Why Altea stands apart from every other Costa Blanca town
Altea's old town — with its white-painted houses, blue-domed church and panoramic terrace looking out over the Mediterranean — is one of the most photographed scenes in Spain. But Altea is far more than an Instagram backdrop. It is a genuine, functioning community with a strong arts culture, excellent restaurants, a lively local market and one of the most diverse international property markets on the entire coast.
The town attracted artists and bohemian buyers from Germany and France in the 1970s and 1980s, and that creative culture persists today. The old town is full of galleries, craft workshops and design studios. Altea has none of the commercial strip development of Benidorm (just 15 minutes south) — it has deliberately maintained its character.
Altea's cultural identity — art, architecture, good food — resonates strongly with German and French buyers who want more than sun and beach. The town's aesthetic is genuinely beautiful in a way that few Costa Blanca towns can match, and that has created a loyal, repeat-buying international community that values the town's character above all else.
Property prices in Altea — 2025
| Property type | Location | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment, 2 bed | Lower town / seafront | €220,000 – €380,000 |
| Apartment, 3 bed, sea views | Various | €320,000 – €550,000 |
| Townhouse, old town | Casco Antiguo | €350,000 – €700,000 |
| Villa, 3 bed, pool | Residential areas | €480,000 – €950,000 |
| Villa, 4+ bed, sea views | Altea Hills / Sierra | €750,000 – €1.8M |
Best areas in Altea — where to buy
Healthcare in Altea and the surrounding area
Altea has a public health centre (Centro de Salud de Altea) covering general medicine and specialist visits. The main referral hospital is Hospital de La Marina Baixa in Villajoyosa (20 minutes south) — a modern public hospital with full emergency services, surgery and specialist departments.
Privately, the Hospital Vithas Medimar in Alicante (45 minutes) and Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja are the preferred private options for many expatriates. Several private GPs and specialists in Benidorm (15 min) and Calpe (15 min) offer appointments in English and German.
The Miguel Hernández University has its Fine Arts faculty in Altea's old town — which means the town has a year-round student and artist population that keeps the cultural scene alive even outside summer. There are regular gallery openings, craft markets, concerts and festivals that make Altea feel genuinely alive in January, not just August.
Is Altea good for investment?
Altea's summer rental market is strong, particularly for properties in or near the old town and with sea views. Weekly rental rates for a 3-bedroom villa with pool range from €2,000 to €5,000 in high season. The town's cultural reputation and architectural beauty attract a quality rental clientele — typically couples and families rather than party groups.
Long-term values have been stable and gradually rising. The town's planning restrictions and limited land supply protect against overdevelopment.
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