Best places to live on the North Costa Blanca

If you're looking to move to or buy a holiday home in Spain, you've made a great choice. Deciding exactly where in Spain, though, can be far more challenging: The options are endless, so how do you narrow it down?

The popular Costa Blanca is highly varied with something for everyone, so where would be the best area for the life you want to lead?

The 'two Costa Blancas'

One of Spain's earliest destinations for foreign holidaymakers and now home to a long-established multi-national community, the Costa Blanca is as richly diverse as its inhabitants, who have unofficially divided 244 kilometres of the Alicante-province coastline into "North Costa Blanca" and "South Costa Blanca".

This article focuses on the North Costa Blanca, which extends from just above Alicante city to the border with Valencia province.

Finding the right lifestyle-location match is crucial, so here's an overview of life on the North Costa Blanca to aid your decision-making – but check out Best places to live on the South Costa Blanca, too, as a comparison.

How is the North Costa Blanca different from the South?

The North Costa Blanca - comprising the districts of Marina Baixa and Marina Alta - is more 'traditionally Spanish' than the South, and European expatriates are fewer and more scattered. The advantage of the North Costa Blanca for foreign residents is that it's a 'gateway' to an authentic Spanish lifestyle, yet with a safety net.

The main features that make the North Costa Blanca different are:

• Fewer urbanisations

Urbanisations (purpose-built residential complexes) become fewer, smaller and farther apart the more northwards you travel, and are much closer to the main hub of their towns and villages.

• Fewer expatriates

Costa Blanca urbanisations usually have an exceptionally-high foreigner population, normally from northern Europe, whilst Spanish-owned properties on them are predominantly summer homes. The South Costa Blanca's extensive villa and apartment complexes therefore mean considerably more expatriates than in the north.

• More villages, much smaller towns

The North Costa Blanca is mostly made up of lots of villages a short distance apart and very well-connected to each other, whilst the southern half is much more densely populated. The North only has one town of more than 50,000 inhabitants – Benidorm – whereas the south has several big towns and two cities.

• More rural

Generally, the north is greener, more forested, rural and mountainous, whilst the south, certainly along the coast, is flatter and more arid.

• Greater national mix in foreign communities

Areas with a high foreigner population in the North are more culturally-diverse. The large, multinational European communities are often outnumbered by expatriates from elsewhere in the world, opening up a world of diverse cultural exchange.

In the South, foreigner-dominated urbanisations are overwhelmingly British and German.

• More permanent and long-standing foreign residents

Foreigners all along the coast are a mixture of permanent residents, and second-home owners who spend extended periods in Spain, but are officially still residents of their countries of origin. On the North Costa Blanca however, long-term permanent foreign residents are more prevalentthan they are in the South.

• Younger demographic

Although pensioners and early retirees are the majority age group among the entire Costa's northern Europeans, more working-aged expatriates live on the North Costa Blanca than the South.

• More local integration

In the South, the coastal developments are practically towns in their own right, with enough facilities and services to be almost self-sufficient. In the North these are normally purely residential with few or no services. Their residents have to drive into town for shopping and errands and, consequently, have almost daily contact with Spanish people. Expat-run clubs and societies typically also have strong links with the mainstream community

• Greater use of regional language

Spanish is the main language among locals on the South Costa Blanca, and road signs and general information will normally be in Spanish. On the North Costa Blanca, the co-official regional tongue, valenciano, is much more widely used in conversation and public places. For practical purposes, as long as you speak and understand Spanish, it doesn't matter if you can't speak valenciano.

Marina Baixa

Although visibly expatriate-dominated and clearly geared to sunshine tourism, networks of small towns and villages steeped in history are proof the Marina Baixa is still hanging onto its traditional lifestyle. Large numbers of seasonal holidaymakers, especially Brits and Germans, mask the fact that foreigners make up only a very small percentage of the permanent population.

Outside of Benidorm, L'Alfàs del Pi and Finestrat the area feels very 'traditionally Spanish', and foreign communities are a huge blend of multiple nationalities.

Benidorm

A trailblazer for Spain's burgeoning foreign tourism industry in the 1960s and 1970s, Benidorm was the first-ever experience of 'abroad' for an entire generation of European families – mostly British. And Brits remain, by far, Benidorm's biggest and most influential international holidaymaker market.

But there are widespread misconceptions about Benidorm, namely:

• Myth: It's bursting with UK expats

Reality: Most British residents you see there are merely day-trippers or weekend visitors from elsewhere on the Costa. Benidorm's widely viewed as a holiday destination, not a permanent home.

• Myth: It's basically 'Britain with sun'

Reality: Benidorm is actually highly culturally-diverse. A third of its headcount is foreign, but of these, six in 10 are from Asia, Africa and Latin America and only two in 10 European – barely 14% of the census. In total, just 3.6% of Benidorm's 75,000 residents are British.

• Myth: It's a noisy, low-brow 'booze-and-beach' destination

Reality: It's definitely an affordable seaside holiday hotspot with a great nightlife, but that's only part of the story. Most of Benidorm is high-quality and attractive, thanks to its pretty historic quarter, spa resorts, three theme parks, six golf courses, tasteful Manhattan-style skyline, and huge entertainment scene. Illuminated at night, it's a dazzling, majestic and magical-looking cityscape, but mostly quiet and deserted except in high summer.

Benidorm's perfectly practical for year-round living and fully-operative out of season, and property is typically cheaper than elsewhere in the Marina Baixa, too. If you'd rather keep it for day trips, though, these are the other main towns in the area – just a few kilometres from Benidorm, but worlds apart.

Altea

Steeped in centuries of history, Altea's cobbled lanes, domed churches, Baroque architecture, and secluded pebbled beaches with original 1960s' summer homes are a visual delight. Beyond the centre are a golf club, and luxury villa complexes embedded into the mountainside - such as Altea Hills, which has been home to renowned international celebrities. Here, the most prestigious street, Las Ramblas, has an average property price of just over €4 million.

Finestrat

Lively in summer, the beach area known as the Cala de Finestrat is a small, secluded cove shared with neighbouring Villajoyosa and occupied year-round by expatriates. Finestrat and Villajoyosa also share an 18-hole golf course, on the Alfarella urbanisation.

Although the British and German presence is very evident, it's an ordinary working town out of season.

Villajoyosa

Adjoining Finestrat and sharing its cove, the Marina Baixa capital town, Villajoyosa, retains a traditional Spanish feel, and is attractive as well as functional. It is know for its brightly-painted port-side houses, thriving fishing industry, and working chocolate museum. The district hospital and similar amenities are based here, making it a practical choice for foreigners who don't want to 'live like expatriates', or want to live near (but not in) a bustling holiday hotspot.

L'Alfàs del Pi

Benidorm's nearest neighbour, L'Alfàs del Pi, is a quaint little town with an international school, golf club and driving range, and 90 different nationalities among its 20,000 inhabitants.

Most foreigners live in the residential beach hub, Albir, which has an extremely unusual demographic: the biggest population of Norwegian nationals anywhere on earth outside of their native country, known as 'Lille Norge' ('Little Norway')

Norwegian nationals make up 15% of the population in L'Alfàs del Pi, and Albir has two Norwegian-State-funded schools, three Norwegian-run elderly care homes, a Norwegian Lutherist church, a Norwegian-speaking medical centre, and the only Norwegian volunteer centre (frivilligsentral) outside Norway.

Other popular Marina Baixa locations

Much smaller towns and villages, cosmopolitan but mostly Spanish, like La Nucia, Polop, Callosa d'En Sarrià and Relleu offer semi-rural living just minutes from a motorway and busier municipalities. Ideal for families, both Callosa and La Nucía have international schools.

Marina Alta

The northernmost stretch of the Costa Blanca appears to be more 'Spanish' – European expatriate influence is minimal. Yet the figures show the complete opposite ought to be true. The Marina Alta's northern European expatriate population nearly doubles that of the Marina Baixa. The difference is that, in the Marina Alta, many expatriates have lived there for decades and simply 'blend in'.

Currently, six Marina Alta towns appear in the top 20 Spanish municipalities with the highest percentage of foreigners – over 60% in Llíber and Benitatxell, and more than half in Alcalalí, Teulada-Moraira, Murla and Calpe, putting Spaniards in a minority – yet nobody actually notices. All of these feel 'very Spanish', and foreign residents largely lead a 'local' lifestyle.

There are also plenty of tourists, but the majority are from other parts of Spain, and usually summer-home owners. Holiday lets are a big thing, too – the district has very few hotels – making this a popular location for people to buy a second home and let it to tourists when they're not using it themselves.

The Marina Alta has no large towns. Dénia, the capital, is the biggest, with 49,000 residents, and 27 of its 33 municipalities have fewer than 10,000. In fact, 40% of the district's European expatriates live in villages. The short distances between villages and the excellent road links, mean that services and facilities are good as they each fill each others' infrastructure gaps.

Outside the main towns, the Marina Alta is well-loved by expatriates for its rustic appeal and nostalgic charm. Small family-run shops, close communities, and a traditional, unhurried way of life offer a highly-appreciated sense of homeliness and calm – a perfect antidote to the rush and stress of modern living.

These are the Marina Alta's five largest municipalities:

Calpe

The area's southernmost town, Calpe really belongs in the Marina Baixa, culturally-speaking. High-rise urban beach hotels, and British and German holidaymakers, are far more common than Spanish-owned holiday homes. Although Calpe has only 26,000 inhabitants, it feels like a big city in miniature – complete with quirky, unusual features. The famous Gibraltar-style Peñón de Ifach, the futuristic Red Wall, Roman baths on the beach, and salt flats with flamingoes right in the town centre make Calpe a visually-pleasing as well as practical place to live.

Benissa

Exceptionally well-connected thanks to a brand-new bypass system that has left the town centre almost traffic-free, Benissa features modern industry against a backdrop of historical buildings - including Alicante province's only Basilica – and endless countryside.

Benissa's population is around 12,300, of whom 1,750 are British or German – the largest European communities. Most of these live in surrounding urbanisations or by the Fustera beach, a tranquil and uplifting semi-rural cove out of season.

Well-loved villages near Benissa include those that make up the picturesque, rural Vall de Pop (Jalón Valley). Surprisingly cosmopolitan, these eight municipalities - Jalón, Orba, Llíber, Parcent, Murla, Benigembla, Senija and Alcalalí - are ideal for leading an authentic countryside lifestyle.

To the north, the larger villages of Gata de Gorgos and Pedreguer, known for their traditional rural industries and handicrafts, have small, but prominent expatriate communities

Teulada-Moraira

Two towns in one, radically different from each other and separated by seven kilometres of main road, Teulada-Moraira is one of the North Costa Blanca's most sought-after areas. Teulada is a 'traditionally Spanish' walled town. Around 85% of the municipality's 12,500 residents live in the Teulada part.

Moraira is the coastal hub, of modern construction and almost exclusively foreign – except in summer when its Spanish population – mostly local - multiplies.

Shops, restaurants and other services in Moraira are mainly German- and English-speaking, especially the latter, given that one in four people in the wider municipality are from the UK. The second-largest expatriate community is from Germany.

Originally a fishing village, Moraira is well-loved and well-visited by Spaniards year-round, thanks to its unspoilt rural coves, hiking and cycling trails, and breathtaking views. Spanish people are, therefore, a constant presence in Moraira, even though very few live there.

Jávea

More cosmopolitan than any other Marina Alta town, Jávea's a close-knit yet multi-national community. Thanks to the influence of so many languages, customs and world views, Jávea has become a very modern, open society where communities band together. It has more charity shops than any other town in the Marina Alta, staffed by mixed teams of British, German, Swiss, Dutch and Spanish helpers, raising substantial funds for local causes. A multi-lingual section in the public library created by residents, an international school, and even a volunteer fire brigade set up by urbanisation dwellers are evidence that, in Jávea, multiculturalism really does work.

And Jávea's fragmented geography makes its community spirit all the more remarkable. Its territory is vast and residential areas widely scattered, separated by winding mountain roads, dramatic cliffs and rugged bays. Many urbanisations can be up to a 40-minute drive from the main town.

Jávea's population is just 30,100, yet its coastline is 25 kilometres long. It's home to two of Spain's most expensive property-buying streets, with modern mansions selling at an average of €3.5 million.

In Jávea's nearest neighbour, Benitatxell, there are eight expatriates (mainly Brits) for every five Spanish residents. Most live on the hilltop Cumbre del Sol urbanisation overlooking the picturesque Cala Moraig bay.

Dénia

Dénia is the Marina Alta capital and its largest municipality. This colourful port town is overlooked by the impressive Montgó mountain. Everything connected with the sea is deeply entrenched into local culture, leisure and industry. It's an international cruise-liner stop, hosts celebrity mega-yachts, runs gourmet seafood fairs and élite boat shows, is replete with surfing, scuba-diving and sailing schools, and has a sizeable fishermen's community and massive harbour market.

The entire town centre is right on the beach or port. Dénia's exquisite cuisine, which has earned it UNESCO Creative Culinary City status, is heavily based on fresh fish and its trademark delicacy, the Dénia red prawn.

Although a 'working town' with government offices and hospitals, Dénia feels like a holiday resort. Most jobs are in hospitality and leisure, and the town has its own college of tourism. Employment is often seasonal, and Dénia feels more geared up to vacationers than residents. Its layout is less practical, supermarkets are a long distance apart and, for major chain stores, you have to drive to the retail park in Ondara 14 kilometres away.

Holidaymakers are predominantly Spanish, and accommodation is almost entirely tourist lets or second homes, but the year-round foreigner population accounts for a third of all inhabitants. Spanish aside, 105 confirmed nationalities live there, including Venezuelans, Ukrainians, Swiss, Romanians, Dutch, Moroccans, Italians, French, Bulgarians, and Argentines. The largest national group is Colombians, who nearly outnumber the second- and third-largest communities (Germans and Brits) combined.

German, being Dénia's most prominent non-Spanish native tongue, is widely spoken as a second language – more so than English – in business and public services.

Dénia has two tied villages with significant expatriate communities: La Xara, which includes the luxury La Sella urbanisation with its 27-hole professional-standard golf course and spa resort; and Jesús Pobre, in the foothills of the Montgó,and steeped in culture and tradition.

North of Dénia

The Marina Alta's sixth-largest municipality is Pego, famous for its annual carnival, and home-grown rice. The urbanisation Monte Pego, the biggest in the town, looks down from a mountain over extensive marshland and paddy fields. Residents there, mainly retired, are most likely to be German, French, Swiss and Dutch, with a small number of Brits.

Adjoining Pego to the west are the tiny villages of L'Atzúvia and El Ràfol d'Almúnia, where most expatriates live on large urbanisations on a hillside above them. To the east, Ondara, El Verger and Els Poblets are almost walking distance apart and barely a kilometre from Monte Pego. Only Els Poblets has a significant expatriate population (mostly German), but foreigners are frequently seen in all three due to their closeness and shared facilities.

If you think the North Costa Blanca might suit you, check out our Find Your Place in Spain tool that lets you select the area and filter for lifestyle needs and choices, including proximity to expatriate communities of different nationalities.