Essentials
- City
- Altea, Province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain
- Population
- Approximately 23,000
- Internet Speed
- Fiber optic widely available; average 300 Mbps - 600 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: CaixaBank, Banco Santander
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink but high mineral content; most residents prefer bottled or filtered water
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C and F sockets
- SIM Card
- Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and Digi (best value). 20GB for ~€10
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, N26, and Sabadell (good English support)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Idealista, and Fotocasa for longer leases
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and contactless payments accepted in almost all establishments
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; average studio ~€900 - €1,200/month
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostal Altea Old Town (approx. €50-€70 per night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Casco Antiguo (Old Town) for charm and views
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Altea Centro or Altea Port (closer to services and flatter terrain)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Lab Altea (Carrer de la Mar, 19). Day pass ~€15, Monthly ~€150
- Best Cafe for Work
- Café del Mar (near the promenade) or D'els Artistes in the Old Town
- Networking Events
- Costa Blanca Digital Nomads Meetup (often held in nearby Benidorm or Alicante)
- Social Events for Expats
- Altea International Club; language exchanges at local bars like La Mascarada
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Radio Taxi Altea (+34 965 84 55 55). Uber and Cabify have limited presence; local taxis are preferred.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Altea Hills Bikes or Sport Bike Altea. Rental ~€25/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Platja de la Roda (pebbly, central) or Playa de l'Albir (nearby sandy/pebble mix)
- Top Regional Airline
- Vueling (operating from Alicante-Elche Airport ALC)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, EasyJet, and Iberia
- Highway Access
- AP-7 (Autopista del Mediterráneo) connecting to Valencia and Alicante
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Altea TRAM Station (Line 9 connecting Dénia and Benidorm/Alicante)
- Public Transport Passes
- TRAM Card (Bono 10) for regional travel; ~€8 for 10 trips within one zone
- Regional Travel
- ALSA Bus for long distance; TRAM Metropolitano for coastal hops
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital IMED Levante (Benidorm, 10 mins away) or Hospital Marina Baixa (Villajoyosa)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Altea (Carrer de la Filharmònica); Wellness Center at SHA Wellness Clinic (Albir)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Altea Fitness Center; monthly membership ~€45
- Laundry Services
- Tintorería Altea or self-service Speed Queen Altea
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Just Eat
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Arroz a banda (Seafood rice) at Restaurante El Cranc
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- La Capella (Great veg options) and Felicitas for vegetarian pizzas
- Best Dessert Spots
- Heladería Qvo (Artisan ice cream) in the Old Town
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercadona, Consum, and the Tuesday Street Market (Carrer de la Filharmònica)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.es (fast delivery via Prime)
- Grocery Delivery
- LolaMarket or directly through Mercadona.es
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Altea Port bars or the Old Town square (Plaza de la Iglesia)
- Local Brewery
- Cerveza Althaia Artesana (Carrer de la Mar)
- Wine Bars
- De Vinis (Old Town) for local Valencian wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Limited street food; local bakeries (Pastelerías) offer 'Coca' (Valencian pizza)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Crown of India (Indian) or Crown of India Altea
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Nuestra Señora del Consuelo (the blue-domed church)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Palau Altea (Arts center) and Museo Casal del Fester
- Historical Sites
- Casco Antiguo (walled old town architecture)
- Religious Sites
- Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Consuelo; Russian Orthodox Church (San Miguel Arcángel)
- Annual Events
- Castell de l'Olla (massive fireworks display in August); Moors and Christians Festival (September)
- Cultural Districts
- The Artisan District in the Old Town (Calle Mayor)
- Theater Venues
- Palau Altea Centre d'Arts
- Local Markets
- Tuesday Market (fruits/veg); Sunday Market in Altea la Vella
- Music Scene
- Jazz concerts at local bars and classical music at the Palau
- Street Art
- Artistic tiled stairs throughout the Old Town
- Cooking Classes
- Local workshops often hosted by restaurants like Ca Joan
- Art Galleries
- Galería de Arte Toni Martín; Mirai Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Torre de la Bellaguarda (reconstructed watchtower)
- Local Heritage
- Fishing heritage celebrated at the Lonja (Fish Market) at the port
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sierra Helada Natural Park; Sierra de Bernia
- National Parks Nearby
- Montgó Natural Park (30 mins drive north)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Camino del Algar (river path); Circular route of Sierra de Bernia
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirador de los Cronistas de España
- Birdwatching Locations
- Algar River delta
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited on beaches; check San Juan festival (June) for exceptions
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos (Carrer del Rei En Jaume I); SEUR/MRW
- Tech Repair Services
- Informática Altea (Avenida del Rey Juan Carlos I)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Polideportivo Municipal de Altea
- Language Classes
- Altea Spanish Courses; AIS International
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Pública Municipal de Altea
- Community Centers
- Centro Social de Altea
- Gaming Lounges
- Limited; mostly found in nearby Benidorm
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Mediterráneo Benidorm (10 mins drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €120,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €88,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €168,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €120,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €208,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €152,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard rate 25%; 15% for new companies for the first two years
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 19% - 26% for residents
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 47% (State plus Regional Valencian portion)
- VAT
- Standard rate 21%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strictly regulated under Spanish law
- Property Tax
- IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) - annual tax paid to the Altea Town Hall
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITP (Property Transfer Tax) is 10% in the Valencian Community
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa available; Beckham Law offers 24% flat tax for qualified residents up to €600,000