# Sun, shade and orientation: choosing a Costa Blanca South home > Think beyond a compass direction. Check the rooms, the terrace and the months you will spend in Spain to find a home that suits your everyday life. By Verdi Estate · 19 October 2026 Canonical: https://www.verdiestate.com/blog/sun-shade-orientation-costa-blanca-south-home.html ## At a glance - Decide which rooms and outdoor spaces need sun or shade at your preferred times. - Check the direction of each main window and terrace, together with surrounding obstructions. - Treat regional sunshine statistics as background, not hours of direct sun at a particular home. - Record the viewing date, time and shading, then investigate what remains uncertain. The right orientation is the one that suits how and when you will use a home. For buyers in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and San Miguel de Salinas, that means considering sunlight, shade and the layout together. A sunny viewing is a useful observation, but understanding the actual terrace, living room and bedrooms across your intended seasons will make a Costa Blanca South property comparison more meaningful. ## 1. Start with your own daily routine Write down how you expect to use the property: breakfast outside, working in the living room, reading on the terrace or sleeping after a late shift. Then identify the months you plan to spend in Spain. Someone visiting mainly in winter may value different conditions from a household staying through summer. Turn those preferences into specific questions. Where would you put a dining table? Which bedroom would you use? Would you want a shaded sitting area during the afternoon? This gives a viewing a purpose beyond checking the advertised orientation. ## 2. Check the direction of the spaces you will use Ask for a plan with north marked and identify the main windows, terrace and any separate roof terrace. East-facing openings generally receive morning sun, while west-facing openings receive afternoon sun, subject to obstructions. A home can have rooms facing several directions, so one label may describe only its principal facade. IDAE’s energy guide explains how orientation, glazing and shading interact with heat gains. South-facing glazing can help capture winter sun, while controlling summer exposure remains important. Treat the direction as one part of the assessment alongside the building’s actual layout and surroundings. ## 3. Look closely at the shade around the terrace Stand where you would actually sit and look at the balcony above, roof overhangs, pergolas, trees and neighbouring buildings. Note which parts of the terrace are in sun and which are shaded at the viewing time. An open sea view and an unobstructed path for sunlight are different features. For an apartment in Torrevieja or Orihuela Costa, include upper balconies and nearby blocks in the questions. For a villa in San Miguel de Salinas, include boundary walls, trees and the position of outdoor seating. These are property-specific prompts; they do not rank the three areas for sunshine. ## 4. Keep climate figures separate from sunlight at home AEMET’s Alicante-Elche Airport station publishes historical normals for 1981–2010, including average monthly sunshine of 184 hours in January and 344 hours in July. These figures provide seasonal background for that station. They are not a 2026 forecast or measurements for an individual home in the three areas. Recorded sunshine at a weather station does not tell you how long sunlight reaches a particular window. Ask for photographs with dates and times from other seasons where available. If seasonal sunlight is decisive, seek a property-specific sun or shadow assessment from a competent professional. ## 5. Examine the controls as well as the view With permission, check the shutters, awnings and opening windows. Look at how you would shade the living room while still using it and whether the bedroom has practical ventilation options. IDAE’s household guidance recommends using cooler night or early-morning air in summer and awnings or shutters to limit warming. Ask which equipment and shade structures are included in the sale and request available maintenance information. If your plan depends on adding an awning or pergola, investigate feasibility and any necessary approvals first. For a new build, ask about the specified shading and surrounding development phases, then check the completed result. ## 6. Make a comparison you can revisit Keep a short note for each home: viewing date and time, weather, room directions, terrace shade and any unanswered seasonal questions. Separate what you observed from what the seller reports. Where possible, arrange a second viewing at a different time before deciding how well the light suits your routine. Tell Verdi Estate whether winter sun, a shaded summer terrace or daylight for working at home matters most. We can use those priorities to focus your search and request available information. Read our energy-certificate guide alongside these observations when considering the home’s wider comfort and energy characteristics. ## Questions buyers ask ### Is south-facing always the best orientation? The best fit depends on the rooms, shading and seasons you will use the home. Check winter sunlight and summer shade together rather than choosing solely from the advertised direction. ### Does a sea view guarantee a sunny terrace? No. Check the terrace’s direction and obstructions such as balconies, walls and neighbouring buildings. The view and the hours of direct sunlight need to be assessed separately. ### Can an autumn viewing establish the winter sunlight? It provides an observation for that date and time. Request evidence from other seasons and consider a professional sun or shadow assessment if winter sunlight is essential to your purchase decision. ## Sources and further reading - [IDAE — Recomendaciones para el ahorro energético en hogares](https://www.idae.es/ahorra-energia/recomendaciones-para-el-ahorro-energetico-en-hogares) - [IDAE — Guía Práctica de la Energía: Consumo eficiente y responsable, 3.ª edición (2010)](https://www.idae.es/uploads/documentos/documentos_11406_Guia_Practica_Energia_3ed_A2010_509f8287.pdf) - [AEMET — Valores climatológicos normales: Alicante-Elche Aeropuerto, estación 8019 (1981–2010)](https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=8019) Sources reviewed on 19 October 2026. AEMET figures are historical 1981–2010 station averages, not a current forecast or property measurement. This is general viewing guidance; confirm property-specific sunlight, comfort and proposed changes with appropriately qualified professionals. ## Explore further - [Buying in Spain](https://www.verdiestate.com/buying-in-spain.html) - [Homes in San Miguel de Salinas](https://www.verdiestate.com/san-miguel-de-salinas.html) - [Homes in Torrevieja](https://www.verdiestate.com/torrevieja.html) - [Homes in Orihuela Costa](https://www.verdiestate.com/orihuela-costa.html) - [Explore resale homes](https://www.verdiestate.com/resale-collection.html) - [Energy certificates: a buyer’s checklist](https://www.verdiestate.com/blog/costa-blanca-energy-certificate-buyers-checklist.html) - [Discuss your home and lifestyle priorities](https://www.verdiestate.com/#contact)