Alicante Travel Guide
Located on the southeastern coast of Spain on the Costa Blanca, Alicante is a port city and it’s also the capital of Alicante province. It is a well-known holiday destination just 25 miles south of Benidorm. The city has miles of amazing sandy beaches that are lined with palm-shaded promenades. Vacations in Alicante allows travellers the opportunity to check out authentic Spanish life unlike some of the more commercialised neighbouring resorts. The narrow lanes and brightly coloured houses of its old town Barrio de la Santa Cruz is a delightful meander around, a much loved area of Spain with views of the Mediterranean Sea you would sell your very soul for.
History of Alicante
Alicante has been inhabited for over 7000 years and was founded by General Hamilcar who happened to be the father of Hannibal Barca who was one of the greatest commanders in history. The site was originally called Akra Leuke and today it’s the city of Alicante. Over time it has been ruled by Christians, Romans, Greeks and Muslims.
Alicante Has Everything You Are Looking For!
The city totally attracts families, sun lovers, naturists, golfers of which there are more than 18 golf courses with varying levels, and water sports enthusiasts. You can jet skiing, go sailing, diving, snorkelling, surfing, windsurfing plus much more.
There is tennis, squash and a whole range of other sports on offer. The old Alicante town attracts visitors to its Spanish tapas bars, narrow streets, restaurants that offer several types of paella on the menu, excellent shopping arenas and bars. Travellers interested in the culture and art surely fall in love with the displays of treasures including Moorish and Roman sculptures. The MACA Museum is the oldest civil building in the city and dates back from 1685, it displays works of 20th century art and art work of Picasso, Dali, Miró and Chillida along with other artists. Medieval tapestries are housed in buildings and museums of the city. Alicante is a city that is very popular for its amazing shopping facilities with a huge central market selling every single thing that you may ever want. The streets of the town offer exceptional bargains along with souvenir hunting at the conventional craft shops, designer outlets, upmarket stores and markets stalls.
Amazing Beaches
Playa del Postiguet is Alicante’s number one beach and is a long stretch of fine pale sand. It’s the ideal location to swim and sunbathe to your hearts content. After you have taken a dip in the beautiful waters here, you can take a stroll along the palm fringed promenade and take a seat at one of the many beachside cafes and enjoy lunch al fresco style. Some of the other well-known sandy beaches in the area include the San Juan Beach and Albufereta Beach which is great for children with plenty of shade and a playground that stretches from Cabo de Huertas till Campello.
At the Cabo de Huertas, there are private rugged coves and also at the beach of Playa del Coco, these are known as quieter more relaxed beaches. Trams and local buses run an amazing service which is useful in linking all of the Alicante beaches. El Campello is a pretty beach resort a mere 14kms north of Alicante. It’s a picturesque cosy resort with long stretches of sandy beaches, a delightful harbour, small coves waiting to be explored and mountain panoramic views. Here you can stroll along the promenade take in the sailing yachts, setting off to find secret bays and marvel at artists creating fabulous street art. If you keep walking you will reach the lovely beach of Playa de l’Almadrava.
Visiting Alicante City
Moving away from the beaches, there is a lot you can do while you are on a holiday in Alicante. A visit to the Santa Barbara Castle in the centre of Alicante, stands proudly on Mount Benacantil, it offers outstanding panoramic views of the coastline and the city but also houses various exhibitions of medieval and Arabic art. You can visit the cathedral built in the 1600s, it’s large and has an extremely ornate interior and visitors are welcome to its services. The oldest church where you can attend its services is the Basilica of Santa Maria. Its style is Valencian gothic and spans from the 14th to 16th centuries and was built over the remains of a mosque.
The marina is not only a busy port for ferries and cruise ships it berths up to 744 boats and yachts. The harbour is filled with wonderful seafood restaurants and cafes, so enjoying lunch and people watching is a must. You and your family will surely love a tram ride along the coast to the picturesque Campello also, take an amazing boat trip to the small Tabarca Island in the Mediterranean Sea, which is close to the town of Santa Pola. Why not visit bustling Benidorm just a 36 minute drive away only 44.8 km.
Theme Parks, Zoos and Water Parks
There are several different theme parks, zoos and water parks along the coast for family outings. The theme parks range from paintball parks, amusement parks with thrilling rides to nature parks and animal parks. Alicante happens to be a spacious city that has a lot of greenery with plenty of gardens, parks and woodland where you can simply enjoy the surrounding flora and fauna with your friends and family and enjoy an exciting day out.
Dining Options
Alicante is a versatile city that offers a wide range of several dining venues including not just the traditional Spanish restaurants, but also restaurants that serves global cuisine, including Thai and Moroccan.
The city has plenty of bars and cafes for a quiet relaxing timeout and don’t forget to visit the marina and harbour area for delicious fresh seafood dishes which are indeed the catch of the day!
Getting to Alicante
Due to the great all-year-round mild climate and close proximity to the airport, the city of Alicante is quite a popular destination for direct vacations not only during summers but also during the winters. If you are travelling from London to Alicante it’s a mere 2 hours and 30 minute short haul flight. From Alicante Airport to the centre of Alicante town is just a 21 minute drive 12.3 km away. This location is excellent for families with young children who don’t want a long transfer as soon as they arrive in Spain.
Related Area Guides in Spain
- Javea, Spain
- Alicante, Spain
- Villamartin, Spain
- Marbella, Spain
- Ibiza, Spain
- Altea, Spain
- Valencia, Spain
- Elche, Spain
- Mil Palmeras, Spain
- Guardamar, Spain
- Mijas, Spain
- Cumbre del Sol, Spain
- Finestrat, Spain
- Ciudad Quesada, Spain
- La Manga del Mar Menor, Spain
- Costa Blanca, Spain
- Costa Calida, Spain
- Costa Del Sol, Spain
- Balearic Islands, Spain
- Murcia, Spain
- Benijofar, Spain
- Punta Prima, Spain
- Cala Lliteras, Spain
- Canyamel Pins, Spain
- Cadiz, Spain
- Cala Vinyes, Spain
- Sa Rapita, Spain
- Cala d’Or, Spain
- Majorca, Spain
- Sotogrande, Spain
- Moraira, Spain
- Estepona,Spain
- Gran Alacant, Spain
- Torrevieja, Spain
- Malaga, Spain
Climate in Alicante
The climate in Alicante is favourable and enjoys sunny weather from May to October, especially in the peak months of July and August when it hottest. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers. Alicante is located in a particularly mild area which is arid and sunny. The coolest month is January with temperatures of 17°C and August is a very hot 31°C. July sees the most hours per day of glorious sunshine which averages 11 hours each day. Alicante is a great city that offers something for everyone. The whole family will be entertained with the vast array of attractions, sports, plus family days out, bars, cafes and restaurants on offer. If you’re considering buying a holiday home or looking for an overseas investment, Alicante property for sale offers delightful apartments, villas and houses you can use anytime of the year. It will transform your lifestyle and as over 3 million foreign tourists visit Alicante per year it’s a superb investment. If you want to rent out the property the rental potential is excellent.
