Parking in Jávea: where it is free and where you pay

Is there a blue zone in Jávea?

No, Jávea has no blue zone. Street parking is free, in the old town, at the Arenal and by the harbour. Paid parking exists in only two forms: at the Granadella and Portitxol car parks in summer, and in the two underground car parks by the old town all year round.

In the narrow streets of the old town, the council does mark a few loading and unloading bays with a short time limit; the signs on site set out the rules. Further on in this article you can read exactly how it works, place by place, from the car parks to summer parking at the calas.

Where do you park near the old town?

Near the old town are two council run underground car parks. The first is Parking Plaça de la Constitució, beneath the square where the weekly market sets up. The second is Parking del Portal del Clot, on the Camí Tàpies. Both are paid: according to the published council rate schedule you are charged per minute, at an hourly rate of around 60 cents, with subscriptions available for longer stays. Check the current rate at the entrance.

Both car parks each have five free charging points for electric cars. On Thursdays, from 8.30am to 2pm, the weekly market takes over the Plaça de la Constitució: the car park underneath simply stays open, but the surrounding streets get considerably busier than usual. Come early that morning, or choose Portal del Clot as an alternative.

The old town itself is compact and largely car free, so it is easier to park on the edge and cover the last stretch on foot than to hunt for a space within its narrow streets.

Where do you park by the harbour?

By the harbour is Parking Duanes de la Mar, at Avenida del Puerto 37: a free, open air car park with 160 spaces, eight of them reserved for people with reduced mobility. The harbour beach of La Grava is within walking distance, and the car park itself has eight free 22 kW charging points for electric cars.

Work is also under way in the harbour on a new three storey car park with 123 spaces, part of the renewed concession held by the yacht club Club Náutico Jávea. No opening date is known yet, so simply check on arrival whether it is already in use.

During the harbour festival from late August to early September, held in honour of the Mare de Déu de Loreto, the area around the harbour fills up with processions, concerts and fireworks. On those days it is better to come on foot, or to arrive in good time.

Where do you park at the Arenal?

Just behind the Arenal promenade is a public underground car park on Calle Nancy, with 170 spaces, open 24 hours a day. It is run by Empark, now operating under the name Telpark, and is paid. Street parking around the Arenal is free, but in July and August spaces are in short supply.

If you arrive later in the day, you will probably find a space faster by heading straight into the car park than by circling the streets. Staying in the Arenal, the old town or the harbour? The Toscamarbus is a handy alternative for getting between those three hubs without taking the car.

How does summer parking work at Granadella and Portitxol?

From early June to early September, plus a few weekends in September, paid parking applies at Granadella and Portitxol, daily from 9am to 7pm. You pay 9 euros a day per vehicle, at the meter or through the ELPARKING app, the app the council itself points to. Granadella has 130 spaces on Carrer Pic Tort; Portitxol, also known as Cala Barraca, has 59 on Carrer Barraca.

You cannot book ahead: once the car parks are full, the barriers on the access road close until space frees up again. Along the way you will see real time signs showing the number of free spaces, including at the Consum roundabout, on Calle Barraca and by Restaurant El Trovador.

Anyone who would rather not drive to Granadella can take the tourist road train from the car park at Urbanització La Guardia Park, at Carrer de la Falzia 4: roughly once an hour in summer, six euros return for adults and four euros for children up to twelve. No public transport runs to Portitxol. Outside the season the barriers stay open and parking at both spots is free.

For the beach itself, the swimming water and the facilities at Granadella and Portitxol, see their own place pages.

What about the other beaches and calas?

At the smaller beaches and calas it varies from spot to spot. At Cala Blanca you simply park in the residential streets. Cala Sardinera has no car park, since you can only reach it on foot. Cala Ambolo is closed. Along the coast road by the two Muntanyars you park for free on the street.

Cala Blanca is also known among Spaniards as Primera y Segunda Caletas. There is no dedicated car park: you park among the houses of the neighbourhood, within walking distance of the water.

The path to Cala Sardinera starts at Creu del Portitxol; from there it is on foot only, all the way to the beach itself.

Along the coast road by the Primer Muntanyar and the Segon Muntanyar you park for free on the street. At the Primer Muntanyar the council has also set a two metre height restriction on two parking zones along the Avenida del Mediterráneo, to keep out campervans and other large vehicles.

What about parking at the miradors, Cap de la Nau and Cap de Sant Antoni?

The miradors of Jávea are spread out along the coast and are mostly reached by car. The council's official route leaflet actually describes them as a cycling route, just over 27 kilometres long, starting from the car park at the Arenal. At Cap de Sant Antoni the easiest option is to park a few hundred metres before the lighthouse and walk the last stretch.

If you go in high season, arrive early: parking space at most viewpoints is limited. The dedicated miradors guide on this site describes all fifteen viewpoints and the easiest way to combine them.

Where do you park for a walk up the Montgó?

For a walk up the Montgó there are three starting points where you can park. At the Campo de Tiro, on Dénia's territory, an unpaved road off the CV-736 leads to a free, likewise unpaved car park. At the Ermita del Pare Pere, the starting point of the route via the Camí de la Colònia, and at Jesús Pobre, there is also room to leave the car.

Which route and starting point suit you best depends on fitness and time; the guide Hiking the Montgó sets out all the options.

Where do you charge an electric car?

In Jávea you will find free council charging points in three places: five at Parking Plaça de la Constitució, five at Parking del Portal del Clot and eight semi fast 22 kW charging points at Duanes de la Mar in the harbour. For anyone already parking by the old town or the harbour, charging is easy to combine without any extra effort.

Do you actually need a car in Jávea?

Anyone staying in the Arenal, the old town or the harbour, and sticking to those areas, manages perfectly well without a car. As soon as Granadella, Portitxol, the miradors or the Montgó are on the agenda, a car does become practical, since those spots lie beyond walking distance of the hubs.

If you want a hire car, compare the options beforehand through DiscoverCars. If you would rather travel without a car of your own, this site's getting here page describes the ALSA bus links and the TRAM via Dénia.

In short: parking in Jávea is free on the street almost everywhere, you only pay at the calas in summer and in the car parks, and the app and the tourist road train are handy tools whenever somewhere is full.