Sport in Valencia
Where to play tennis on the Costa Blanca: courts, clubs and the Ferrero Academy
Municipal courts from 4 to 10 euros an hour, clubs the length of the coast, the world-famous Ferrero Academy in Villena and kids' schools from age 4: your full guide to playing tennis on the Costa Blanca.
Where to play padel on the Costa Blanca (and make friends)
Padel is everywhere on the Costa Blanca, and it is often where expats make their first local friends. Book a court on Playtomic, join an open match at your level, take a lesson or two, and get the kids playing: here is how newcomers get started.
Where can you play squash on the Costa Blanca?
You can play squash on the Costa Blanca at municipal sports centres and private gyms across the province, from Alicante and Elche to Benidorm and Torrevieja. Courts are rarer than for padel, so it pays to call ahead to confirm a court near you.
Cycling the Costa Blanca: greenways, MTB and gravel
Car-free greenways, mountain biking and gravel in the hinterland, easy family rides by the sea: the leisure cycling guide to the Costa Blanca, for every age and level.
Which beach and sea sports can you do on the Costa Blanca?
Sailing, kitesurfing, diving, paddleboarding, kayaking: what you can genuinely do at sea on the Costa Blanca, where to start and with whom, from family level to advanced.
Where can you play rugby on the Costa Blanca (and where can you watch it)?
Rugby has a real, welcoming community on the Costa Blanca. Here is how to join a club as an adult beginner, sign your kids up, and where to watch matches, from local weekend games to the Spanish championship.
Where to watch live football in a Costa Blanca pub
From Alicante to Benidorm and Xàbia, the Costa Blanca is packed with British and Irish sports bars showing Premier League, Champions League, rugby and more on the big screen. Here is where to grab a seat and a pint.
Estadio Rico Pérez: the Alicante stadium where Maradona played
Yes: a 21-year-old Diego Maradona played his first World Cup at Alicante's Estadio Rico Pérez in summer 1982. Here is the ground's history, its golden age and where Hércules CF stands in 2026.
Where to go karting or watch a rally on the Costa Blanca
Yes. Alicante province has five public karting circuits, from Villena and Elche to Alicante, Torrevieja and Benidorm, plus a genuine Spanish championship rally, the Rallye La Nucía Mediterráneo. Here are the circuits and rally dates we could confirm.
Who is Awa Fam Thiam, the Santa Pola player drafted into the WNBA?
Born in Santa Pola in 2006, Awa Fam Thiam was drafted third overall by the Seattle Storm in April 2026, a record for Spain, and is now a WNBA rookie.
Cycling the Costa Blanca: the great climbs, greenways and off-road trails
Coll de Rates, Alto de Aitana, Xorret de Catí, the Vía Verde del Maigmó and the sierras: where the pros train and where beginners and families ride, all year round on the Costa Blanca.
Where to hike on the Costa Blanca? Mountains, waterfalls and parks
The Peñón de Ifach, the Montgó, the Aitana, the Algar waterfalls, Guadalest: the best Costa Blanca hikes and the sensible habits for walking safely.