If you drive south along the Costa Blanca from Alicante on the N-332 for around an hour you will find yourself in Torrevieja.
The city is rather uniquely surrounded by water – as well as being a seaside city with nice beaches, the centre of town sits in front of two large salt-water lakes known as Las Salinas.
This quirk of geography provides Torrevieja with a pleasant microclimate.
The city is very fast growing, but remains more relaxed than many resort towns – this is simply a quiet and tranquil place that is perfect for a family holiday.
Here are some of the best things to do during your stay here.
Museum of Sea and Salt
Torrevieja has an excellent range of museums, making it perfect for people interested in learning about the culture and history both of the city and the region. If you’ve only got time for one during your stay it’s probably worth learning about the city’s most iconic feature, Les Salines – the two salt lakes surrounding the town.
To do so you can visit the Museum of Sea and Salt which will take you through the town’s growth as a major exporter of salt. It is open from 10am to 1:30pm and 5pm and 9pm most days, although only in the morning on Sundays.
An abundance of beaches
As a true seaside resort, Torrevieja is blessed with no less than 20km of coastline containing six impressive beaches. Playa La Cura is considered to be the major beach due to its central location and popularity with locals and tourists alike.
It does tend to get quite crowded during the summer, so if you’re travelling at peak times, you may need to arrive early to allocate yourself a spot on the sand.
If you can’t find space at La Cura there are other options including Los Naufragos, a Blue Flag beach that’s popular with families, and Playa de los Locos a little way up the coast.
Park of Nations
Close to the centre of towns you will find the Park of Nations which is dedicated to the other countries of Europe, and even contains a scale map of the continent.
It is a nice place to come to enjoy a relaxing walk. You can even find a small zoo as well as various art exhibitions that change regularly.