A blue flag beach... 400m away

We love the walk to the beach itself, passing cafes, shops, stalls, terraces and ice-cream parlours. The Punta El Raset beach has a huge expanse of sand, is safe, protected by the Red Cross, and stretches for miles to the north.

There are many activities, from free tai chi and dance classes in the mornings to volleyball and all manner of watersports. For the more leisurely-minded there are three beach bars - 'chiringuitos' - some with live music at sunset. These open early too - a lovely alternative breakfast spot.

August - when a number of these photos were taken - is pretty busy. But the sea is lovely right through until the end of October at least... in fact last year we managed a dip every month of the year (pretty challenging in January and February though!). October here is amazing, 25 degrees, nice and calm, chiringuito open till the middle of the month, and the sea perfectly warm. Come and try it!

The port...

The port area begins just 100m from the house with the artisans' market, open till late, selling clothes, jewellery, souvenirs and more. The left flank of the walkway has a funfair in summer, and on the far side are a number of bars restaurants, and nightclubs, some offering live music year-round.

Here's the place to get involved in a range of sports activities. Hire a boat, a jet-ski, even go on a chartered fishing trip. The ferries leave from here, too - you can be in Ibiza in two hours. A free shuttle boat links you to the jetty at the end of the Marques de Campo high street. Here there are further options for excursions, including up and down the coast, even as far as Gandia to the north and Benidorm to the south.

This is a great spot to enjoy one of Dénia's unheralded charms: its big, spectacular skies.

La Lonja' - The fishmarket

Dénia is a famous fishing port, renowned in particular for its red prawns. The boats still operate today, and visitors to the town can see them unload their catch from about 15:30 till around 18:00 on the town side of the port. From Monday to Friday at 5pm you can watch the auction of the catch from the gallery, and chefs will be delighted to learn that you can also buy the produce yourself. The public market is open from 17:30, shutting at 21:30 in summer and an hour or so earlier in winter. Brilliant.

Nearby is the maritime museum (the old lonja), and also a St Tropez-style string of berths for super-yachts...

All this is about 150m or so from the house.

Shop until you drop...

Within 50 metres of the house you can find bike hire, a huge Ale Hop, Thai massage, ice cream and two or three really classy boutique clothes shops in the alleys of our area Baix de la Mar. 100 metres away by the port you have the artesanal market, a 200m strip of market-style stalls.

Further afield you can head towards the Marques de Campo, the principal shopping street, off which feeds several alleys with more shops. That's about 400 metres away.

The supermarket, Mercadona, is about 300 metres away. The municipal market is nearer, and well worth a visit. In recent years some of the stalls have reinvented themselves as wine and tapas-style stopping points. It's really lively. In the centre of the building there are bar-cafes in which to stop and grab a coffee/caña and a bite. At the back is the fishmarket. Great quality produce throughout, from meat to vegetables to cheese. Don't miss it. Opening early, it closes at 2pm each day.

On Fridays a farmers' market is established in the street outside. Again, well worth a visit.

Eating and drinking...

The area around the house, Baix a la Mar, is a network is pedestrian alleyways that open up into intimate spaces and small, terrace-filled squares. They're great for breakfast, just as good for lunch and dinner, and also work a treat for a coffee or late-night drinks. The bars in Plaza St Antonio, 60-odd metres from the house, close at about 2-3am, depending on the day. The main promenade of restaurants is 100m away. The choice is vast, from high-end fusion to typical Spanish, to wood-oven pizzas.

Just a few doors down, is the Magazinos gastrostreet.

A little further afield - a whopping 250 metres away - on Calle del Mar - is a string of much larger bars, all open till 3am and most with live music daily. Dénia taxis are a nightmare... stay with us and you just don't have to worry about getting home in the small hours.

About 500m away there is a further selection of restaurants on the main Marques de Campo, and 700m away is the impressive, high quality Calle Loreta, really buzzing with life. 2km away there are more restaurants in the marina. Not enough time, not enough room in your stomach to do it all justice.

The Marina

The Marina is a little further afield, a couple of kilometres, but still walkable, especially with a chiringuito in the Nautical Club (open to the public) and another on the smaller Marineta Cassiana beach to stop at on the way. This beach has all the same facilities as the Punta de Raset beach close to us - it also has a blue flag status.

The marina wall heads out into the sea, terminating at a lighthouse at the entrance to the port - superb panoramic views. This walkway is lined with cafe-bars great for a breakfast/coffee or an early evening beer / gin and tonic. Listen to the waves crash onto the rocks with the sea and Mongo spread before you. The Marina also has several restaurants and an exclusive chillout Zensa bar with pool.