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La Nucía
A hillside town above Benidorm and Altea with a big northern European community, a British school and one of Spain's best-known sports cities.
Suited to: Families · Retirees · Second-home owners
- Costa
- Costa Blanca
- Province
- Alicante
- Population
- 19,121
- registered residents
- British Community
- 1,074
- Airport
- Alicante–Elche
- ~65 km
- Train
- None
Updated 26 Oct 2026 · Facts checked against INE and the padrón · How we check
Decide
Is La Nucía right for you?
Who it suits
- FamiliesExcellent
Public schools CEIP Sant Rafael and CEIP La Muixara and IES La Nucía, with a third primary school and a second secondary school being built. Elian's British School La Nucía is private and English-medium. Sports city for children's clubs.
- RetireesGood
Large, settled northern European community, local health centre and Benidorm's services ~8 km away. Hillside urbanisations mean driving for most errands.
- Remote workersGood
Year-round population, villas with space for an office and Benidorm close by. Check fibre at the exact address, as urbanisations vary.
- Second-home ownersGood
Villas with pools and views at lower prices per square metre than Altea or Alfaz del Pi. Alicante–Elche airport is ~65 km.
- Holiday-rental investorsLimited
No beach and little tourist demand compared with Benidorm or Altea. Valencian VT registration needs a favourable council compatibility report.
The trade-offs
What works
- Cheaper per square metre than Altea or Alfaz del Pi, with sea and mountain views.
- Strong schools choice, including a private British school.
- One of Spain's best-known municipal sports cities.
- Large, settled northern European community; English widely spoken.
- Benidorm's services ~8 km away.
What to weigh up
- No beach of its own; the coast is a short drive.
- No TRAM or train stop; a car is close to essential.
- Hillside urbanisations with steep roads and few pavements.
- Public hospital is ~20 km away in Villajoyosa.
- Easy to live without Spanish or Valencian, which can isolate you from local life.
Costs
What it costs in La Nucía
Typical figures, each with its source and date. Prices move, so check before you commit.
- Flats
- ~€2,848/m² (median)
- Asking prices; range roughly €1,190–6,688/m²
- Source: RealAdvisor, Oct 2026
- Houses
- ~€2,759/m² (median)
- Asking prices; range roughly €895–9,881/m²
- Source: RealAdvisor, Oct 2026
- Typical rent
- ~€890 a month
- 70 m² flat, Alicante province average (€12.7/m²)
- Source: idealista, September 2026
Guides
The La Nucía guides
More guides for anyone moving to Spain
- NIE vs TIE After Brexit: What Each Document Actually Does
- How to Register on the Padrón in Spain: A Complete Guide for British Expats
- Buying Property in Spain: Pitfalls British Expats Need to Avoid
- Renting vs Buying in Spain: What British Expats Get Wrong
- Cost of Living in Spain vs the UK: Build Your Own Comparison
- How Much Money Do You Really Need to Move to Spain?
- Culture Shock: Spain vs the UK — What Nobody Warns You About
- Moving to Spain After Brexit: What Changed (And What Did Not)
- How Much Spanish Do You Need to Live in Spain? An Honest Assessment
- How to Open a Spanish Bank Account as a British Citizen
- Driving in Spain After Brexit: UK Licence Exchange Rules
- 30 Useful Facts About Spain for Visitors and Future Residents
- Which Spanish Costa Is Right for You? A Costa-by-Costa Guide
- Moving to Spain with Children: Schools, Timelines and Language Reality
The place
About La Nucía
La Nucía is a town of 19,121 registered residents (INE padrón, 1 Jan 2025) in the Marina Baixa, about 8 km north of Benidorm. The old centre sits on a hill at 226 m with views down to the sea at Altea, about 3 km away as the crow flies. Most residents live in the urbanisations of detached villas that spread across the surrounding hills.
More than a third of residents were born abroad (INE padrón, 2022). UK-born residents are the largest group, with 1,074 registered in 2022, followed by German-born residents (473), and Elian's British School has a campus in the town.
La Nucía is known across Spain for its Ciudad Deportiva Camilo Cano, a 250,000 m² sports city with an Olympic athletics stadium, pools and a tennis academy, which won the National Sports Award in 2012. It is a year-round town rather than a resort. The trade-offs are no beach of its own, no rail, and a car for most daily trips.
Practicalities
Practicalities
Getting there
- Inland municipality in the Marina Baixa, Alicante province, on hills between the Serra d'Aitana and the coast. The town centre is at 226 m; the coast at Altea is about 3 km away as the crow flies.
- Benidorm is ~8 km south, Alfaz del Pi ~5 km south-east and Alicante ~50 km south-west, via the CV-70 to the AP-7 or N-332. Alicante–Elche airport is ~65 km.
- No TRAM or train stop in La Nucía; the nearest TRAM Line 9 stops are in L'Alfàs del Pi and Altea. ALSA buses run to Benidorm.
Renting and buying
Mostly detached villas in hillside urbanisations, plus apartments in the town. RealAdvisor (October 2026) puts median asking prices at about €2,848/m² for flats and €2,759/m² for houses, cheaper per square metre than Altea or Alfaz del Pi next door. Holiday letting needs a Valencian VT registration and a council compatibility report.
Looking for an estate agent, lawyer or gestor? Browse local businesses in La Nucía
First admin steps
- Padrón: Register at La Nucía town hall. Owners and tenants both register; 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 the La Nucía health centre 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. 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
La Nucía on the map
Pins show the town, its nearest airport and the towns nearby. Positions are approximate.
Stay
Where to stay in La Nucía
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 La Nucía
English-speaking businesses and the offices you will deal with.
Local businesses
Featured listings are paid placements.
Town finder
Not sure La Nucía is the one?
Answer three questions to see how La Nucía fits, and which towns to look at as well.
Questions
La Nucía: common questions
Is La Nucía a good place to retire from the UK?
Good. Large, settled northern European community, local health centre and Benidorm's services ~8 km away. Hillside urbanisations mean driving for most errands.
Is La Nucía good for families?
Excellent. Public schools CEIP Sant Rafael and CEIP La Muixara and IES La Nucía, with a third primary school and a second secondary school being built. Elian's British School La Nucía is private and English-medium. Sports city for children's clubs.
How much does property cost in La Nucía?
Mostly detached villas in hillside urbanisations, plus apartments in the town. RealAdvisor (October 2026) puts median asking prices at about €2,848/m² for flats and €2,759/m² for houses, cheaper per square metre than Altea or Alfaz del Pi next door. Holiday letting needs a Valencian VT registration and a council compatibility report.
Which airport is closest to La Nucía?
Alicante–Elche (~65 km); Valencia (~140 km)
Can you get to La Nucía by train?
None. No TRAM or Renfe stop in La Nucía; the nearest TRAM Line 9 stops are in L'Alfàs del Pi and Altea, and Line 1 starts in Benidorm. ALSA buses link La Nucía with Benidorm. Most residents drive.
How big is the British community in La Nucía?
The largest foreign-born group. 1,074 UK-born residents were registered in 2022 (INE padrón), ahead of German-born residents (473). Expect English-speaking agents, trades and clubs, plus a British school in the town.
How do I register on the padrón in La Nucía?
Register at La Nucía town hall. Owners and tenants both register; you need it for healthcare and school places.
Compare
Compare La Nucía
Compare La Nucía with another town
Nearby towns
Benidorm
~8 km south · Full services, private hospitals, the widest choice of shops and a large British community.
Alfaz del Pi / Albir
~5 km south-east · Calmer resort town with Albir's seafront promenade and the Serra Gelada walks.
Altea
~10 km east · Whitewashed old town, marina, beaches and an arts scene.
More towns on the Costa Blanca
Last updated: 26 Oct 2026