Where to live in Alicante and on the Costa Blanca

Key rules

• Year-round towns: Alicante city, Elche, Torrevieja, Benidorm and Dénia stay open all year.
• Winter closures: In smaller resort places, many bars, restaurants and shops close or cut hours from November to March.
• Summer rentals: Long-term rentals are scarce in summer because owners let to tourists at high rates.
• Price range: Torrevieja is among the cheapest on the coast and Jávea the most expensive of the main towns.

The short answer

Pick a larger town if you want life that runs all year: Alicante city, Torrevieja, Benidorm or Dénia. Pick a quieter, upscale town such as Jávea if you want calm and can pay more. Be careful with small resort villages: many businesses close in winter.

Alicante city

Alicante is a working city with a port, a university and an airport. Most residents are Spanish, and life carries on all year. It has beaches too. Prices are mid-to-upper for the Costa Blanca. It suits you if you want a normal Spanish city, not a holiday town.

Resort towns

Torrevieja is a large coastal town with a big northern European community, including many British and Scandinavian residents. It has many urbanisations (planned housing estates) and some of the cheapest prices on the coast. It is busiest in winter, with some Spanish tourism in summer.

Benidorm is a high-rise resort. Older Northern European and Spanish visitors keep it busy all year. Transport and services are excellent, and flats are moderately priced.

Dénia is a pleasant port town with a Spanish and international community (German, Dutch, Scandinavian, British). It has ferries to Ibiza and the Balearics, a good food scene and mid-to-high prices.

Quieter, upscale towns

Jávea (Xàbia) is more residential and quieter. It has villas, a marina and a large international community (British, German, Dutch, Belgian). It has the highest prices of the towns above.

Moraira, Calpe, Altea and smaller coastal villages are similar in feel: attractive, but more dependent on visitors.

Seasonality: what closes and when

Larger towns stay open all year with services and a local population. That covers Alicante city, Elche, Torrevieja, Benidorm and Dénia.

In resort-heavy or urbanisation-heavy places, including parts of Jávea, Moraira, Calpe, Altea and small villages, many bars, restaurants and shops close or shorten their hours from November to March. Tourist businesses may shut for weeks. Visit in winter before you commit, and check which shops and restaurants near your street stay open.

How seasons affect renting

In summer, owners often let to tourists at high rates, so long-term rentals are scarce. Your options are:

• Annual rental: easier to find in larger or inland towns.
• Temporada: a winter let, usually 6 to 9 months, from September or October to May or June. Monthly prices are lower and often include utilities.

Rules on tourist lets and the national rental registry are changing. They affect how many homes are offered each way. Ask your town hall about current rules.

Which to choose

• Tight budget: Torrevieja has among the cheapest prices on the coast.
• City life and year-round services: Alicante city.
• Transport and services, with moderate flat prices: Benidorm.
• Food, port and ferries: Dénia.
• Quiet, villas and a higher budget: Jávea.

The timeline and FAQ below cover the practical steps and common questions.

Timeline and deadlines

• Look for a long-term annual rental in a larger or inland town: Most easily found outside the summer tourist season, when owners prefer tourist lets

• Take a winter let (temporada) if you want a short stay: Starts in September or October and runs for about 6 to 9 months, until May or June

Frequently asked questions

Which Costa Blanca towns stay open all year?

Alicante city, Elche, Torrevieja, Benidorm and Dénia stay open all year, with services and a local population. Smaller resort and urbanisation-heavy places such as Jávea, Moraira, Calpe and Altea see many bars, restaurants and shops close or cut hours from November to March.

Is it easy to find a long-term rental in summer on the Costa Blanca?

No, long-term rentals are scarce in summer because many owners let to tourists at high rates. Some owners offer a temporada, a winter let of about 6 to 9 months, from September or October to May or June, often at a lower monthly price that includes utilities.

Which Costa Blanca town suits a newcomer on a tight budget?

Torrevieja is among the cheapest on the coast, with a large northern European community and plenty of urbanisations. Benidorm has moderate flat prices and excellent transport and services. Jávea has the highest prices of the five main towns.