What to see in Torrevieja

Torrevieja, at the far south of the Alicante province (about 200 km from València), is a lively coastal city known worldwide for a natural phenomenon that looks almost fake in photos: its Pink Lagoon, a sheet of water dyed intense pink by a microscopic alga, Dunaliella, that thrives in its hypersaline water. Few landscapes on the Mediterranean coast get photographed this often.

The reason for that colour is also the reason the city exists: salt. The Salinas of Torrevieja and La Mata, worked since the Middle Ages and declared a protected wetland under the Ramsar convention, are among the largest in Europe and produce the prized flor de sal. Their lagoons attract colonies of pink flamingos and can be toured aboard a small tourist train. On hot days the Aquópolis water park is the safe bet with kids, and the seafront promenade and urban beaches round out the plan.

There's no direct train from València, so the most convenient options are the bus (around two and a half to three hours) or driving the AP-7 in roughly two and a half hours.

Local tip: visit the Pink Lagoon in the late afternoon, when the light is good, to catch the most vivid colour, and stick to the marked paths since it's a protected area. If you're exploring the south, combine it with Alacant or Benidorm, and see our guide to day trips from València to plan the route.