Where is La Zenia?
La Zenia sits on the Mediterranean in Orihuela Costa, the coastal strip of the Orihuela municipality in Alicante province. Playa Flamenca lies to the north and Cabo Roig to the south, so it sits at the heart of Orihuela Costa.
The urbanisation runs from the beach back across the N-332 coast road towards the AP-7 motorway. Zenia Boulevard, in the heart of La Zenia, is easily reached from both the N-332 and the AP-7, which makes coming and going simple.
Torrevieja is a short drive north for larger shops and hospitals. Inland, the golf urbanisations around Villamartín and Los Dolses are only a few minutes away by car.
What is it like to live in La Zenia?
La Zenia is a resort neighbourhood rather than a Spanish village, and it is honest to say so. Streets are modern and mostly flat, homes are a mix of low-rise apartment blocks, bungalows, townhouses and villas, and much of daily life happens outdoors.
The big practical advantage is services. Zenia Boulevard is the largest shopping centre in this part of the coast, an open-air complex of more than 150 shops set around avenues and plazas, and it also has a cinema, an arcade and a bowling alley. A hypermarket and everyday supermarkets sit in the same area, so you rarely need to drive far.
Along the beach road and the side streets you will find plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants, many of them open through the winter. Summer is busy with holidaymakers. Winter is far quieter, though La Zenia stays livelier out of season than most of the smaller urbanisations nearby.
For health care, there are pharmacies and medical centres within the coastal area, and larger public and private hospitals in Torrevieja serve the international population with multilingual staff. Families have Spanish state schools plus international options nearby, including El Limonar International School in Villamartín.
How much does property cost in La Zenia?
All figures below come from our own listings at the time of writing (September 2026). They are asking prices, and they move with the market.
- Overall: from about €149,000 to around €2.95 million, with a typical figure near €330,000.
- Apartments and penthouses: typically around €350,000, with the most affordable one and two-bedroom homes from roughly €150,000 to €200,000.
- Bungalows: typically close to €300,000.
- Townhouses and quad-style houses: typically around €250,000.
- Villas: typically around €630,000, rising well beyond €1 million for large or sea-view plots.
A typical La Zenia home on our books has three bedrooms and about 86 m² built. Roughly four in ten come with a pool, private or communal. Only a small share, around 7%, are new build: La Zenia is a mature area, so most purchases here are resales.
On costs, resale homes in the Valencian Community carry 9% transfer tax (ITP), rising to 11% on the part above €1 million from 1 June 2026. New build is 10% IVA plus 1.4% stamp duty (AJD).
How far is La Zenia from the beach and the airport?
The main beach is Playa Cala Bosque, around 350 metres long and 60 metres wide, and it flies the Blue Flag. Just to the north is Cala Cerrada, a smaller cove and the only dedicated surfing beach in Orihuela Costa.
Access is good for wheelchairs and pushchairs: there are ramps, an extra-wide wooden walkway, an adapted toilet and shower, disabled parking spaces and an amphibious bathing chair. A seafront promenade runs south from the beach towards Cala Capitán in Cabo Roig, which makes for an easy daily walk.
Distances to the sand vary by street. Homes near the beach road are a five to ten minute walk, while those on the inland side of the N-332 are more often a 15 to 25 minute walk or a short drive.
For flights, Alicante-Elche (ALC) is roughly 45 to 55 minutes by car, and Región de Murcia at Corvera (RMU) is roughly 35 to 50 minutes. Both are used regularly by owners here.
Is La Zenia good for golf?
Yes, and that is a big part of the appeal. Six courses sit within a short drive, so you can play a different one most days of the week without a long journey.
- Villamartín Golf, about 3 km away. An 18-hole, par-72 layout designed by Robert Dean Putman and opened in 1972, one of the oldest courses on the Costa Blanca.
- Real Club de Golf Campoamor, about 5 km.
- Las Ramblas Golf, about 5 km.
- Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, about 7 km.
- Lo Romero Golf, about 15 km.
- La Marquesa Golf at Ciudad Quesada, about 15 km.
If golf is your main reason for buying, it is worth comparing La Zenia with the quieter hillside streets of Lomas de Cabo Roig or La Regia, which are slightly further from the shops but closer to the courses.
Who buys in La Zenia and is it good for renting out?
Buyers here are mainly international: British, Irish, Scandinavian, Belgian, Dutch, German and Polish, plus a growing number of Spanish families. Some live here all year, many use their home for long winter stays, and others split the year and rent in between.
For letting, La Zenia has two strong cards: a Blue Flag beach you can walk to and a major shopping and leisure centre on the doorstep, which keeps demand alive outside the summer weeks. The area is a popular holiday destination for visitors from Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia with large established international communities. Ground-floor homes, lifts and a pool all help bookings.
If you plan to let short-term, you will need a Valencian tourist licence and your community's rules must allow it. We can tell you where a specific property stands before you commit.
Our office is in Cabo Roig, ten minutes from La Zenia beach. Browse the homes above, or get in touch and we will happily talk you through the streets that suit you best.
Frequently asked questions
Is La Zenia quiet in winter?
It is much quieter than in July and August, but it does not close down. Because of the shopping centre and the year-round international community, many bars, restaurants and shops stay open through the winter.
Do I need a car if I live in La Zenia?
Not strictly, if you buy close to the beach or the boulevard, as most daily shopping is within walking distance. A car still makes a real difference for golf, hospitals, airports and trips inland.
What are community fees like in La Zenia?
They depend on the building. Small blocks without a pool are usually modest, while gated complexes with large gardens, lifts and pools cost more. We give you the exact figure for each property before you make an offer.
Are there many new-build homes in La Zenia?
Only a few. La Zenia was largely built out years ago, so most sales are resales, and new build tends to appear as small infill projects or replacement villas.
Can I get a mortgage in Spain as a non-resident?
Usually yes. Non-residents are typically offered around 60% to 70% of the valuation, so you should plan for the deposit plus purchase costs from your own funds.
How long does a purchase take in La Zenia?
A straightforward resale with cash usually completes in about six to eight weeks from the reservation. Add a few weeks if you need a mortgage or an NIE number.