Every Torrevieja beach, ranked: Los Locos, Cura, Náufragos, La Mata and the coves
Guide to Torrevieja’s beaches and coves: which are Blue Flag, which suit children, where to park, and which ones you can reach on foot from Punta Prima.
Read the guideTorrevieja guides
25 things to do in Torrevieja, from the pink lake to the submarine
Torrevieja is a working Spanish salt town that happens to have 20 kilometres of beaches, two lagoons, and a harbour full of boats going somewhere. Here is what is actually worth your time, in rough order of how often we do it.
In short
- Walk the seafront from Playa del Cura to the marina at sunset; it is the best free thing in town.
- See the pink lake in the afternoon light from the Los Montesinos side, then the green La Mata lagoon on the way back.
- Friday morning is market day, one of the biggest in the region. Bring cash.
- The S-61 Delfín submarine and the Albatros patrol boat are moored in the harbour and open to visitors.
- Boats to Tabarca island leave the port in season; the mud baths at Lo Pagán are 25 minutes away.
On the water and the sand
- Beach-hop. Playa del Cura in the centre, Los Locos to the north, Náufragos to the south, La Mata’s 2 km of dunes, and the coves of Punta Prima and Cala Piteras. All of them ranked here.
- Paseo Juan Aparicio. The promenade south of Playa del Cura, with the natural seawater pools built into the rocks, sculptures and the famous "Monument to the Sea Cultures".
- Boat to Tabarca. Spain’s smallest inhabited island, a marine reserve with clear water and seafood rice. How to go from Torrevieja.
- The harbour. Fishing boats landing the catch in the morning, the Real Club Náutico, pirate-boat trips for children, and the marina bars at night.
- Snorkel the rocks at the north end of Los Locos or at Cala Piteras and Cala Capitán further south.
- Kayak or paddleboard hire on Playa del Cura and La Mata in summer.
The lagoons and the salt
- The pink lake. Torrevieja’s lagoon turns pink in the heat from salt-loving micro-organisms. Where to see it, when, and the parking.
- The tourist train through the salt works, from the port, roughly an hour, when there are enough passengers.
- La Mata lagoon. The green one, with flat walking and cycling trails, flamingos most of the year, and a visitor centre.
- Museo del Mar y de la Sal. A small, good museum on the salt trade and the sailing ships built here.
Town
- S-61 Delfín submarine in the harbour: a real navy submarine you walk through end to end.
- Friday market, hundreds of stalls, 9:00 to 14:00. Every market day nearby.
- Paseo Vistalegre and the church square, the casino building, and an ice cream on the way to the marina.
- Habaneras. The sea shanties the salt sailors brought back from Cuba; the international contest fills the Eras de la Sal every July. Festivals calendar.
- Eat caldero, the fishermen’s rice cooked in a cauldron with rockfish stock. Where.
- Aquopolis water park, June to September. Prices and tips.
Within an hour
- Lo Pagán mud baths, free, 25 minutes. How to do them.
- Mar Menor, Europe’s biggest saltwater lagoon, warm and shallow, 30 minutes.
- Guardamar dunes and pine forest, 20 minutes north.
- Orihuela old town: the cathedral, palm grove and castle climb, 30 minutes.
- Elche and its UNESCO palm grove, 40 minutes.
- Alicante: castle, old town, central market, 50 minutes.
- Cartagena: the Roman theatre and naval harbour, 1 hour.
- Murcia: baroque cathedral and tapas squares, 50 minutes.
- Golf: eight courses within 25 minutes. Guide.
All of these, with drive times and parking notes, are in day trips.
Staying at Casa Fragata? Torrevieja marina is 12 minutes by car from the villa, and Punta Prima beach is four minutes on foot. Check availability.
Staying nearby? Casa Fragata is a private pool villa at Punta Prima, 280 metres from the beach, between Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa. Check availability or see the villa.
Common questions
What is Torrevieja famous for?
Salt. The two lagoons have produced sea salt since Roman times and still do; the pink lake, the salt museum and the habaneras sung by salt sailors all come from that. Today it is also known for 20 km of Blue Flag beaches and a large international community.
Is Torrevieja worth visiting?
For beaches, sun, value and easy day trips, yes. The centre is built-up and busy in August; the coast either side, including Punta Prima, is calmer. We answer this properly in Is Torrevieja worth visiting?
What are the free things to do?
The seafront walk, the natural pools on Paseo Juan Aparicio, the pink and green lagoons, the Friday market, the harbour, and the beaches themselves.
How many days do you need?
Three days covers the town, a beach day and the lake; a week lets you add Tabarca, the mud baths and two day trips without rushing.
What can you do in Torrevieja when it rains?
The submarine and salt museums, La Zenia Boulevard shopping and cinema, bowling, the Habaneras shopping centre, and a long lunch. Rain rarely lasts the day.
Keep exploring
Torrevieja’s pink lake: where to see it, when it is pinkest, and what not to expect
Honest guide to the Torrevieja pink salt lake (Laguna Rosa): why it is pink, when the colour peaks, where to park and walk, the flamingos, swimming rules and the salt-works train.
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Check live availability and book Casa Fragata directly. No payment is taken online, and you get our full guest guide by e-mail the moment you book.