Semesterspanien.se
Our place with a view
VT 493564-A
Santa Pola
Santa Pola is located a few miles south of Alicante and has around 32,000 inhabitants. The presence of salt lakes, the sea, and the mild sea air creates a delightful and healthy climate. The city is lined with miles of beaches and Roman ruins. Santa Pola relies on tourism, fishing, and salt production as major sources of income for the municipality.
The seaside promenade is wonderful, stretching through the entire town of Santa Pola and is one of the things that made us fall in love with the city.
The beaches are popular with both regular swimmers and more adventurous individuals looking to try windsurfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, sailing, and more.
From Santa Pola, visitors can also take a trip to the old prison island of Tabarca, where they can snorkel among the reefs and observe marine life.
Another attraction is the El Faro lighthouse located just north of the city with stunning views. On the southern outskirts of the city, Salinas de Santa Pola and the salt lakes are home to a rich birdlife including flamingos, herons, and other waterfowl, attracting many birdwatchers with their binoculars and cameras.
Restaurants
Santa Pola offers a wide range of cafes and restaurants, although there is none that is super close to us.
In the summer, there are places on the beach promenade 500 meters away that are perfect for a lunch. Toast, gambas, or fries.
There is also a simpler restaurant at Mercado supermarket 500 meters away which is definitely worth the price.
The remaining restaurants are about 1-2000 meters away.
Our favorite is the tapas restaurant Lizzeran at the marina, sit down and wait for them to bring out plates of various delicacies and only take what you fancy.
The asian restaurant above burger king is worth a visit.
Grocery Stores
Just 500 meters away, you will find a well-stocked Mercadona offering a wide selection of fresh fish, meat, beer, wine, and everyday essentials.
At the exit on E-320, there is a Carrefour that has everything you could wish for in a grocery store, and a little extra such as electronics, garden supplies, cutlery, car accessories, and more. There is also an Aldi, known for its affordable prices.
By the port, you can buy local fresh fish in the evenings.
There are several butchers in the center of Santa Pola if you are looking for a special treat... ;)
If you find yourself craving Swedish products like falukorv, pickled herring, filmjölk, Kalles kaviar, or other Swedish goods, you can always visit Matboden in Torrevieja (link).
Beaches
The beaches in Santa Pola are plentiful and stretch across the entire city, from the salt lakes to the west to the eastern side of Santa Pola. Most of the beaches are shallow, making them perfect for families.
Heading towards Alicante, you will come across several bathing spots, some of which have restaurant stalls that are open during the summer. A local once mentioned that the best spot is under the lighthouse on the hill, although we have yet to test it out.
Our favorite beach is the one closest to us, Playa Varadero. (although, to be completely honest, Carabassi Beach in Gran Alacant is a bit nicer).
For nude beach we recomend carabassi or La marina
Water parks, the zoo, and an amusement park
There are several water parks within driving distance, the most famous being Aqualandia in Benidorm and Aquopolis in Torrevieja, but expect very long queues during peak summer. La Marina's campsite also has a water park, but during peak summer, only their guests have access.
Rio Safari is a nice zoo that we highly recommend, maybe not the biggest but enough in our opinion. There is also a super small water park which is okay, at the airport, you can usually pick up some leaflets for discounts.
Pola Park is a small amusement park in Santa Pola, behind Gran Playa which can be a bit of fun for the kids.
Shopping
We may not be well-versed in what the city offers, but here are some tips we can provide.
Strandbodarna are open during the summer months with a variety of knick-knacks.
Kinabutikerna are scattered around and sell a wide range of goods and then some. The nearest one is located by mercadonan 500 meters away.
La Zenia Boulevard in Torrevieja is one of the coast's largest shopping centers (link).
El Corte Inglés in Alicante or Elche has a lot of essentials, clothing, makeup, bags, electronics, and more (link).
The Outlet stores in Alicante (link).
Nightlife & Party
We are parents and always fall asleep before the party starts. However, Santa Pola doesn't have a wild nightlife as far as we know. If you want to party into the early hours, we recommend taking a trip to Alicante.
If you enjoy strolling along the beach, sitting down and sipping a glass while watching people pass by, Santa Pola is the right place for you.
But in case of emergency there is a karaoke bar that is open after midnight
Transport & Taxi
From the airport, you can take a taxi, which will take about 15 minutes and cost around 30 €.
We always rent a car from Sun Star Rent A Car (link).
Within the city, you can either drive a car, walk, or rent a bicycle from us or someone else(link).
From the bus station in Santa Pola, you can travel to the airport, Alicante, Torrevieja, and many other places (link).
If you feel like getting out on the water, you can always rent a jet ski or boat (link).