Costa Blanca day trips from Orihuela Costa
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Orihuela Costa is a great base: in under an hour you're in Alicante, Elche, Murcia or Cartagena, and in one to two hours in the picture-postcard villages of the northern Costa Blanca. Here are our day-trip ideas, with driving times from our properties.
🏛️ Towns and villages
Less than an hour away
- Orihuela (about 30 min): the town Orihuela Costa belongs to, with its cathedral, the Santo Domingo college and the house-museum of the poet Miguel Hernández.
- Elche (about 40 min): its palm grove has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000; don't miss the Huerto del Cura garden and its imperial palm.
- Alicante (about 45 min): Santa Bárbara castle overlooking the city, the Explanada promenade and Postiguet beach.
- Murcia (about 45 min): the cathedral and its baroque façade, the Real Casino and the Salzillo museum.
- Cartagena (about 45 min): its Roman theatre in the heart of the old town, and the naval port.
- Tabarca island: by boat from Torrevieja, see our Things to do page.
Further north (1 hr to 1 hr 45)
- Villajoyosa (about 1 hr): its colourful fishermen's houses facing the sea, and the Valor Chocolate Museum, a free guided tour of about 45 minutes (closed on Sundays and public holidays; booking advised in August). Avenida Pianista Gonzalo Soriano 13, Villajoyosa · valor.es
- Altea (about 1 hr 15): the white old town on its hill and the church with its blue ceramic domes.
- Guadalest (about 1 hr 30): a medieval village perched on a rocky peak, with its castle and views over the reservoir.
- Jijona and the Turrón Museum (about 1 hr): the home of turrón, Spain's Christmas nougat. Guided tours every 45 minutes (closed on Sundays from January to mid-July). Pol. Ind. Ciudad del Turrón (Espartal II), 03100 Jijona · +34 965 610 712 · museodelturron.com
- Las Calaveras cave (about 1 hr 45): 300 m of galleries with stalactites, stalagmites and domes over 20 m high, inhabited more than 50,000 years ago. Open all year. Benidoleig · +34 966 40 42 35 · cuevadelascalaveras.com
🦁 Animal parks and water parks
- Río Safari Elche (about 40 min): around 500 animals from all over the world among 3,000 palm trees, visited on foot, with the little train and shows included. Swimming with sea lions as an option and a water park in summer (extra charge). Open every day of the year from 10am. Carretera CV-865 Santa Pola-Elche · +34 966 63 82 88 · riosafari.com
- Terra Natura Benidorm (about 1 hr 15): over 1,500 animals of 200 species, with elephants, tigers, rhinos and bird-of-prey displays. Open all year (every day from March to November, weekends in winter). Its Aqua Natura water park opens from late March to early November. Foia del Verdader 1, 03502 Benidorm · +34 966 07 27 70 · terranatura.com
- Mundomar Benidorm (about 1 hr 15): dolphins, sea lions and exotic animals, on the Sierra Helada. Season from late March: check their calendar. Partida Sierra Helada s/n, 03503 Benidorm · +34 965 86 91 01 · mundomar.es
- Safari Aitana (about 1 hr 30): a drive-through safari across 150 hectares of countryside, where the animals live in semi-freedom; private guided tours available. CV-785 Alcoy-Villajoyosa km 20, 03815 Penáguila · +34 965 52 92 73 · safariaitana.es
Our tips
- A car is almost essential for these trips: see our car rental at Alicante airport page.
- Check the parks' opening calendar before you go: many open fewer days in winter.
- Set off early in summer: the roads to Benidorm are busy, and the parks are more pleasant in the morning.
Even more ideas
Close to home: our things to do, the beaches, the markets and golf and padel.
Your starting point
All our properties are on All properties, 20% cheaper when you book direct with us. Prefer something simpler? On SunEscape360, our second showcase, you'll find homes with authentic charm, carefully looked after.
✍️ Who wrote this guide? Gauthier, co-founder of Casacare360 with Amy. A Belgian couple living on the Costa Blanca, we manage holiday homes in Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja every day and welcome every guest in person: this guide shares what we recommend to them. Updated: October 2026. More about us.
Day trips FAQ
Which town should I visit near Orihuela Costa?
Elche for its UNESCO-listed palm grove, Alicante for its castle and promenade, Murcia for its cathedral, or Cartagena for its Roman theatre: all less than an hour away.
Which animal park is best with children?
Río Safari Elche is the closest (about 40 minutes) and open all year. Terra Natura and Mundomar, in Benidorm, are about 1 hr 15 away by car.
Which picturesque villages are worth seeing on the Costa Blanca?
Altea and its white old town, Guadalest and its castle on a rock, and the colourful houses of Villajoyosa.
What can I do on a rainy day?
The Valor Chocolate Museum in Villajoyosa (free visit), the Turrón Museum in Jijona or Las Calaveras cave in Benidoleig.
Do I need a car for day trips?
Yes, it's the easiest way: most of these places are poorly served by public transport from Orihuela Costa.