Explore Javea
Jávea (Xàbia) – old town, headlands and coves close to Moraira
Jávea, Xàbia in Valencian, lies about 13 kilometres from Moraira, which makes it one of the easiest outings from Moraira. The town has three parts, each with a character of its own: the historic centre inland, the harbour at Duanes de la Mar and the sandy beach of the Arenal. Around them runs a rocky coast of headlands and small coves, with Mount Montgó in the background.
The historic centre and the weekly market
The old centre revolves around the Iglesia de San Bartolomé, a church built between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries in late Gothic style that also served as a fortress. On the outside you can still see the battlements, loopholes and the projecting balconies above the doors, from which the entrance could be defended. The church is built of tosca, a porous local stone, and has been protected as a national monument since 1931.
Thursday market in Xàbia
Every Thursday from 8:30 to 14:00 there is a weekly market on the Plaça de la Constitució in the old centre, with fruit and vegetables and all manner of other goods. Combine it with a stroll through the lanes around the church.
Cap de la Nau and the coast
South of Jávea lies the Cap de la Nau, the easternmost point of the Valencian coast and the boundary between the gulfs of Valencia and Alicante. The lighthouse stands some 122 metres above the sea; Ibiza is about 85 kilometres from here. From the viewpoint by the lighthouse you look out over the cliffs and the coves below. Small coves ring the headland, and at the cape itself there is the Cova dels Orguens cave.
Cala Granadella and Portitxol in summer
The best-known coves, Cala Granadella and Cala del Portitxol (Barraca), have restricted access in summer. In 2026 an access scheme with paid parking applied daily from 2 June to 13 September, and at weekends and on public holidays from 14 September to 12 October.
| 2026 scheme | Details |
|---|---|
| Parking | € 9 per car per day (9:00 to 19:00), no booking possible |
| Capacity | Granadella about 130 spaces, Portitxol about 59; once full, the barrier closes |
| Tourist train | From 3 July to 13 September from Urb. La Guardia Park; return € 6 for adults, € 4 for children under 12 |
| Please note | Cala Ambolo is closed because of falling rock; there is no public transport to Portitxol |
Outside high season you can usually visit the coves without these restrictions. Check the current rules with Xàbia town council before you set out.
The Arenal and the harbour
The Arenal is the big sandy beach of Jávea, with a promenade of restaurants, and is popular with families. By the harbour, in the Duanes de la Mar district, restaurants line the water. For an overview of the beaches and coves along the coast around Moraira, see our page on the beaches near Moraira.
From Moraira to Jávea
The drive is about 13 kilometres; allow some 20 minutes. If you set aside a whole day, you can combine Jávea with Dénia, further to the north, or with a walk on the Montgó, the 753-metre mountain between the two towns. You will find more walks on our walking routes around Moraira.
Iglesia de San Bartolomé
Location: historic centre of Xàbia
From Moraira: ± 20 min by car
Google Maps
Cap de la Nau
Location: lighthouse south-east of Xàbia
Google Maps
Practical information for Jávea
Tourist Info Xàbia Centre (old town)
Address Plaça de l’Església 4, 03730 Xàbia
Telephone +34 965 794 356
Email info@xabia.org
Website xabia.org
Open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 14.30 and 17.00 to 20.00, Saturday 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist Info Xàbia Port
Address Plaça President Adolfo Suárez 11, 03730 Xàbia
Telephone +34 965 790 736
Open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 19.00, weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Car parks
Plaça de la Constitució right in the old centre, next to the church — +34 965 795 220; five free charging points
Portal del Clot Camí Tàpies — +34 965 795 280; five free charging points
Duanes de la Mar Avenida del Puerto 37, by the harbour; eight charging points
Please note on Thursday mornings the Plaça de la Constitució is the market ground; parking is harder then
To Granadella and Portitxol: paid parking in season
In summer the two finest coves of Jávea can only be reached with paid parking. Booking is not possible; it is first come, first served, and once full the barriers close. Signs along the way show whether there is still space.
Cala Granadella and Cala Barraca-Portitxol
Period 2 June to 13 September daily; 14 September to 12 October at weekends and on public holidays only
Hours 9.00 to 19.00
Rate € 9 per vehicle per day
Payment parking machine or the ElParking app; booking ahead is not possible
Spaces Granadella 130, Barraca-Portitxol 59
Exempt motorcycles and vehicles of people with a disabled badge, provided they use the designated zone
Tourist train to Granadella
Period 3 July to 13 September, daily
Departure from the La Guàrdia car park, every hour from 10.00 to 19.00
Price € 6 for adults; € 4 for children under twelve, seniors and families
To Portitxol there is no public transport
Opening hours of the sights
Museu Soler Blasco (archaeology and ethnology)
Address Plaça dels Germans Segarra 1, 03730 Xàbia
Telephone +34 965 791 098
Email museu@ajxabia.org
Open Tuesday to Friday 10.00 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 20.00; weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.30; closed on Monday
July to September the afternoon opening shifts to 18.00 to 21.00
What housed in a seventeenth-century palace, with an extensive collection of underwater archaeology from the coast of Xàbia
Iglesia de San Bartolomé
Where Plaça de l’Església, right in the old centre
Visiting in the morning from 10.00 to 12.30, and from half an hour before mass
Special a church that was also a fortress: battlements, loopholes and murder holes, built as a refuge against pirates. A national monument since 1931.
Jávea: coves and an old town centre
Jávea, with its characteristic old town and hidden coves, lies twenty minutes’ drive from Calamora.
A maximum of 4 guests may stay here (infants not included).
You will not be charged yet
Why book directly with us
- No middleman and no booking fees
- Twenty per cent today, the rest only six weeks before you travel
- Plans changed? Your payment moves with you to another date
- Personal contact with us about arrival, keys and tips
Frequently asked questions about Jávea (Xàbia)
What are the parts of Jávea?
Jávea (Xàbia) has three parts: the historic centre inland, the harbour with restaurants on the water, and the long sandy beach of l’Arenal.
When is the market in Jávea?
On Thursday morning (8:30-14:00) there is a large market on the Plaza de la Constitución in the old centre, with more than 100 stalls. In summer there is also an evening craft market on the promenade of l’Arenal.
How far is Jávea from Moraira?
From Moraira it is about twenty minutes’ drive — one of the easiest outings, and easily combined with an afternoon on the beach.
Book your dream stay today
Calamora is a new apartment complex in the center of Moraira with a garden and swimming pool.
Calamora is beautifully situated on the central roundabout with the beautiful old olive tree.