All this…all year round.
CULTURE, GASTRONOMY, BIKING AND HIKING... THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO DÉNIA THAN A BEACH HOLIDAY.
Climate
We get a good number of days every month through the winter of over 20C, and sometimes up to 25. Even into late October the sea is perfectly swimmable, and people are still sunning themselves on the beach. It's a great time to visit, a great time to escape the onset of Autumn in northern Europe... and other tourists! All through the winter there are more options to explore the land around, especially if you're willing sweat a little - biking, hiking and climbing. The view from the Montgo is awesome, and it's a relatively simple hike. Come and check it out!
Culture
There are some great festivals in Dénia, the highlight being Las Fallas in March. We've listed a few below.
Gastronomy
Every year the standard and quantity of restaurants goes up in Dénia, led, of course, by Quique Dacosta's three Michelin-starred restaurant. Dénia was named a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO. Brilliant restaurants are strung along the coast. If you're into food, this is the place for you.
Town of culture..
January 6th - Los Reyes Magos!
January 6th - the Three Kings visit the town, take part in a procession, throw sweets in all directions... and deliver presents to well-behaved children.
Las Fallas
March 15-19th - Las Fallas!
The little but loud sister to Valencia's spectacle, Las Fallas in mid-March is probably the most spectacular festival of all. Traditionally a way to get rid of of cuts and unused wood from the carpenters, it has developed into a year-round creative and fundraising venture between various competing 'peñas'. These astonishing creations, often political and satirical, are displayed for a few days... then burned. Bangers, daily firework displays of impressive intensity, and marching bands. A parade is held, offering flowers to the Virgin of the 'Desamparados' (Unsheltered). Some 2000 take part, bringing flowers in traditional dress. Four days really not to be missed.
Second Sunday in May - Parade of Our Lady of the Forsaken
In mid-May a spectacular procession to honour the Virgin of the Desamparados, said to watch over the town's fishermen, passes right beneath our balconies.
June 20-24th
Midsummer's night sees many groups head to the beach and burn fires to celebrate the night of St Juan.
Bous al Mar
July 6-14th - Festa Major: Bous al Mar – Bulls to the Sea!
The town becomes adorned with huge barriers, and a small amphitheatre is built next to the port. Bulls are released at the top of the Marques de Campo and 'run' down to the port, where the animal is goaded and the young (and not so young) show off their bravery and nimbleness. This has been going on for a very long time... we have an amazing photo in the house of the event many moons ago.
13-16 August: Moors and Christians
Fireworks, frocks, even fog... fully fledged landings, streets shut down for battle reenactments, and daily parades to mark the the driving out of the moors from Dénia by the Christians. The festival honours Denia's patron saint San Roque.
Las Marinas.... el Montgo... Las Rotas
To the north the wide sandy beach stretches on for many kilometres, lined, of course, by some excellent restaurants - see the City of Gastronomy section further down.
To the south, the Marineta Cassiana beach gives way to a coastal path dotted with rocky coves protected by the natural marine reserve of the Cabo de San Antonio... Hikers can reach the cape and go on from there down into Javea.
The protection offered to the sealife, and the fact that a little clambering over the rocks is required, means that this 6km stretch of coastline is great for snorkelling: crystal clear water and lots of fish! Red Cross lifeguards operate in the summer.
The path is very popular with cyclists, joggers and walkers. It has a number of spectacularly placed and very high quality restaurants overlooking the waves, all of what makes for a pleasant excursion.
There are also several hiking trails in the Montgo nature reserve, including to the summit - truly impressive views down into Javea and up the coast towards Gandia... and across the water to Ibiza on a clear day.
Dénia: UNESCO Creative City of gastronomy...
Led by one of the world's best restaurants...
There are 133 restaurants in the world with 3 Michelin stars; 11 are in Spain, one of them is in Dénia: Quique Dacosta. Dacosta has held the honour since 2012, the fourth longest-serving restaurant with three stars in the country.
The inventiveness, plating, quality of ingredients and techniques is, as you'd expect, eye-rolling, head shaking and smile-inducing. Obviously it's not cheap, but it's certainly unforgettable.
The winner for the longest waiting list, though, goes to el Baret de Muigel... currently at about 8 weeks.
Dénia has over 400 restaurants, with access to unimprovable fresh raw materials: out of the sea and on to your plate. It has a long heritage of rice dishes, but also fish stews, octopus, cocas... the list goes on.
And then, of course, is its celebrated red prawn. If you're going to copy the locals on anything, make it this: suck the juices out of the head. It's the best bit.
Denia was awarded the status of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015.