Option 1: Las Espeñetas car park
North-west of the old town, outside the regulated zone. The closest of the free ones to the centre.
- Free (to be confirmed)
- a 7 min walk from the centre · 511 m
The Orihuela parking map
Orihuela is a town with two lives: a historic centre beside the Segura, with a 620-space blue zone run by the council-owned company ILDO, and 16 km of coast half an hour away by car — Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Campoamor — where parking is still free. On the map we’ve drawn the actual regulated streets (Teodomiro, San Pascual, Duque de Tamames), the free car parks in the old town and the ones on the coast.
Where to park for free in Orihuela
Orihuela’s scheme is 620 spaces concentrated on the shopping ring around the old town. Outside that there are no ticket machines, and these four car parks solve it — the last one is on the coast, 26 kilometres away.
Option 2: Showground – Los Huertos
The showground, big and free except when there’s an event on. A good base for the old town.
- Free (except during events)
- a 10 min walk from the centre · 719 m
Option 3: La Purísima lot (eastern entrance)
The big car park on the Torrevieja road, a ten-minute walk from the centre. The roomy, no-fuss option.
- Free
- a 17 min walk from the centre · 1239 m
Option 4: Pinar de Campoamor
Watch the distance: this is on the Orihuela coast, 26 kilometres from the old town. It’s for the Campoamor and La Zenia beaches, where there are no ticket machines.
- Free
- 26.6 km from the centre · come by car
Where to park in a paid car park in Orihuela
Two paying car parks, and one of them has a trick: the first few hours are free.
Option 1: Parking EntrePuentes
On plaza Cubero, next to the old town: around €3 an hour and passes from €74 a month, open 24 hours all year, with security and an EV charging point. The alternative when the blue zone is full.
- €0.05/min (≈€3/h) · passes from €74/month
- a 3 min walk from the centre · 211 m
- approximate location: this car park is not precisely mapped
Option 2: Ociopía car park
The shopping centre one, on avenida Alcalde Vicente Escudero. It works without a ticket, reading your number plate, and the first few hours are free: you validate at the machine before leaving. A ten-minute walk from the centre.
- Tariff at the pay machine (first few hours free)
- a 9 min walk from the centre · 654 m
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The old town blue zone, street by street
The 620 spaces in Orihuela’s scheme are concentrated on avenida Teodomiro, calle San Pascual, avenida Duque de Tamames, avenida de la Vega and around the Puente Nuevo — the shopping ring around the old town. These are the ones we can name and draw: the scheme covers more streets in the centre, but the council doesn’t publish the list (it’s set by a mayoral resolution), so everywhere else the sign on each stretch is what counts. It runs Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, and Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00; Sundays and public holidays are free. The by-law sets a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 2 hours — after that you have to move the car, with half an hour of overstay payable afterwards as a lifeline. The amount isn’t published on any council website, so we won’t invent it for you: the machine sets it, and you pay with coins, card or the EasyPark.
One detail that confuses a lot of people: the bays painted azul y naranja are ordinary short-stay bays during scheme hours, but fuera de ese horario quedan reservadas a los residentes with a permit. If you’re not a resident, park outside them at night. And the obvious but foolproof trick: during the midday break (14:00-17:00) and from 20:00, the blue zone is free for everyone.
And on Orihuela Costa? No ticket machines (for now)
As of this review, at Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig and Campoamor there is no blue zone: street parking is free, and the problem in August isn’t the price but the space. Keep an eye on the future, though: the municipal budget includes an extension of the scheme with 1,200 spaces on the coast, strongly opposed by residents; when it comes in (we have no record of it operating), we’ll update this guide. In the meantime, the summer strategy is simple: arrive before 11, or park two or three streets inland — in the residential estates there’s nearly always a space a 5-minute walk from the beach.
Where is it easy (and where hard) to park?
- 🔴 La Zenia and Playa Flamenca on August mornings: full before 11.
- 🟠 The old town: a medieval street plan — better to use the car parks and walk.
- 🟠 The blue zone during scheme hours: there is space, but 2 hours maximum.
- 🟢 La Purísima and the showground: big free lots 10 min from the centre.
- 🟢 The whole old town from 14 to 17 and from 20:00: the scheme rests.
Where to park depending on your plan
For the cathedral and the old town
La Purísima or the showground (free) and a 10-minute walk. If you’re in a hurry, the Teodomiro blue zone: €1.50 for 2 hours.
For errands in the centre
The San Pascual or Duque de Tamames blue zone — short stays designed for exactly that. Remember the 2-hour cap.
For Playa Flamenca and La Zenia
There is no beach parking as such at La Zenia: it is free on the street, but in summer arrive before 11 or park on the inner streets of the estate.
For Campoamor and Aguamarina
The Pinar de Campoamor lot, under the pines, leaves the beach a short walk away.
While you’re in Orihuela
The three most booked in the area. They are not the only ones.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Orihuela’s blue zone cost?
From €0.15 (20 minutes) to €1.50 (2 hours, the maximum allowed). You pay at the machine — coins or card — or with the EasyPark app.
What are the scheme’s hours?
Weekdays 10 to 14 and 17 to 20; Saturdays 10 to 14. Sundays and public holidays, free. There’s a free midday break from 14 to 17.
Which streets have a blue zone?
The 620 spaces are concentrated on avenida Teodomiro, calle San Pascual, avenida Duque de Tamames and around the Puente Nuevo. They’re drawn on the map in this guide.
Is there a blue zone on Orihuela Costa?
As of this review, no: at Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Cabo Roig and Campoamor parking is free. An extension of 1,200 spaces has been announced in the municipal budget, but we have no record of it being in place yet.
What are the blue-and-orange bays?
Short-stay bays during scheme hours which, outside those hours, are reserved for residents with a permit. If you’re not a resident, avoid them at night.
Where can I park free near the centre?
The La Purísima lot (Torrevieja road) and the showground at the eastern entrance, and Las Espeñetas by the palm grove to the west. All three about a 10-minute walk away.
With a blue badge?
The usual reserved bays (RD 1056/2014) and exemption in the blue zone depending on the by-law — check the conditions on the machine. Always display the card. A UK blue badge is recognised in Spain.