Written by Scarlett Murray,
Last Modified: 21st December 2023

Sure that you want to buy along the Costa Blanca but feel uncertain on exactly where? Stretching for over 200km, the Costa Blanca is made up of wonderful, characterful towns. To find the one best for you, here’s an area guide to five towns along the Costa Blanca.  

In the latest Your Overseas Home survey, 22.52% of our readers said that they wanted to buy in south Costa Blanca and 18.10% said that they wanted to buy in the north of the Costa Blanca. Combined, this outstrips any other Spanish area in being sought-after by prospective buyers. To tease out where exactly along the Costa Blanca you’d like to buy, have a look through this Costa Blanca area guide.

Find homes in Costa Blanca via our property portal.

Alicante city

Alicante

Alicante.

According to data citied by the Olive Press, in the second quarter of 2022, Alicante was the third most popular city in the Spanish property market. It was bettered by Madrid and Barcelona.

From April to June, over 12,000 properties were bought and sold in Alicante. Overseas buyers accounted for nearly half of them, at 44.67%.

Moreover, Alicante has the most interest from international buyers of all. It is followed by Santa Cruz de Tenerife where 38.01% of buyers were international. Then, in Málaga, where they took up 32.02% of sales.

Interestingly, British buyers are keen on resale properties while German, Dutch and Belgian buyers are gravitating more towards new builds.

So how has Alicante caught so many overseas buyers in its spell? This year, Alicante shoved Bilbao in the Basque Country as the 10th biggest city in Spain. And its population is only growing…

Alicante is a lively city with a great balance of the old and the new. You can be blown away by the beauty of Castle of Santa Bárbara, the 16th century Gothic church of Santa María and the Casa de la Asegurada museum. It contains a collection of works by Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso and Eduardo Chillida. Meanwhile, for a taste of the new, head to La Explanada de España. Running parallel to one of the ports, it is a boulevard lined with palm trees and marble tiles. It will your go-to for shopping, as it is perfect for purchasing trinkets, jewellery and sweet treats.

In and around the city, you’ll be able to find lovely Blue Flag beaches. If you don’t to leave the city, then head to El Postiguet Beach, located at the foot of the Castle of Santa Bárbara. Convenience is not all that El Postiguet has to boast of it has kids play areas, volleyball, cafes, plenty of parking spaces, the pretty Paseo de Gómiz promenade and facilities for disabled people.

Best suited to: those seeking the buzz of city living.

Time to the airport: 13 minutes by car or bus.

Benidorm

Poniente beach.

Poniente beach, Benidorm.

Benidorm has secured a reputation as the party town along the Costa Blanca. Whether you’re into cabaret, drag shows, hearty old Irish songs or a decent Elvis tribute act, Benidorm will cater to you. Plus, in the English square, you’ll be able to bond with fellow expats over a drink or two.

Benidorm is a family-friendly location too. You’ll be spoiled for choice of beach with Playa de Poniente, Playa de Levante and Cala Mal Pas being favourites. There’s also a zoo and a waterpark, Terra Natura and Aqua Natura, which you can get a combined ticket for.

For a different side to Benidorm, head to the Old Town, with its cobbled streets, white-washed buildings and the famous looking point of Balcon del Mediterraneo. While the L’Aiguera Park with its long stretches of green and amphitheatres makes for an excellent walk.

Best suited to: party-seekers!

Time to airport: 40 minutes by car or bus.

Two-bedroom, Benidorm, €625,000

This is a new build, key-ready luxury property with amazing vistas of Poniente beach.

To see properties for sale in Benidorm, click here.

 

Albir

Albir

Discover the beauty of Albir.

Lots of beaches along the Costa Blanca get to wave the Blue Flag, which recognises their cleanness, excellence, and safety. But Albir Beach is exceptional in that it has been awarded a Blue Flag consistently for thirty years – since the inception of the Blue Flag. Only six other Spanish beaches can make the same claim.

Another plus of owning a home in Albir is the international film festival that takes place every summer. There’s a brilliant Hollywood-style promenade of stars’ names to mark the occasion too.

Although Albir possesses a much more relaxed vibe, should you ever be in the mood for a day of waterslides or a night of tribute acts, Benidorm is a fifteen-minute drive away. Moreover, the two towns are separated by the 5,600-hectare Sierra Helada Natural Park.

Best suited to: beach babes.

Time to airport: 45 minutes by car.

Three-bedroom, Albir, €369,000

A charming three-bedroom penthouse that is walking distance from amenities and the idyllic beach!

To see more properties for sale in Albir, click here. 

 

Torrevieja

Torrevieja's pink lake.

Torrevieja’s pink lake.

Torrevieja is one of the most popular towns along the Costa Blanca with international buyers. So, it’s ideal if you’re looking for somewhere with an established expat community to welcome you. All of the beaches have been awarded a Blue Flag, with the golden sands of Playa de La Mata being a favourite. Torrevieja’s stand-out feature is the Las Salinas de Torrevieja, a stunning rose-tinted salt lake. Kids will love it here as there are two waterparks, Aquapark Flamingo and Aquopolis Torrevieja. Plus your shopping needs will be met by Mercadillo de Torrevieja, an open-air market selling all kinds of bits and bobs, and affordable fresh fruit and veg. When you want to shop at your favourite big brands, head to Habaneras shopping centre.

Best suited to: those looking for an established expat community.

Time to airport: 40 minutes by car.

Three-bedroom, Torrevieja, €208,900

This is a cosy one-storey villa with a solarium that benefits from sea views.

Luckily, we have over 1,000 properties for sale in Torrevieja. Check them out here.

 

Javea

Jávea is a multicultural gem with a pretty marina and quaint old town.

If you’re torn between buying in Alicante or Ibiza, Javea (also called Xàbia) may be the place for you. Javea is on the northeast tip of the Costa Blanca. Ibiza lies 90 kilometres off the coast. On a bright day, you’ll been able to spy it in the distance. It is home to beautiful beaches, such as Playa del Arenal and Cala Cap Negre. Furthermore, Javea is ideal for hikers with the Montgo Natural Park.

Best suited to: those seeking a calmer atmosphere.

Time to airport: an hour by car.

Three-bedroom, Javea, €1,149,000

This rustic Mediterranean style villa boasts of incredible sea views.

To see properties for sale in Javea, click here.

 

…Still unsure? Here’s a little round-up of other great Costa Blanca towns:

Denia is a historic port town not far from Javea. See properties for sale here.

Orihuela is a popular choice among overseas buyers. It boasts of Blue Flag beaches, resorts and golf courses. See properties for sale here.

Ciudad Quesada is a small place with just over 16,000 people. It isn’t super touristy. See properties for sale here. 

Last but not least, Calpe has been sealing its status as a tourist magnet. It is home to great golfing options, a charming marina. Plus, the impressive Rock of Ifach. See properties for sale here. 

Finally, you might also enjoy reading:

Spain Buying Guide cover

The Spain Buying Guide is a free, independent resource to help anyone who is looking to buy property in or move to Spain through each critical stage of their property buying journey.

Set up to help our readers avoid the many complexities and pitfalls of buying property in Spain, the guide takes you through each stage of the property buying process, with practical recommendations from our experts who have been through the process themselves.

 

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