La Zenia: the commercial and beach heart of Orihuela Costa
La Zenia is a coastal 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 considered its central heart, thanks to its blue-flag beaches and to being home to the largest shopping centre in the province, the Zenia Boulevard. 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 Zenia does not have its own official INE figures. It forms part of Orihuela Costa, which as a whole exceeds 26,000 registered inhabitants. La Zenia has fewer than 2,000 registered residents, a figure that can multiply tenfold in summer because of the influx of tourists and second homes. It occupies an approximate area of 1.9 km² of properties facing the beach, and is exceptionally well connected by the N-332 road and the AP-7 motorway. It borders Playa Flamenca to the north, Cabo Roig to the south and Los Dolses to the west.
Demographics and nationalities
The character of La Zenia is deeply 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, the most numerous resident group.
- Irish, with a notable presence (the area is colloquially known as «little Britain»).
- Residents from other countries of northern and central Europe, alongside the Spanish population.
Economy
The economy of La Zenia revolves around three great pillars:
- Retail: the Zenia Boulevard shopping centre, one of the largest in Spain, is the great driving force and a point of visit for almost all the tourists of the district.
- Residential tourism: one of the most sought-after property markets of Orihuela Costa.
- Hospitality and leisure: nearly fifty restaurants covering all international cuisine, alongside hotels such as the emblematic Hotel La Zenia.
Emergency and home security services
La Zenia is made up of numerous homes —apartments, detached houses and seafront villas— with a very high proportion of foreign residents and second homes. That is why it is one of the areas where reliable locksmith services are most needed on the whole coast. 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 Zenia 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, 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 Zenia combines Spanish traditions with celebrations typical of its foreign community:
- Summer festivals and open-air dances around the urbanisations and the seafront promenade.
- The popular Saturday market, one of the largest on the Costa Blanca.
- Events and celebrations from the international calendar, keenly experienced by the British and Irish community.
Tourism: what to visit
La Zenia offers tourism of sun, beach and shopping all year round:
- The La Zenia beach, the main one of the urbanisation, of golden sand, crystal-clear waters and a blue flag, with a seafront promenade and full services.
- The nearby coves of Cala Bosque (Cala Cerrada) and the rocky spots ideal for snorkelling.
- The Zenia Boulevard shopping centre, one of the largest in Spain, with fashion, a hypermarket, catering and leisure.
- Its closeness to the golf courses of Villamartín and to the La Mata and Torrevieja Lagoons.
Gastronomy
The gastronomic offer of La Zenia 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 very wide presence of international cuisine (British, Irish, Italian, Asian), with nearly 50 restaurants of all kinds.
Other points of interest
La Zenia is, together with Playa Flamenca, one of the most emblematic and sought-after urbanisations of Orihuela Costa, with some of the highest housing prices in the area, a reflection of its appeal. Its combination of blue-flag beaches, the largest shopping centre in the province and a cosmopolitan and family-friendly atmosphere have made it a benchmark of the southern Alicante coast. Well connected and with all services open all year round, La Zenia brings together all the attractions of the southern Costa Blanca. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents and second-home owners deserve all year round.