Here’s a list of the 15 best things to do in Torrevieja in Spain, along with famous landmarks, museums, and other points of interest.
Torrevieja is a beloved seaside town in the province of Alicante on the famous Costa Blanca. Previously, the city was primarily a fishing village and an important site for salt mining.
Torrevieja features a healthy microclimate, thanks to its location between the sea and salt lakes. Many expats and tourists come here to enjoy the sunshine all-year-round and a high-quality of life.
The name Torrevieja comes from the ancient guard tower, Torre Vieja, which means Old Tower. Since the early 1800s, the town has grown rapidly from just a few citizens to more than 83,000 residents, according to the latest official estimate from 2019.
In this article, I’m sharing some of the best places to visit in Torrevieja as well as interesting facts and attractions that shouldn’t be missed while visiting.
Laguna Salada de Torrevieja
It’s not every day that you find yourself on the banks of a bright pink lake. In Torrevieja, the Laguna Salada represents what brought this quiet village its most important industry.
Part of a natural reserve known as Las. Salinas de Torrevieja, the lake is pink thanks to the Halobacterium content, as well as a micro-algae called Dunaliella Salina.
Visit the lake on a sunny day to see the beautiful pink colors at their finest. I think that the pink lake in Torrevieja is one of the natural wonders of Spain.
La Mata Beach
La Mata beach is Torrevieja’s longest beach, stretching 2.3 kilometers along the coast. It begins at Cabo Cervera on the south end and stretches to the Guardamar dunes and Torredelamata.
It gets as wide as 40 meters, meaning there is plenty of room for all types of beachgoers. The promenade that stretches along the beach holds all types of restaurants, beach bars, and other facilities.
Aquapark Flamingo
This tiny water park is the little brother to Aquapolis, making it recommendable for families with smaller children. The Entrance fee ranges from free (for children under 4) to €14 for adults.
Open from June to September, the park holds two swimming pools, two slides, and a few other attractions. The limited offering is nonetheless perfect for families with smaller children, who wouldn’t be able to take full advantage of the larger water parks.
Museos flotantes Delfin S-61 y Albatros III
A museum that floats on the water? When the museum is a former submarine, it makes sense. The S-61 Delfin was gifted to Torrevieja by the Spanish navy, as a way to commemorate the Spanish Armada and the 1974 gift the town made to the submarine.
The boat was turned into a museum, which offers the chance to see what the interior of a submarine is really like, as well as learn about the lives of those aboard.
This popular museum is only €2 to enter and has been visited over 1.3 million times. The Patrullera Albatros III is also open to the public.
Photo: Alex Marakhovets / Shutterstock.com
Mercadillo de Torrevieja
The outdoor market of Torrevieja is an incredibly popular weekly market that takes place on Fridays. The market normally holds nearly 500 stalls in its 80,000 square meters, and it is attended by thousands of locals, visitors, and neighbors.
The stalls sell fruit, clothing, shoes, food products, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. There is a bus service from the center of town that leaves every 20 minutes. The market runs from 8am to 2pm.
Playa del Cura
The “Priest’s Beach” is Torrevieja’s most central beach. At 325 meters long and nearly 30 meters wide, the beach fills quickly with sunbathers and visitors, who flock to the area for its many facilities, restaurants, and chiringuitos.
The curious name comes from the 19th century when a priest drowned while swimming at the beach. At the north point, on punta Margalla, sits the Monumento a las Culturas del Mediterráneo, known in short as “the columns”, which is one of the most photographed places in Torrevieja.
Iglesia de La Inmaculada Concepcion
This church was founded in 1789, as the city of Torrevieja was growing and needed its own parish. The current structure dates back to 1880, with a Neoclassical façade that was erected atop former structures.
The two bell towers were built in 1907. Outside, you will be greeted by a statue of Christ, over the front door and the arched entrance. The interior is also bright white, decorated with images of the Immaculate Conception.
Museum of Sea and Salt
The importance of sea and salt in the history of Torrevieja cannot be overstated. This ethnological museum shows the history of Torrevieja through these two elements.
Fascinating exhibitions on submarine archaeology, fishing, the Salinas, and carpentry as well as traditional salt-making techniques give the viewer an idea of this industry’s importance in the area. The submarine Delfin S-61 is part of the museum, unique in all of Spain for its status as a “floating museum”.
Parque de las Naciones
Well-loved by tourists and residents of Torrevieja, the Parque de las Naciones is a 35,000 square meter park with loads of gardens and green areas, as well as other attractions.
Centrally located but out of the main bustle of the city, parking is easy, leaving you with no excuse not to visit. The impressive waterfall is worth seeing, and the different habitats of the park play host to different birds, fowl, and other wildlife. The park also holds an exhibition hall.
Visit Isla Tabarca
The island of Tabarca is a great escape from the summer heat of Torrevieja. Jump on one of the boats that head to the island several times a day and feel the sea breeze through your hair as you sail to Tabarca.
At just 40 minutes by boat, Tabarca is the smallest island in Spain that is inhabited. The population is 80, though it formerly saw more movement as a refuge for pirates up until the 1800s.
Remains of the old fortification, built by King Charles III, are visible when you arrive, as is the desert-like topography. Visit the beautiful town and lighthouse and lunch on a bit of seafood for a perfect day trip.
Torre del Moro
Located on a hill over Cabo Cervera, Torre del Moro is a circular watchtower that is thought to date back as far as 1312. This is when a system of defense was authorized on this area of the coast, although construction continued in the years posterior to this.
Now only a single wall remains, but the ruins remind visitors of the deep history of the region. And today, it’s one of the most famous landmarks in Torrevieja.
El Hondo Nature Reserve
The Natural Park of El Hondo is a protected wetland and a Natural Park, with protected status. This nature reserve has an area of 2495 hectares, and it is made up of many lagoons, including the very large manmade lagoon Levante.
The river Segura flows into them, and the changes in the salinity of the water allow for different types of vegetation and surroundings. Walkways allow the visitor to see the different landscapes the reserve has to offer.
Las Colinas Golf
Las Colinas Golf is Torrevieja’s award-winning 18-hole golf course. However, it is more than just golf—on 330 hectares you can find a country club, a residential complex, and a gated resort that has all the facilities you can imagine.
Voted Best Golf Course in Spain in 2015, 2016, and 2017, it was designed by famed American architect Cabell B. Robinson. If you’re not a member, you can choose from rates and packages of 10, 20, or even 30 rounds.
Aquopolis Torrevieja
Aquopolis is the largest, most famous water park in Torrevieja. Second, only to the enormous water park in nearby Benidorm, it offers over 15 attractions.
Located right outside the center of Torrevieja, there are rides for all ages, including slides, Jacuzzis, a wave pool, zip lines, a lazy river, and more. The most intense of the attractions are the high-speed, high-adrenaline Kamikaze, Speed, and Boomerang. Smaller children will enjoy the charmed Lake and the mini water park.
Go-Karts Orihuela Costa
The Orihuela Go-Kart course is a favorite family activity on the Costa Blanca. The tracks are in perfect shape, and they include an all-ages track as well as a separate track for younger children, aged 5 to 10.
On offer are 11 CV karts or the more powerful Honda 400 CCs. They even have tandem carts for two and competition-level karts for those with lots of experiences. The facilities also offer quad bikes for rent and a paintball course.
Museums in Torrevieja
- Museos flotantes Delfín S-61 y Albatros III
- Museo Del Mar Y De La Sal
- La Imprenta en Torrevieja
- Museo de Belenes
- Museu Setmana Santa Torrevella
Interesting facts about Torrevieja
- Only around 60% of the residents are Spanish by birth
- November is the wettest month in Torrevieja
- Salt production had a crucial role in the city’s development
- The salt was primarily shipped by Swedish and Dutch ships in the 19th century
- A local person is referred to as Torrevejense
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