Which? Magazine lists Xàbia as one of the best seaside resorts in Spain
The town is listed joint third along with Cartagena and Sitges and scores well for its beaches and its gastronomy.
The prestigious consumer choice magazine Which? has published the results of a survey it carried out with more than 1,200 holidaymakers to find the best seaside resorts in Spain – and Xàbia was listed as one of the top destinations in the country and the #1 spot for tourists on the Costa Blanca.
The results, which can be viewed on their website here, lists San Sebastian as the top choice for holidaymakers with an 88% customer score. The Basque resort has the second highest number of Michelin stars per capita in Europe and is renowned for its pintxos bars and cider houses. The resort scored 5 stars for its food and drink, its beaches, and its attractiveness.
Xàbia was listed as joint third with Cartagena (Murcia) and Sitges (Catalonia) with an overall score of 80% and the top resort on the Costa Blanca, one point ahead of Altea and Moraira, five points head of Calpe and nine points above Dénia. The Which? article said that “if Benidorm is a byword for unchecked tourism, Jávea (aka Xàbia) 30 miles north is the Costa Blanca the developers overlooked… [beating] its bigger neighbour in many of the things that make a successful holiday: good looks, food and drink, and safety”.
Whilst Xàbia didn’t attract any five stars, the town scored highly for its beaches (4 stars), its seafront (4), its attractiveness (4), its safety (4), its friendliness (4), its food and drink (4), and its accommodation (4). The town scored low for tourist attractions (2) and peace & quiet (2).
Xàbia
- Beaches: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Seafront: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Attractiveness: ⭐⭐⭐
- Safety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Friendliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Food & Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Accommodation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Tourist Attractions: ⭐⭐
- Peace and Quiet: ⭐⭐
- Shopping: ⭐⭐⭐
- Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐
The worst rated Spanish resort was Puerto Banus in Andalusia which respondents to the survey found to be “tacky” and “a seedy dump” and subsequently scored just 55% overall and marked down for lack of tourist attractions, peace and quiet, and value of money.
The Which? Survey Results
- San Sebastian (País Vasco): 88%
- Nerja (Andalusia): 81%
- Cartagena (Murcia): 80%
- Xàbia (C.Valenciana): 80%
- Sitges (Catalonia): 80%
- Altea (C.Valenciana): 79%
- Estepona (Andalusia): 79%
- Moraira (C.Valenciana): 79%
- Alicante (C.Valenciana): 78%
- Cadiz (Andalusia): 76%
- Calp (C.Valenciana): 75%
- Benidorm (C.Valenciana): 71%
- Dénia (C.Valenciana): 71%
- La Coruña/A Coruña (Galicia): 71%
- Mojacar (Andalusia): 70%
- Mijas Costa (Andalusia): (70%)
- Marbella (Andalusia): 68%
- Torremolinos (Andalusia): 66%
- Almería (Andalusia): 65%
- Benalmádena (Andalusia): 65%
- Santander (Cantabria): 65%
- Calahonda (Andalusia): 62%
- Vigo (Galicia): 61%
- Torrevieja (C.Valenciana): 60%
- Fuengirola (Andalusia): 58%
- Albir (C.Valenciana): 57%
- La Manga (Murcia): 56%
- Puerto Banus (Andalusia): 55%
The results were derived from 2,259 responses to a survey by 1,287 Which? members in November 2023. Only destinations that received 30 or more responses were included. Spanish towns and cities with a population of more than 350,000 were excluded.
