Calpe and Benissa Costa sit next to each other but feel nothing alike. Calpe is a busy coastal town built around the Penón, the salt lake and two long beaches. Benissa Costa is spread-out, quieter and almost entirely villa territory, with coves tucked between pine-covered slopes. Most people who end up choosing between the two were originally looking at Moraira or Altea and realised the differences only when they started driving around the local roads.
Calpe town and the beach zones
If you live in Calpe itself, you choose between the town centre, Levante beach or Arenal-Bol beach. The centre is practical and almost has a big city feel to it. You have supermarkets, banks, clinics, the old town, weekly markets and everyday shops all within a short walk. The streets around Avenida Gabriel Miró and the old town are busy but manageable. Parking can be hit and miss depending on the apartment building.
Levante beach is the big sandy stretch on the Penón side. It is lined with apartment buildings of different ages. If you like walking out for coffee, a beachfront promenade and easy access to shops and bars, it works really well. In July and August you feel the crowds more here than anywhere else, but the rest of the year it is fairly calm.
Arenal-Bol is slightly calmer and flatter. If you prefer the beach lifestyle without the peak-season intensity of Levante, this side usually feels more settled. Many people here walk or cycle rather than drive, especially in winter.
The Penón is the reference point for everyone. Depending on your street, it is either the best part of your view or an enormous rock blocking your sunrise. Locals treat it the way you treat a church bell tower in a small village. You get used to it being there.
Calpe old town
The old town sits above the coastal strip. It is steep in sections, with narrow streets and more Spanish residents than the beachfront areas. Homes are mostly older townhouses with modernised interiors. You can easily walk to the cafés on the squares, but you use a car for practically everything else. If you want character inside Calpe itself, this is the only place that feels genuinely historic.
Calpe practical notes people learn early
The salt lake attracts flamingos year-round, which is lovely, but the mosquitos arrive on warm, still days. Levante beach fills quickly in summer after about 11am. Parking near the Penón (Ifach) on a Sunday often becomes irksome. The old town has better evening atmosphere than the beach areas outside peak season. Winter is mild but the wind near the Penón can surprise newcomers.
Benissa Costa overview
Drive ten minutes out of Calpe towards Moraira and you are suddenly in Benissa Costa. It is a long string of pine-covered residential zones that follow the coast. It feels nothing like Calpe. You are dealing with coves instead of beaches, villas instead of apartments, and narrow lanes instead of promenades.
People who buy here want peace and space and do not mind that most errands involve a drive either to Calpe, Moraira or the Pepe La Sal on the Moraira-Calpe road.
La Fustera
La Fustera is the easiest part of Benissa Costa for daily life. You have the La Fustera supermarket, a couple of restaurants, parking near the beach and a walking path that links the coves. The beach itself is smaller than anything in Calpe, but it is sheltered and cleaner-feeling.
Most homes are villas on gently sloping streets. If you want a villa life without feeling too isolated, La Fustera is the safest choice on this stretch.
Fanadix, Buenavista and Montemar
These inland zones are quieter. Streets like Calle El Faixero, Calle Carrasca and Calle Beniarbeig wind through pine trees with occasional sea glimpses. This is where people go when they want space and privacy. You accept that you will drive to either Calpe or Moraira for everything.
Orientation matters more than you’d think. Some streets get lovely morning sun. Others sit in tree shade until midday. Checking winter light is essential.
Driveways in this area are often steeper than people expect. It is normal to test the angles twice before choosing a house.
Baladrar and Advocat
These zones sit closer to the sea and offer easier access to the coastal path. Baladrar cove is a local favourite for sunset drinks, swimming and paddleboards. Streets like Calle Río Duero and Calle Eucalipto sit close enough to walk down, but be prepared for a climb back up.
Homes vary from modest older villas to large modern builds. Parking on the seafront fills on summer weekends. The rest of the year it is one of the most relaxing spots between Calpe and Moraira.
San Jaime
San Jaime sits around the golf course and is one of the more consistent zones in terms of upkeep and plot size. The slopes are gentler here. The houses tend to be larger and better maintained. You have the golf club, a restaurant, and reasonably quick access to both Moraira and Calpe.
People who want a calmer villa zone without the hillside challenges usually end up somewhere around San Jaime.
Supermarkets and services
Calpe has the most complete set of supermarkets: Mercadona, Consum, Aldi, Lidl and a large Solymar. Benissa Costa relies more on La Fustera supermarket and the big Pepe La Sal between Moraira and Calpe. Most residents choose based on parking and traffic rather than brand loyalty.
Healthcare is strongest in Calpe. There are clinics in Benissa Costa but for anything more involved, people drive to Calpe or Denia Hospital.
Transport and access
Calpe has the tram station, which connects to Altea and Benidorm. Benissa Costa does not. If you live in the coves, driving becomes part of your weekly rhythm. Access to the AP7 is easier from Calpe and Benissa town than from the coastline itself.
Who Calpe and Benissa Costa suit
Calpe suits people who want a proper town, long beaches, a lively promenade and everything within reach. It suits residents who want convenience first.
Benissa Costa suits people who want villas, coves, space and quiet. It suits buyers who don’t mind driving and who prefer scenery to buzz.
What to check before buying
In Calpe: check seasonal noise, parking options, building age, winter wind near the Penón, and what your view looks like at 4pm in December.
In Benissa Costa: check winter sun, driveway slopes, internet coverage, water pressure on higher streets, summer parking near coves, and distance to the nearest supermarket.
In both: check legality of older extensions, pool condition, drainage after heavy rain, and actual driving time to the AP7 at 9am.
Once those points line up with your expectations, choosing between Calpe and Benissa Costa becomes much easier. They are close neighbours, but they offer entirely different ways of living.
