Alicante is the practical choice on the Costa Blanca: a mid-sized city with real services, a beach in the middle of it, an airport ten minutes from the centre, and living costs well below Spain’s big three. It’s the province’s capital rather than a resort, which is exactly why it works year-round.
Why people choose Alicante
Size, mostly. It’s big enough to have hospitals, a university, a working port and shops that stay open in February, and small enough to cross on foot. The Castillo de Santa Bárbara sits over the old town, the Explanada runs along the seafront, and the tram takes you up the coast to Benidorm and Dénia without a car.
For British movers it also has the shortest airport run of any major Spanish destination — genuinely useful if you’ll be going back and forth.
Where to live
- Centro and Casco Antiguo — the old town below the castle. Character, steep streets, noisy at night.
- Gran Vía and Ensanche-Diputación — central, residential, practical, good transport.
- Playa de San Juan — the long beach north of the city, wide streets, modern blocks, the most popular choice for British residents. A tram ride from the centre.
- Albufereta and Cabo de las Huertas — between the two, quieter, more villas, sea views.
- San Vicente del Raspeig — inland, university town, cheaper, family houses.
- Along the coast — Santa Pola, El Campello and, further north, the Jávea and Dénia belt for a smaller-town life.
What it costs
Alicante is meaningfully cheaper than Valencia, and dramatically cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona — one of the reasons the Costa Blanca has the largest British population of any Spanish region. Rents are highest around Playa de San Juan in summer and ease inland and out of season.
Watch the seasonal contract trap: coastal landlords often prefer short summer lets at higher rates, so long-term rentals are easiest to secure between autumn and spring.
Paperwork: NIE and the padrón
An NIE comes first — nothing else proceeds without it. Then register on the padrón at the Ayuntamiento de Alicante, or your own town hall if you settle in San Vicente, El Campello or Santa Pola. The padrón certificate is what healthcare registration, school places and residency applications ask for.
Our requirements guide → explains the visa routes, including the non-lucrative route most retirees use.
Healthcare and schools
Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis serves the city, with Hospital Universitario de Sant Joan d’Alacant covering the northern beach districts, alongside local centros de salud for day-to-day care. Private clinics with English-speaking staff are common across the province — a practical consideration for retirees.
Schools in the Valencian Community teach in both Valencian and Spanish, with the balance varying by school, so ask each one directly. The Costa Blanca has a well-established set of British and international schools spread between Alicante, San Juan and the northern coast — the density is a direct result of how many British families already live here.
Getting there
Alicante–Elche is one of the best-connected airports in Spain for UK routes, with year-round flights to almost every British region and a journey time into the city of under half an hour.
Moving your belongings
The Costa Blanca is one of the two most heavily served destinations on the corridor, so shared loads and part loads run frequently — good news if you’re moving a modest amount and can be flexible on dates.
Two local details worth flagging when you enquire: many coastal apartment blocks have lifts too small for large furniture, so items come down the stairwell; and gated or beachfront urbanisations often require the vehicle to be booked in with security and restrict delivery hours. Both are routine when known in advance.
If you’re furnishing a holiday apartment rather than moving a household, a small part load or a few boxes is usually all you need. Sending boxes to Spain →
Removals to the Costa Blanca → · Get a quote →
Frequently asked questions
Is Alicante cheaper than Valencia? Yes, noticeably — and far cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona.
Where do most British residents live? Playa de San Juan and the northern beach districts, plus the coastal towns north and south of the city.
Do I need a car? Not in the city or along the tram line. Inland and in the villages, yes.
What language do schools teach in? Valencian and Spanish, in a mix that varies by school. There’s also a well-established set of British and international schools across the province.
How far is the airport? Under half an hour from the centre, with year-round flights to most UK regions.
What’s the cheapest way to send a few boxes? A boxes-only service rather than a removal, priced by the box rather than by volume.