Alicante is a seaside city on the Costa Blanca in Spain, known for three hundred days of sunshine a year and for the Santa Bárbara castle rising above the city. The castle, from the ninth century, stands on a rock a hundred and sixty-six metres high and offers views of the coast. Beneath it are the Explanada de España promenade with mosaic paving, Postiguet beach right in the centre and an old harbour with restaurants. Alicante is an ideal choice for those who want to combine beach, culture and gastronomy, and for those who want to escape the cold in winter. The nearest airport, Alicante-Elche, is ten kilometres from the centre, and direct flights run from Prague in three hours. From Alicante it is close to Benidorm, to the island of Tabarca and inland to Guadalest. The season runs from April to October; in summer it is around thirty-two degrees and the sea twenty-six. Winter is mild, around eighteen degrees.
The places worth your time in Alicante, and what to expect at each
above the centre
A castle from the ninth century on a rock a hundred and sixty-six metres high above the city, offering views of the harbour, the beach and the whole coast. Inside are courtyards, ramparts and a small museum. It is the symbol of Alicante and the best place for photos.
Tip: A lift runs up for a few euros, or you walk in twenty minutes. Come at sunset. Entry is free; the lift costs about three euros.
harbour
A famous promenade lined with palms and paved with a mosaic of six and a half million tiles in red, black and cream. It ends at the harbour and is full of cafés. In the evening concerts and markets are held.
Tip: Go in the evening, when the heat is gone and cafés are full. It is free; restaurant prices are lower a street away.
centre
A city beach below the castle with fine sand, bars and water sports, only a few steps from the harbour and promenade. It is right in the centre and full in summer. The sea is shallow and clean and it is the best beach for a short stay.
Tip: Loungers cost about ten euros a day. For calm go farther to San Juan beach. The morning is calmer.
below the castle
The oldest district of Alicante below the castle, with coloured houses, flowerpots and narrow lanes. It is a picturesque and calm part of the city with small cafés. The best place for a stroll.
Tip: Set out early in the morning or in the evening, when it is calm. The lanes are steep; wear comfortable shoes.
22 km from Alicante
A small island half an hour by boat from Alicante, the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community, with a fortified town, beaches and a marine reserve. It is an ideal place for snorkelling and lunch of fresh fish.
Tip: Boats leave from the harbour daily; the trip costs about fifteen euros. Bring a snorkel and an umbrella; there is little shade.
centre
An Art Nouveau market from 1921 selling fresh fruit, fish, meat and ham. It is the best place to taste local food and buy cheese and olives. Surrounding cafés serve tapas.
Tip: Come in the morning, when the choice is widest; on Sunday it is closed. Taste manchego cheese and ham.
centre
An archaeological museum that was named the best in Europe in 2004. You find a collection from prehistory to the Middle Ages, including the Lady of Elche. The modern displays are interactive.
Tip: Entry costs about six euros; on Sunday it is free. The visit takes an hour and a half.
20 km from Alicante
A city twenty kilometres from Alicante with a palm grove on the UNESCO list that comprises more than two hundred thousand palms. It is the largest palm grove in Europe. In the centre are historic buildings and a museum.
Tip: From Alicante a train or bus runs in half an hour. Visit the Huerto del Cura, a garden of cacti and palms.
60 km from Alicante
A mountain village inland with a castle on a rock and a view of the valley and a lake. It is one of the most visited places in the province. The museums are small and quirky.
Tip: A bus runs from Alicante or Benidorm. Come in the morning; in the afternoon it is full. Bring a jacket, as it is windy at the top.
Photos: Postiguet Beach — kallerna (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Barrio de Santa Cruz — Falk2 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Tabarca Island — Jose A. (CC BY 2.0) · MARQ Museum — Francesc Fort (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Elche and the Palm Grove — José Carlos Díez (CC BY 3.0) · Guadalest — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking
Best for: monuments and tapas
The area around the market and harbour with hotels, restaurants and shops. Everything is at hand. Best for a first visit.
Best for: picturesque and views
A coloured district below the castle with narrow lanes. It is calm and romantic. A good choice for couples.
Best for: beaches and families
A long sandy beach some five kilometres from the centre, with hotels and apartments. It is calmer and the beach wider. Suits families.
Best for: calm and coves
A seaside district with small coves and villas, only a few kilometres from the centre. It is calm and cheaper. Suits a longer stay.
Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC) is ten kilometres from the centre; direct flights run from Prague in three hours. Bus C6 runs to the centre in twenty minutes and a taxi costs about twenty euros. By car from the Czech Republic it is about two thousand kilometres through France. From Valencia a train runs in an hour and a half.
Alicante-Elche (ALC) · 10 km
The centre of Alicante can be walked; a tram runs to San Juan beach and to Benidorm. City buses run around the city. Taxis are cheap. Boats run to Tabarca island. For the interior a car is handy.
Useful apps: Google Maps, Moovit, Cabify, Alsa
Alicante has a Mediterranean climate with a hot summer and a mild winter. In July it is around thirty-two degrees and the sea twenty-six. Winter is mild, around eighteen degrees. The best time is April to June and September to October.
Best time
April to June and September to October
What to avoid
July and August (heat above 35°C)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 17° | 18° | 20° | 22° | 25° | 29° | 32° | 32° | 29° | 25° | 20° | 18° |
| Night | 7° | 8° | 10° | 12° | 15° | 19° | 22° | 22° | 19° | 15° | 10° | 8° |
| Rainy days | 20 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 25 |
| Sea | 15° | 14° | 15° | 16° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 26° | 25° | 22° | 18° | 16° |
Alicante cooking is Mediterranean: rice, fish and tapas. A main dish costs ten to twenty euros and a menu del día twelve to eighteen euros. People drink Alicante wine and horchata.
Arroz a banda
Rice cooked in fish stock, served with garlic aioli. A typical dish of Alicante.
Paella valenciana
Rice with rabbit, chicken and beans cooked in a pan. Best near Valencia, but good here too.
Caldero
Rice with fish cooked in a cauldron, a traditional dish of Tabarca island. Served with aioli.
Turrón
Almond nougat made in Jijona since the Middle Ages. A traditional Christmas sweet.
Horchata
A cold drink of tiger nuts, a summer refresher. Served with fartons.
Tapas and gambas
Small dishes: fried prawns, croquettes and olives. Served with a glass of wine.
Alicante wine
Red and white wines from the Alicante region, especially Monastrell and Moscatel. Drunk at lunch.
Espresso
€1.5–2.5
Menu del día
€12–18
Arroz a banda
€15–22
A beer
€3–4.5
Santa Bárbara Castle (lift)
€3
Boat to Tabarca
€15
3★ hotel (night)
€80–180
Bus C6
€4
Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.
1 day
2 days
3 days
Benidorm
45 km · 45 min by tram or car
A resort of skyscrapers and long beaches, popular with families. The TRAM tram runs from Alicante.
Elche
20 km · 30 min by train
A city with a palm grove on the UNESCO list. It suits half a day.
Guadalest
60 km · 1 hr by car
A mountain village with a castle on a rock and a view of the valley. It suits half a day.
April to June and September to October, when it is warm and less crowded. In summer it is around thirty-two degrees and hot. Winter is mild, suitable for a stay too.
By bus C6 for four euros in twenty minutes or by taxi for twenty euros. The airport is ten kilometres from the centre.
Yes, it has shallow beaches, a promenade, a castle and a zoo. Children will enjoy Tabarca and the boats. Prices are mid-range.
Yes, Postiguet beach is in the centre and San Juan is longer and calmer. The sea is clean. In summer it is full.
Two to three days suffice for the city, castle and beach. For Tabarca, Elche or Guadalest add a day. For the beach a week.
Euros. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and cash is useful at the market and in small bars.
Yes, it is a safe city. Watch for pickpockets in crowds and on beaches. Do not leave belongings unattended.
Arroz a banda, caldero and tapas. With them horchata and turrón. Alicante wine is excellent.
Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.
Check visa requirementsLanguage
Spanish
Currency
EUR
Timezone
Europe/Madrid
Dial Code
+34
Population
47.6M
Area
505,990 km²
Voltage
230V / 50Hz
Driving Side
Right
