The Tiny Cave House Village in Alicante That Generation Z Is Falling in Love With

Airbnb Data Points to One Village Above All Others

Generation Z — the group born between 1997 and 2012 — has reshaped how we think about travel, increasingly bypassing major cities in favour of off-the-beaten-track discoveries shared through TikTok and other social media platforms. And in Spain, one small coastal village is capturing their attention more than almost anywhere else.

According to Airbnb data tracking where bookings from younger travellers have grown the most over the past year, the biggest rise in the whole of Spain belongs to Rojales — a charming town of around 16,000 people in the southern Alicante province, just eight kilometres from the Mediterranean coast.

The Cuevas del Rodeo — A Hidden Gem

The main draw is the Cuevas del Rodeo, a remarkable collection of cave houses carved into the rock between the 18th and 20th centuries. Today these caves are home to local artisans who display and sell their work inside them — giving visitors a hands-on cultural experience that is genuinely unique on the Costa Blanca.

It is exactly the kind of discovery that spreads rapidly through social media, and it is easy to understand why young travellers who stumble across it feel compelled to share it.

More Than Just the Caves

Rojales has considerably more to offer beyond its famous cave dwellings:

• The town is bisected by the Segura River, with a historic hydraulic system featuring components dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries
• A beautifully restored windmill housing a small museum just outside the town centre
• The Archaeological and Palaeontological Museum, with fossils going back millions of years
• Easy access to Mediterranean beaches just a short drive away

Getting There from Alicante

Rojales is approximately 50 minutes by road from Alicante city. Take the N-332, continue onto the CV-91 and then follow the signs onto the CV-860 into town. The village makes an ideal day trip from anywhere along the southern Costa Blanca — and for those looking to stay longer, Airbnb availability in the area has grown alongside demand.

This article is based on reporting from Alicante Today, published May 7, 2026.