PAU 5 or the Playa de San Juan beachfront — where to buy for year-round living

PAU 5 is part of northern Playa de San Juan. The choice is between two locations within the same area. Start with beachfront buildings if you want to step straight onto the promenade. Add apartments on the streets inside PAU 5 if you are happy to walk a little farther to the sea and want to compare how different developments work day to day. Local planning map, Alicante City Council

Walk two routes from the front door

From an apartment inside PAU 5, walk to the beach entrance you would actually use. Time the route including traffic lights, and look for shade and easy crossings. Alicante City Council confirmed the opening of a pedestrian link from Sector 2 to the beach. Check whether that crossing makes sense for the address you are viewing. Pedestrian link, Alicante City Council

From a beachfront apartment, walk to the supermarket and the stop you would use on a weekday. Picture the walk home carrying shopping. If you plan to live without a car, check your usual return time and the walk from the stop to the front door after dark.

Two walks to get to know the area

From PAU 5 to the beach. Start at Glorieta de la Democracia and take the pedestrian link towards the Costa Blanca TRAM stop and the Avenida de Niza promenade. Look at the crossings, shade and access to the sand. Pedestrian link details, Alicante City Council
From the beachfront into the neighbourhood. Start on Avenida de Niza at Calle Irlanda. Follow Calle Irlanda to Plaza de La Coruña by Avenida de la Costa Blanca. Walk back after dusk and compare the noise along the promenade with what you hear on the streets inland. Pedestrian connections, Alicante City Council

These walks start at public landmarks. Once you have a specific flat in mind, repeat the relevant walk from its front door and time it.

What to check at the viewing

Noise. Open the bedroom window and listen from the terrace. If the flat faces the promenade, go back in the evening. If it overlooks the pool, ask about its opening hours and rules.
Daylight. Note which way the living room and terrace face and which buildings cast shade. Ask about nearby development plans if an open view matters to you.
Building costs. Ask for the community fee, the latest meeting minutes and details of any approved works and how they will be paid for.
Access. Walk from the street or garage to the flat. Check whether the route and lift work for shopping, a pushchair or a bike.

If both apartments make your shortlist, write down the actual walking time to the beach and supermarket, how noisy each flat feels in the evening, and the annual community fee. That gives you a better basis for choosing than the listing’s claim of “five minutes from the sea”.

Want to compare two addresses in Alicante? Send us the listings and tell us which daily journeys matter to you.

Calculate your buying budget