Ok so after nearly 4 decades of living in and around Javea, we have had thousands of friends and clients. There are so many questions people ask about our beautiful area of the Costa Blanca so we thought we’d add a list of quick fire information people might be interested in.
This sits within the wider Javea Overview guide. For neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood browsing, start with the main Javea area hub.
Where in Spain is Jávea?
Jávea, also written Xàbia, sits on Spain’s east coast with the sea in front and the Montgó massif behind.
- East coast of Spain in the province of Alicante
- Part of the Valencian Community within the Marina Alta region
- Between Cabo de San Antonio and Cabo de la Nao
- Roughly midway between Valencia and Alicante
- Nearest towns: Dénia to the north, Moraira to the south
- Three zones: Old Town inland, Port on the waterfront, Arenal Beach on the sandy bay
How big is Jávea and how populated is it?
- Municipal area about 68 km²
- Elevation from sea level to 753 m at Montgó summit
- Around 28,000 permanent residents and rising
- Summer population can exceed 80,000 to 100,000 (and rising!)
- Low-rise development with villas, townhouses, small apartment blocks
- Cross-town drive usually 10 to 15 minutes
How to get to Jávea from Alicante or Valencia airport
- Main airports: Alicante–Elche ALC and Valencia VLC
- Driving distance about 100 km from Alicante, 120 km from Valencia
- Fastest route AP-7 to exit 62 Ondara or Dénia, then CV-734 to Xàbia
- Typical drive time 1 hour 15 from Alicante to 1 hour 30 from Valencia
- ALSA coaches to Dénia, then local bus or taxi to Jávea
- Beniconnect – a small bus service that runs from Alicante airport – costs aroung 30 euros per person
- No direct trains to Jávea, nearest railway station is in Dénia or Gata de Gorgos
- Private shuttles and taxi transfers operate year round. Be careful who you book, some are unlicensed. Typical fee is c120 euros
What is the climate like in Jávea?
- Mild winters and hot summers
- Average winter daytime around 16 – 18°C
- Summer highs near 30 – 38°C in July and August
- Coastal breezes moderate the heat (sometimes!)
- Rainfall light overall, heaviest in autumn episodes
- Sea typically 20°C or warmer from May to October
- Montgó and headlands create a protective microclimate
What and where is the Old Town of Jávea?
- The ‘Pueblo’ is about 2 km from the Port
- Built inland historically for protection from raids from various pirates and invaders
- Centred on the Gothic Church of San Bartolomé in tosca stone
- Daily Mercat Municipal for produce and fish (Recommended)
- Ethnographic Museum in a former noble house on Carrer Primicies – fascinating!
- Narrow, shaded streets with year-round local life
- Quieter and cooler than the coast
What and where is the Arenal?
- Principal sandy bay south of the Port
- Only natural sand beach in the municipality
- Shallow entry suitable for children and cautious swimmers
- Lifeguards in summer, showers and access ramps available
- Long promenade with cafés, restaurants, a nightclub or two and some shops
- The surrounding district has modern apartments and holiday complexes
How far is Jávea from Dénia and Moraira?
- Dénia about 20 km north, roughly 20 minutes by car via CV-736
- Moraira about 15 km south, roughly 25 minutes by car via Benitatxell (Benitachell)
- Scenic roads, usually clear outside peak August
- Public buses run several times daily
- Car offers more flexibility for coves and viewpoints
- Dénia has a larger port and castle, Moraira has small coves and a marina plus some amazing nearby beaches
Is Jávea a good place to live for families?
Definitely!
- Considered safe with low crime
- Mix of Spanish public schools and international school options
- Clubs for football, tennis, padel, sailing, and other sports
- Public health centre and nearby private clinics
- Outdoor lifestyle most of the year
- Parks, beaches, and cycle routes easy to reach
- International mix supports bilingual education paths
How expensive is it to live in Jávea?
- Costs slightly above Spain’s average, mainly housing
- Two-bed near Arenal often €900 to €1,200 per month
- Cheaper options inland and in the Old Town
- Groceries and dining close to national averages
- Electricity and water higher in summer due to air conditioning
- Public healthcare available to residents, private cover common
- Local travel costs modest since most errands are nearby
Is it easy to integrate as a foreigner in Jávea?
- Strong Spanish core with many foreign residents
- English widely spoken, Spanish or Valencian helps long term
- Joining clubs, schools, and volunteer groups speeds integration
- Gestors and translators assist with administration
- Daily greetings and participation in markets and fiestas build connections
- Many newcomers settle permanently after a few years
What activities can I do in Jávea?
- Swimming, snorkelling, and kayaking at Arenal and nearby coves eg Granadella
- Hiking in Montgó Natural Park and to Cap Prim viewpoint
- Boat trips from the Port to small bays
- Summer fiestas including San Juan and Moors and Christians
- Weekly craft and produce markets in the Old Town
- Golf at Club de Golf Jávea, plus tennis and increasing number of padel clubs
- Diving centres and sailing school near the marina
- Year-round cycling and running with sea views
When is the best time to visit Jávea?
- Spring April to June for warm weather and fewer crowds
- Summer July and August for festivals and longest beach days
- Autumn September to October for warm sea and mild days
- Winter November to February for calm, dry walking and cycling
- Sea comfortable for swimming May to October
- Local microclimate keeps conditions stable
- Most restaurants and events operate year round
What are the best beaches in Jávea?
- Arenal Beach for wide sand and family facilities
- Granadella Cove for clear water and snorkelling
- Cala Portitxol also called La Barraca with white fishermen’s huts
- Cala Blanca for quieter swimming and white cliffs
- La Grava Beach by the Port for calm clear water
- Many beaches hold Blue Flag or high water quality ratings
- Parking areas and summer buses improve access
What rental and accommodation options are in Jávea?
- Hotels, hostels, villas, and apartments available
- Arenal area offers modern apartments close to the sea
- Old Town has townhouses and boutique stays
- Port zone mixes residential flats with sea-view rentals
- Montgó slopes and inland areas offer villas with gardens and pools
- Short term and long term rentals available
- Agencies and online platforms active all year
Is Jávea a good place for remote work or digital nomads?
- Fibre broadband in most residential zones
- Starlink and 5G support rural properties
- Cafés and coworking spaces in Arenal and Old Town
- Year-round rental housing suited to long stays
- English widely spoken for services and business
- Outdoor lifestyle and mild weather balance screen time
- Quick access to Valencia and Alicante airports for travel
What schools are in Jávea?
Education runs from nursery to sixth form across public, concertado, and private options.
- Public system covers infantil 3–5, primaria 6–11, secundaria 12–16, bachillerato 16–18
- Teaching languages are Valencian and Spanish with English as a core foreign language
- Catchment areas apply; places assigned by regional authority based on your address
- Enrolment requires padrón certificate, parent ID or NIE, child passport, vaccination record, previous reports
- Public schools tuition free; small fees for materials, lunch, and transport
- Concertado schools semi-private with limited fees and similar curriculum
- Private and international options include British-curriculum schools nearby offering IGCSE and A levels including Lady Elizabeth and XIC
- School year runs September to late June with regional holidays
- Day split between morning and afternoon sessions; some compact schedules
- Extracurriculars include languages, music, football, basketball, tennis, sailing, robotics
- School transport routes cover outlying urbanisations; cycling and walking common in town
- Support for newcomers includes Spanish as a second language programmes and family orientation
