HOME > ALICANTE VEGA BAJA > LA ZENIA
La Zenia is a small, coastal town situated on the Orihuela Costa in the province of Alicante. Much more petite than many of its neighbours at just 1.9 km², it is well-renowned as one of the most upmarket and desirable spots on the southern Costa Blanca.
Located just a short walk from a pristine beach made famous each year by its massive Christmas Day party, the urbanisations of La Zenia are mostly made up of low-rise apartment complexes and sprawling villas, while the centre itself is packed full of bars, restaurants, cafés and stores.
Remarkably self-contained for such a small area, La Zenia is popular with both Spanish and international tourists, as well as those looking for a bustling spot for a second home, and its population is growing exponentially year after year.
How to get to La Zenia
The coastal resort is ideally served by two airports, Alicante-Elche which is 51 kilometres away and Murcia’s Corvera (53km).
Getting to La Zenia by car is very straightforward as it’s situated directly on the N-332 dual carriageway and can also be reached by the AP-7 motorway via exit 763, although this will incur some tolls.
There are regular buses operating from the front of Zenia Boulevard that connect with the nearby cities of Torrevieja and Alicante.
How’s the weather?
Like so much of the Orihuela Costa, La Zenia enjoys its own little microclimate of sorts which guarantees balmy temperatures all year round. The area gets about 325 days of sunshine with the thermometers remaining at an average of 19.3°C.
The history of La Zenia
The name of the resort originates from the Arabic word ‘aceña’ after the mill wheels that irrigated what was once solely agricultural land. The very first residential property was actually an Ibizian-style chalet built by an aviation captain but most of the valuable farmland was sold to a businessman from the Murcian town of Cabezo de Torres in the 1960s.
After the Tourism Promotion Plan of 1966 was granted and La Zenia declared a Centre of Tourist Interest, the Hotel Servigroup La Zenia and the La Mirada restaurant were built, both of which still hold pride of place today on the cliffs which separate the resort’s two beaches.
Zenia Boulevard
One of the area’s most attractive features has to be Zenia Boulevard, Alicante province’s largest shopping centre. Spanning 161,000m2 of retail heaven, the boulevard contains almost 200 shops across an open, Mediterranean-style commercial centre on the ground floor and dozens of top-class eateries upstairs.
The Boulevard also hosts Christmas extravaganzas each year complete with parades and concerts which are sure to be a hit with all the family.
La Zenia’s beaches
The resort is home to two spectacular yet very different beaches: Cala El Bosque and Cala Cerrada.
Cala El Bosque has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag, thanks to its crystalline waters and a well-developed tourist infrastructure. It stretches for 258 metres between two rock promontories and offers every kind of water sport imaginable. Perfect for families, the beach sports a children’s play area and a popular shore-side bar, but it can get very busy in the summer and it’s best to get there early to secure parking.
Just 100 metres away is the sheltered cove of Cala Cerrada, which is surrounded by a small cliff and can only be accessed by stone stairs built in the centre of the beach or a ramp beside the hotel.Beach walks
The stunning cliff walks that meander along La Zenia’s coast are not to be missed and are aren’t exceptionally challenging, so can be enjoyed by people of all fitness levels.
From Cala Cerrada, a rocky inlet takes you all the way to the next beach to the north, Playa Flamenca (Playa de las Estacas), and on to Cala La Mosca and Cala Cabo Peñas.
If you choose to go south, a stunning cliff promenade will take you to Cala Capitan in Cabo Roig.
Things to do in La Zenia
La Zenia is often chosen as an ideal base to access some of the Costa Blanca’s best golf courses: two of the most popular, just a few minutes away by car, are the Real Campo de Golf de Campoamor and the Campo de Golf de Villamartín.
The resort undoubtedly has one of the liveliest ‘strips’ on the coast complete with a plethora of international bars and restaurants, but it also caters well to year-round residents with schools, pharmacies, supermarkets and sports facilities.
Images: Sarah Keane
Police hunt Bulgarian man who tried to murder his brother-in-law in Orihuela CostaAlerts have been issued in Alicante and the Region of Murcia to track down the dangerous suspect A manhunt is underway for a 38-year-old Bulgarian national who reportedly tried to murder his 62-year-old bother-in-law at his relatives’ home in.. 19/02/2025
Green light for widening the N-332 in Orihuela CostaExtra lanes will be added at the dreaded bottleneck in Torrevieja It’s a saga that’s been tormenting Orihuela Costa residents for years but it looks like there’s been significant movement in the plans to widen the N-332 dual carriageway.. 18/02/2025
Frustration in Orihuela Costa as AP-7 toll remains while Alicante's is scrappedOrihuela has again asked that the tolls between Los Montesinos and La Zenia be removed While Alicante drivers are delighted with the news that the AP-7 ring-road around the city will remain toll-free for another 12 months, the development has angered.. 14/02/2025
Elderly British couple found dead in their Costa Blanca homeThe sad discovery was made at a property in the popular San Fulgencio urbanisation of La Marina An investigation has been launched into the death of an elderly British couple after their lifeless bodies were found in their San Fulgencio home on Thursday.. 14/02/2025
Orihuela Costa gets zero funding for 2025 Carnival paradeOrihuela spends 14,500 euros on its festival but residents on the coast have to pay for their own parade Orihuela Costa residents are feeling short-changed yet again as it’s been confirmed that Orihuela City Council won’t fork out a penny.. 05/02/2025
Bye bye birdie: Torrevieja takes action to relocate 700 free roaming chickensHundreds of wild hens, roosters and chicks have made the roundabouts and parks of Torrevieja home Anyone who’s taken a drive through Torrevieja in Alicante may have been shocked to see hundreds of chickens roaming freely and happily throughout.. 03/02/2025
Alicante festivos 2025: These are all the local bank holidays for the yearAlicante will enjoy a long weekend during the Bonfires of San Juan Alicante City Council has officially announced the public holidays for the 2025 working calendar, which will include 14 paid and non-recoverable holidays. The two local.. 01/01/2025
Celebrate Christmas Day in La Zenia with the biggest beach party in EuropeThousands of people flock to the Orihuela Costa’s Cala Bosque each year for a Christmas Day with a real difference Are you tired of the same old Christmas celebrations? Looking for a unique and exciting way to spend the holiday season? Look.. 19/12/2024
February 15-March 8 A spectacle of colour at the Torrevieja CarnivalComedy shows, parades, music and even a Drag Queen Competition in Torrevieja this month The month-long Torrevieja Carnival 2025 is already in full swing after the festival kings and queens were crowned at a coronation gala on Saturday February 8, but the..
Singles' Day in Spain: The shopping holiday that beats Black FridayOn November 11, shoppers in Spain can bag a serious bargain While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, there’s another shopping holiday that has been gaining traction in Spain in recent years which offers mega bargains for the..
March 16 Orihuela Costa St Patrick's Day Parade in Cabo RoigThe spectacular Orihuela Costa event is one of the largest parades in Europe Cabo Roig is set to turn green once again as the highly anticipated St Patrick’s Day Parade returns for its 12th spectacular edition on Sunday March 16, 2025. The biggest..
The rise of white: The wine scene in Spain swings away from redsMore than half of the wine produced in Spain in the last 12 months was white due to this changing trend For centuries, Spain has been synonymous with red wine. From the rich, full-bodied Riojas to the bold, fruity Tempranillos, red wine has long been.. 25/09/2024
Best theme parks and funfairs on the Costa BlancaThrill-seekers rejoice: there’s fun and excitement for all ages across the Costa Blanca As a region that welcomes millions of tourists every year, Alicante's Costa Blanca has plenty of attractions of all kinds to keep visitors entertained.. 19/09/2024
5 of the best water parks on the Costa BlancaBeat the heat on the Costa Blanca with unmissable excitement for all the family A sun-kissed stretch of Mediterranean coastline, the Costa Blanca is a haven for families and thrill-seekers alike. And what better way to beat the summer heat than a.. 19/09/2024
EU visitors to the UK will need to apply for this travel permit from next yearThe Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be mandatory for tourists travelling to Britain from April 2025 If you come from Spain or anywhere else in the European Union and you’re planning a holiday to the United Kingdom next year.. 13/09/2024
Top tips for sleeping during a Spanish heatwaveNight-time temperatures over 20°C in Spain can make it almost impossible to sleep Summer in Spain can be absolutely sweltering, especially in the south of the country, and while the days can be bad enough it’s the dreaded.. 25/07/2024
