Français
EnglishBest neighbourhoods to live in Alicante
- Lifestyle: the annual average is around 20°, summer goes above 30° and winters stay mild, around 16°, in a dry climate; beaches fill up from March or April. The city has more than 300,000 inhabitants and a lower cost of living than Valencia or Barcelona.
- Services: hospitals and specialist medical centres, schools, colleges and the University of Alicante, modern buses and trams, museums and theatres.
- Four neighbourhoods: the old town and its cobbled lanes; San Juan, close to the centre and well connected; the Ensanche, near Postiguet beach; Albufereta, more than 10,000 residents, 5 minutes from the centre: allow €139,000 for 68 m² with two bedrooms and parking, €220,000 for 90 m² with sea views.
- Student rentals: €480 a month for 60 m² in San Juan, €680 for 50 m² in the Casco Antiguo, €550 for 67 m² in the Ensanche, €520 for 55 m² in L'Albufera, €500 for 80 m² in San Vicente del Raspeig.
- Key point: for families, Playa de San Juan and the Pau neighbourhood combine services, shops and a calm setting.
Thinking of living in Alicante?
Wondering which is the best neighbourhood to live in Alicante?
If you have decided to move and are looking for a new city to settle in, this Mediterranean city will certainly be a very tempting option.
Its climate, its landscapes, its calm and its people make it a real oasis.
What is life like in Alicante?
Starting a new life in another city always raises many doubts and questions. We always want to know where we are going to settle, so we can weigh up the pros and cons before deciding on something as important as buying a home.
If you are thinking of moving, you are surely wondering what it is like to live in Alicante and whether you will fit in well. The fact is that it is an oasis of relaxation with many advantages for its residents.
Unbeatable weather
To start with, the climate in Alicante is ideal all year round. Living here means mild winters compared with many parts of Spain.
The annual average is around 20°, and in summer it easily goes above 30°. Winters are mild, with average temperatures of 16°, and the climate is dry for most of the year.
Beaches start to fill up in March or April, so you will not have to wait for the summer months to enjoy the sea. These temperatures are perfect for many outdoor activities.
If you decide to settle here, you will have plenty of sports facilities at your disposal, so you can get fit with sports such as golf and sailing, two of the most popular in the city and the whole province.
An open, cosmopolitan city
Alicante is a Mediterranean city used to welcoming hundreds of thousands of tourists all year round, especially in summer, when the streets and beaches are full of visitors from all over Spain and the rest of the world. Because of this international character, Alicante is an open, cosmopolitan and multicultural place.
In Alicante, you will feel at home.
All the services of a big city
The capital of the province, on the Costa Blanca, is a great city with all the public and private services you need, including first-class hospitals and medical centres specialising in fields such as ophthalmology, assisted reproduction or cosmetic medicine.
It also has schools, colleges and the renowned University of Alicante (UA), a benchmark across Spain.
There are also excellent business schools and higher education institutions, and a very special university atmosphere. Students from all over the world choose Alicante every year to study abroad.
Public transport is also modern and very efficient, both buses and trams.
A great cultural and leisure offer
Like any big city, Alicante offers first-class culture and leisure. The city is full of museums, cultural centres, theatres and activities for adults and children.
The food scene is impressive, with restaurants serving typical Alicante cuisine and others following the “gastronomic” trend and the latest culinary fashions.
Its nightlife is also well known throughout the region. Have you ever tried the tardeo? Get ready, because in Alicante you do not only go out at night, but also from midday.
Food tradition
The city's food tradition is also worth highlighting. Living in Alicante is a unique chance to eat a balanced Mediterranean diet (in which paella will often take centre stage). An irresistible dish, all the more so with the fresh seafood that is easy to find in a coastal city like this one.
A more affordable city
To finish answering the question of what it is like to live in Alicante, it is worth noting that the city has a much lower cost of living than other Mediterranean cities such as Valencia or Barcelona, despite a high quality of life. Of course, this is an important factor when deciding where to live.
Alicante is a city of more than three hundred thousand inhabitants, spread across very different areas within the urban area. Although they all enjoy a more than pleasant quality of life, we highlight the 4 best neighbourhoods to live in Alicante.
The old town
The old town is one of our first suggestions for where to live in Alicante. It is a very popular area by day and by night, which makes it ideal for young people who like a drink in the evening without going too far from home. Unsurprisingly, the neighbourhood has several restaurants and a large number of nightlife venues.
The neighbourhood is full of old houses, whose beauty is brought out by the sun and its traditional streets. Wandering its maze of cobbled lanes and white façades, with colourful flowerpots and mosaic tiles, is a relaxing experience that sets the tone for a high quality of life for everyone who lives there.
San Juan
We also cannot resist mentioning San Juan as one of the best neighbourhoods to live in Alicante. In fact, locals themselves name it as one of their favourite places to live. Its prime location close to the city centre, good public transport links and the calm of its streets and green spaces are part of its appeal.
The Ensanche
Looking for a more modern neighbourhood to live in Alicante? The city also has an area full of spacious, modern homes, with shops to match. This is the Ensanche, which has another big advantage: it is very close to the beach. Near Postiguet beach, it stands out for its wide, straight streets leading directly to one of the area's great attractions: Alicante marina.
Albufereta
This city also has a neighbourhood that stands out for its calm and its atmosphere. If you are looking for somewhere to live in Alicante and you love the sea, Albufereta will be your best option. Albufereta is one of the best neighbourhoods in Alicante.
It is a busy area (more than 10,000 people live there), but it stands out for its calm and its spectacular, slightly bohemian atmosphere.
You will be only 5 minutes from the centre, with all the shops and services you need, but you will feel as if you are on holiday all year round. The spectacular sea views are more than enough reason to buy one of the traditional houses still found here.
The property market in this area is therefore in high demand among buyers and investors. For a 68 m² two-bedroom flat in Albufereta (parking included), allow €139,000. For a two-bedroom, 90 m² flat with sea views, the price is €220,000. Around Albufereta you will find:
- To the north: the Santa Faz area
- To the east: Playa de San Juan
- To the south: Cabo de la Huerta
- To the west: the Vistahermosa neighbourhood
This prime location makes Albufereta an area of high property value, where homes are a sound investment. For buyers, the neighbourhood offers a unique quality of life: all the services of a city with plenty of nature and well-being.
Student neighbourhoods in Alicante
Alicante is a city in the south of the Valencian Community. It is an excellent option for students looking for a coastal city with a beach and good weather all year round. Together with Elche and other nearby towns, Alicante forms a large metropolitan area with no shortage of the services students look for.
Many neighbourhoods in Alicante are recommended, and each has its strengths. Here are a few, and the reasons to choose them.
San Juan
It is a neighbourhood near the coast, ideal if you want to spend hours and hours on the beach all year round. It is also very well connected to the city centre by public transport.
In this neighbourhood, renting a 60 m² one-bedroom flat costs €480 a month.
Casco Antiguo
It is a quiet neighbourhood, but also the ideal place to enjoy the nightlife and go out for a drink without any hassle. Flats here are generally old but also bigger than in other neighbourhoods.
Renting a 50 m² one-bedroom flat costs €680 a month.
Ensanche
It is a modern neighbourhood facing the sea, with up-to-date flats and all the services a student looks for. You will find leisure areas with concerts, bars and restaurants, as well as department stores and markets.
On average, renting a 67 m² one-bedroom flat costs €550 a month.
L'Albufera
It is a quiet neighbourhood by the sea, ideal for students who choose this destination for its beach. Its affordable prices suit students, who can find cheap flats and share at a good price.
Renting a 55 m² one-bedroom flat costs around €520 a month.
San Vicente del Raspeig
It is a town very close to Alicante; in fact, the University of Alicante is located there. We recommend investing in a flat in San Vicente because it is close to the university. The town has a good student atmosphere, even though it is further from the coast.
To rent in this area, an 80 m² one-bedroom flat may be listed at €500 a month.
Would you like to invest in a flat for student rental in Alicante?
Where to live in Alicante with children?
Living in Alicante with children is a unique experience. The city's calm, its closeness to the beach and the lively atmosphere in many neighbourhoods are decisive factors that let children grow up in a relaxed setting and give parents the best comfort.
Playa de San Juan, the best neighbourhood
We can only recommend Playa de San Juan which, as we have already mentioned, is the favourite neighbourhood of long-time residents of Alicante. A few minutes from the beach, with plenty of services and a calm setting, it attracts many families for its good quality of life and tree-lined avenues. It is the ideal place to live for adults and for children, who can grow up in a friendly, welcoming environment.
Pau
The Pau neighbourhood is another good area to live in Alicante with children. To give you an idea of its appeal, a few years ago it was a finalist for the best neighbourhood in Europe award.
Born as an extension of the city centre, it has a relaxed atmosphere, as it is home to young families and has more and more shops. It also stands out for its many entertainment options for all kinds of people. Its energy means parents and children can find plenty of services and leisure options without leaving the neighbourhood.
Alicante, the ideal city to live in
In short, Alicante is the perfect option for anyone looking for a relaxed setting, with lively neighbourhoods where you can build lasting relationships with your neighbours. The city also stands out for having the sea in several of its best places to live, and for its range of quality services.
Thanks to this combination of factors, it is the ideal place for children to grow up in comfort while their parents enjoy peace of mind. All these advantages come with another equally important one: a good quality of life at a lower cost than in many other similar cities.
If you have decided to buy a flat or buy a house in Alicante, you will find a wide and varied choice of properties.
In this area, we work with professional construction companies and developers with several decades of experience in the sector and a full commitment to the city and its development.
It is one of the most profitable areas for property investors. Source: Deplace, jardinesdeolimpo, erasmusplay
Marc Rubio is head of the Alicante office of Alveo Search (Alveo group). He supports international buyers with their property projects in Alicante and on the Costa Blanca, from Dénia to Torrevieja. He shares his advice on choosing an area, analysing prices and spotting the points to watch before buying.
Our resources for buying in Spain
