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TAIRIXCOSTA BLANCA
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Documents
Open section ↗12Checklist: your first 30 days on the Costa Blanca
What to do in your first month after moving: phone, registration, healthcare, documents, school and transport — week by week, with links to detailed guides.
DocumentsMoving to the Costa Blanca: the big checklist and honest advice
Everything to check before moving to the southern Costa Blanca: climate and property prices in official figures, the honest downsides, how to choose a town, rent or buy, where to find a home and how healthcare works. With tick-off lists and tips people rarely mention.
DocumentsBefore moving: your preparation checklist
Documents, budget, housing, healthcare and children: seven steps before moving to Costa Blanca.
DocumentsNIE, TIE and residence: documents and consultation
Application forms, the tasa fee, document checklists and main residence routes in Spain. Consult Tairix directly from this guide.
DocumentsEU citizens in Spain: right to work, registration certificate and residence
Different rules apply to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: no work permit is needed and, instead of a TIE, you get a registration certificate (EX-18) within three months. What to prove, where to book, what it costs, how to register your family and what changed for British citizens.
DocumentsPadrón in Torrevieja: cita previa, documents and steps
How to get on the padrón in Torrevieja: an online cita previa on the Sede Electrónica, applying without a visit through EST03 with Cl@ve, form T20 and documents for tenants, owners and people living with the owner’s permission, plus the Census office address.
DocumentsSpanish residency support · Tairix
Consultations and assistance with all types of residence permits. Discuss your situation with Valeria Bardo and plan the preparation of your documents.
DocumentsPadrón in Orihuela and Orihuela Costa: documents, appointments and applying online
How to book a padrón appointment in Orihuela and Orihuela Costa: online, on 966 340 347 or through the Sede Electrónica; the coastal office in Playa Flamenca and the town-centre office, opening hours, documents for owners, tenants and families, and renewal for non-EU nationals.
DocumentsAlicante City Council (Ayuntamiento de Alicante): appointments, padrón registration and certificates
Where to register on the padrón in Alicante and get a certificate, how to book the citizen service offices (OAC) on 010 or online, which documents foreigners, owners and tenants need, and where you can get a certificate without an appointment, based on the City Council’s official pages.
DocumentsCl@ve and the FNMT digital certificate: how to get them and where to verify your identity in Torrevieja and Orihuela
Two ways to sign in to Spanish government online offices: how NIE holders can register for Cl@ve, the SUMA registration points in Torrevieja, Orihuela and Orihuela Costa, the four steps to the free FNMT certificate and the documents foreigners need.
DocumentsIBI, rubbish collection tax and car tax in Torrevieja and Orihuela: the 2026 SUMA calendar, payment and direct debit
Municipal taxes in Torrevieja and Orihuela are collected by SUMA, the Alicante provincial tax agency. Which taxes, the 2026 voluntary payment periods, who pays IBI and IVTM, how to pay, direct debit, late-payment surcharges and nearby SUMA offices.
DocumentsSpanish Social Security number (NUSS/NAF): who needs it and how to get it online through Importass
What the NUSS (also called NAF) is, why you need it for work, benefits and your health card, how to check whether you already have one, and how to request it in Importass — with or without Cl@ve (selfie and photo of your ID), including for a child.
Buying property: preparation, selection and viewing checklist
Budget, documents, payment arrangements, neighbourhood and building condition. A complete buyer’s guide to Costa Blanca.
Renting a home: documents, selection and safe viewings
Family preparation, income, pets, neighbourhood, viewings, contracts and remote rentals. All in one guide.
Healthcare
Open section ↗6Private health insurance in Spain: cover, Costa Blanca hospitals, prices and visa policies
How private health insurance works in Spain: policy types, what is and is not covered, waiting periods, Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, ASISA and MAPFRE prices, which private hospitals on the Costa Blanca work with which insurers — and, separately, which policy a visa or residence permit requires.
HealthcareCosta Blanca medical centres: clinics, dentists and hospitals
Public and private healthcare centres in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Gran Alacant and Alicante: addresses, phone numbers and official websites.
HealthcareSIP card and access to healthcare
Where to start with Valencia’s public healthcare registration.
HealthcareOn-duty pharmacies (farmacias de guardia) in Torrevieja, Orihuela and Alicante province: how to find one
Where to check the official on-duty pharmacy rota for any date, what “on-call duty” means and how to collect medicines with an electronic prescription and your SIP card.
HealthcareHealth centres and urgent care in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Guardamar: opening hours and where to go at night
Which public health centres are open 24 hours, which close at 21:00 and where to go at weekends — with addresses and urgent care phone numbers from the Valencian Health Department.
HealthcareHospitals in Torrevieja, Orihuela and Elche: public and private, which one is yours, phone numbers and appointments
The public hospitals of Torrevieja, Vega Baja, Vinalopó and Dr. Balmis and the private Quirónsalud Torrevieja: addresses and phone numbers from their official websites, which towns each hospital serves, how to get an appointment and where to go at night in Orihuela and Guardamar.
Education
Open section ↗2Your child has moved: applying for a school place
A starting route for applications outside the regular admission period in Torrevieja.
EducationSpanish for adults in Torrevieja and nearby: the official language school, town hall courses and how to enrol
The state language school EOI Torrevieja (levels A2–C2, Adminova applications, fees and deadlines) and Torrevieja Town Hall’s courses for international residents; who to contact in Orihuela Costa and Pilar de la Horadada.
Transport
Open section ↗13EU driving licences: exchange or renewal?
An initial check for people moving with an EU or EEA licence.
TransportCosta Blanca Buses: Timetables, Routes and Apps
Urban buses from Torrevieja to Dénia, Murcia and Cartagena, intercity services and official apps.
TransportAlicante to Murcia Train: Times, Tickets & Stations
Choose AVE, Avlo, Cercanías or TRAM, find date-specific timetables and select the correct station.
TransportNearby airports: Alicante and Murcia, buses and transfers
ALC and RMU: compare flights and ground transport, find airport buses and check timetables.
TransportCar insurance in Spain: third-party, fully comprehensive and excess
Car insurance is compulsory for every car in Spain. We explain the policy types (third-party, extended third-party and fully comprehensive with or without an excess), how the franquicia works, what drives the price, what foreigners need and how to fill in the accident report. With links to the law and to insurers.
TransportITV on the Costa Blanca: Booking, Stations and Fees
How ITV works, what is checked, where to book around Torrevieja, Alicante, Elche, Orihuela and Murcia, and how to confirm fees.
TransportCar repair garages in Torrevieja: where to service your car and in which language
Nine garages in and around Torrevieja, including Bosch Car Service workshops, a tow service, an English-speaking garage and Norauto in La Zenia, with checked addresses, hours and languages. Plus your rights under Spanish law: a written estimate, a 3-month or 2,000 km warranty and complaints.
TransportTaxis and transfers on Costa Blanca
Compare operators’ published services and send an enquiry to Tairix. The operator must confirm the journey and fare.
TransportTaxi in Torrevieja: Radio Taxi phone numbers, fares and airport trips
How to get a taxi in Torrevieja, La Mata and La Zenia: the two taxi services listed by the tourist office, booking by phone, WhatsApp or app, the Generalitat’s 2026 intercity fares, and buses to Alicante and Murcia airports.
TransportTransport on the Costa Blanca: buses, taxis, car hire and deliveries
Everything about getting around in one place: public transport, taxis and transfers, car hire, your own car, deliveries and removals.
TransportCourier services, parcels and removals on the Costa Blanca
Couriers and post in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Alicante: finding a Correos, SEUR, MRW or GLS point, sending a parcel to the UK, Germany, Poland or Ukraine, when you need a customs declaration, parcel lockers, food delivery and removals.
TransportCar hire on the Costa Blanca: where to rent and what to check
Rental companies at Alicante airport and in towns, driver documents, insurance, deposit and fuel.
TransportAlicante Airport to Torrevieja: bus, taxi, transfer and late-night arrivals
The direct Costa Azul bus (40 minutes), official airport taxis and 2026 fares, transfers and car hire, the return trip and what to do if you land late — based on Aena, the bus operator and the Generalitat.
Shops and shopping
Open section ↗2Shopping: groceries and shopping centres
Supermarkets for everyday groceries and shopping centres for clothes, electronics and other purchases.
Shops and shoppingFurniture, DIY and household stores
Three areas for setting up your home: furniture, building materials and tools, and everyday household goods.
Specialists and companies
Open section ↗1Directory of Organisations & Professionals
Costa Blanca businesses, institutions and professionals: contacts, sources and search by sector and town.
Places to visit
Open section ↗1Places to visit on Costa Blanca: castles, waterfalls and scenic stops
Nine ideas for walks and day trips, from Santa Bárbara and Guadalest to Algar and Tabarca.
Events
Open section ↗1Costa Blanca events
Next 30 days: 19 October–17 November 2026. Festivals, concerts and family events from official sources.
Everyday life
Open section ↗35News · Costa Blanca, Spain and the world
Property, government, Costa Blanca, good news and world affairs. Short briefings with source links.
Everyday lifeCIS food in Torrevieja: Russian and Ukrainian shops
Where to buy familiar food: dairy, sausages, sweets, pelmeni and varenyky. Addresses and what each shop sells.
Everyday lifeElectricity and Water in Spain: Contracts and Providers
Choosing an electricity retailer, complete bills and CUPS, contract transfers, and water in Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa.
Everyday lifeInternet and mobile service: providers, prices and checklist
DIGI, Lowi, simyo and Finetwork: specific home internet and mobile plans with direct links. Checked on 4 October 2026.
Everyday lifeFloods and DANA storms in Torrevieja and the Costa Blanca: warnings, what to do and damage compensation
In autumn the south of the Valencia region can be hit by DANA storms: torrential rain that floods streets, garages and roads within hours. Where to find official warnings, what yellow, orange and red levels mean, how to prepare, how to act at home and behind the wheel, and how to claim for damage, based on guidance from AEMET, the Generalitat and the Consorcio de Seguros.
Everyday lifeRestaurants, bars and cafés
A dedicated venue directory with contacts and links to official websites.
Everyday lifeRestaurants · Costa Blanca
A dedicated venue directory with contacts and links to official websites.
Everyday lifeBars and pubs · Costa Blanca
A dedicated venue directory with contacts and links to official websites.
Everyday lifeCafés and pastry shops · Costa Blanca
A dedicated venue directory with contacts and links to official websites.
Everyday lifeAdvertising & partnerships on Costa · Tairix
Introduce your business to people moving to and living on Costa Blanca. Discuss the format, section, timing and placement details.
Everyday lifeHelp with your question · Costa Tairix
Relocation, documents, property or everyday life: describe your question and choose how the Tairix team can contact you.
Everyday lifeWeekly markets (mercadillos) in Torrevieja, La Mata and Orihuela: days and locations
Which day and where the weekly markets take place: Friday in Torrevieja, Wednesday in La Mata, the summer evening market in Aguamarina and the Orihuela markets. Town hall and tourist office information only.
Everyday lifeTorrevieja beaches: Blue Flags, accessibility, lifeguard season and beach flags
Which Torrevieja beaches hold a Blue Flag in 2026, where to find assisted bathing and parking, what the flag colours mean and when lifeguards are on duty — based on town hall information.
Everyday lifeOrihuela Costa beaches: 2026 Blue Flags, accessible beaches and coves from Punta Prima to Mil Palmeras
The ten Orihuela Costa beaches with a Blue Flag in 2026, where to find a beach lift and an accessible point with an amphibious chair, and which coves are calmer — based on Orihuela Town Hall information.
Everyday lifeBeach flags in Torrevieja, Guardamar and Orihuela Costa: what the colours mean and where to check today’s flag
What the green, yellow and red flags and a beach with no flag mean under the Generalitat’s rules and Torrevieja’s bylaw, how jellyfish and the Blue Flag fit in, and which official Guardamar and Torrevieja pages show today’s flag on each beach.
Everyday lifeCosta Blanca weather by month: temperature, rain and sunshine from AEMET data
Average highs and lows, rainfall, rainy days and sunshine hours month by month — AEMET climate normals for Alicante-Elche Airport, plus where to check the Torrevieja forecast and weather warnings.
Everyday lifeLa Mata beach and Torrelamata (Torrevieja): Playa de La Mata, the lagoons, market and what is nearby
Playa de La Mata is Torrevieja’s longest beach (about 2.36 km): La Mata-Norte and La Mata-Sur with its 2026 Blue Flag, assisted bathing, a footpath along the dunes, a 15th–16th-century tower, the flamingo lagoon, the Wednesday market and useful contacts in Torrelamata.
Everyday lifeRubbish, bulky items and ecoparks in Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa: bin times, free collection and the ecoparque
When to put your rubbish out, how to get an old sofa, mattress or fridge collected free of charge, what the ecopark accepts and where the mobile ecopark stops — based on Torrevieja and Orihuela town hall rules.
Everyday lifeGuardamar del Segura: Blue Flag beaches, dunes and pine forest, parks and castle
Guardamar’s eight beaches and five Blue Flags for 2026, the dune pine forest of about 800 hectares, the Reina Sofía duck park, the castle and practical information — from the town hall and ADEAC.
Everyday lifeDogs on the beaches of Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Guardamar: where they are allowed, what is banned and the Cala del Rocío dog beach
What the municipal bylaws say about dogs on the beach, where you can swim with your dog in Torrevieja, why you cannot in Orihuela Costa and where to walk your dog in Guardamar.
Everyday lifeOrihuela Costa: Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig and Villamartín — beaches, healthcare, markets and transport
What is near home in Orihuela Costa: 10 Blue Flag beaches, a 24-hour health centre in Aguamarina, the town hall office in Playa Flamenca, the tourist office in La Zenia, markets and waste collection — from official sources.
Everyday lifeCentral Torrevieja: the Vista Alegre promenade, museums, parks and everyday essentials
What to see in central Torrevieja and where things are: the promenade and tourist office, the 1896 Casino, the Sea and Salt Museum, the Delfín submarine, the Pascual Flores schooner, Parque de las Naciones, beaches, market and healthcare — from official sources.
Everyday lifeWhy Torrevieja looks the way it does: its buildings, streets and lack of greenery
Why Torrevieja has almost no old town, why its buildings stand wall to wall and why there is so little greenery — and what is changing now.
Everyday lifePros and cons of living in Torrevieja: an estate agent’s honest view
House prices, safety in figures, the climate and the honest downsides — what to know before moving to Torrevieja.
Everyday lifeMunicipal pools and sports centres in Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa: prices, passes and registration
What is open now: Torrevieja’s indoor pool is closed for repairs and its outdoor pools open in summer; CDM Playas de Orihuela — hours, single-entry and pass prices, swimming and fitness courses, and online registration at deportes.orihuela.es.
Everyday lifeCiudad Quesada and Rojales: healthcare, town hall, market, libraries and what is nearby
A practical guide to Ciudad Quesada and old Rojales: the 24-hour health centre, the municipal centre on Plaza Blanca, libraries, the Thursday market, museums and the nearest beaches.
Everyday lifePilar de la Horadada: Blue Flag beaches, markets, healthcare and useful addresses
A municipality on the border with Murcia: 10 beaches and 6 Blue Flags in 2026, weekly markets in town and on the coast, a 24-hour health centre, the international residents office and the tourist office.
Everyday lifeSan Miguel de Salinas: health centre, town hall and padrón, market and nearby nature
A small town between Torrevieja and the Sierra Escalona: a 24-hour health centre, town hall hours and padrón appointments, the tourist office, the Wednesday market and the Sierra Escalona protected landscape.
Everyday lifeTorrevieja’s pink lake (Laguna Rosa) and the La Mata lagoons: how to visit, free eco-routes and the rules
Why the lake is pink and how to visit it (by tourist train only), the town hall’s free eco-routes in the La Mata and Torrevieja lagoons park with 2026 dates, the visitor centre and what is banned: bathing, taking salt, disturbing birds.
Everyday lifePublic holidays in 2027 in the Valencian Community: Torrevieja, Orihuela and nearby towns
The 12 public holidays of 2027 under Generalitat Decree 42/2026 and the BOE list of 13 October 2026, with weekdays; why Maundy Thursday is not included; when local holidays will be set and what they were in 2026 in Torrevieja, Orihuela and nearby towns.
Everyday lifeFor professionals and businesses: get listed in the Tairix Costa directory or claim your card
Your future clients are people moving to and living on the southern Costa Blanca. Your business may already be among the more than 140 organisations in our directory — claim the card. If not, apply for a free basic page.
Everyday lifeDogs, cats and ferrets in the Valencian Community: microchip, the RIVIA register, rabies vaccination and owners’ duties
What Valencian Law 2/2023 and Order 3/2016 require: which animals must be microchipped and entered in the RIVIA register, how to register a pet brought from another EU country, the rabies vaccination schedule, mandatory deworming, and deadlines for loss, death and change of owner.
Everyday lifeSanta Pola and Gran Alacant: Blue Flag beaches, markets, healthcare, Tabarca and the bus from Torrevieja
A practical guide to Santa Pola and the Gran Alacant development: 5 Blue Flag beaches for 2026–2027, accessible beaches and a dog beach, markets by day and the fish auction, the health centre and urgent care point, boats to Tabarca, the Salinas park, buses and tourist offices.
Everyday lifeCinemas in Torrevieja: Neocine Paseo del Mar and IMF, original-version (VOSE) screenings and prices
Torrevieja’s two cinemas with addresses and official websites: where to check showtimes, how to find original-language screenings with Spanish subtitles and which days tickets are cheaper.
Everyday lifeTorrevieja festivals and fiestas: the year’s calendar — Habaneras, Low Festival, carnival and fiestas
Torrevieja’s main events month by month: carnival, Holy Week, the May Fair, the Habaneras contest, Low Festival, Brilla Torrevieja and the patron saint fiestas — with 2026 dates from the tourist office and links to official websites.
Emergency help
Open section ↗1Emergency help: 112 and what to tell the operator
Calling emergency services and preparing your address and contacts.