Image: Peter Togel via Shutterstock
In the shadow of the more popular Costas, the Costa del Azahar on Spain’s east coast has slipped under the radar of the foreign masses and big developers. It’s an untapped coastline of traditional beach resorts with low-density communities, lots of history, and a picturesque backdrop of rolling orange groves. For a home somewhere without the crowds but oozing an authentic Spanish vibe, this could be the place! We look at buying options on low and high budgets.
For a few days each summer, an unassuming corner of coastal Spain transforms from a calm family resort into one of Europe’s liveliest party towns. Not far off, 200,000 revellers descend on the resort of Benicàssim during Spain’s (and one of Europe’s) largest music festivals, the four-day Festival Internacional de Benicàssim (FIB).
Head there any other time in the year, and it’s a typical beach resort where you hear mainly Spanish in the streets. Benicàssim is part of the Costa del Azahar, a preserved pocket of beach resorts on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean seaboard. Aside from the brief annual pilgrimage of music fans, it tends to get bypassed by foreign visitors and property buyers. They prefer to head to the better-known, more touristy Costas, which has allowed the Costa del Azahar to remain blissfully under-developed, somewhere Spaniards like to own second homes.
The location and getting there
Essentially, the Costa del Azahar is the coastline of Castellón, the most northerly province of the Valencian Community, with its provincial capital at Castellón de la Plana. Running for circa 110 kilometres, in the south it starts around 40 kilometres north of Valencia city at Chilches. The most northerly resort is Vinaròs, 100 kilometres south of Tarragona city.
For air access, both Valencia and Tarragona (Reus) have airports with a choice of UK and European flights. There is also the more local Castellón Airport near Torreblanca, which began operations in 2015 and where Ryanair routes include London Stansted and Dublin. Passenger numbers at Castellón are increasing yearly, and there is hope it could become an important gateway.
Castellón is Spain’s second most mountainous province and away from its coastline and numerous Blue Flag beaches, the landscape is characterised by mountains and plains of citrus groves – ‘azahar’ means orange blossom. This scenic terrain is ideal for outdoor pursuits, such as hiking, cycling, climbing, paragliding and horse-riding. Meanwhile, a short drive inland are unspoilt historic villages, like Càlig, Sant Jordi, Cervera del Maestre, Vilafamés, Lucena or L’Alcora, many straddling hillsides or with natural springs. Much of the area is protected natural parks, including Serra d’Irta, Desert de les Palmes and Serra d’Espadà.
Golf options include the PGA courses at Mediterraneo Club near Castellón de la Plana and Panorámica Club near Vinaròs. Other notable places include Peñíscola, which has an impressive fortified old town and citadel overlooking its beaches and harbour, which features in Game of Thrones. Also, the landmark Magic World, a mega tourist resort in Oropesa del Mar formerly known as Marina d’Or, and the Aquarama water park in Benicàssim, said to have the 11th highest slide in the world!
Peñíscola’s north beach is a popular area
Affordable property areas
The Costa del Azahar’s key resorts running north to south are Vinaròs, Benicarló, Peñíscola, Alcossebre, Oropesa del Mar and Benicàssim. South of Castellón de la Plana are the smaller beach areas of Borriana, Moncofa and Chilches. As a rule, less development and demand from the foreign market means average prices are lower than other well-trodden Costas and trendy cities. A survey done last summer by Tecnitasa Group showed that Vinaròs and Moncofa offered the cheapest beachfront holiday lets in Spain in 2024. Each had small seafront apartments available for €500 per week.
The bulk of property in the Costa del Azahar comprises holiday-style homes on small developments or within small blocks or detached villas. For a quality two-bedroom resale apartment or terraced house near the beach, budget €150,000-€250,000, while villas are typically €250,000-€350,000 depending on condition. Popular areas in Peñíscola are along its north beach (Playa Norte), where you’re never far from the beach. Availability in Vinaròs is fairly central, especially around Playa del Rio and close to the port. In Benicàssim, its pueblo area is a favourite for lower budgets.
Being in a small town or village a few minutes inland brings prices down. South of Castellon de la Plana, 15 minutes from the beach at Chilches is the old town of La Vall d’Uixó, with a historic centre and famous caves. Untouristy and just off the coast means €100,000-€150,000 for apartments and small terraced houses is achievable and €225,000 for a detached villa. Borriana is another town with its old centre around a kilometre from the sea where it has a beach, small harbour and sea-facing properties. In the old town, older apartments and houses also are available from around €125,000.
Bigger budgets
Costa del Azahar’s luxury market starts at around €750,000
Got more to spend? In the Costa del Azahar, the luxury market starts at around €750,000, with few properties surpassing €2,000,000. Most resorts have enclaves where more discerning buyers have a small choice of upmarket villas and apartments, often new or under construction and within gated communities.
In Vinaròs, La Closa is a desirable community of villas amongst the orange groves just outside of town. In Peñíscola, properties in the Las Atalayas area, which is slightly elevated and offers sea views over the fortified town, tend to command a premium.
Some of Benicàssim’s most desirable homes are around the bay at Les Platgetes de Bellver, including the Playetas development. Five minutes north from there, a notable site overlooking the Bay of Benicàssim is the high-end gated community of Porta de Mar. Currently under construction, the completed masterplan will include around 600 homes – a mix of apartments, semi-detached houses, and villas, as well as a luxury hotel, shops, restaurants and an extensive range of leisure facilities. Ideal for year-round living or holidays, Porta de Mar could also be attractive to investors, given the potential appreciation the Costa del Azahar has compared to other already developed parts of the Spanish coastline.
This area ticks a lot of boxes. Less than an hour from Valencia and 20 minutes from Castellón Airport, it is on the doorstep of the Desert de les Palmes Natural Park and has access to the Vía Verde del Mar walking and cycling trail. Boat enthusiasts have Oropesa Marina nearby, from where there are trips to the Columbretes Islands.
Tranquil village settings within easy striking distance of the fun of Castellón de la Plana, with its amenities and old town, are increasingly sought after, with prices to match. Such places include Villarreal, Las Palmes, Almassora and Borriol. Meanwhile, the city’s Grau district has attractive sea-facing villas and a selection of new apartment developments – the combination of beach, old fishing quarter and city vibe makes this a special location.
Browse both luxury and affordable Costa del Azahar properties on our portal.
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