Alicante
A Mediterranean city on Spain's Costa Blanca, Alicante adds another side to our travels around Spain — sunshine, seafront, city streets and that unmistakable Spanish coastal atmosphere.
Another side of our Spain travels
We've travelled to Alicante as part of our time exploring Spain, adding the Costa Blanca to a list that already includes Barcelona, Madrid, Fuengirola, the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands.
Alicante works brilliantly as a city-and-coast destination: the Mediterranean is right on the doorstep, while the old streets, waterfront and hilltop castle give you plenty to explore away from the beach.
Alicante highlights
🏰 Santa Bárbara Castle
The fortress above the city is one of Alicante's defining landmarks, with sweeping views across the coast and city.
🌊 Explanada de España
Alicante's famous palm-lined promenade is made for a wander beside the waterfront.
🏖️ Postiguet Beach
A city beach right beside central Alicante, making it easy to mix sightseeing with time by the Mediterranean.
🏘️ Barrio de Santa Cruz
Colourful houses, narrow lanes and steps climbing the hillside beneath Santa Bárbara Castle.
City break and beach holiday in one
One of Alicante's big advantages is how easily it combines a proper Spanish city break with time beside the Mediterranean. You can spend the morning exploring historic streets and landmarks, stop for lunch in the centre and still finish the afternoon on the beach.
The city is also compact enough to explore without turning every day into a major expedition. The waterfront, old town, shopping streets and Postiguet Beach are all close together, while Santa Bárbara Castle rises above the centre and gives Alicante its unmistakable skyline.
The landmark above Alicante
Perched high on Mount Benacantil, Santa Bárbara Castle is one of Alicante's best-known sights. Its elevated position gives wide views over the city, harbour and Mediterranean coastline, while the fortress itself reflects centuries of Alicante's history.
Even if you're mainly visiting Alicante for sunshine and the coast, the castle gives the city much more than a straightforward beach-resort feel.
Promenades, marina and Mediterranean views
The waterfront is a huge part of Alicante's appeal. The Explanada de España, with its distinctive patterned paving and rows of palm trees, runs beside the marina and is one of the city's signature sights.
Nearby, Postiguet Beach puts golden sand right beside the city centre. That closeness is what makes Alicante so handy: sightseeing and beach time don't need to be separate parts of the holiday.
Santa Cruz & the historic centre
Beneath the castle, the Barrio de Santa Cruz is one of the most characterful parts of Alicante, with narrow lanes, steps, colourful houses and flower-filled corners climbing the hillside.
Back at street level, Alicante's historic centre mixes plazas, cafés, shops and traditional architecture. It's an easy area to wander rather than treating the city as a checklist of individual attractions.
Exploring more of the Costa Blanca
🏝️ Tabarca Island
A small Mediterranean island off the Alicante coast and a popular option for a boat trip from the city.
🌴 Elche
Close to Alicante and famous for its extraordinary palm groves, Elche makes an easy change of scenery.
🏖️ Villajoyosa
A colourful coastal town known for its brightly painted seafront houses and beaches.
🌊 Costa Blanca
Alicante is a useful base for exploring more of the surrounding Mediterranean coastline and its beach towns.
Mediterranean flavours
Alicante's food scene reflects its coastal setting, with rice dishes, seafood and Mediterranean flavours featuring heavily on local menus. The city centre, old town and waterfront all have plenty of places to stop for anything from tapas to a longer evening meal.
A few useful things to know
📅 When to go
Spring and autumn are attractive for sightseeing with generally milder temperatures, while summer is the obvious choice if beach time is the priority.
👟 Getting around
Much of central Alicante is walkable, and local public transport makes it possible to reach areas farther along the coast without needing to drive everywhere.
⏱️ How long?
Alicante works for a short city break, but extra days give you time to combine the city with beaches and trips around the Costa Blanca.
✈️ Arrival
Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport serves the Costa Blanca and is conveniently positioned for Alicante and the surrounding coastal resorts.
Drive From Home · Alicante
Take a virtual look around Alicante before you travel, or revisit the city from home.
Explore more of Spain
For a longer Spanish adventure, browse this TourRadar itinerary and see how it could fit into a wider trip.
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Planning a trip to Alicante
Is Alicante on the Costa del Sol?
No. Alicante is on the Costa Blanca in southeastern Spain. The Costa del Sol is farther south, around Málaga and Fuengirola.
Is Alicante good for a city break?
Yes. Alicante combines a compact city centre, historic sights, a waterfront and a city beach, so you can easily mix sightseeing with time by the Mediterranean.
What is Alicante best known for?
Santa Bárbara Castle, Postiguet Beach and the palm-lined Explanada de España are among the city's best-known sights.
Can you explore the Costa Blanca from Alicante?
Yes. Alicante is a handy base for seeing more of the surrounding coast, including places such as Villajoyosa and Elche.
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