Why Villajoyosa and not Benidorm?

When you start searching for winter sun on the Costa Blanca, Benidorm is usually the first name that comes up. That makes sense. It is the most famous spot, has the biggest offering, and shows up first on every booking platform. When I first came to this coast, I checked it out too. A few days later I knew it was not for me.

This is not a hit piece on Benidorm. Plenty of people are perfectly happy there. But if you, like me, are looking for something quieter, it helps to know why Villajoyosa, just 15 minutes down the coast, is a completely different world.

Benidorm in one sentence

Benidorm is skyscrapers at the beach, a busy boulevard, British pubs, all-inclusive hotels, and a serious party scene that gets going late at night. At the same time, a lot of Northern European over-50s live there, permanently or seasonally. Those two worlds, the quiet expats and the party crowd, live side by side, sometimes awkwardly.

If you love liveliness, live music in a pub, always something going on, then Benidorm is exactly that. If you want to walk at dawn and go to bed early, it is not the obvious base.

Villajoyosa, an old fishing village

Villajoyosa is Vila Joiosa in Valencian, "the joyful town." It is an old fishing village with a real harbour where fresh fish still comes ashore every day. The famous image of the place, the row of brightly painted houses by the harbour, is not a marketing invention. Fishermen originally painted them in strong colours so they could recognise their own house from the sea on the way back in.

The centre is small, the streets are narrow, and you can do almost everything on foot. The boulevard is quiet in the morning. There are no skyscrapers; just the sound of the sea, a few fishing boats, and the smell of churros from the bakery on the corner.

Benidorm is loud; Villajoyosa lets you read. And yet it is only 15 minutes away, should you ever want a lively evening.

What Villajoyosa gives you that Benidorm does not

Local prices. A coffee in a normal neighbourhood café still costs around €1.20. No oat-milk cappuccinos, but a café solo in a small place where the owner recognises you after three days. An almuerzo, that lovely Spanish mid-morning snack, costs about €5 including a glass of wine.

Places to eat with soul. On the beach you have Bar Ilpi, an Argentine spot that serves excellent steak at a fair price. In the centre you have Chocolatería Valor, and yes, you have to go there once for churros con chocolate. Villajoyosa is historically the chocolate capital of Spain. Taverna Valenciana El Posit, closer to the beach, serves fish straight off the boats. These are not generic top-ten picks. These are places I keep going back to.

A beach that is not overcrowded. Even in July and August there is room. In winter the beach is sometimes just empty. You can run there in the morning without meeting a soul, then dive into the sea.

The mountains within walking distance. Behind the town rise the foothills of the Puig Campana. You can literally leave the apartment for a hike and be back on the terrace with a cold glass of vino a few hours later.

What Benidorm has (and Villajoyosa does not)

To be fair, Benidorm is better for you if you want:

• Large chain shops and English-style supermarkets
• Live entertainment, pubs, and bars until deep in the night
• Water parks and amusement parks (Terra Mítica, Aqualandia) nearby
• Many Dutch, German, and English-speaking expats around you

The point: you are right next to it anyway. From Villajoyosa, you take the Tram Línea 1 and you are in Benidorm in a quarter of an hour. So you can choose a lively afternoon and head back to quiet in the evening. That is exactly the combination I was looking for when I bought the apartment.

So who is Villajoyosa really for?

Honestly: Villajoyosa works best for people who want quiet without being fully isolated. An older couple that loves to walk, read, and have dinner outside. A family looking for a calm base with the option of something busier when they feel like it. A long-stay guest who wants to winter somewhere sunny without ending up in Benidorm's party atmosphere.

If you plan to party until the early hours, choose Benidorm. If you plan to slow down, eat locally, walk by the sea in the morning, and read on your terrace in the evening, Villajoyosa is made for you.

In short

Benidorm is loud, large, and full. Villajoyosa is small, colourful, and calm. They sit 15 minutes apart, so the real question is: where do you want to come back to when the day is done?

If you are curious what it is like to stay in a quiet apartment in the heart of Villajoyosa, with two terraces, mountain views, and five minutes from the beach, have a look at the apartment or read about pricing and terms.