Our tips for the area

Playa Mil Palmeras

A lovely beach with fine golden sand and clear water. Wide, lively and very suitable for families thanks to the calm, gently shelving sea. With sunbed and parasol hire, a beach bar, water sports, toilets, foot showers and a large free car park.

Playa La Zenia

Fine sand and a lively atmosphere. The beach is wide and slopes gently. With lifeguards, sunbed and parasol hire, toilets, foot showers and a beach bar. Right next to it is Cala Cerrada, a smaller bay more sheltered from the wind.

Playa de Campoamor

A fine sandy beach over 500 metres long, with clear and calm water. With sunbed and parasol hire, toilets, showers, lifeguards, water sports, an inflatable water park and a beach bar. A large car park is a few minutes' walk away.

Good to know

Hire, lifeguards and the water park are only there in high season.

SoleLuna

Italian-style restaurant and cocktail bar with pizzas, pastas and burgers. On Calle Escorpiones 2B in Punta Prima.

Home Sushi Torrevieja

All-you-can-eat à la carte: you keep ordering small dishes that are brought to your table. Plenty of choice and friendly service. Calle Gines Saura Sanchez 34.

Heaven pizzeria-ristobar

Delicious pizzas and pastas in a cosy street by Playa Mil Palmeras. The terrace looks out over the sea and the beach.

SPK Carne Piedra

Grill and steakhouse in Punta Prima, specialising in meat cooked at your table on a hot volcanic stone. Worth booking ahead.

Voltereta Tanzania, Alicante

A themed fusion restaurant that takes you to the heart of Africa. More of an experience than just a place to eat. Book early, it can be full for days or weeks.

Restaurante Bos

Fancy Dutch snacks like chips, kroket or frikandel? Also platters, pizzas and pastas, and sometimes football or a singer. In Torrevieja, a little further along the boulevard.

Kebab Express

For a great kebab, on the upper floor of Zenia Boulevard.

Restaurant Madrid, Villajoyosa

Our tip for good paella, on the boulevard of Villajoyosa.

Lemon Tree Market

Every Sunday in Guardamar del Segura, 9.00 to 14.00. A huge market with many stalls, terraces, food from different countries and fruit and vegetables at the back. Good for a few hours of wandering.

Torrevieja market

Every Friday, 8.00 to 14.00. The biggest market in the region, next to the Aquopolis water park and close to the N332.

La Zenia Street Market

Every Saturday, 9.00 to 14.00, by the Zenia Boulevard shopping centre. One long street full of stalls.

La Mata market

Every Wednesday, 9.00 to 13.00.

El Zoco Market

In Algorfa, every Sunday 9.00 to 14.00. With several restaurants and bars too.

Zenia Boulevard

The largest open-air shopping centre in the province of Alicante, with over 150 shops. A central square with live music, dance shows and children's activities in high season, and plenty of shaded terraces.

Habaneras

Open-air shopping centre in Torrevieja with over 60 shops and a play area. Quieter, with shorter walks. Parking is free at both.

La Casa de las Conchas

The shell house in Rojales. The owner started collecting shells and covered his entire house with them. Very Instagrammable. Open daily, in summer 10.00 to 20.00 and in winter until 18.00.

Cuevas del Rodeo

The cave houses of Rojales, almost next to the shell house. Restored as an artists' quarter, with an art market and live music on the first Sunday of the month.

Les Fonts de l'Algar

A protected nature area with a 1.5 kilometre walk past springs, waterfalls and swimming pools. In high season book ahead at lasfuentesdelalgar.com. Drive on to the top: you can park there for 5 euros and skip the climb.

El Castell de Guadalest

A mountain village with a castle, a small church and views of the reservoir, easy to combine with the Algar. Wander the streets and park below the village.

Coasteering in Villajoyosa

Rock climbing, cliff jumping into the sea and snorkelling, about 3 hours, for adults and older children. Book at alicanteaventura.com. Then visit the boulevard with its colourful houses.

Canyoning in Anna

In the Gorgo de la Escalera: natural slides, jumps and a 25 metre abseil beside a waterfall. Bring good shoes and water. Also via alicanteaventura.com.

Alicante

• Mushroom street (Calle de las Setas)
• The Barrio Santa Cruz quarter
• The boulevard with millions of mosaic tiles
• Castillo de Santa Bárbara
• Shopping and the harbour
• Bike tour with Baja Bikes

Cartagena

• The Roman theatre
• Batería de Castillitos
• Licor 43 factory
• Calle Mayor, the main shopping street
• Barrio del Foro Romano
• Castillo de la Concepción
• Palacio Consistorial, a beautiful town hall

Murcia

• Cathedral on Plaza Cardenal Belluga
• Real Casino, a historic club you can visit
• Plaza de Santo Domingo, with many restaurants
• Calle La Trapería
• Monteagudo castle
• Santa Clara monastery

Torrevieja

• Little train to the pink salt lakes, from the harbour
• Glass-bottom boat to Tabarca island
• The boulevard with restaurants and ice cream
• Paseo del Mar, with bowling and cinema
• Parque de las Naciones
• Dique de Levante, a pier over a kilometre long
• Torre del Moro, an old coastal tower with sea views
• Aquopolis and Flamingo water parks