Alicante is the relaxed capital of the Costa Blanca. With around 370,000 inhabitants, the city spreads around a bay at the foot of Mount Benacantil, topped by a medieval castle. Its centre combines a lively old quarter, a palm-lined seafront and a sandy beach right in town.
Why visit Alicante
It offers city and beach in one: you can visit a castle in the morning, swim in the afternoon and eat rice dishes by the sea in the evening. With mild winters and one of Spain’s busiest airports nearby, it is also an easy base for the Costa Blanca.
Top things to do in Alicante
The Santa Bárbara castle
One of Spain’s largest medieval fortresses, on top of Mount Benacantil. A lift carved inside the rock goes up from Postiguet beach, and the views over the bay are superb.
The Explanada de España
The city’s famous promenade, paved with more than six million tiles forming a wave pattern, and shaded by palm trees.
The Santa Cruz quarter and the old town
Whitewashed houses with flowerpots climb the slopes below the castle. Down in the old town, visit the co-cathedral of San Nicolás and the baroque basilica of Santa María.
Postiguet and San Juan beaches
Postiguet is the city beach next to the centre, while San Juan, a few kilometres north, offers 7 km of golden sand.
The island of Tabarca
A small inhabited island with a walled village and clear water for snorkelling, about an hour away by boat.
The MARQ
The Archaeological Museum of Alicante, with modern displays on the region’s Iberian, Roman and Moorish past.
Festivals in Alicante
In June the Hogueras de San Juan fill the streets with giant figures, fireworks and parties, ending with bonfires on the night of 24 June.
Best time to visit Alicante
Spring and autumn are perfect for sightseeing and the beach. Summer is hot and busy. Winter is mild and sunny, ideal for walking.
Getting to and around Alicante
Alicante–Elche airport is about 10 km from the centre, linked by the C-6 bus. High-speed trains reach Madrid in about two and a half hours. The TRAM runs along the coast to San Juan, Benidorm and Dénia.
What to eat in Alicante
Arroz a banda and other rice dishes, arroz con costra from Elche, fresh fish, turrón from nearby Jijona and horchata in summer.
Alicante FAQ
Is Alicante a good base for the Costa Blanca?
Yes. Trams and buses reach Benidorm, Altea and Dénia, and the airport is close.
How do you get up to the Santa Bárbara castle?
By the lift from Postiguet beach, or on foot through the Santa Cruz quarter.
