The Costa Blanca’s Torrevieja is a really popular destination for tourists, both international and Spanish. While the town is a great place to visit all year round, it really comes alive during the summer months when people are eating, drinking, and walking the promenade late into the night.
If you visit Torrevieja, you can be sure of amazing weather, with an average of 320 days of sunshine a year and not much rain, so it’s a great destination at any time of the year.
Where is Torrevieja?
Torrevieja is a seaside city in the south of the Alicante Province on the Costa Blanca. Alicante airport to Torrevieja is approximately 44km and it’s roughly 63km from Murcia airport, so an ideal location for a holiday on the Costa Blanca.
Is Torrevieja worth visiting?
Torrevieja is definitely worth a visit, you don’t want to miss the chance for the amazing sea views, unique pink lake, and vibrant nightlife. If you like watersports then Torrevieja should certainly be on your list of places to visit on the Costa Blanca.
Interesting facts about Torrevieja
- Torrevieja means ‘Old Tower’ in Spanish, named in the late 1700s when the only building there was a guard tower.
- The town originally developed around the salt-mining industry, most of which was shipped to Sweden and the Netherlands during the 1800s.
- Torrevieja is home to 121 different nationalities! The highest majorities are Spanish (61%), British (5%), Russian (5%) and Ukrainian (5%), with Moroccan, Swedes, Columbians and Germans also making up a large part of the population.
- Torrevieja has been voted by the World Health Organisation as one of the healthiest places in the world to live. This is thanks to the micro-climate created by the year-round warm weather and nearby salt lakes.
If you are visiting Torrevieja, here are some fun things you can do on your trip…
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Spend the day at the beach
We have to start this list of things to do in Torrevieja with the amazing beaches!
Torrevieja is home to so many beaches and coves, running from Punta Prima, to the Torrevieja Port, and then all the way to the coastal border of Guardamar. The most popular beaches in Torrevieja are Punta Prima, Playa de Los Locos, Playa del Cura, and Playa de La Mata, all of which have beautiful golden sands and crystal clear waters.
Playa de La Mata is a quieter beach, perfect for sunbathing and swimming, while Playa de Los Locos is a great beach for kids as there are inflatables in the sea in the summer. Playa del Cura is the city centre beach and gets extremely busy during the summer holidays.
Whichever Torrevieja beach you choose, you will have a lovely relaxing day topping up your tan!
Visit Torrevieja’s Pink Salt Lake
Torrevieja is famous for it’s salt lagoons, especially the unusual pink lake which is one of the top places to see in Torrevieja. The two salt lakes (one pink, one green) are an important nature reserve in the area and of great importance to the city. The lakes are the biggest and oldest salt lakes in Europe and still in production today.
If you want to get a close look at the pink lake you can do so by parking up in the San Luis urbanisation just outside of the town. However, this part of the lake can be quite murky as despite the ‘no swimming’ signs many people do paddle or swim here as well as let their dogs swim in the lake.
The better option is to jump on the land train in the centre of Torrevieja and take a guided tour to the salt production part of the lake that is otherwise closed off to the public. You will be amazed by the colour of the water here – the bluer the sky the pinker the water! You can even spot flamingos here in the summer.
For an unforgettable experience you can book onto a wonderful culinary demonstration with gourmet tasting as the sun sets over the pink lake.
Walk the Dique de Levante Pier
In the centre of Torrevieja you will find a long pier stretching out into the sea with some of the best views in Torrevieja. This wooden walk way is a beautiful spot to take a walk and you’ll have a great view of the Mediterranean on one side and the marina on the other side. From the start of the pier to the lighthouse at the end and back is 2.5km so a nice flat walk on a sunny day, and if there’s a sea breeze it can be a welcome respite from the heat during the hot Spanish summer.
Make sure you look out for the colony of stray cats who live on the rocks next to the pier!
Explore Torrevieja Marina
Whether it’s strolling along the quayside or watching the boats, this is a great spot to relax and take in the scenery. Located close to the city centre and the beach, there are a couple of nice bars and restaurants here, including the Real Club Náutico which offers some amazing views of the marina and its boats. If you’re looking for nightlife in Torrevieja this is the place to be with several bars and nightclubs in the marina.
If you fancy signing yourself up to some watersports while you are in Torrevieja there’s a watersports company just inside the marina where you can do waterskiing, go flyboarding, rent a boat, have a go on a banana boat or go on a jetski tour.
Go parasailing
If the usual watersports aren’t exciting enough for you how about trying one of the more unusual things to do on the Costa Blanca – parasailing in Torrevieja!
The Torrevieja Parasailing Experience gives you an unbeatable view of Torrevieja and the nearby coastline from 200m meters up in the air! You can do it alone or with up to 5 friends – a really fun way to spend time in Torrevieja!
Go inside a Delfin Submarine
Have you ever been inside a real submarine? If not, here’s your chance!
The S-61 Delfin submarine floating museum is located in Torrevieja’s harbour and open to the public Tuesday – Saturday from 9:30am – 2pm. It costs just €2 per person to enter.
The Delfin is a Daphne class submarine that was given to Torrevieja’s Council by the Spanish army – the first floating museum of its type in Spain.
Walk along Torrevieja’s promenade
Running alongside Torrevieja’s main beaches is a long, flat promenade flanked by many bars, restaurants, and shops. You can walk for miles from the harbour in Torrevieja towards the beautiful nearby beaches of Los Locos and further out to Torre La Mata beach.
There are plenty of benches along the way to stop for a rest and of course you can always stop for a drink and some tapas.
If you do walk along the promenade from the main beach in Torrevieja, look out for the tall ceramic columns that pay tribute to the different cultures inhabiting the Mediterranean. These columns of different styles are covered with the motifs of these civilizations.
Shop at the ‘hippy market’
The night market (also open afternoons during the summer months) is made up of a row of stalls running through the marina area towards La Cura beach. This market is made up of souvenir and craft stalls, and is known locally as the hippy market.
It is a great place to grab some souvenirs and snacks on your walk.
Learn about Torrevieja at the Museo del Mar y de la Sal
The interactive Museo del Mar y de la Sal (museum of the sea and salt) explores the long history of salt mining and maritime in Torrevieja and is probably the most important museum in the town. Here you can learn about the origins of the town as well as it’s history.
The museum is free to enter and is open Tuesday – Thursday from 10am – 2pm and again from 5pm – 9pm. On Saturdays the museum is open from 10am – 1pm and again from 5pm – 8pm.
Explore the Parque de las Naciones
Located just outside the town centre, the Parque de las Naciones is a beautiful park and a great place to visit with children in Torrevieja. The park is filled with flora from around the world including Africa and Australia.
You can walk around the lake and fountains with the free range chickens who live in the park, spot turtles in the lake, and children can play in the park which features a giant dragon slide!
Visit Parque Molino Agua
A great place in Torrevieja to explore is the Parque Molino Agua in La Mata, approx 6km from the centre of Torrevieja. This natural park has paths running alongside waterfalls and fountains that take you through the pine forests and down to the beautiful golden sands of La Mata beach.
There are plenty of picnic benches in the shade along the way to stop for a picnic or just a rest. When you come to the lake at the end of the park you can follow the path through the sand dunes that will take you down to the beach where you can find a long promenade and a few bars and restaurants.
Cool off at the Aquopolis Water Park
If you are looking for things to do with children in Torrevieja you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a great waterpark near Torrevieja called Aquopolis. This is the perfect spot for families to spend a fun day enjoying the water and cooling off.
The water park has slides and pools for all ages, as well as plenty of space to sunbathe.
Aquopolis Water Park opens at the start of June and is open daily until the first week of September. You can buy your tickets in advance here to avoid queues on the day, they do also often sell out during the school holidays.
Shop at Habaneras Commercial Centre
If you fancy some retail therapy, Habaneras Commercial Centre is an ideal place to visit. This open air shopping centre has all your usual high street shops plus a floor of bars and restaurants, and a leisure complex with cinema, bowling alley and arcade, and more restaurants.
Habaneras is open daily from 10am – 10pm, and has plenty of free parking.
Relax in Parque Natural de las Lagunas
The Parque Natural de las Lagunas is impressive natural park spanning over 3,700 hectares of protected wilderness and water reserves around the two salt lakes.
You can park up here and walk for miles around the lakes, stopping at the look out towers, birdwatching in the hides, and having a picnic in the shaded areas. There is also a visitor centre where you can learn more about this natural park.
It’s a lovely place for a quiet and peaceful walk away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre, and you can even go on an ebike tour around the lakes, or if you’d prefer you can hire a bike and go on your own tour.
Spend the evening at the funfair
During the summer there is a huge funfair in Torrevieja with lots of rides for all ages including dodgems, rollercoasters, Ferris wheel, trampolines, softplay and lots more. There are also the usual stalls such as hook a duck and plenty of snacks and refreshments on offer. A perfect way to keep the kids entertained in Torrevieja on a warm summer evening when it’s too hot to go to bed!
If you have a car, you might also like to explore a few places nearby such as Guardamar del Segura, the Orihuela Costa, and Alicante.
If you’d like more ideas of things to do and places to see on the Costa Blanca come and join our Facebook group!
Ready to book your holiday to Torrevieja?
If you’re ready to book your holiday to Torrevieja, these links may help…
- Find great value flights and accommodation at Expedia
- Prebook your airport transfer at HolidayTaxis
- Check hotel reviews at TripAdvisor
- Book your tours and excursions at GetYourGuide
Where to stay in Torrevieja
If you are looking for accommodation in Torrevieja, below are the latest deals on hotels, apartments, and villas in the area…
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