Orihuela
Orihuela has one of the largest cultural heritages of any town or city in this area and was home to the famous Spanish poet Miguel Hernandez. So if it is museums that you love, then head to the Centro Historico and, most importantly to the very helpful tourist office to ask them for more information. Even if you are not a museum lover, Orihuela is still worth a visit, if only to experience the boutique shops, the tapas bars, the Tuesday morning market, plazas, and the real Spanish atmosphere which Orihuela has in abundance.
There is a modern train station from which you catch a train north, to Alicante and Elche or south, to Murcia and then beyond.
The Ociopia shopping mall is another place to visit with its various high street names like Pull & Bear, Punto Roma, Springfield, Jack & Jones, C & A Kids and Sprinter to name a few.
The Pinar de Bonanza to the south of Orihuela is a beautiful natural park and is a great place for a picnic. It has a number of marked walking and cycling trails which run through it as well as a collection of log cabins which are for rent!
Places of interest
- Town Centre: packed with historic buildings, as well as a good array of shops, bars and restaurants.
- Tourist Office: more information about the Cathedral, Bishops Palace, Seminary of San Miguel, Saint Domingo’s School, Santuary of our lady of Monserrate, Museum of the Reconquest, Rubalcava Palace, Museum of Sacred Art, Museum of Miguel Hernandez (Poet), Easter Museum, Archaeological Museum, the City Walls Museum, the Casino, the Teatro Circo and its many, many churches.
- El Palmeral Park: with over 10,000 palm trees.
- Market: large Tuesday morning.
- Rio Segura walking & cycling route: to the coast through, Benejuzar, Algorfa, Formentera, Rojales and finishing at the Marina in Guardamar or to the city of Murcia.
- Train Station: trains to Murcia, Elche and Alicante.
- Ociopia: small shopping mall.
- Pinar de Bonanza Natural Park: picnic tables and wooden log cabins which are for rent as well as walking and cycling routes.
Ideas of things to do in Orihuela
- Spend a Tuesday morning in the hustle and bustle of the street market then relax and enjoy a long leisurely lunch in any of the traditional restaurants, sampling some typical food of the region. Walk off your lunch by following our Orihuela walking route, if you are feeling really energetic you can walk up to the Seminary of San Miguel for some stunning roof top views!!
- Start off your day with a walk or cycle along the banks of the Rio Segura in either direction inland to Murcia or to the coast and the villages of Benejuzar, Algorfa, Formentera, Rojales and Guardamar. If you are cycling to Murcia you can return to Orihuela by train! Reward yourself at the end of your day with a cerveza or vino and tapas in one of the many eateries in Orihuela.
- Immerse yourself in culture by visiting some of Orihuelas museums and churches, many of which are free, then drive to the Pinar de Bonanza natural park to enjoy a picnic and relax under the pines.
Ideas of places to twin Orihuela with day or night
- Have a busy Tuesday morning shopping at the lively street market in Orihuela, then head to anyone of the beaches of the Orihuela Costa like Punta Prima or Cabo Roig to enjoy a walk along the stunning coastal path or to simply relax on their golden sandy beaches.
- Visit the large town of Orihuela in the morning when its many museums will be open and enjoy a bit of hustle and bustle in its charming old quarter. Relax during the afternoon in a small village such as Benejuzar or Jacarilla with its slower pace of life.
- Take the train to the city of Elche, Alicante or Murcia, finish off the day with a cerveza, vino or tapas in any of Orihuela's bars and restaurants around the station before heading home.
Places of Interest
Orihuela Circus Theatre
N38°05.116 W0°56.610Parking: is in pay car park 1 and is charged according to the length of stay, or if you can find a space in any of the surrounding streets and is free.
From here: this is the Circus Theatre.
Top tip: to see the programme and to purchase tickets take a look at the official website (Spanish only).
Orihuela Market Large Tuesday Morning
N38°05.261 W0°57.284Parking: is in the car park and is free, it gets very busy on market day so you might have park further away and walk.
From here: the stalls are located in the Ociopia Shopping Mall area.
Orihuela Ociopia Shopping Mall
N38°05.261 W0°57.284Parking: is in car park and is free.
From here: the small shopping mall is right beside you, for a complete listing take a look at the official website and select 'planos' and then click on each level.
Top tip: you can park here and walk the short distance into Orihuela if you don't want to use the pay car park in the centre of the town.
Orihuela Palmeral Park Viewpoint
N38°05.823 W0°56.811Parking: is in the turn off area for the viewpoint and is free.
From here: views out over Orihuela and the palm park.
Top tip: you can walk around the palm park, but it houses local schools and the towns sports facilities, so is best just viewed from above.
Orihuela Pay Car Park 1
N38°05.080 W0°56.730Can be used with: • tourist office • town centre • circus theater • seminary of san miguel
Orihuela Pinar de Bonanza Natural Park
N38°06.007 W0°58.491Parking: is either near the entrance gate on the side of the road or inside the park next to the wooden huts.
From here: walk or drive past the entrance gate (it is closed during the night) turn right and follow the road up to the wooden huts. This is the picnic area and the start of several marked walking and cycling paths.
Top tip: thepark entrance is on camino roads so they may not be marked properly on your Sat Nav. Exit the N340 where there is a sign for Pinar de Bonanza between the Ramon Transportes and the Chimenea Martinez buildings, continue along the tarmac road which is Calle 'A', turn right into Calle 'B' then left into Calle 'C' at the end of which is the entrance gate to the park.
Orihuela Rio Segura Walking Cycling Route
N38°05.261 W0°57.284Parking: is in the car park of the Ociopia shopping mall and is free.
From here: walk or cycle along the banks of the Rio Segura. To go towards the coast and Guardamar cycle through Orihuela town. The path goes past Benejuzar, Algorfa, Formentera, Rojales and finishes 30 kilometres away at the marina in Guardamar. This route can be done as one long journey from Orihuela to Guardamar or you can use the villages as starting/stopping points. To go inland towards the city of Murcia cycle in the other direction away from Orihuela.
Top tip: go with friends and two cars, leave one car in the village where you want to finish and one at the start!! Or cycle to the city of Murcia and take the train back to Orihuela!!
Orihuela Seminary of San Miguel
N38°05.250 W0°56.873Parking: is in pay car park 1 and is charged according to the length of stay, or you can drive up to the seminary, but parking is very limited.
From here: stunning views out over the roof tops of Orihuela, the seminary which is a school for religious learning can only be visited as part of an organised tour.
Top tip: walk up to the seminary using the footpath beside the winding road and walk down using the road at first, then go through the small metal gate which leads down to the Museum of the Reconquest.
Orihuela Tourist Office
N38°05.080 W0°56.730Parking: is in pay car park 1 and is charged according to the length of stay.
From here: walk from the car park and follow the signs for the tourist office for more information about the Cathedral, Bishops Palace, Seminary of San Miguel, Saint Domingo’s School, Santuary of our lady of Monserrate, Museum of Reconquest, Rubalcava Palace, Museum of Sacred Art, Museum of Miguel Hernandez (Poet), Easter Museum, Archaeological Museum, the City Walls Museum, the Casino, the Teatro Circo and its many, many churches.
Top tip: for free parking using the Ociopia shopping mall and walk the short distance into Orihuela.
Orihuela Town Centre
N38°05.080 W0°56.730Parking: is in pay car park 1 and is charged according to the length of stay.
From here: the car park is in the town centre, so just explore! Follow our Orihuela walking route and stop at the Tourist Office to collect a free map which has all of the museums marked on it to really get to know the town.
Top tip: for free parking using the Ociopia shopping mall and walk the short distance into Orihuela.
Orihuela Train Station
N38°04.704 W0°56.650Main Stations along the line: north to Elche Parque and Alicante, south to Murcia.
Parking: is in the station car park and is charged according to the length of stay, alternatively you can park for free if you can find a space in any side street.
From here: the train goes every hour (more frequently at peak times) south to Murcia or north to Elche and Alicante.
Top tip: the line is used by various regional operates, but you can find the timetable using the Renfe website. Click on the word welcome to change the site to English.
For the quicker medium distance trains which just stop at Murcia, Elche and Alicante the site works using the end stations of each line only, so in this case Murcia and Alicante. In the drop down menus on the Departure select Murcia if you want to go to Elche or Alicante and Alicante if you want to go to Murcia. In the drop down menu for Destination select the end station that you are going to, select the date, then click search. To find the time that the train stops at Orihuela click on the train that you want in the Train/Route column and the time table will pop up.
For the slower local trains which stop at all the stations click on the word Commuter (Cercanias in Spanish) on the left side of the screen underneath the words Products and Services of. Still on the left of the screen click on Murcia/Alicante. In the Departure Point dropdown menu select your departure station, in this case Orihula. In the Destination dropdown menu select the station you are travelling to which will be Murcia, Elche Parque or Alicante. Select the date of travel and then click on search and the timetable will appear. To find the times for the return journey, move your mouse over the words Request Return Times on the Day and once the hand symbol appears click. The Departure Point, Destination and timetable will change to the one for the return journey.
Orihuela Walking Route
N38°05.080 W0°56.730Top tip: print out our Orihuela walking route so that you can get to know the city. The route starts from the city centre car park and goes past the tourist office.
