casa Manolo, Restaurant Gloria Mar, Bistro, Valencai Catering SL, Club Nautico Oliva, Font Sala, Oli-Ba-Ba, Kiko Port, Casa Andrea, Cantares, Sanchis, Moby Dick, Xuscos, Cheng Heging, Bai Zhou Ngo Wu, Club de Tenis Restaurant, El Clotel, Vincent Llopis E Hijos SL, Vora Mar, Restaurante Chino Susana, Mistral, Teresa Sanchez Martinez, La Marchigana CB, Haikin Nout, Michel Louis Belorgey, Maria Vicenta Martinez Minana, Maria Mena Mena, Fernando Cortain Barber and El Cortijo.
(Viva Espana – address Crtra Valencia – Alicante Km 216, 46780 Oliva – telephone +34 697 496 807)
What To See and Do in Oliva
The actual town of Oliva is set back from Oliva Playa (beach). So on one hand you have the beach area with it’s many apartments frequented in season by Spanish and mostly empty in winter and then you have the historic old town of Oliva with it’s year-round activity and lack of any sign of tourism.
Oliva itself is a small town surrounded by fields, mainly orange groves. So it is a town for which agriculture is of major importance (as well of course as tourism).
Noteworthy buildings are the remains of the Moorish castle, the two churches with their pretty blue domed roofs which are lit up at night.
Of course Oliva has many fiestas throughout the year, the most famous fiesta in Oliva probably being the Moors and Christians fiesta in July.
The promenade or pasai in Oliva is the heart of the town, this is lined with trees and there are wide open spaces with benches where people sit in the evening and chat, there is a play area for children and of course many cafes and restaurants where you can sit out in the open air.
This area also has the indoor market where you can buy the freshest local vegetables, fruits, meats and breads.
The town of Oliva retains its Spanish feel and has not so far been blighted by modern development. It is thetwo attractive blue domed churches (Santa Maria and Sant Roc) and a maze of winding cobbled streets.
The market in Oliva is held every Friday.
Oliva is small and compact so if you can get there you could do without hiring a car in Oliva. But to get there on public transport is not possible so you are looking on getting a taxi from an airport – this would be very expensive. At least if you hire a car you can explore the rest of the Costa Blanca coast. Go inland to the mountains and you will find amazing scenery and unspoilt small Spanish towns and villages. Alternatively the big resorts of Calpe and Benidorm are worth a day trip as is the castle at Guadalest.
Oliva is very small so there are few hotels in Oliva. Most people looking for accommodation in Oliva look to hire or rent an apartment or villa.
Where to Stay – Accommodation Guide
Oliva is situated just north of the Costa Blanca coast of Spain on the southern part of the Costa Azahar coast and is a very popular tourist destination. However there are very few hotels in Oliva.
Examples of hotels and hostals in Oliva are the Oliva Nova golf course and resort at the top end of the market, also the Font Salada, Tropical and the Azahar.
Popular hotels in Oliva include the three star Hotel Font Salada, the four star Oliva Nova Golf Beach & Golf Hotel, the three star Playa Miramar and the two star Estrella del Mar.
More accommodation options are available at the pension San Vincente, the Moli Cansiyet, and the Hotelito Oliva.
Camping
There are at least seven different campsites that we know of. These are: Kiko Park, Azul, Pepe, Ole, Eurocamping, Bon Dia and Rio-Mar.
Golf in Oliva
Another key selling point for tourism in Oliva is the 18-hole golf course called Oliva Nova Golf and Country Club which is in a great setting close to the coast and beach and designed by world famous Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros.
Oliva Nova Golf – Club de Golf Oliva Nova
Address: Urbanization Oliva Nova Golf
46780 Oliva
Telephone: +34 962 857 818
Designed in 1995 by Severiano Ballesteros, the Oliva Nova golf resort south of Oliva is one of the best courses at the Costa Blanca.
Open all year, the 18-hole golf course charges approx. EUR 75 for the green fee. The entire area is more like a golf resort with hotels and permanent golf property to buy and rent.
Oliva Tourist Information Office (Oficina de Turismo)
Oliva Tourist Office
Address: Passeig Lluis Vives S/N, 46780, Oliva.
Telephone: +34 962 855 528
Website: https://www.tourist-oliva.com
Email: oliva@touristinfo.net
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 13:30 and 17:00 to 19:00 h. Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 h.
Oliva Tourist Office
Address: Calle Roger de Lauria 38, 46780, Oliva.
Telephone: +34 962 850 391
Email: olivaplaya@touristinfo.net
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 13:30 and 17:00 to 19:00 h. Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 h.
Excursions and Places to Visit Near Oliva
If you are staying in Oliva or going on holiday to Oliva then do consider these ideas for excursions so you make the most of your trip to Spain’s Costa Azahar:
1. Make a trip to the glamorous big city of Valencia which is only about an hour drive away.
2. The bigger beach resort of Gandia just to the north is mainly comprised of high-rise apartments but the beach is very good, it stretches for miles and is very wide.
3. Inland from Oliva in the countryside are many charming small towns and villages notably the lovely town of Jativa (Xativa) which has a number of tourist attractions.
4. Go into the mountains and go skiing just two hours drive away at either Javalambre or Valdelinares.
Moving to Oliva
If you are thinking of moving to Oliva, then you must read our expat interview with Jose Casanova of Inmobiliaria Anacasa below:
Jose, what would you say would be the advantages to living in Oliva compared to other Costa Blanca towns?
Small town but with all kind of facilities. Amazing long beaches that are unknown and a big and good golf course, designed by Severiano Ballesteros.
Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
Too many people in Summer
What proportion of the local population are Spanish?
Around 75%.
What are your favourite things to do in the area?
Eating out, kitesurf, cycling, hiking, golf.
Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?
Local bars are the best. Try to avoid franchises and restaurants in touristic places.
Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
In Oliva town there are plenty of shops and supermarkets or whatever you need. In Oliva Beach there are less at winter’s time but enough.
Are there smaller villages nearby that you might also recommend?
Of course. In this area, there are a lot of small villages close to Oliva that you must visit. All of them has an interesting and delicious cuisine.
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
International schools are becoming trendy since a few years ago. Nowadays, there are English or bilingual schools near to Oliva.
Is crime an issue for expats?
Not too much. I mean, there’s some problems with burglars that break in empty houses.
Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
The last couple of years, the prices were going down, but I think that now the prices are staying well-balanced.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
Definitely, it is. Now there are a lot of opportunities including all kind of houses.
What urbanizations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?
Next to Oliva beach, there are many urbanizations. Our agency has several of them. They are not too big in order to be a quiet place. The urbanizations have swimming pool and a private garden. The beach is around 100meters far away.
How much are the typical property prices in Oliva for apartments, villas etc?
90,000-200,000 euros
Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Oliva or surrounding area?
It depends on what they are looking for.
Jose, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact him, you can find his details below.
Padre Antonio Salelles 3
46780 Oliva (Valencia)
Tel. +34 962 858 080
Email: jose@anacasa.com
Website: www.anacasa.es
This excellent video below shows the sights and best tourist spots of Oliva including the town of Oliva and its beaches.
Contact us to be featured – we want more expat interviews for our newsletter and website. You don’t need to be an estate agent, we want to hear from anyone who lives in Spain whether you are working or retired.
Page Summary – This page contains unique content for tourists visiting the beach resort of Oliva, a popular tourist destination on the northern Costa Blanca coast of Spain. Please help us to make this the number one tourist resource for Oliva by adding any comments, reviews, ratings and feedback on any aspect of Oliva that you know about. We also welcome your photos, pictures and videos of Oliva for posting on our website.
Most Important Oliva Pages
Nearby Towns & Resorts:
Steve says
Very useful if you’re a tourist.
Moving there? Not so sure.
How about a business directory? This would help immensely.
SANDRA says
Ho far is the golf course from the town please?
tina levey says
we arrive on a sunday 6 adults and 1 infant and have hired a villa. where is the best place to get essential groceries on a sunday ?
Jo f says
Can you advise best form of travel from Alicante airport to Oliva please
Doreen says
Can you play badminton in Oliva?
tim nesbitt says
You can get to Oliva via coach from the main coach station in Valencia. It costs about eight euros, with the journey taking about 1hr 20 mins.
Melanie says
Could anyone tell me if there is a public swimming pool in Oliva please?
Maggie says
Yes there is a public swimming pool in Oliva town.
paul says
Ola,Could anyone kindly advise me of the nearest campsite to oli-ba-ba please.
Thanks in advance.
Paul
Monika says
Hallo,
I have one question – can we go by bus from Oliva Nova to Oliva or from Oliva Nova to Denia?
Where can I find some ” link or travel time lists” ?
Thank you for your help
Monika
Maria Brennan says
You can get to Oliva on Public transport. There a coaches from Alicante airport, although you do have to Change at Benidorm, and there are trains from Valencia to Gandia where you can get either a local bus or taxi to Oliva neither which are very expensive and we have done both!
Mike and Marion Hill says
You CAN get to Oliva by public transport from the airport, or from Gandia Bus station. From the airport take the Valencia metro to the city railway station – catch a train to Gandia, and within the Gandia station complex, catch a local bus to OLIVA. It is possible with a little planning – we have done it!