Living in Dénia: essential information
Despite a declining birth rate, the population of Dénia is growing – a testament to the magnetic pull of the city. According to ine.es, In 2022 there were 43,899 people living in Dénia, and in 2023 that rose to 45,893. 69% of the population is Spanish, and the other predominant nationalities include Colombian, German and British. Most of the residents are aged between 40 and 60 years old.
Healthcare in Dénia
Public healthcare in Spain has an excellent reputation. There are four health centres (centros de salud) in Dénia, each one offering localised and non-emergency care to the surrounding community. Hospital de Dénia is a five-minute bus journey from the city centre. It features everything from operating theatres to specialists in allergology. The easy-to-reach hospital will hopefully mean that healthcare needn't be a deciding factor on where to live in Dénia. Check out our guide to healthcare in Spain for more information.
Working in Dénia
Popular with tourists, awash with businesses and boasting a large port, there are plenty of jobs going in Dénia. The Costa Blanca Forum has a careers section where individuals post adverts along the lines of private tutors, cleaners and boat mechanics. Check infojobs.net for port-based jobs, like project managers and technical inspectors. For hospitality and tourism turn to turijobs.com, where waiter and bartender vacancies feature heavily. Looking for more in-depth guidance on finding a job in Spain? Read our full guide on finding a job in Spain for all the ins and outs, including top tips and networking advice.
Freelancers can log on lightning-quick with the 168 mbps internet, according to Fair Internet Report. And if working from home isn't your bag, try one of the co-working centres. Knowhere offers bright shared spaces, printing facilities and discounts for co-workers, while Zinq features clean-lined meeting rooms and access until 10pm. Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is an initiative aimed at remote workers. It's available to self-employed people and their families, as long as the applicant meets certain requirements, like having at least three years of experience and a university degree in the chosen field of work.
Hoping to set up your own business? Entrepreneurs should investigate the Spanish Chamber of Commerce for events, training sessions and advice on setting up a business in Spain.
Schools and Education in Dénia
Moving to Dénia with little people in tow? Great news: there is a generous selection of schools to choose from, with some excellent public and private establishments. Among the best public school options are Colegio Cervantes and Colegio Comarcal Raquel Paya, which has a focus on sustainability and diversity.
There are three concertados in the city, too. Concertados are semi-private schools which receive government funding and families also pay a fee. These schools have the freedom to choose their curriculum, are usually Catholic, and often offer better extra-curricular activities and materials than public schools. Colegio San Juan Bautista, for instance, has top reviews, is centrally located, and offers extracurricular activities such as painting, ballet and volleyball.
A 40-minute drive away is Lady Elizabeth School, a private school which teaches children from ages 3-18. It follows the British curriculum and is taught entirely in English by native English speakers.
Transport in Dénia
Dénia is known as the gateway to the Balearics, and lots of people pause here before catching the ferry to Ibiza or Mallorca. It takes two hours to sail from Dénia to Ibiza and it costs from €66 – the ticket includes one car and a reserved seat. There are cabins on board for longer, overnight journeys.
The only train in Dénia is a small, scenic route which follows the coast south west, stopping at several picturesque seaside towns including Calpe and Altea. For longer journeys, there are buses that run regularly from the bus station. It takes around two hours to get to Valencia, and one hour 30 minutes to Alicante.
Drivers will have a ball exploring the area by car: there are tucked-away coves and pretty hilltop villages to discover. If a car is the option you decide to go for, check out our guidance on driving in Spain with a UK licence.
![Denia ferry to the Balearic islands](https://production-kyero-cms.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Denia_ferry_to_the_Balearic_islands_9d880b8a35.jpg)