The nativity scene versus the Christmas tree: which has taken over Christmas?
Nativity scene versus Christmas tree: which has taken over Christmas? In Spain, the nativity scene has long been as much a part of the festivities as the Three Kings are on 6 January. The Christmas tree arrived later – and brought new customs with it. Today, the two often stand peacefully side by side. Yet their significance has changed. Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus stand in the stable, the shepherds […]
Óscar Puente resigns: Spain’s Transport Minister takes responsibility following the train disaster
Óscar Puente resigns: Spain’s Transport Minister takes responsibility following train disaster Following two serious train accidents that claimed at least 115 lives, Óscar Puente has resigned from his ministerial post and withdrawn his candidacy in the election. The resignation comes as a blow to the Sánchez government shortly before the general election on 29 November. It remains to be seen what measures Spain will take to improve the safety of its rail network. As recently as Friday, […]
Winter 2026/27 timetable: More flights from Alicante and Valencia – but not everywhere
Winter 2026/27 flight schedule: More flights from Alicante and Valencia – but not everywhere Alicante-Elche is heading into the winter season with 8.6 million seats on offer and 125 scheduled direct destinations. Valencia is expanding its flight network, primarily through Wizz Air. For residents of the Costa Blanca, this opens up new travel options to Europe and within Spain. At the same time, some routes are being discontinued. A […]
Train crash in Spain: 68 dead – investigators are looking into faults in the train control system
Train crash in Spain: 68 dead – investigators looking into faults in the train control system Following the collision between two high-speed trains near Toledo, the investigation is focusing on a technical fault and instructions from the traffic control centre. Spain has declared three days of national mourning. The first event cancellations are also being reported on the Costa Blanca. In the serious train crash in Spain on Wednesday, […]
DANA on the Costa Blanca: Further warnings, flooding and school closures
DANA on the Costa Blanca: Further warnings, flooding and school closures The DANA „Adam“ has hit the Marina Alta particularly hard. On Monday morning, the authorities sent out further mobile phone alerts. Thousands of pupils have been given the day off, and numerous roads are closed. Despite forecasts of improved weather, the risk of flooding remains. The situation in the north of the Costa Blanca on Monday (19 October) remains […]
Public holidays on the Costa Blanca in 2027: All dates and the best long weekends
Public holidays on the Costa Blanca in 2027: All dates and the best long weekends There are twelve national public holidays on the Costa Blanca in 2027. March is particularly good: with four public holidays, you can combine eleven days off between St Joseph’s Day and Easter Monday. In addition, there are two local public holidays per municipality. The 2027 working calendar for the Comunitat Valenciana offers several opportunities for […]
2027 local elections on the Costa Blanca: Who is eligible to vote?
2027 local elections on the Costa Blanca: Who is eligible to vote? On 23 May 2027, local councils across Spain will be re-elected. Many foreign residents on the Costa Blanca are also eligible to vote. To do so, they must be properly registered and meet the registration deadlines. For EU citizens, 30 December 2026 is a crucial deadline. Housing shortages, water supply, transport and public […]
Water supply on the Costa Blanca: Dénia and Benidorm are turning to desalination
Water supply on the Costa Blanca: Dénia and Benidorm are turning to desalination. Dénia aims to secure its drinking water supply in the long term by tapping into additional water sources. In Benidorm, plans for a desalination plant have taken a further step forward. Both projects are intended to reduce dependence on limited water resources – but are at different stages of planning. On the Costa Blanca, water has long since ceased to be […]
A four-day bank holiday weekend: What’s open on the Costa Blanca and where the celebrations are taking place
Four-day bank holiday weekend: What’s open on the Costa Blanca and where the celebrations are taking place On Friday 9 October, the Comunitat Valenciana celebrates its regional public holiday. This is followed by Spain’s National Day on Monday 12 October. In between are a Saturday and a Sunday – four days packed with events, but also with altered opening hours. Anyone planning to go shopping, sort out administrative matters or […]
New tenancy law in Spain 2026: What tenants and landlords need to know now
New tenancy law in Spain 2026: What tenants and landlords need to know now Spain has amended its tenancy law once again. Since 8 October, stricter regulations have been in force for seasonal and room rentals, along with new limits on rent increases and additional rights regarding repairs. Costs and security deposits are also regulated differently. Further changes regarding protection against eviction are due to come into force from 15 November. […]