La Florida: a lively and international atmosphere in Orihuela Costa
La Florida is a residential area located in the south of the province of Alicante, in the Comunidad Valenciana, within the Vega Baja del Segura district. It forms part of Orihuela Costa (municipal area of Orihuela) and is located slightly inland, very close to Playa Flamenca, Punta Prima, La Zenia and Cabo Roig. It is one of the best-known, liveliest and most consolidated urbanisations of the coast, with a strong international community. In this guide we go over its most relevant facts: population, economy, festivals, tourism and gastronomy.
General information
Being a residential area —and not an independent municipality— La Florida does not have its own official INE figures. It forms part of Orihuela Costa, which as a whole exceeds 26,000 registered inhabitants. La Florida stands out for being an area consolidated for years, with a notable proportion of permanent residents. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, lies a few minutes from the beaches of Orihuela Costa and with very good access to Alicante-Elche airport.
Demographics and nationalities
The character of La Florida is markedly international. 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 and Irish, very numerous groups (with venues as popular as The Abbey Tavern or The Emerald Isle).
- Residents from northern Europe (Scandinavians, Germans, Belgians).
- Spanish population, both permanent and second-home.
This mix, combined with the high proportion of residents who live here all year round, makes La Florida a genuine international community.
Economy
The economy of La Florida revolves around three great pillars:
- Residential tourism: the area's driving force, with a wide offer of resale and new-build homes.
- Retail and hospitality: its well-known shopping centre has been a meeting point for Spanish and international residents for years, with restaurants, bars and leisure venues.
- Local services: supermarkets, shops, pharmacies, hairdressers and professional services open all year round.
Emergency and home security services
La Florida is made up of numerous urbanisations —detached houses, bungalows, terraced houses, quads and apartments— with a mix of permanent residents and second homes. That is why reliable locksmith services are especially necessary in the area. It is very common for owners who spend periods away to return and find the door jammed, or for incidents to arise with keys inside the house after arriving on holiday.
Our emergency door opening service covers La Florida and the whole of the surroundings of Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja, 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, bungalows, terraced houses, storerooms, lock changes and armoured doors, a service greatly valued by the large international community that lives in the area all year round.
Festivals and traditions
Being a young and very international enclave, La Florida combines Spanish traditions with the intense social life of the community:
- Summer festivals and open-air dances around the shopping centre and the urbanisations.
- A lively leisure life in its bars and venues, well attended by the British and Irish community.
- Celebrations from the international calendar and outdoor family activities.
Tourism: what to visit
La Florida offers quiet tourism, with the beach, the golf and the leisure a step away:
- The blue-flag beaches of the surroundings: Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig and Punta Prima, a few minutes away.
- The La Florida shopping centre, the social heart of the area, and the nearby Zenia Boulevard.
- The golf courses of the surroundings: Villamartín, Las Ramblas, Las Colinas and Campoamor.
- Its parks and green areas, ideal for walks and outdoor activities.
Gastronomy
The gastronomic offer of La Florida 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.
- Traditional Spanish cuisine in the restaurants of the area.
- A wide presence of international cuisine, with popular British and Irish pubs and restaurants of all kinds.
Other points of interest
La Florida is one of the most veteran and long-established urbanisations of Orihuela Costa, which gives it the character of a consolidated neighbourhood rarely found in more recently developed areas. Its combination of a lively atmosphere, an international community, complete services and closeness both to the beaches and to the golf courses makes it one of the most appreciated areas to live all year round or to enjoy a second home. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents and second-home owners deserve all year round.