Suburbs and Neighbourhoods of Alicante: Best Places to Live Near the City

Where is the best place to live in the suburbs of Alicante? Which areas are considered good and which are not? What do expats prefer and why? Property prices and cost of living with examples.

We recently published an article about the districts of Alicante itself; now it is time to explore the suburbs. The suburbs of Alicante attract buyers for several reasons: some want to live in a small town enjoying nature (while remaining close to infrastructure), others seek secluded beaches. Some buyers consider the suburbs because of more affordable prices compared to the city. Additionally, from the northern and southern suburbs of Alicante it is easier to reach Torrevieja and Benidorm.

El Campello is a suburb of Alicante on the road to Villajoyosa and Benidorm.

So which places are worth considering in this area? What property can be found there? How much does it cost? If you are interested in the answers, read on!

Southern suburbs of Alicante: Santa Pola, Gran Alacant, Arenales del Sol, Urbanova

Northern suburbs of Alicante: San Vicente del Raspeig, El Campello, Mutxamel

1. Santa Pola

Let us begin our journey with Santa Pola, located behind the cape of the same name, 15 kilometres south of Alicante. You can drive there via the N-332 road; travel time is approximately 20 minutes. There are several lakes where salt is extracted, making the air in Santa Pola particularly clean and beneficial.

Salt lakes to the north of Santa Pola (beyond the N-332 road).

Santa Pola is considered an affordable location for property. The seafront is dominated by resale property that Spaniards use for holidays lasting several months (or weeks) per year. These are five-storey buildings without lifts, built in the 1960s. A one-bedroom apartment on the first or second line from the sea can be purchased for EUR 70,000. Infrastructure and entertainment are limited, so we do not recommend Santa Pola for year-round residence. But if you plan to spend part of the high season in Spain and then leave until the following summer, this suburb is worth considering. Among the attractions is the Castillo Fortaleza de Santa Pola fortress on the Glorieta square.

Castillo Fortaleza in Santa Pola.

One could say this is a small resort that comes alive during holiday season but is “dead” in winter. Santa Pola has a school and a Carrefour supermarket. Nevertheless, very few people live here year-round, most of whom are business owners and employees. To the north there are several quarters inhabited by Roma and Moroccans, so there is a chance of encountering “okupa” squatters.

In addition to affordable property prices, the area has other obvious advantages. First, a beautiful coastline stretching several kilometres. Second, a local marina where you can rent a boat for a trip to Tabarca Island. From here it takes just half an hour, which is twice as fast as from Alicante.

2. Gran Alacant

On the hilltop between Santa Pola and Gran Alacant lies the Sierra y Cabo de Santa Pola protected natural area, where housing construction is prohibited. Administratively, Gran Alacant belongs to Santa Pola, but locals perceive it as a separate zone because it is an entirely different place. The distance between the settlements is approximately 5 kilometres.

Gran Alacant is located on a hill.

One could say Gran Alacant looks like a “union” of several residential complexes. Unlike Santa Pola, this is an exclusively prestigious area. Most complexes consist of several bungalows or townhouses built around a large shared swimming pool. Some complexes even have tennis courts. There are no tall buildings in Gran Alacant: due to proximity to the protected area, construction above 5 storeys is prohibited. New townhouses in Gran Alacant start from EUR 125,000.

New residential complex in Gran Alacant.

The main feature of Gran Alacant is its hilltop location. This means you need to descend a road winding around the cliff to reach the sea. On foot this takes about 20 minutes, by car 5-8 minutes. There is also a municipal “train” that circulates through the suburbs year-round. Most properties offer sea views, and Playa Carabassi beach is definitely worth a visit.

Playa Carabassi beach.

At the entrance to town (closer to the N-332 road) lies a commercial zone with shopping centres, supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and banks. Gran Alacant also has a school. In winter it becomes quieter but life does not stop, so Gran Alacant is suitable for both summer holidays and permanent residence. If you like bungalows and townhouses with sea views, Gran Alacant is worth considering. It is no wonder this place is popular among Europeans, predominantly British, German and Scandinavian. Even local street names indicate the foreign residents: Avenida Escandinavia, Avenida Noruega, Carrer de Belgica and others.

3. Arenales del Sol

The next suburb is Arenales del Sol. It is located near Gran Alacant, along the sandy Playa Arenales del Sol beach (near Carabassi beach). It also has its own postcode and administratively belongs to Elche (Elche is 20 km inland).

Arenales del Sol.

Unlike Gran Alacant, high-rise construction is permitted here. This factor, combined with proximity to the airport, makes Arenales del Sol promising from an investment perspective: the area is actively developing, with various property types available, many offering panoramic sea views. Numerous new residential complexes are appearing along Avenida Costa Blanca.

A one-bedroom apartment in Arenales del Sol costs EUR 100,000 to EUR 150,000. On the front lines are resale properties built around 1995, with new-builds behind. The price depends on the complex and whether or not it has sea views.

As for luxury property, the Infinity View complex deserves attention. This residential building is constructed in the shape of a ship and designed in a nautical style.

View from the Infinity View terrace.

In winter, Arenales del Sol goes into hibernation. There are several fine dining restaurants in the area, but almost all operate exclusively during the summer season. The fact is that there are practically no Spaniards here. Property is owned by Europeans who prefer to spend summers in Spain.

It is worth noting that the Gran Alacant and Arenales del Sol area is considered considerably more prestigious than Santa Pola. Not only because of its proximity to Alicante, but also thanks to the variety of property and the composition of residents.

Arenales del Sol beach.

4. Urbanova

Urbanova is located near the airport.

Residents of Gran Alacant and Arenales del Sol, despite these areas being near the airport, do not hear any noise. In Urbanova, however, they do. The area is located under the flight path used for landings and take-offs at Alicante Airport.

Urbanova. Alicante Airport in the background.

Urbanova is not an independent settlement but rather a large residential complex by the sea. Administratively, it is part of Alicante - its remote residential district. Urbanova consists of several dozen buildings constructed “in the middle of a field”. Infrastructure is limited, so most services require a trip to Alicante. Like the previous areas, Urbanova has a spacious sandy beach.

Urbanova beach.

Prices are similar to Arenales: a two-bedroom apartment on the first or second line from the sea costs approximately EUR 160,000. Sea views and views of Tabarca Island included!

If you have a car and are not bothered by aeroplanes flying back and forth, Urbanova is an excellent option for living near Alicante. This place is popular among former Alicante residents who decided to leave the big city.

5. San Vicente del Raspeig

Now let us move to the north of Alicante, specifically to the town of San Vicente del Raspeig, which is literally “across the road” (across the A-70 motorway) and merges with Alicante into a single conurbation. The main attraction here is the University of Alicante, which enrols approximately 30,000 students annually.

University of Alicante campus.

In addition to the university campus, there are Alicante outlet stores that attract many shoppers. San Vicente del Raspeig has a free bicycle rental system called Bicisanvi. The centre of Alicante is quickly accessible by public transport.

However, the town cannot be called exclusively student-oriented. The permanent population of San Vicente del Raspeig exceeds 40,000. There is a wide selection of apartments for rent to students and lecturers. Two-bedroom apartments in new-builds cost around EUR 120,000.

San Vicente del Raspeig.

6. El Campello

El Campello stretches along the beach and the road to Villajoyosa.

As is well known, to the north-east of Alicante lies Playa San Juan - a long (8 km) and wide sandy beach, one of the best on the entire Costa Blanca. Around 3 kilometres belong to Alicante, while the remaining part belongs to the suburb of El Campello. Locals call this section of the beach “Playa Muchavista”.

The southern part of the town is a tourist zone, bustling in summer and quiet in winter. Notable attractions include a prestigious French lycee where foreign property buyers and expats send their children. The average price of resale apartments (three bedrooms) is EUR 250,000.

Playa Muchavista in El Campello.

The centre of El Campello lives year-round. The area is suitable for both seasonal holidays and permanent residence. Moreover, thanks to tourism, this suburb’s centre can confidently be recommended as a promising area for property investment.

The municipality readily issues tourist licences to local property owners, and finding tenants is straightforward. Tourists most commonly look for an apartment for 6 people (to accommodate a group of friends or several couples). Two-bedroom apartments with a sofa bed in a third room are best suited for this. Such property (built from the 1980s), located on the 2nd-3rd beach line in a complex with a pool, can be purchased for EUR 200,000. A week’s rental of such an apartment in May-June yields EUR 500, in July EUR 700, and in August approximately EUR 1,000.

Northern part of El Campello - cove and private villas.

The northern part of El Campello is a combination of sandy and rocky coves, surrounded by private villas with sea views. An average villa built in the 1990s costs around EUR 500,000 here.

7. Mutxamel

Finally, let us move a few kilometres to the west and say a few words about Mutxamel. We recommend this place for those planning to buy a villa. This area is not yet widely promoted, so you can strike a good deal and acquire a luxurious Spanish property near the sea. A typical new villa with a plot and pool starts from EUR 340,000. You will not find such prices in Alicante or El Campello, where comparable options start from EUR 500,000.

Villa with pool in Mutxamel.

Particular attention should be paid to the Bonalba Golf community. This urbanisation of townhouses and apartments is located near the well-known Bonalba Hotel. It is designed for golf enthusiasts… but not only! A picturesque setting with low-rise buildings, surrounded by magnificent golf courses, situated on a hilltop. On average, a small house with a lawn and pool costs around EUR 270,000.

Bonalba Golf community.

8. Property Prices

To summarise, here is a table with property price examples in the suburbs of Alicante.