Located in the eastern part of Spain, in the Valencia region, Alicante is a precious jewel in the crown of Costa Blanca. The city is a fine blend of the historic and modern version of Spain, with its Historic Castle and the Old Quarter at one side and the long stretch of waterfront on the other. One of the most popular tourist destinations of Costa Blanca, Alicante is known for its amazing beaches and long history. There are plenty of vacation rentals in Alicante that provide amazing accommodations as well.
After a view from the mountaintop castle, you can reach the waterfront through the historical part of the town. While the day is most likely to be filled with exploring the city, your nights can be quite exciting in any beachfront bar. Overall, a trip to Alicante is most likely to be filled with various doses of adventures.
Read on to find out about the best things to do in Alicante, Spain.
1. Start beach hopping in Costa Blanca; first with the Postiguet Beach
Being one of the most important destinations of Costa Blanca, your trip to Alicante must start with exploring the beaches. The Postiguet Beach is located in the heart of the city, at the base of the Monte Benacantil. The beach is essentially crowded with locals and tourists, especially during the summertime. After a refreshing time on the white sandy beach, take a walk through the palm covered promenade to find some modern bars and restaurants.
Postiguet Beach
Address: Av. de Denia s/n- Platja del Postiguet, 03002 Alicante, Spain
2. A visit to the San Juan Beach to find some peace and quiet
Located a bit outside Alicante, the San Juan Beach ensures a calm and quiet time around Mediterranean, which is sadly lacking in the beaches inside the city. The stretch of this beach is huge, offering you plenty of spaces to sit and enjoy the sun or to take a long walk through it. The best way to reach this beach is to take a tram from the Alicante city.
San Juan Beach
Address: Av. de Niza, 03540, Spain
Facebook: San Juan Beach
3. A trip to Castillo de Santa Barbara
This ancient castle was built by the Carthaginians around 400 BC. The castle is located on the top of the Benacantil Mountain. After the Bronze Age, Roman and Iberian rule, the castle was built by the Muslim rulers in the ninth century. Inside the castle, you can find a museum with various collections from different historical ages. Apart from a good dose of history, the castle also gives an enchanting view of the whole Alicante city.
Castillo de Santa Barbara
Address: Avenida Juan Bautista Lafora 6, 03002 Alicante, Spain
Website: Official Website
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4. Explore the Old Town properly
After your visit to the castle, stroll through Rambla de Méndez Núnez and Explanada de España. The whole area is the part of Old Town, which still has a trace of the town’s history. Alicante was built as a walled town, as it had always feared the attacks from the side of the sea.
In the Old Quarter, there are several places to discover. Start with visiting the town hall, Concatedral de San Nicolás and Convento de las Monjas de la Sangre. Take a walk through the Plaza del Mar, Calle Labradores, and the Barrio de Santa Cruz to feel the history and the modern day contrast. From the Postiguet Beach to Mount Benacantil, the entire area can be described as the Old Quarter of the town.
The Old Quarter of Alicante
Address: Casco Antiguo de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Website: Insider’s guide Alicante
5. Explanada de España at sunset
This long stretch of the promenade connects the Puerta del Mar with the Canalejas Park. This stretch is extended to the Port of Alicante. To get the best version of Explanada de España, you must reach this place sometimes before the sunset, just in time to watch the sun going down into the Mediterranean.
Explanada de España
Address: Passeig Esplanada d'Espanya, Alacant, Alicante, Spain
Website: Official Tourism Site of Alicante
6. A trip to the Gothic church of Santa María
The Gothic church of Santa María is a 16th-century cathedral. The oldest active church of Alicante is built in the ‘Venetian Gothic’ style. Prior to the building of this church, there used to be a mosque at this site. The church is located at the heart of the historic center of the city. If you are an early riser, then you must attend the morning mass of the church.
Gothic church of Santa María
Address: Plaza de Santa María, 03002 Alicante-Alacant, Alicante,
Website: Official website of Spain Tourism
7. Visit to the MARQ Provincial Archaeological Museum
To know more about history, geography and arts of Alicante, visit the MARQ Provincial Archaeological Museum. Through the various segments of the museum, you can travel to the Prehistoric era, Iberian and Roman rule, and take a trip through the Middle Age of Spain. The collection of various things from these eras makes them look alive to the onlookers and you get an excellent insight into Spanish history.
MARQ Provincial Archaeological Museum
Address: Placa Dr. Gómez Ulla, S/N, 03013 Alacant, Spain
8. Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art for the art lovers
Every part of Spain is rich in culture, heritage and the art. Alicante is not exceptional. The Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art preserves and showcases the art masterpieces of various eminent artists. There are excellent collections of famous painters like Pablo Picasso, Juana Frances, and Juan Gris.
Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art
Address: Plaza Sta. María, 3, 03002 Alicante, Spain
Website: Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art
9. A day trip to the Palmeral de Elche
Palmeral de Elche is the UNESCO World Heritage Site for its large collection of the palm trees. Located around a 30-minute drive away from the Alicante city, it is also the largest palm grove of Europe. The palm trees of this land exist from the prehistoric times, although it had gathered fame around the Muslim rule of Spain. Today, the province of Elche has over 97 orchards, where the palms trees are cultivated.
Palmeral de Elche
Address: Passeig de l'Estació, 2, 03202 Elx, Alacant, Spain
Website: Palmeral de Elche
10. Explore the bodegas of Vinalopó
The Alicante Wine Route – an interesting tour of the Vinalopó regions in the south, and La Marina in the north. The rich...
Posted by Properti Spanyol on Thursday, 30 March 2017
A short 45-minute drive from Alicante takes you to the well-known wine-producing region of Vinalopó. Take a day trip to the wine region of Vinalopó to witness the production of the finest wine, along with a chance to taste the wines firsthand. Vinalopó is known as the main wine region of Alicante, which is mostly known for its unique wines, like Fondillón wine. The drive to Vinalopó passes through the olive and almond orchards, along with the vineyards. After sipping fresh wines from the bodegas, try the local cuisine.
Vinalopó wine tour
Address: Calle Monjas, 6 2º Planta, 03002 Alicante, Alicante
Website: Official website of Spain Tourism
Try amazing seafood
Apart from the sea, history, culture, and wine, another impressive part of Alicante is the amazing seafood available here. The supply of shellfish is unlimited here, so you cannot miss the Mediterranean varieties like mussels, sardines, tuna, prawns, lobsters, swordfish, and crabs. The local wine and amazing seafood will leave you with a taste of Alicante for many years to come.
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