The best shopping centres on the southern Costa Blanca & Costa Cálida (2026)

From Zenia Boulevard to Nueva Condomina: where do you shop once you own a home in Spain? Most people looking for a property on the southern Costa Blanca or Costa Cálida start with the beach, the pool and the golf course. Entirely understandable. But how comfortably you actually live there is shaped just as much by something far more ordinary: how quickly you can do the weekly shop, pick up a new drill, or spend a rainy Saturday afternoon browsing. In this guide we set out the region's shopping centres — including driving times from the most popular towns, and our honest advice on which centre suits your home.

Why shopping centres matter when choosing a home

Buyers who move to Spain often discover it only after the purchase: the difference between "being on holiday" and "living here" lies in the everyday amenities. A good shopping centre nearby means a hypermarket for the weekly shop, a DIY store for the jobs around your new home, electronics, fashion, restaurants and — not least — cool air and entertainment in summer, and life in winter. That is why, as your buyers agent, we include the distance to amenities as standard in our advice. The good news about this region: wherever you buy between Alicante and Cartagena, there is almost always a full-size shopping centre within twenty minutes.

Zenia Boulevard — the number one ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let's start with the undisputed crowd favourite. Zenia Boulevard in Orihuela Costa has been the largest shopping centre in the province of Alicante since it opened in 2012: some 160,000 m² with over 150 shops and restaurants. What sets it apart is the concept: not a closed box, but an open-air centre laid out like a Mediterranean village, with streets, squares and fountains. Shopping here feels more like strolling.

The range is complete: Primark, Zara, H&M, Decathlon, MediaMarkt, DIY store Leroy Merlin and a large Alcampo hypermarket all in one place — practically everything you need as a new homeowner. Add a bowling alley, a casino, a large children's play centre and events almost every week on the Plaza Mayor. Parking: around 5,000 spaces, free. Ideally located if you live in La Zenia, Villamartín, Cabo Roig, Playa Flamenca, Campoamor or Torrevieja.

Our honest caveat: that popularity has a downside. In high season and on Saturdays it gets genuinely busy. If you prefer calm, plan your visit on a weekday morning — or choose one of the quieter centres below.

Habaneras — Torrevieja's urban asset ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

On the northern edge of Torrevieja sits Habaneras: compact, easy to navigate and the city's shopping centre since 2005. Across three floors in an open, Mediterranean style you will find over 60 shops, including Zara, Zara Home, H&M, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, with a pleasant restaurant level and terraces on the top floor.

Its greatest asset is the location: Habaneras sits directly beside a large Carrefour hypermarket (with its own petrol station) and the Ozone leisure centre with nine IMF cinema screens and bowling. Groceries, fashion, film and dinner — all in one place, with free parking on the roof and beneath the building. Perfect if you live in Torrevieja, La Mata, Guardamar del Segura or Ciudad Quesada.

Dos Mares — the Mar Menor's living room ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Across the regional border, on the Costa Cálida, lies the centre we visit most often ourselves — it is only a few minutes from our office in San Pedro del Pinatar. Dos Mares in San Javier is smaller than Zenia, and that is precisely its charm: over 70 shops, 16 restaurants, a Carrefour hypermarket, 8 cinema screens and a bowling alley, without the crowds of its big brother. In 2024 the centre was also completely refurbished, with new lighting, entrances and finish.

For residents of San Pedro del Pinatar, Lo Pagán, Santiago de la Ribera, Los Alcázares and the resorts around the Mar Menor, this is the place for daily and weekly shopping — with 1,250 free parking spaces at the door and open 365 days a year. Our tip for bigger purchases: combine Dos Mares with a trip to IKEA Murcia, right next to the Thader shopping centre (±35–40 minutes via the motorway).

Also worth the trip: from Alicante to Cartagena

The three highlights above cover daily life comfortably, but for a day out or specific purchases it pays to widen the radius a little. On the Costa Blanca: in the city of Alicante you will find Plaza Mar 2 (right by Postiguet beach, easy to combine with a city visit) and Gran Vía, while L'Aljub in Elche is one of the largest centres in the province, complete with Primark and a cinema.

On the Costa Cálida: north of the city of Murcia lie Nueva Condomina — the largest shopping centre in the Region of Murcia, with Primark and a large cinema complex — and, virtually next door, Thader, alongside the region's only IKEA. To the south, Espacio Mediterráneo in Cartagena is that city's largest centre, and pairs nicely with a visit to the Roman theatre and the harbour. All within 30 to 45 minutes of the coast — and everywhere you park for free.

The big three side by side

How far do you drive? Driving times per town

The driving times below are indicative, measured outside rush hour and high season:

Which shopping centre suits your home?

In short, by area:

Living on the Mar Menor? — Then Dos Mares becomes your regular address. From San Pedro del Pinatar, Lo Pagán, Santiago de la Ribera or Los Alcázares you are there within fifteen minutes; from golf resorts such as Roda Golf and La Torre it is the logical choice too. For big shopping days, drive on to Zenia Boulevard or Nueva Condomina.

Living in Torrevieja or Guardamar? — Then you do the daily shop at Habaneras with the Carrefour next door, and head to Zenia Boulevard ten minutes away for the wider range. From Ciudad Quesada that is the handiest combination too.

Living in Orihuela Costa? — From La Zenia, Villamartín, Cabo Roig, Playa Flamenca or Campoamor you have Zenia Boulevard literally around the corner — for many buyers one of the reasons to buy right here. Mil Palmeras, Torre de la Horadada and Las Colinas are ten minutes away as well.

Living near La Manga or Cartagena? — From La Manga and La Manga Club, Espacio Mediterráneo in Cartagena is the nearest large centre, with Dos Mares as the alternative on the northern side of the Mar Menor.

Our tip: look beyond the property

At AnaCosta we never assess only the property itself. For every home we view on behalf of our clients, we map the surroundings too: the supermarket, the hospital, the shopping centre, the restaurants, schools, the golf course and the beach. Because that is what ultimately determines how comfortably you live there day to day — not just during the summer holidays, but all year round. Can't come and look yourself? With CasaScout we view the property and its surroundings for you, including honest footage of the neighbourhood.