Torrevieja is a coastal town in the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community, on the southern Costa Blanca. It lies between the Mediterranean and the two lagoons of the Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja Natural Park, and it has grown from a salt-producing town into one of the largest towns on this stretch of coast.
Who lives here. Torrevieja had 98,533 registered residents on 1 January 2025, up from 94,803 a year earlier, a rise of 3.9% (INE). INE’s separate annual population census counted 100,470 residents on 1 January 2025, of whom 49,699, or 49.5%, held a foreign nationality. Separately, the town hall’s January 2025 municipal register reported 106,350 residents from 123 countries, including residents from the United Kingdom (4,708), Sweden (1,840), Belgium (1,574), Germany (1,237), Norway (708), Lithuania (646), Finland (638), the Netherlands (575) and Latvia (414) (Ajuntament de Torrevieja (opens in a new tab), January 2025). The Norwegian Seamen’s Church in La Siesta is a meeting point for the Norwegian community (Sjømannskirken (opens in a new tab)).
The lagoons. The Torrevieja lagoon is a hypersaline lagoon linked to salt production; its water can turn pink, although the colour is not constant (NASA Earth Observatory (opens in a new tab)). The La Mata lagoon is greener, with vegetation and walking routes.
The coast. In 2026, six beaches held Blue Flags — Cala Piteras, Los Náufragos, El Cura, Los Locos, Cabo Cervera and La Mata-Sur (Ajuntament (opens in a new tab)) — and so did three marinas: Marina Internacional, Marina Salinas and the Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja (ADEAC (opens in a new tab)). Marina Salinas has 724 berths for boats from 8 to 35 metres (Turisme Comunitat Valenciana (opens in a new tab)).
- 98,533 — registered residents, 1 January 2025 (INE)
- €2,553 — average asking price per m², August 2026 (idealista)
- 6 — Blue Flag beaches, 2026
- 123 — countries of origin among registered residents
The appeal is the price and the community. Asking prices less than half of Marbella’s, an international community already in place, a natural park and Blue Flag beaches, and Alicante-Elche airport about 42 km away.
Practical points. Torrevieja has eight urban bus lines and a circular line, and a direct bus to Alicante airport. There is no passenger railway station in town: the nearest rail access is at Orihuela or Alicante. For journeys beyond the town, plan on a car or the bus.
INE (2025); Ajuntament de Torrevieja; ADEAC; Turisme Comunitat Valenciana; idealista (August 2026). Prices and services change; confirm current figures before deciding.
