Where is Los Dolses?
Los Dolses is part of Orihuela Costa, the coastal strip of the Orihuela municipality in Alicante province. It lies a little inland of the N-332 coast road, between La Zenia and Villamartin, on the road that runs from the N-332 up to Villamartin.
That position is the main reason people choose it. La Zenia and its beaches are down the hill, Villamartin and its golf course are up the hill, and Playa Flamenca is next door to the north.
The AP-7 and N-332 are both close, which makes trips to Torrevieja, Murcia or Alicante straightforward. Zenia Boulevard, the area's large shopping centre, has direct access to the AP-7 and the N-332.
What is it like to live in Los Dolses?
It is a settled, mostly residential area with a good number of year-round residents. Streets are quiet, buildings are low, and many complexes are gated with shared pools and gardens.
Day to day shopping is easy. Next to the local commercial centre there is a Dialprix supermarket, a garden centre, a home goods store and a garage, and the centre itself holds a small selection of shops, bars and restaurants. For a bigger choice, Villamartin Plaza and Zenia Boulevard are both minutes away.
Zenia Boulevard is the practical hub of the whole coast. It is laid out like a small town, with paved squares and fountains, more than 150 stores, and a leisure and entertainment complex.
Everyday services:
- Healthcare: the public health centre serving the Orihuela coast is at Calle del Mar in the Aguamarina area and opens weekdays from 8.00 to 21.00 with an emergency unit. Hospitals, public and private, are in nearby Torrevieja.
- Schools: Spanish state schools serve the area, and international schools such as El Limonar International School are within Orihuela Costa, and Newton College is further afield in Elche.
- Getting about: local buses run across Orihuela Costa, but most residents keep a car.
Winter is quieter than summer, though less so than in the purely holiday pockets. You will hear English, Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch and German on the same street.
How much does property cost in Los Dolses?
At the time of writing (September 2026), prices across our Los Dolses listings look like this:
- Apartments and bungalows: most sit between about €210,000 and €320,000, with a typical asking price near €290,000.
- Townhouses: usually in the €250,000 to €350,000 range, depending on plot and condition.
- Villas: typically €450,000 to €560,000, with the middle of the range around €550,000.
A typical home here has two bedrooms and around 90 m² of built space. Just under half of the properties we list come with a pool, private or communal. Almost everything is resale: new build is a small part of the market, because Los Dolses was largely built out years ago.
On buying costs, resale purchases in the Valencian Community carry transfer tax (ITP) of 9%, rising to 11% on the part above €1M from 1 June 2026. New build is 10% IVA plus 1.4% stamp duty (AJD).
Compared with front-line coastal spots, you tend to get more space and more garden for the same money. Compared with the golf urbanisations behind it, you are closer to the sea.
Is Los Dolses good for golf?
Yes, and this is one of its strongest cards. Villamartin Golf is roughly a kilometre away, so you can be on the first tee within a few minutes of leaving home.
Villamartin is an 18-hole, par 72 course of about 6,132 metres, designed by Paul Putman and opened in 1972. It is a parkland-style layout on varied ground, with a front nine that climbs to the highest point of the property and a back nine that drops into valleys with ravines and water. The 17th, a par 3 over a deep ravine, is the hole everyone talks about.
Four more courses are within a short drive: Real Club de Golf Campoamor (about 3 km), Las Ramblas (about 4 km), Las Colinas Golf & Country Club (about 6 km) and Lo Romero (about 7 km). Vistabella, La Marquesa and La Finca are all within about 25 km. Golfers living here rarely play the same course twice in a week.
How far is Los Dolses from the beach and the airport?
The nearest sand is under 2 km away, at La Zenia and Cala Bosque. That is a 20 to 25 minute walk downhill, or three or four minutes by car. Cabo Roig and Playa Flamenca beaches are only slightly further.
The coast path and cycle lanes make it easy to reach the sea without driving. Around 6 km of cycle tracks connect the area with the seafront promenade.
For flights, you have two airports:
- Alicante-Elche (ALC): around 45 minutes to an hour by car, mostly motorway.
- Region de Murcia (RMU, Corvera): around 35 to 45 minutes by car.
Having two airports matters if you fly home often, as it widens your choice of airlines and dates.
Who buys in Los Dolses, and is it good for renting out?
Buyers here are a mix. Golfers who want to be near Villamartin without living inside a golf resort, retirees who want a quiet street with shops in walking distance, and families who need schools and a supermarket more than they need a sea view.
The population is largely international, drawn from Britain, Ireland, Germany and Scandinavia, and Belgian, Dutch and Polish buyers are now common too.
Rental potential
Los Dolses rents reasonably well because it suits two different tenants: summer holiday families who want a pool and a short hop to the beach, and autumn-to-spring golf visitors. That second group helps fill the quieter months, which is where many purely coastal apartments struggle.
Homes with a pool, air conditioning and parking let most easily. If you plan to let short term, you will need a tourist licence, and we can explain how that works for a specific property before you commit.
If you would like to compare Los Dolses with Lomas de Cabo Roig or the golf side at Villamartin, have a look at the homes above or drop into our office in Cabo Roig for a chat.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car to live in Los Dolses?
You can manage without one for basic shopping, as there is a supermarket and a small commercial centre nearby, plus local buses along the coast. Most residents still prefer a car for the beach, the golf and trips to Torrevieja or the airports.
What is the difference between Los Dolses and Villamartin?
Villamartin is built around its golf course and clubhouse, while Los Dolses sits between Villamartin and the coast, closer to the beach and the N-332. Prices are broadly similar, but Los Dolses has slightly shorter beach runs and Villamartin has the golf on the doorstep.
Are there community fees on properties in Los Dolses?
Most apartments, bungalows and townhouses belong to a community with shared pools and gardens, so there is an annual fee. Detached villas on private plots often have no fee or a low one. We give the exact figure for each property before you make an offer.
Is Los Dolses quiet in winter?
It is quieter than in summer, but a good share of residents live here all year, so supermarkets, bars and restaurants stay open. The nearby shopping centres and golf clubs also keep trading through the winter.
Can I buy a home in Los Dolses if I am not an EU citizen?
Yes. There is no restriction on non-EU buyers owning Spanish property; you will need a Spanish NIE number and a Spanish bank account. Time you can spend in Spain is a separate question, governed by visa and residency rules.
Are properties here usually sold furnished?
Many resale homes in Los Dolses are sold furnished or part furnished, as they were used as holiday homes. It is always negotiated in the sale, so ask for a list of what is included.