Door opening in Orihuela Costa

Orihuela Costa: sun, beaches and an international enclave on the Costa Blanca

Orihuela Costa is the coastal strip of the municipality of Orihuela, in the south of the province of Alicante (Comunidad Valenciana), within the Vega Baja del Segura district. Although administratively it depends on the city of Orihuela —located some 40 km inland— in practice it functions as a large residential and tourist hub in its own right, made up of dozens of urbanisations on the shores of the Mediterranean. In this guide we go over its most relevant facts: population, economy, festivals, tourism and gastronomy.

General information

Orihuela Costa stretches along some 16-18 km of coastline, betwein Torrevieja to the north and Pilar de la Horadada to the south. It has a registered population of around 27,000 inhabitants (2025 figure), although its real population soars in the summer season, when it can far exceed that figure because of the enormous volume of second homes. The area is made up of numerous urbanisations, among which the following stand out:

• Playa Flamenca, La Zenia and Cabo Roig.
• Punta Prima, Dehesa de Campoamor and Villamartín.
• La Regia, Los Dolses, Las Mimosas and Mil Palmeras, among others.

Demographics and nationalities

The great hallmark of Orihuela Costa is its deeply international character: it is estimated that more than 70% of its residents are of foreign nationality. The split by sex is balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

• Britons, by far the largest community.
• Ukrainians and other Eastern European residents.
• Scandinavians, Belgians, Dutch and Germans, alongside the Spanish population.

This cultural plurality means that English is one of the most heard languages in its streets, shops and leisure centres.

Economy

The economy of Orihuela Costa revolves around three great pillars:

• Residential tourism: the area's true driving force, with a very active property market geared towards European buyers.
• Hospitality and retail: a very wide offer of restaurants, bars and large stores, with the Zenia Boulevard shopping centre —one of the largest in the province— as a benchmark.
• Golf and leisure: several top-level golf courses (Villamartín, Las Ramblas, Campoamor, Las Colinas) that attract tourism all year round.

Emergency and home security services

With tens of thousands of homes and second homes spread across its urbanisations, Orihuela Costa is one of the enclaves where reliable locksmith services are most needed in the whole district. It is very common for owners who spend long periods away to return and find the door jammed, or for incidents to arise with keys inside the house after arriving on holiday, something especially frequent in an area with so much holiday housing.

Our emergency door opening service covers Orihuela Costa —Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Punta Prima, Campoamor and the rest of the urbanisations— and the whole of the Vega Baja, with on-call locksmiths available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By day or in the early hours, in high season or in winter, there is always a professional ready to act quickly on openings of homes, apartments, storerooms, lock changes and armoured doors, a service greatly valued by the large community of foreign residents who need an immediate and trustworthy response.

Festivals and traditions

Being a young and very international enclave, Orihuela Costa combines Spanish traditions with celebrations typical of its foreign community:

• Summer festivals and open-air dances in the various urbanisations, with music and outdoor activities.
• Notable celebrations from the international calendar, keenly experienced by the British and northern European community.
• Street markets and events that bring together residents and tourists along the coast.

Tourism: what to visit and what to do

Orihuela Costa is one of the great sun-and-beach destinations of the Costa Blanca:

• Its beaches and coves, many with a blue flag: Punta Prima, Cala Mosca, Cala Cerrada, Cala Capitán, La Caleta, Aguamarina, La Glea or Mil Palmeras.
• The Cabo Roig Watchtower, a Site of Cultural Interest, on the cliffs.
• The Zenia Boulevard shopping and leisure centre.
• The golf courses and the marinas, ideal for active tourism, as well as cycling routes over flat terrain.

Gastronomy

The gastronomic offer of Orihuela Costa is as varied and international as its population. Here coexist:

• The Mediterranean rice dishes and fish and the arroz con costra of the Vega Baja.
• The fresh produce of the sea, the star of its beach bars and beachfront restaurants.
• A wide presence of international cuisine (British, Italian, Asian), a reflection of the diversity of its residents.

Other points of interest

Orihuela Costa has undergone spectacular growth in recent decades, going from an area of beaches and ravines to a great mosaic of residential urbanisations. Despite depending administratively on Orihuela, its residents keep a strong relationship with neighbouring Torrevieja, just a step to the north. The area has a town hall annex in Playa Flamenca, health centres, primary and secondary schools, and a top-level commercial infrastructure. Between the sea, the golf and a unique cosmopolitan atmosphere, Orihuela Costa brings together all the attractions of the Costa Blanca. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents, tourists and second-home owners deserve all year round.