Living in Costa Blanca North – Ultimate Guide

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Welcome to Costa Blanca North, one of the most beautiful regions of Spain! More and more residents and visitors come to explore Costa Blanca or to find here a permanent (holiday) home. This is not surprising, because when it comes to climate, distance, flight time, and housing offer there’s only costa that stands out: Costa Blanca. For nearby European countries, it’s only about a 2-hour flight and the good thing is that Costa Blanca has the biggest housing offer of all the costa areas, combined with the best climate in Europe.

Costa Blanca means ‘’white coast’’ and some call it the tourist name of the province of Alicante. A British airline company in the 1950s invented the name to promote working-class holidays in Spain. Costa Blanca is located in the southeast of Spain with a coastline that’s 220km long. The total area of almost 6000 km² contains 170 beaches, bays, and rocks! This makes it impossible not to find your favourite beach here. Beaches have tons of benefits, including stress relief, the regulation of hormones, and exercising. Many of the beaches of Costa Blanca North have earned the Blue Flag, which stands for cleanliness, quality of service, and infrastructure development.

In 2020, the beaches of Costa Blanca have been ranked as the best in the world! Every resort town has a beach, and 71 of them are awarded a high-quality mark. Very promising for the beach-lovers out there. And did you know that thousands of people come to Costa Blanca for health & Beauty? This aspect is influenced by the nature reserve with the largest salt lagoons in Europe. You can find beautiful flamingos and many other rare birds here.

Costa Blanca: the best climate in Europe

Why does Costa Blanca have the best climate in Europe or even one of the best climates in the world? Well, even during the middle of winter in February for example, the temperature stays around 22 degrees. Additionally, Costa Blanca has 320 days of sunshine a year. As you can tell this is very pleasant to live in and to do outdoor activities all year round. Another positive aspect is that there are no seasonal temperature changes. This means that you won’t experience strong winds or snow.

Even the World Health Organization has said that living in Costa Blanca is good for your health. The local climate is one of the best in the world. Thanks to the mountain range, cold air gets trapped and the cosy sea breeze helps you to cool off during the warm summer months. The average minimum temperature is 18 degrees or more. Therefore, it gets understandable that the local climate is the main attraction of Costa Blanca.

costa blanca north

Costa Blanca suits an active lifestyle

For all the lovers of activities out there: Costa Blanca offers you tons of activities to do all year round. Especially those who love watersports can go wild in Costa Blanca. For example. You can do kitesurfing, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, jet-skiing, snorkelling, diving, and much more. The vibrant underwater world gives you an unforgettable diving experience. Furthermore, you will find lots of other outdoor sports such as tennis courts, football pitches, fitness clubs, yoga centres, and of course golf!

Every year, more than 500,000 foreigners come to Costa Blanca to play golf at one of the 22 golf courses in Costa Blanca. The three main ones are Las Ramblas, Villa Martin, and Camp Amor – world-famous and the best in Spain. It is a true paradise for people who love to be challenged for the perfect swing.

Food and healthcare

Costa Blanca has an abundance of vegetables and all sorts of food both in open-air markets ad in supermarkets. Therefore, healthy food lovers will not be disappointed. Along with the markets on Costa Blanca, you will find an incredible number of bars, restaurants and cafes, marked by the Michelin gastronomic guide. Every restaurant included in this guide has been evaluated by a famed inspector and subsequent inclusion in the guide. When a restaurant has this mark, it can show that it guarantees a very good standard of food and wine experience.

Besides an abundance of healthy food, the medical care in Costa Blanca is very good. Costa Blanca has both public and private clinics with multilingual doctors. The World Health Organization has ranked Spanish medicine as fourth on the planet. This shows that the standard of living is high, where men live on an average of 79 years, and women 85 years.

Population and infrastructure

With 141 cities in Costa Blanca and a population of about 1.5 million people, it is one of the most visited places in Europe by foreigners. Every year, more than 9 million people arrive at the airport of Alicante. Great Britain ranks number 1 when it comes to the number of visitors from the country: 4.5 million visitors come from Great Britain every year. Then Germany follows with 700.000 visitors, the Netherlands with 370.000, and then Norway with 270.000 visitors per year. This also resulted in numerous settlements of the British, Germans, and Scandinavians. Their number even exceeds the local population in most municipalities.

A 5-minute drive away from Alicante, you can find the international airport. This airport receives hundreds of flights every week from all over Europe and Spain. Moreover, Costa Blanca has an extensive network of local and national highways. There are high-speed Mediterranean highways named the N332 and the AP-7 which go through the province. The train stations in Alicante offer easy access to famous cities in the north of Spain, such as Barcelona and Madrid. And were you thinking of visiting the Balearic Islands? Then you can easily use the passenger seaports of Alicante. These are even connected with north-Africa!

Costa Blanca North real estate

When it comes to looking for the best part in Costa Blanca for real estate, then we must say that it is Costa Blanca North. This area has limestone crags and characterful coves which makes it a very impressive destination – probably more than the south, which is the part of Costa Blanca that changes the characterful coves and limestone crags for white sandy beaches. It is the ideal location for those who seek a quiet and calm place for both a permanent and a vacation residence.

In short, real estate in Costa Blanca is a great idea because of:

  • High quality of life
  • Incredible climate
  • Political stability
  • Affordable housing prices

You get more value for money in the Spanish Costa Blanca when you compare this to other European areas. For instance, villas are usually more elegant and spacious. And not to forget the wonderful nature that comes with it. Isn’t this also worth the money in the first place? Our real estate in Costa Blanca is built of the upper best quality materials and only the best facilities. We are specialists in luxury real estate with a deep knowledge of every local market. We even have properties for sale that you won’t find on the open market, thanks to our unique approach.

After we’ve shown you the best places to live, we’ll talk some more about who we are and what you do. But let’s make it about you exploring the best areas first!

Altea

Let’s get you to meet the wonderful artists’ and fishermen’s village. On the north of Alicante, you find Altea which is both a city and a municipality. Its name comes from the Greek Athena, which means ‘’I cure’’. We can probably tell that this probably has to do something with all the health benefits in the area. Altea is a must-visit destination when you travel through Costa Blanca, or at least an area you must look into when you’re looking for Costa Blanca North real estate. The wonderful promenade along the coast and the picturesque Spanish village itself with the old town are just some of the highlights of living in this area.

Altea is a town of great beauty and uniqueness in Costa Blanca. Interesting is that all the houses you see here are white. This makes Altea a pure gem that you won’t see somewhere else. The artistic vibe has been there since the 18th century. Furthermore, what makes Altea special is that no matter what happened to the town, it did a great job at maintaining its authenticity when you compare it to other places in Costa Blanca. The town has been ruled by the Greeks, the Iberians, the Phoenicians, the Muslims, and the Romans – still, it didn’t lose its charm.

property in altea

Altea memorates history

The town still celebrates her old festivals and traditions, such as the feast of the Moors where they commemorate the confrontation between the Moorish and the Christians during the 13th century. They fought for dominion over the Spanish territory. And then you have the night of San Juan, Santa Trinidad on the beach, and Virgin del Carmen. The skyline of Altea is characterized by the old church on the central square, which dates from the time of the Moors. The dome has blue and white tile motifs, which is a typical Byzantine style.

Altea has a great location for exploring

This peaceful and tranquil village has lots of room for exploring Costa Blanca North. It’s located about 50 km north of the city of Alicante and 130 km south of Valencia. A must-see that’s nearby Altea, is a lighthouse that’s on top of the cliff. It’s a fabulous walk on well-prepared footpaths where the journey begins through pine trees. There are many viewpoints on a hill where you can take fantastic photos and have amazing views of the cliffs and down to the sea. And in the distance, you can spot the beaches of Altea and Albir. The walking route is suitable for everyone and it’s only a 2,5km walk. The lighthouse is located in the nature park called Parque Natural de la Serra Gelada.

Additionally, you can visit the town of Calpe which is located 10km above Altea. In this fun place, there’s a long boulevard with great beaches. If you love to get amazing views from above, you should have a look at Parque Natural Peñón de Ifach. This is a nature park with an enormous limestone that emerges from the sea, connected to the coast by rocky outcrops. This climb asks a bit more of your condition compared to the route to the lighthouse, as it’s a steep climb. However, the result is breathtaking with fantastic views over Calpe and the Mediterranean sea.

Lively places near Altea

And if you’d like to visit even more lively places, why not visit Alicante, the capital of the province Alicante? It has lots of bars and restaurants with everything to make your life more enjoyable. Furthermore, it has a very old city centre as there are even signs that prove it existed since the 3rd century. Visit the Santa Barbare castle on the mountain named Benacantil: one of the largest medieval castles in Europe! Besides, you can visit the resort Benidorm that’s close to Altea where you can find a beautiful boulevard and lots of restaurants and terraces with booming nightlife.

Activities in Altea

If you love golfing, then Altea is also the right place. This is because there’s a golf course named Don Cayo nearby, where you have a beautiful view of the sea and the Sierra Bernia. A benefit is that there’s a good restaurant here as well. Altea also holds a market every Tuesday and the town offers plenty of opportunities for both indoor and outdoor shopping to buy anything you need. And if you’re with kids, you can visit the animal park named Mundomar, the waterpark Aqualand, or the big attraction park in Benidorm which are all not far away from Altea.

Altea real estate

Residents and visitors love Altea for the sun, sea, beach, and the fascinating promenade along the sea with its many bars and restaurants. The characteristic white houses and the old centre give Altea a truly unique charm. Would you like to live in this wonderful village that maintained its authenticity? We have properties for sale in Altea that are built of the highest quality materials. Usually, these are built in a modern style and of course – they are white too from the outside to perfectly match the village’s original character.

On our website, you can find properties in the best locations, such as a few hundred meters away from the sea and in a peaceful and green environment. Altea offers an elevated position as well, which gives you even better views of all the characteristic white houses, the landscape, and the sea.

Calpe

If you have read about the wonderful Altea before, you have already tasted a little bit of the atmosphere of Calpe. It has great beaches, a long boulevard, and it’s well known for the nature park named Parque Natural Peñón de Ifach. Especially if you’re new to Calpe, going to this park is one of the first things you should do. It offers you the best views you can get of Calpe and it makes you proud of being there – or even having a holiday home or residence here. Calpe is a popular destination in the Costa Blanca North as almost everyone has heard of or seen this place.

Las Salinas de Calpe

Calpe used to be a tiny fishing village but nowadays, it’s far removed from that. More hotels and high-rise apartments were built close to the sea to get excellent sea views. These are even located in between the sea and salts lakes named Salinas el Saladar. These lakes are interesting spots where you can go on a circular walking trail that surrounds the lakes. This natural place attracts several rare migratory birds – even white storks and flamingos! To be precise, these lakes attracts over 173 species of flora and wildlife birds. The salt lakes were an important part of Calpe’s economy as fishing and salt marshes helped to bring more money into the economy.

Varied areas in Calpe

As you can see, the areas in Calpe can differ. Some places are very built up, where the area of Calpe Rock and near the harbour is less spoilt and offers more natural surroundings. There are loads of beautiful restaurants including 2 Michelin starred ones, classy boutiques, and beautiful beaches, some of which are the cleanest beaches in Europe! Calpe is a fantastic area for a lovely walk, no matter where you go. You won’t find discos in Calpe so for a more bustling nightlife, you can visit Benidorm for example, which is only a short drive away.

Natural Peñón de Ifach

Let’s give Natural Peñón de Ifach some extra attention and love here. The huge limestone that emerges from the sea, connected by rocky outcrops is a must-visit. First of all, don’t underestimate the walk up here. It’s a kind of mountain hike where the ground gets tougher the higher you go. But once you’re on top, you will get rewarded enormously. With beautiful views of Calpe, the sea, and all sorts of flowers growing there it is a destination you don’t want to miss.

Imagine being able to go here regularly when you get a permanent (holiday) home in Calpe. How great would that be? Watching the sunset, eating your lunch, or just going for a good walk to keep you in shape. We recommend you to wear good shoes as your agility and stamina levels will be challenged. But the better the enjoyment will be on top!

Interesting sights in Calpe

It’s an even bigger experience if you can swim within or close to a Roman site. Baños de la Reina is an example of this, where once people used large buckets for the nursery of fish. You can find it on the seafront next to ancient Roman baths and other important archaeological sites. On the other side of the baths, you will find a nice quiet beach with excellent snorkelling opportunities. Furthermore, the Torre de la Peça, located in the historic centre of Calpe is worth seeing as it’s an impressive part of the defensive layout that once protected the city from frequent pirate attacks.

And one of the best things you can do in Calpe is to visit the old town. There’s nothing as great as aimlessly wandering through the cobbled streets, where you can visit museums and walk along the walls. You will get both a delightful and surprising walk for sure.

Calpe real estate

What about a luxury villa within a privileged location in Calpe? Our Calpe real estate is finished with the highest quality materials and is mostly designed around beautiful terraces – including a pool. Our properties in Calpe are equipped with all comforts to make you live your best life. And at the same time, you will be located a few minutes away from the promenade, beaches, and various facilities. Find out everything about our beautiful spacious villas and other properties in Calpe on our website. Our experts of Baerz & Co can help you with everything to get you settled in your dream home in Calpe.

Moraira

If you are looking for a more quiet and smaller area than Calpe for example, then you should look into Moraira. It is a pretty place in Costa Blanca North, where it’s possible to walk around the town in about half an hour. For those who are seeking the perfect destination for retirement, or a permanent home with your family whether it’s for vacation or permanent – Moraira can be your place to go. It’s located in a convenient position as it’s situated in between Valencia and Alicante, both of which have international airports for easy accessibility. You can easily fly towards all kinds of other areas in Europe.

Moraira has 8km of coastline with a total service area of 42m², which makes it an exceptionally large geographical environment. Moraira even has the most popular and frequented beach in the area. Additionally, it has a fantastic yacht club called the Nautico club. You can get excellent food and drinks here as well. The traditional fishing port of Moraira has 620 moorings with all sorts of facilities you can ever hope for. With a Mediterranean climate known for mild winters and warm summers, people living here experience pleasant temperatures. The average yearly temperature is 18 degrees.

Officially, Moraira is a part of the town of Teulada, situated a few more kilometres inland. It has many luxury villas with some of the best views of the sea and Moraira. El Portet is one of the best-known areas to look for a property, which is a beach with turquoise water.

real estate in moraira

What makes Moraira so beautiful?

Besides the stunning yachts club and the most popular beach in the area named l’Ampolla, you will find even more golden beaches, hidden bays, and a ruggedly mountainous coastline in the area in and around Moraira. You can understand why a large percentage of residents are European foreigners. By the way, l’Ampolla is a clean beach with all the facilities that you need including parasols and sunbeds. Therefore, this is one of the beaches which earned a Blue Flag. The service is excellent and the beach is very family-friendly. Furthermore, the beach is at the foot of the castle.

This castle is an 18th-century old fortress located on a small rock. The evidence says that this ”Castillo de Moraira’’ was developed by Felipe II to protect the coast from Barbarian invaders during the 16th century. The Torre de Vigilancia del Cap d’Or was also a part of this defence, located on the mountain named Cap d’Or. Around the corner of Moraira, there’s a little beach named El Portet, with turquoise water and a winding road towards it. The water is safe for children too, as it’s very calm and the beautiful hills around there with pine trees make the pretty picture complete. This self shaped beach is perfect to take a relaxing swim.

Have we mentioned the old town yet? This is an ideal place to sit back and watch the world go by. With its many bars and cafes, you can enjoy a walk through the picturesque narrow streets. Most of these streets lead to the castle so this makes it easy not to get lost. In summer, the town starts to get more alive thanks to its visitors whereas in winter the town is usually very quiet compared to other places in the Costa Blanca North.

Moraira real estate

Moraira is the perfect setting for those seeking tranquillity and nature. A good thing is that we offer real estate in Moraira in the most sought-after locations. You will get all the convenient features that you’re looking for, with perfect sea views and both interior and exterior that seamlessly blend thanks to the spacious and bright rooms with large windows. We also have villas designed exclusively for specific plots which face south to enjoy most of the sun, with spectacular views of the sea and the ancient Moraira lookout tower. Choose from a wide range of properties in Moraira and use the help of the experts of Baerz & Co to make your decision as enjoyable and easy as possible.


Jávea

Jávea is a relatively unknown paradise that’s a little less upmarket compared to Moraira as it is free of high rise buildings. It has the best and largest beaches along the boulevard El Arenal. Besides, it has very lively bars for those who appreciate this. All around the town you will experience a relaxing holiday atmosphere. The town is right next to the shore and is known for its coastal blue waters. With numerous adventures and a wide array of activities, it’s a perfect residential area for both holiday seekers and those who seek a retirement destination. Jávea has the best of three worlds as it offers a fantastic variety of scenery, culture, and history. You can also look at it as if it’s three towns in one, with each its unique kind of beauty.

Jávea is located at the north end of Costa Blanca. With a little more than a 1-hour drive from the airport of Valencia or Alicante, it’s not too far away from the airports and neither is it too close to be crowded with visitors and tourists. It has a mild and pleasant temperature, with 26 degrees at the end of summer and 12 degrees at the beginning of the year. This is also thanks to the protection of Mount Montgó.

bay of javea

Jávea’s historic city centre

The city centre dates back to the late 14th century. With lots of pedestrian streets to choose from, you will be led to a central square and the famous church of San Bartolome. You can still spot holes in bullets from the Civil War. And especially at night, it will feel like you’ve gone back in history when the church bell rings and the amber lights reflect off the white-washed walls. Furthermore, the lovely honey-coloured Tosca sandstone buildings play a big part in its medieval feel. You can step out of this feeling once you reach the east of the old town where you discover a working community.

Again, the architecture of Jávea is brilliant. You can see the evidence of history within the gothic bay windows, the wrought iron window bars and balcony railings, and the Tosca stone porticoes. To get more information about Iberian history, you can visit the Archaeological Museum named ‘’Soler Blasco’’. And for some more unique architecture, you can visit the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Loreto. Within this church, it will feel like you look at the bottom of a ship, whereas on the outside you will see the waves.

Activities in Jávea

What kinds of activities can you do in Jávea? Well, what do you think about going to the Arenal area? Here you will find yourself on a stunning sandy beach with many palm trees and play areas for children. Framed by the promenade, the beach offers plenty of restaurants and bars with both international and national cuisines. Jávea is also a great place to shop as you can choose to visit many boutiques and shops. And what about being a little bit more active? You can join the modern yacht club at the sports marina where you can do various water sports activities, such as water skiing, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, and windsurfing. The marina has nearly 300 berths and offers lovely views of the shiny boats.

Even the lovers of golf won’t be disappointed, as there’s a Jávea Golf Club surrounded by orange groves and pines. Doesn’t this sound like a pleasant setting to get your perfect swing? And within easy access to Jávea, you can visit several other golf courses. Furthermore, Jávea offers excellent food in its international restaurants where you can try the local wine selection. We recommend trying Jalon, a high-quality wine with a lovely bouquet. Delicious dishes are made of fresh vegetables, fish, rice, fruit, and all other kinds of ingredients where the Costa Blanca North is rich in.

Jávea real estate

Do you want to live in wonderful green surroundings with beautiful sea views, whilst being in a relatively unknown paradise? Then it’s time you look into properties in Jávea. There are multiple popular urbanizations there, like Pino Azul. Pino Azul is close to El Arenal beach and the promenade. We even have Jávea real estate with a magnificent view of the Montgo mountain. This mountain dominates the skyline for miles around and is home to some of the most unique flora and fauna in Spain.

As our properties are perfectly located you can enjoy the sun on the large terraces and from your swimming pool. Depending on your wishes, aspirations, and lifestyle for now and in the future our experts can help you in the process of finding and buying your new home.

Dénia

Meet the historic down of Dénia, in between popular holiday destinations Alicante and Valencia. When you’re in Dénia you will avoid a big part of the mass tourism that’s coming to Costa Blanca North, and you will be surprised with everything that it has to offer you. With charming historic attractions, great beaches, and amazing weather it’s a fantastic place to live or to visit for both families and retirees. Valencia is 110km to the north and Alicante 120km to the south. Both of them have international airports which makes it more easily accessible, and possible for you to fly from Dénia to all kinds of other areas within Europe.

The true character of Dénia is seen by its cliffs jutting down the sea, numerous little coves, hidden beaches with extensive fine sand, and rugged landscapes. We can tell that Dénia is not a small little village, as there currently live 44.000 people. And 30% of the population consists of foreign residents. During the summer months, this population can increase by up to 200,000 people! This is more than 4 times as much. This shows us that you’re probably not the only one who can appreciate the average annual temperature of 20 degrees.

Gerro Tower & Dénia Castle

The picture below shows the Gerro Tower, which is a historic watchtower built in the 16th century to fight off or detect Berber pirates. It was part of a defence system that would communicate via mirrors or smoke. As this tower was built on a freshwater spring, it would have been pretty self-sufficient. Also, if you’re into some history take your time to explore Dénia’s castle which was built during the 10th century by the Moors. Once, it was home to a Moorish governor, but later it was used for military purposes to protect the area from frequent incoming pirates.

living in denia

An area that changes

The more you go eastwards, the more the area changes. Beaches get rockier and smaller, which makes you able to go to a small cove if you prefer that. It can also be nice to switch between going to sweeping beaches and small coves. Take Les Rotes for example, where the coastline becomes more wild and rugged. It’s located in a quiet part of Dénia that’s a chain of little rock pools and lovely beaches, and also hidden coves to explore. From there, you can benefit from the amazing surroundings of the golden sandstone cliffs of Cabo San Antonio and the marine park.

Take the opposite, where you to one of Dénia’s superb beaches: Les Marines. This beach starts north from the harbour with a varied mix of properties behind the beach and the low dunes. The water is usually very shallow, making it a safe beach for children too. And of course, Les Marines earned the Blue Flag which stands for excellent facilities, good water quality, and clean beaches. You can find plenty of bars and restaurants here to get a refreshment or something nice to eat. Punta del Raset is the closest beach to Dénia with soft sand and an even softer wind.

Climb an easy mountain that’s 750 metres high

The mountain named Montgó looks very impressive and robust, and it’s 750 metres high. But the interesting thing is that it’s quite easy to climb it, as you can take a side route near the shooting club when you take the CV-736. From here, the path goes up along grey limestone terraces till you get close to the top. The last 600 metres has no path so you’re literally climbing rocks. But still, it’s doable to get over this. And once you reached the top you will be blessed with spectacular views. Plus, then you can say you have climbed this mountain! Isn’t that worth the time? 

Dénia real estate

Living in Dénia means having the chance to get panoramic views of 360° to the mountains and the sea. Our magnificent villas in Dénia are located in the first line of the coast in Dénia, for example. Within a few steps, you will be at the wonderful blue sea and the Blue Flag beaches. Great restaurants and other amenities are still close to you. You can also have a look into the most sought-after area of Dénia, which is Las Rotas. It’s close to the centre of the city of Dénia, its shops and services, and the coves and beaches along the Mediterranean sea. Let us help you find the Dénia real estate you’re looking for!

When you want to look beyond Costa Blanca North for first-class properties, then why not have a look at our other guides? We will show you the best places to live in every area and country, including all the aspects that make them special. From the centre to the beaches, to the surroundings, and all other aspects that will help you to decide for your new home destination. We as Baerz & Co have experts and real estate agents across all of Europe, so we can offer you in-depth knowledge of all the areas and guidance with buying your next dream house.

On average, we save our clients more than three times our brokerage fee. Additionally, we are more than a traditional real estate agent. We can help you with taxation, legal matters, financing advice, turn-key management in architecture, renovation, construction, interior design, landscaping and furnishing as well. As we only sell the best of the best: only high-end luxury homes, you will only spot the best properties out there on our website. We even sell properties that aren’t out there on the open market. We constantly seek hidden gems. Can we help you with finding your unique gem? We’d love to hear from you!

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