Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Spain Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Alicante's property market is included in our pack
Running an Airbnb in Alicante can be profitable, but the city's new saturation rules and licensing moratoriums mean your success depends heavily on where you buy and whether you can secure the right permits.
This guide breaks down what Alicante hosts actually earn in 2026, which neighborhoods are still open for new listings, and what you need to do to stay compliant with both regional and municipal rules.
We update this article regularly as regulations evolve, so you're always looking at current Alicante Airbnb data and housing prices.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Alicante.
Insights
- Alicante Airbnb hosts earn around 2,050 euros per month on average in 2026, but professional management fees can cut net profit by more than half compared to self-managed properties.
- The city uses a strict saturation index of 0.187 tourist beds per resident, which means neighborhoods like Centro and Casco Antiguo are effectively closed to new Airbnb licenses right now.
- Top-performing Alicante hosts achieve occupancy rates of 70 to 78 percent, roughly 10 to 15 percentage points higher than average hosts in the same market.
- Playa de San Juan properties with pool access and parking can command nightly rates up to 200 euros in summer, nearly double what similar units earn in January.
- The most crowded price point for Alicante Airbnbs sits between 70 and 130 euros per night, where most 1 and 2 bedroom apartments compete for the same guests.
- Alicante's Hogueras de San Juan festival in June creates the biggest demand spike of the year, pushing both occupancy and nightly rates well above normal levels.
- Winter revenue in Alicante drops to around 1,100 euros monthly, but hosts who market "winter sun" stays to Northern Europeans can maintain stronger bookings than competitors.
- Properties in Benalua, San Blas, and Babel offer better entry opportunities because these residential neighborhoods have more planning flexibility than tourist-heavy zones.
- Alicante-Elche airport handled record passenger numbers in 2025, which directly supports year-round Airbnb demand from UK, German, and Dutch travelers.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in Alicante in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, short-term renting is legal in Alicante but requires navigating multiple layers of regional, municipal, and national regulations before you can operate.
The main legal framework comes from the Valencian Community's rules for "Viviendas de Uso Turistico" (VUT), which govern how tourist-use homes must be registered and operated across the region.
The single most important restriction is that Alicante has implemented a moratorium on new tourist accommodation licenses in many areas, meaning you may not be able to get approval for a new property even if you meet all other requirements.
Beyond the moratorium, you also need municipal urban compatibility approval, must register with Spain's new national short-stay rental database (Ventanilla Unica Digital), and cannot rent individual rooms, only entire homes.
Operating without proper registration can result in significant fines from both regional tourism authorities and the municipal government, plus platforms like Airbnb may remove your listing if you cannot provide a valid registration number.
For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in Spain.
If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in Spain.
Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in Alicante as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, Alicante does not have a "maximum nights per year" cap like some European cities, but instead defines tourist rentals based on stay length, where rentals of 10 days or fewer to the same guest fall under VUT rules.
These rules apply uniformly regardless of property type or whether you live in Alicante, so there is no different treatment for primary residences versus investment properties when it comes to stay-length definitions.
Since there is no annual night cap to track, hosts do not need to count rental days toward a yearly limit, though you must still maintain proper guest records and report stays to authorities as required by national regulations.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in Alicante right now?
There is no residency requirement in Alicante's short-term rental rules, so you do not need to live in the property or even in Spain to operate an Airbnb.
Owners of secondary homes and investment properties can legally run short-term rentals in Alicante, provided they secure the necessary VUT registration and any required municipal approvals.
The key constraint for non-resident owners is not extra permits but practical barriers: getting municipal compatibility approval during the current moratorium, and ensuring your building's community of owners (HOA) allows tourist rentals.
In practice, Alicante treats primary and secondary residences the same way under VUT rules, so your main challenge is the municipal planning layer rather than any distinction based on where you personally live.
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Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Alicante right now?
Yes, you can legally operate multiple Airbnb listings under one name in Alicante, though your compliance obligations increase as you scale up.
The Valencian Community distinguishes between individuals managing up to 4 tourist-use homes and "professional managing companies" that handle 5 or more properties, with the latter facing more business-like regulatory requirements.
There is no hard cap on the number of properties you can list, but at the 5-property threshold you should expect additional registration requirements and potentially different tax treatment.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in Alicante as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, Alicante Airbnb hosts need three permission layers: a regional VUT tourism registration, municipal urban compatibility approval, and enrollment in Spain's national short-stay rental registry (Ventanilla Unica Digital).
The regional VUT registration works through a "declaracion responsable" (responsible declaration) process where you submit required documents and receive a registration number that must appear in all your advertising.
Required documents typically include proof of ownership or authorization to rent, a certificate of occupancy (cedula de habitabilidad), and documentation that your property meets basic safety and habitability standards.
The VUT registration is valid for 5 years and must be renewed, while municipal fees vary but the bigger cost is often the time and uncertainty involved in securing compatibility approval during Alicante's ongoing moratorium.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Alicante as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, Alicante actively restricts new Airbnb licenses using a "saturation index" approach that caps tourist beds at 0.187 places per resident in each census section, effectively banning new permits in areas that exceed this threshold.
The neighborhoods facing the strictest restrictions are Centro, Casco Antiguo (including Santa Cruz), and waterfront-adjacent central zones around Explanada and Postiguet beach, where tourist density already exceeds the city's limits.
These areas became saturated because they combine historic charm, walkability to major attractions, and beach access, which concentrated tourist demand and existing Airbnb supply in a relatively small geographic area.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Spain compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
How much can an Airbnb earn in Alicante in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average nightly price (ADR) for Airbnb listings in Alicante is around 110 euros (approximately 115 USD or 105 GBP), while the median sits closer to 95 euros (100 USD or 90 GBP).
The typical nightly price range covering roughly 80 percent of Alicante listings falls between 70 and 160 euros (75 to 170 USD), with properties outside this range being either budget studios or premium beachfront villas.
Location has the single biggest impact on nightly pricing in Alicante, where beach-adjacent properties in Playa de San Juan can command 50 to 80 euros more per night than comparable apartments in residential neighborhoods like San Blas or Babel.
By the way, you will find much more detailed profitability rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Alicante.
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, nightly prices in Alicante vary by roughly 130 euros between the most expensive neighborhoods like Playa de San Juan (up to 200 euros or 210 USD per night) and more affordable areas like Babel (around 70 euros or 75 USD per night).
The three neighborhoods with the highest average nightly prices in Alicante are Playa de San Juan at 110 to 200 euros (115 to 210 USD), Cabo de las Huertas at 100 to 180 euros (105 to 190 USD), and Casco Antiguo at 95 to 160 euros (100 to 170 USD).
The three neighborhoods with the lowest average nightly prices are Babel, San Blas, and parts of El Pla, all ranging from 70 to 115 euros (75 to 120 USD), though these areas still attract steady bookings from budget-conscious travelers and longer-stay guests who prioritize value over beach proximity.
What's the typical occupancy rate in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the typical occupancy rate for Airbnb listings in Alicante averages around 62 percent annually.
The realistic occupancy range covering most Alicante listings falls between 50 and 70 percent, with significant variation based on property quality, location, and how well hosts optimize their pricing through seasonal fluctuations.
Alicante's 62 percent average occupancy compares favorably to many Spanish coastal cities, supported by strong international airport connections and year-round demand from Northern European visitors seeking sun.
The single biggest factor for achieving above-average occupancy in Alicante is offering competitive winter pricing that attracts longer-stay guests from the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, who book 30 to 60 day stays to escape colder climates.
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What's the average monthly revenue per listing in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average monthly gross revenue per active Airbnb listing in Alicante is approximately 2,050 euros (around 2,150 USD or 1,950 GBP).
The realistic monthly revenue range covering roughly 80 percent of Alicante listings falls between 1,200 and 3,200 euros (1,250 to 3,350 USD), depending on location, property size, and seasonal timing.
Top-performing Airbnb listings in Alicante, particularly well-located 2-bedroom apartments in Playa de San Juan with pool access, can achieve 3,500 to 4,500 euros monthly (3,650 to 4,700 USD) during peak summer months. Using our market estimates of 110 euros ADR at 78 percent occupancy over 31 days, a top performer could gross around 2,660 euros even in shoulder season.
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in Alicante.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, typical monthly revenue for a 1-2 bedroom Airbnb in Alicante ranges from around 1,100 euros (1,150 USD) during low season to approximately 3,600 euros (3,750 USD) during high season, representing more than a threefold difference.
Low season in Alicante runs from January through February, while high season peaks in July and August when European school holidays combine with beach weather to drive maximum demand at Alicante-Elche airport and throughout the Costa Blanca.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly operating expenses for an Alicante Airbnb range from 900 to 1,550 euros (940 to 1,620 USD), excluding mortgage payments and depending heavily on whether you self-manage or hire a property manager.
Property management fees represent the largest expense category for most Alicante hosts, typically running 15 to 25 percent of gross revenue, which can mean 300 to 500 euros (315 to 525 USD) monthly for an average-performing listing.
Hosts in Alicante should expect to spend roughly 45 to 75 percent of gross revenue on operating expenses, with self-managers at the lower end and professionally managed properties at the higher end.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Alicante.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly net profit for a self-managed Alicante Airbnb averages 900 to 1,150 euros (940 to 1,200 USD), translating to profit per available night of roughly 30 to 38 euros (31 to 40 USD).
The realistic monthly net profit range covering most Alicante listings spans from 500 euros for professionally managed properties up to 1,150 euros for optimized self-managed units, with the management choice being the single biggest swing factor.
Alicante Airbnb hosts typically achieve net profit margins of 25 to 55 percent of gross revenue, where self-managers keep more but invest significant personal time, while professionally managed properties sacrifice margin for convenience.
The break-even occupancy rate for a typical Alicante listing, assuming average expenses of around 1,000 euros monthly and ADR of 110 euros, works out to approximately 30 to 35 percent, which most properties exceed comfortably.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Alicante, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Spain versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
How competitive is Airbnb in Alicante as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in Alicante as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there are approximately 3,400 active Airbnb listings in Alicante, making it one of the more competitive short-term rental markets along Spain's Costa Blanca.
This number has remained relatively stable compared to 2025, with growth constrained by Alicante's moratorium on new tourist accommodation licenses, though the long-term trend over the past five years shows steady expansion as international demand for Alicante properties increased.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Alicante as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods for Airbnb in Alicante are Centro, Ensanche Diputacion, Casco Antiguo (Santa Cruz), and waterfront zones near Explanada and Postiguet beach, where listing density has triggered the city's saturation restrictions.
These neighborhoods became saturated because they combine walkable access to Alicante's main attractions, historic architecture that photographs well, and proximity to the beach and port area, creating a feedback loop where tourist demand concentrated supply in a small central footprint.
Neighborhoods that remain relatively undersaturated and may offer better opportunities for new Alicante Airbnb hosts include Benalua, San Blas, Babel, and outer sections of El Pla, where residential zoning and better building layouts create more flexibility under current planning rules.
What local events spike demand in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the main local events that spike Airbnb demand in Alicante are Hogueras de San Juan in late June (the city's biggest festival), Semana Santa in spring, and the extended summer beach season from July through August.
During Hogueras de San Juan, Alicante hosts typically see bookings increase by 30 to 50 percent compared to normal June weeks, with nightly rates rising 20 to 40 percent in central and beach-adjacent properties.
Hosts should adjust pricing and minimum stay requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before major Alicante events, as savvy travelers book festival accommodations early and last-minute availability often indicates overpricing.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, top-performing Airbnb hosts in Alicante achieve occupancy rates of 70 to 78 percent annually, which represents the upper quartile of market performance.
By comparison, average hosts in Alicante typically see occupancy rates between 55 and 65 percent, meaning top performers book an additional 5 to 7 nights per month compared to their average competitors.
New hosts in Alicante should realistically expect to take 6 to 12 months to reach top-performer occupancy levels, as building reviews, optimizing pricing, and learning seasonal patterns all take time to develop.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in Alicante.
What amenities do nearly all competitors offer in Alicante right now?
In Alicante's competitive Airbnb market, nearly all successful listings offer air conditioning (essential for summer), fast WiFi, self check-in, a full kitchen, a washing machine, and good blackout shutters for sleeping through bright Mediterranean mornings.
Beyond these basics, the amenities that most strongly differentiate Alicante properties are dedicated parking (especially valuable in central neighborhoods), pool access (a major draw in Playa de San Juan developments), and outdoor space like a balcony or terrace.
Hosts targeting longer winter stays should also consider workspace setups with good desk lighting and comfortable chairs, as remote workers from Northern Europe represent a growing segment of Alicante's off-season demand.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in Alicante right now?
The most crowded price range in Alicante falls between 70 and 130 euros per night (approximately 75 to 135 USD), where the bulk of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments compete intensely for the same mid-market guests.
White space opportunities for new Alicante hosts exist at the upper end above 150 euros (160 USD) per night for premium family-oriented beach properties, and in the mid-term rental segment targeting 30 to 60 day winter stays at 50 to 80 euros (52 to 84 USD) nightly.
To compete successfully in underserved price segments, new hosts should consider properties with parking plus pool access for the premium beach market, or well-heated units with proper workspace and storage for the winter mid-term segment that most competitors overlook.
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What property works best for Airbnb demand in Alicante right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in Alicante as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments get the most bookings on Airbnb in Alicante, together accounting for the majority of successful reservations in the market.
The estimated booking rate breakdown by bedroom count in Alicante shows studios capturing around 10 percent of bookings, 1-bedrooms around 35 percent, 2-bedrooms around 40 percent, and 3-bedroom-plus properties taking the remaining 15 percent.
This bedroom mix performs best in Alicante because the city attracts primarily couples on city breaks (favoring 1-bedrooms) and small families on beach holidays (favoring 2-bedrooms), while larger groups tend to choose resort destinations with more villa inventory.
What property type performs best in Alicante in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, modern apartments and condominiums perform best overall for Airbnb in Alicante, offering the strongest combination of booking frequency, manageable costs, and regulatory compliance potential.
Occupancy rates by property type in Alicante show apartments averaging 60 to 65 percent, houses and townhouses around 55 to 60 percent, and villas typically achieving 45 to 55 percent due to their higher price points and more seasonal demand patterns.
Apartments outperform in Alicante because the city's residential stock is apartment-heavy, international visitors expect this format, and buildings with elevators, air conditioning, and communal pools align well with what guests actually search for.
What location traits boost bookings in Alicante right now?
For properties in Centro and Casco Antiguo, the traits that most boost Alicante Airbnb bookings are walkability to the Old Town, Explanada promenade, and Postiguet beach, combined with solutions for the parking challenges that plague historic streets.
For beach-area properties in Playa de San Juan, Cabo de las Huertas, and Albufereta, the booking-boosting traits are direct walkability to sand and restaurants, dedicated parking spaces, and pool access with outdoor terrace space.
In value-oriented residential neighborhoods like Benalua, San Blas, and Babel, the traits that drive bookings are convenient transit connections to the center, buildings with elevators and easy luggage logistics, and quiet surroundings that appeal to longer-stay guests.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Alicante, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why It's Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| Generalitat Valenciana (GVA) VUT Procedure | This is the official step-by-step government process for registering tourist-use homes in the Valencian Community. | We used it to define what counts as a VUT, what paperwork is required, and the key constraints like maximum stay definitions. We also used it to explain the distinction between managing up to 4 versus 5 or more properties. |
| DOGV Decreto-ley 9/2024 | This is the official legal text from the Valencian regional gazette that actually changes VUT rules. | We used it to anchor the updated VUT framework that applies in 2026. We cross-checked it against the GVA procedure language to avoid misreading legal phrasing. |
| BOE Real Decreto 1312/2024 | This is Spain's national-level law establishing the short-stay rental registration and data system. | We used it to explain the national registration layer that sits above regional and municipal rules. We used it as the baseline for what platforms and hosts must expect in Spain in 2026. |
| Ministry of Housing (MIVAU) Ventanilla Unica | This is the government's official explainer page tied to the BOE legal texts for short-stay registration. | We used it to confirm what the Ventanilla Unica is meant to do and which EU regulation it implements. We used it to keep the article reader-friendly while staying grounded in official framework. |
| Ayuntamiento de Alicante Moratorium Notice | This is the city government communicating its own licensing stance on tourist accommodations. | We used it to explain why getting a new license or compatibility approval can be difficult in Alicante right now. We treated it as a real-world constraint on new supply in 2026. |
| Ayuntamiento de Alicante PGOU Modification | This is the city stating the core saturation rule design and where it applies by census sections. | We used it to describe restricted zones and why some neighborhoods are effectively closed to new tourist accommodation. We used it to frame neighborhood selection risk. |
| DOGV Alicante Suspension Edict (Jan 2025) | This is the official gazette publication of the city's suspension measure for compatibility reports. | We used it as the strongest evidence that Alicante can pause new approvals for VUT implantation. We cross-checked it with the city's own website notices for consistency. |
| Agencia Tributaria (AEAT) Tourist Rental Taxation | This is the Spanish tax authority's official guidance for hosts on how rental income is taxed. | We used it to explain how income is usually taxed and what counts as hotel-like services. We used it to help estimate net profit with realistic tax and admin friction. |
| Agencia Tributaria (AEAT) VAT Guidance | This is the official VAT rule-of-thumb page from Spain's tax authority for tourist apartments. | We used it to clarify when VAT applies, typically when hotel-like services are provided. We used it to warn readers that adding services can raise both revenue and compliance burden. |
| Agencia Tributaria Modelo 179 FAQs | This is AEAT explaining platform reporting rules in plain terms for short-term rental hosts. | We used it to explain that platforms report activity to Hacienda even if you feel small. We used it to set expectations about documentation and traceability. |
| Aena Monthly Statistics Portal | Aena is Spain's airport operator and publishes official traffic statistics for all Spanish airports. | We used it to justify why Alicante has strong year-round inbound demand from international flights. We used it to connect seasonality patterns to airport-driven tourism waves. |
| Aena Alicante-Elche Passenger Records | This is Aena's airport-level traffic statement specific to Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez airport. | We used it to support demand strength claims for the Alicante market based on actual passenger numbers. We combined it with INE and EU tourism stats to avoid airport-only bias. |
| INE FRONTUR Press Release | INE is Spain's national statistics agency, and FRONTUR is the official international arrivals survey. | We used it to anchor Spain's international tourism trend feeding coastal cities like Alicante. We used it as a macro check against STR platform data. |
| Eurostat Tourism Nights Spent | Eurostat is the EU's official statistical office tracking tourism across member states. | We used it to confirm broader EU travel demand, which is useful because Alicante is heavily international. We used it to sanity-check whether growth versus slowdown claims match official data. |
| AirDNA Alicante Market Data | AirDNA is a widely used STR data provider with transparent metric definitions for ADR, occupancy, and revenue. | We used it as the primary source for ADR, occupancy, revenue, and listing counts in Alicante. We cross-checked key numbers with a second STR dataset so we don't rely on one vendor. |
| Ayuntamiento de Alicante IBI Notice | This is the city describing changes to IBI, a major annual property cost for all owners. | We used it to remind readers that local property taxes can move and should be budgeted. We treated it as part of the non-negotiable fixed costs stack for Alicante hosts. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Spain. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.