Alicante

Planning a visit or a move to the city of Alicante? Find out everything you need to know about this amazing location here.

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About Alicante

Alicante is a lively coastal city located in the south east of Spain. The city is home to a mix of historical landmarks, beautiful beaches, and a fun cultural scene. Although it gets busy in peak season, Alicante is much quieter than other Spanish cities we’ve been to and definitely one of our favourites.

Alicante has a rich history dating back to the Roman era, and involving the Moors and Visgoths, influences of all these can be seen in the iconic Santa Barbara Castle that sits high above the city.

The Mediterranean climate brings long sunny days and mild winters, with an average of 320 days of sunshine each year in Alicante. This lovely, warm weather means that you can enjoy the beaches and wandering around the city whatever time of year you visit.

Alicante is popular with both International and Spanish tourists as well as locals who enjoy the lively beachfront promenades, diverse cuisine, and historic sites.

Where is Alicante?

The city of Alicante is the capital of the Alicante Province and is located in the heart of the Costa Blanca, in the Valencian Community.

The Alicante Province includes many popular cities and towns including Benidorm, Villajoyosa, Altea, Torrevieja and Elche among others.

Alicante is situated 45km from Benidorm, 187km from Valencia, and 81km from Murcia, so is well placed if you want to visit some of the other fantastic destinations in this region.

Is there an airport in Alicante?

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is located approximately 10km, or a 15 minute drive, from the city centre, with all major European airlines flying into Alicante.

How to get to Alicante

Fly – You can get some cheap flights into Alicante Airport from outside of Spain, with budget airlines Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling and WizzAir all flying in regularly. If you’re visiting Alicante from elsewhere in Spain, you can also fly in from Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and the Canary Islands among other locations. Looking for cheap flights to Alicante? Try Expedia.

Drive – If you’re driving into Alicante you can travel via the A7 motorway, which runs through the province from southwest to northeast, connecting the north with Valencia and the south with Murcia and Andalusia. Alicante can also be reached via the A31 motorway to/from Madrid.

Train – Trains from Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and Malaga all come into Alicante train station regularly with the main Alicante Terminal (known locally as the RENFE station) approximately 1.8km from the city centre. You can find cheap train tickets to Alicante at Trainline.

Bus – Alicante’s Bus Terminal is in the city centre next to the port and you can travel from all over Spain including Valencia, Madrid, Malaga, and Barcelona. Search for cheap bus tickets to Alicante at BusBud.

Tram – If you want to travel to Alicante from anywhere along the coast from Denia downwards you can jump on the tram which stops at Benidorm, Altea and Villajoyosa amongst other places. Check the timetables and fares at Tram Alicante.

Travelling around Alicante

Alicante is a very walkable city, much smaller than cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, so it’s possible to walk between the main tourist attractions. We’ve visited most parts of Alicante now and have never needed to use public transport.

However, if you do need it there’s a good bus service around the Alicante city centre as well as a tram line, making it easy to get to all areas of the city.

Is Alicante worth visiting?

Yes!

With lots of stunning beaches, a charming Old Town, the iconic medieval Santa Barbara Castle with its panoramic views, and a good range of bars and restaurants, Alicante is a fantastic city to visit and should definitely be on your travel bucket list!

Whether you want a relaxing beach holiday, to spend time sightseeing, or a mix of the two, Alicante is a great location to base yourself.

View out to sea from Santa Bárbara Castle, Alicante

When is the best time to visit Alicante?

The best time to visit Alicante is during the spring (April to June) or autumn (September to November) when the weather is warm and there aren’t as many crowds. The temperatures in spring and autumn are not as scorching or humid as in the summer months, which makes it much more comfortable to explore the city. Visiting out of the peak summer season also means you can find good deals on accommodation and flights.

Tourist attractions in Alicante

If you enjoy sightseeing, then you won’t be disappointed. Alicante has lots of popular tourist attractions including Santa Barbara Castle, Explanada de España, Postiguet Beach, Mushroom Street, Santa Maria Basilica, Alicante Marina, and the Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ).

Things to do in Alicante

There are so many things to do in Alicante including visiting museums, spending time in one of the many parks, relaxing on the beach, spending the day shopping, and enjoying various watersports and boat trips.