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Finestrat
A hilltop village under the Puig Campana with a short stretch of coast at La Cala, fast-growing new-build urbanisations and Benidorm's shops on its doorstep.
Suited to: Families · Second-home owners · Remote workers
- Costa
- Costa Blanca
- Province
- Alicante
- Population
- 9,919
- registered residents
- British Community
- 523
- Airport
- Alicante–Elche
- ~55 km
- Train
- None
Updated 26 Oct 2026 · Facts checked against INE and the padrón · How we check
Decide
Is Finestrat right for you?
Who it suits
- FamiliesGood
Two public infant and primary schools (CEIP Puig Campana and CEIP Balcó de Finestrat), with a third planned and the town's first secondary school being built (council, March 2026). International schools are elsewhere in the Marina Baixa.
- RetireesModerate
Quiet urbanisations and Benidorm's services close by, with the public hospital in Villajoyosa (~12 km). Hillside streets and the need to drive weigh more as you age.
- Remote workersGood
New-build homes suit home offices, and Benidorm's cafés and services are ~10 km away. Check fibre at the exact address.
- Second-home ownersGood
Alicante–Elche airport is ~55 km by motorway, and gated new-build complexes are easy to lock up and leave.
- Holiday-rental investorsLimited
998 tourist homes were registered at the end of 2024, but in April 2025 the council suspended the compatibility reports new tourist rentals need while it drafts an ordinance (Alicante Plaza).
The trade-offs
What works
- Newer homes than most of the Costa Blanca, many with sea and mountain views.
- Benidorm's shops, services and private hospitals ~10 km away.
- A sandy cove at Cala de Finestrat and mountain walks on the Puig Campana.
- Public hospital in Villajoyosa, ~12 km.
- Alicante–Elche airport ~55 km by motorway.
What to weigh up
- A car is close to essential; no TRAM or train stop.
- Schools are under pressure from fast growth, and there is no secondary school in the town yet.
- New tourist-rental registrations suspended since April 2025.
- Asking prices around €3,800/m² (RealAdvisor, Oct 2026), well above the southern Costa Blanca.
- Urbanisation living can feel separate from the old village and Spanish life.
Costs
What it costs in Finestrat
Typical figures, each with its source and date. Prices move, so check before you commit.
- Flats
- ~€3,774/m² (median)
- Asking prices; range roughly €1,577–8,863/m²
- Source: RealAdvisor, Oct 2026
- Houses
- ~€3,865/m² (median)
- Asking prices; range roughly €1,253–13,841/m²
- Source: RealAdvisor, Oct 2026
- Typical rent
- ~€890 a month
- 70 m² flat, Alicante province average (€12.7/m²)
- Source: idealista, September 2026
Guides
Settling in Finestrat
Our practical guides cover the essentials for British movers, wherever in Spain you settle.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Spain for British Expats: S1, Convenio Especial and Private Insurance · S1 Healthcare for British Pensioners in Spain: How It Works
Admin & Documents
NIE vs TIE After Brexit: What Each Document Actually Does · How to Register on the Padrón in Spain: A Complete Guide for British Expats
Housing
Buying Property in Spain: Pitfalls British Expats Need to Avoid · Renting vs Buying in Spain: What British Expats Get Wrong
Cost of Living
Cost of Living in Spain vs the UK: Build Your Own Comparison · How Much Money Do You Really Need to Move to Spain?
British Community
Culture Shock: Spain vs the UK — What Nobody Warns You About · Moving to Spain After Brexit: What Changed (And What Did Not)
Integrating Locally
How Much Spanish Do You Need to Live in Spain? An Honest Assessment · Culture Shock: Spain vs the UK — What Nobody Warns You About
Daily Life
How to Open a Spanish Bank Account as a British Citizen · Driving in Spain After Brexit: UK Licence Exchange Rules
Things to Do
30 Useful Facts About Spain for Visitors and Future Residents · Which Spanish Costa Is Right for You? A Costa-by-Costa Guide
Schools & Families
Moving to Spain with Children: Schools, Timelines and Language Reality · How Much Money Do You Really Need to Move to Spain?
The place
About Finestrat
Finestrat is a municipality of 9,919 registered residents (INE padrón, 1 Jan 2025) on the Marina Baixa coast, directly behind Benidorm. The old village sits on a rock below the Puig Campana, the 1,410 m peak that dominates the skyline. The municipality also has a short piece of coast at Cala de Finestrat, a small sandy bay between Benidorm and Villajoyosa.
It is one of the fastest-growing towns on the Costa Blanca, with about a third more registered residents than four years earlier (INE), and the council says much of the growth is young families. Almost half of residents were born abroad (INE padrón, 2022). Russian-born and UK-born residents are the two largest groups, with 583 and 523 registered in 2022.
Most new homes are in urbanisations between the village and Benidorm, such as Sierra Cortina and Balcó de Finestrat, where new-build villas and apartments are marketed heavily to northern European buyers. The appeal is newer housing, mountain and sea views and Benidorm ten minutes away. The trade-offs are car dependence, schools under pressure from the growth, and a town still building the services to match its size.
Practicalities
Practicalities
Getting there
- Municipality in the Marina Baixa, Alicante province, running from the slopes of the Puig Campana (1,410 m) down to a short coastline at Cala de Finestrat. The old village is inland; most homes are in urbanisations towards Benidorm.
- Benidorm is ~10 km away, Villajoyosa ~12 km and Alicante ~45 km via the AP-7 (exit 65-A) or N-332. Alicante–Elche airport is ~55 km.
- No TRAM or train stop in the municipality; the nearest TRAM Line 1 stops are in Benidorm and Villajoyosa. Regional buses run to Benidorm and Villajoyosa.
Renting and buying
Newer stock than most of the Costa Blanca, with a steady pipeline of new-build villas and apartments. RealAdvisor (October 2026) puts median asking prices at about €3,774/m² for flats and €3,865/m² for houses, with a very wide spread by view and development. Holiday letting needs a Valencian VT registration and a council compatibility report, which the council suspended in April 2025 while it drafts an ordinance.
Looking for an estate agent, lawyer or gestor? Browse local businesses in Finestrat
First admin steps
- Padrón: Register in person at Finestrat town hall (Plaça de l'Ajuntament 1) with your deeds or rental contract and passport or NIE. You need it for healthcare and school places.
- NIE/TIE: Apply through the National Police (cita previa), usually in Benidorm or Alicante. Local gestorías handle it.
- Healthcare: After the padrón, register at your local GP clinic for a SIP card. Hospital care is at Hospital Marina Baixa (public) in Villajoyosa.
- Tourist rental: Valencian VT registration is required, and since Decree-law 9/2024 it needs a favourable council compatibility report. Finestrat suspended new reports in April 2025; check the current position with the town hall before buying to let.
- Language: Valencian and Spanish are both official; council paperwork comes in both.
Not sure which visa or residency route fits? Compare the routes for British movers
Map
Finestrat on the map
Pins show the town, its nearest airport and the towns nearby. Positions are approximate.
Stay
Where to stay in Finestrat
Hotels, apartments and holiday lets for a scouting trip, with live prices. Zoom out to see the towns nearby.
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Get help
Get help in Finestrat
English-speaking businesses and the offices you will deal with.
Local businesses
Featured listings are paid placements.
Town finder
Not sure Finestrat is the one?
Answer three questions to see how Finestrat fits, and which towns to look at as well.
Questions
Finestrat: common questions
Is Finestrat a good place to retire from the UK?
Moderate. Quiet urbanisations and Benidorm's services close by, with the public hospital in Villajoyosa (~12 km). Hillside streets and the need to drive weigh more as you age.
Is Finestrat good for families?
Good. Two public infant and primary schools (CEIP Puig Campana and CEIP Balcó de Finestrat), with a third planned and the town's first secondary school being built (council, March 2026). International schools are elsewhere in the Marina Baixa.
How much does property cost in Finestrat?
Newer stock than most of the Costa Blanca, with a steady pipeline of new-build villas and apartments. RealAdvisor (October 2026) puts median asking prices at about €3,774/m² for flats and €3,865/m² for houses, with a very wide spread by view and development. Holiday letting needs a Valencian VT registration and a council compatibility report, which the council suspended in April 2025 while it drafts an ordinance.
Which airport is closest to Finestrat?
Alicante–Elche (~55 km); Valencia (~150 km)
Can you get to Finestrat by train?
None. No TRAM or Renfe stop in the municipality; the nearest TRAM Line 1 stops are in Benidorm and Villajoyosa. Regional buses link Finestrat with Benidorm and Villajoyosa, with extra trips and new urbanisation stops added from September 2026. Most residents drive.
How big is the British community in Finestrat?
Present but smaller than in neighbouring Benidorm or Alfaz del Pi. 523 UK-born residents were registered in 2022 (INE padrón), the second-largest foreign-born group after Russian-born residents. Many more British owners use second homes in the new-build urbanisations without registering. English-speaking agents, gestorías and trades are easy to find in Benidorm.
How do I register on the padrón in Finestrat?
Register in person at Finestrat town hall (Plaça de l'Ajuntament 1) with your deeds or rental contract and passport or NIE. You need it for healthcare and school places.
Compare
Compare Finestrat
Compare Finestrat with another town
Nearby towns
Benidorm
~10 km · Full services, private hospitals, the widest choice of shops and a large British community.
Villajoyosa
~12 km · Colourful fishing town with the public Hospital Marina Baixa and a sandy town beach.
Alfaz del Pi / Albir
~15 km · Calmer resort town with a long-established British and Norwegian community.
More towns on the Costa Blanca
Last updated: 26 Oct 2026