Although it does not have as much history as other Spanish cities, Alicante manages to enchant its visitors, who are not in small numbers at all. Because of its extraordinary positioning, the best time to visit Alicante is spring or autumn for 3 reasons: better prices on accommodation and flights, perfect weather, and amazing beaches. As a bonus, the famous resort of Benidorm, also compared to the famous Manhattan, was a stone's throw away, giving off an exotic atmosphere.

Transport

The airport is about 12 km from the city center, and the most accessible is to cover the distance by the C6 bus, which leaves every 30 minutes right from the airport. The ticket costs €3.85, and can be purchased directly from the station. If instead you prefer a private trip, you can choose to go by taxi, which will cost you around €20.

How do you travel in Alicante?

Alicante is a city where you will find it very easy to get around without your own car, and public transport should be your first option. You will find bus stops throughout the city, and the price of a trip is €1.45 (tickets can be purchased directly from the bus, cash or by card). However, you can purchase a multi-passenger card to save: 10 for €8.70 or 30 for €26.10. Also, there are 9 tram lines that run in the central area and along the beaches, very suitable for tourists. The public transport route, as well as schedules, can be found here: https://www.alicanteturismo.com/en/public-transport/

Those who do not want the first option can call a taxi (with a rate of €1.22 per km) or rent a car (there are agencies right at the airport), for around €20 per day.

Accommodation Alicante

Depending on the preferences of the type of accommodation, our recommendation is to explore Airbnb if you opt for an apartment (the best choice for groups larger than 3 people), or Booking if you prefer the comfort of a hotel. It's best to choose something as close to the city center as possible (although the prices are a bit higher), for easier access to the places you want to see. A hotel room costs from €50 per night for 2 people.

Here are some recommendations of places that will not disappoint you:

Casa Brava it is a budget option, a room here starting from €55, but at the same time it offers satisfactory facilities. Moreover, it is located near the center, and at the same time the beach,
Old Center Inn Alicantee is located right by the sea, in the central area of the city. For €75 per night you will have access to all major tourist attractions.
Hotel Albahia it is an option with slightly higher prices (€110 per night for a room for 2 people), but it will make you feel really pampered, being a 3-star hotel. You will enjoy a modern room (with sea view), swimming pool, fitness room, restaurant and bar.
If you are looking for a spacious apartment, you should consider this place: https://www.airbnb.com.ro/rooms/41344431. Although it is not in the center, you will have access to the beach and enough space for 4 people, and the price is only €80 per night.

At the same time, for those interested only in a holiday in a luxurious seaside resort, but with affordable prices, they will find all this 35 minutes from Alicante, in Benidorm, where a hotel with a swimming pool can be found from the price of 250€ for 4 nights in May, when the temperatures on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea are over 25 degrees Celsius. The price is for two people, and the conditions are 4 stars.

Alicante tourist attractions – Itinerary

If you want to make the most of your time here, it's best to leave with a well-established plan of what you want to see. For this reason, we have prepared an itinerary proposal for 3 days spent here, after which you can guide yourself to have a special experience.

Day 1

The port of Alicante
Esplanada de España
MACA Museum of Contemporary Art
Downtown
Basilica of Santa Maria & Co-Cathedral of San Nicolá

The port of Alicante

Your first day here should be spent relaxing and getting used to the city, which is why we recommend making a route of the most important areas of Alicante to take in at your own pace. You can start right from I'm wearing, where you will see a lot of beautiful boats. You can even stop at a restaurant to enjoy the sea breeze.

Esplanada de España

At the end of the harbor you are greeted by Esplanada de Espana, the promenade that connects Postiguet Beach to the city center. Along the promenade there are stalls with souvenirs and handmade products, but also bars and restaurants.

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And for a dose of modernity, next door Esplanada de España you can visit MACA Museum of Contemporary Art, an art gallery with about 800 pieces. Admission is free and opening hours are 11:00-20:00, except Sundays, when it closes at 2:00 p.m., and Mondays, when it is not open.

Downtown

At the same time, Esplanada de Espana is intersected by all the streets leading to Downtown, to which you must then head. Once you enter them you will find many famous shops, but also buildings with an amazing architecture. Among them you must not miss Carbonell House, one of the most famous buildings in the area.

Basilica of Santa Maria & Co-Cathedral of San Nicolas

In the center you will also find two churches that are worth seeing, right next to each other: Basilica of Santa Maria (the oldest church in the city from the 14th century) and Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás. Both are notable for their Gothic architecture, sculptures and artistic monuments. Both have free entry, but check the schedule beforehand, as it changes often.

Day 2

Santa Barbara Castle
Archaeological Museum
Alicante Central Square

Santa Barbara Castle

The next day must start with the visit of the most famous place in Alicante: Santa Barbara Castle, the ancient fortress (the largest in Europe) that watches over the city from the top of the hill. You can get here by trams 1, 2, 3, 4, or by bus 23, and afterwards you can take an elevator to the top, for €2.70. However, you will be able to enjoy the medieval ruins and the superb panorama of the city for free. The schedule is between 10:00-23:00 daily.

Archaeological Museum

And to take even more advantage of the historical atmosphere, 12 minutes' walk away you will find Archaeological Museum from Alicante. You will be able to see here collections from the history of several cultures, objects that are even thousands of years old and exact reproductions of some historical elements. The price of a ticket is only €2, and the museum is open from 10:00 to 23:00 (except Mondays, when it is closed).

Alicante Central Market

If you don't want to leave without souvenirs from Alicante, you can then take tram 1, 2 or 4, or walk 12 minutes, to get to Central square of the city. In addition to local food, here you will also find many things handmade by the locals. You will not only be able to shop here, however, because the famous centers El Corte Ingles they are spread all over the city, and wherever you walk the streets it will be impossible not to come across stores known throughout the world.

Day 3

El Palmeral Park
Beach
Shopping

El Palmeral Park

Don't give up even on the last day, because we have prepared a slightly more remote, but extremely beautiful route. By taking the C6 or L1 buses for 20 minutes you will be able to reach the famous natural park El Palmeral, where you will find a selection of over 2000 gorgeous palm trees spread over numerous routes. There is also a navigable lake and a waterfall here, creating a natural setting as if from Paradise. The park is free in most areas, but for certain places you will have to pay between 3-7€, and the schedule is between 9:00-23:00.

Other suggestions

Tabarca Island

And if you have time to explore the sea as well, you can take a boat from the city port that will take you to the island Tabarcea, a superb marine reserve where you can recreate in a rustic setting, between turquoise waters, pebbles and white houses. The boat trip will take at least an hour, and the different companies have prices starting from €15.

Alicante beaches

And because we cannot ignore the fact that Alicante is a city by the sea, do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the beaches in the area. Prices differ depending on the beach, but you can expect to pay from €15 for a sun lounger and an umbrella.

I have prepared for you a list of some beaches that you can include in the days spent here.

Playa del Postiguet

Playa del Postiguet it's right next to the city center, so it's probably the most affordable option, with fine sand, palm trees and clean water. However, you should know that it is also the busiest. Many transport lines have stations nearby, but the most important are buses 14B, 22, 22N and tram 5.

Playa de la Albufereta

Playa de la Albufereta it is a bit further from the center, but you can easily get there with trams 1, 3, 4, 5, or buses 9 and 22. It is another beach very frequented by tourists, but very suitable for families with children.

San Juan Playa

San Juan Playa it is a little quieter, being outside the city, And this beach keeps the sand fine and clean, and clear white. Trams 1 and 3, but also buses 21 and 22 will bring you here.

Calas de Alicante

Calas de Alicante it is a bit wilder beach with big stones and vegetation but less tourists. You will be able to arrive with the same lines mentioned for the previous beach.

Alicante food

Alicante is the place where you can indulge in Spanish delicacies without breaking the bank. There are markets and supermarkets with many types of exotic fruits and specific foods. Also, the boulevards are full of tapas or street food terraces. Of course, there are also well-known fast food restaurants, but we recommend that you avoid them, because you will find affordable prices at the restaurants in the center, of much higher quality.

The prices here are much lower than in cities like Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia. If you still have a bigger budget, next to the port or the beach there are numerous restaurants with specific fish that will delight your taste buds.

We can recommend you to stop in At Crispeta, a restaurant with specific tapas (including vegan) and low prices, and if you are looking for a unique experience choose Steakhouses Restaurants, a restaurant with Michelin stars, but slightly higher prices.

The city is also home to a complex of nightclubs and casinos for revelers. Don't think about the clubs in Romania with absurd prices, where you have to show off expensive outfits, the discos in Alicante are the definition of fun and Latin rhythms, so you should give them a chance!

Shopping Alicante

You can't leave Spain without a shopping session. The famous centers El Corte Ingles they are spread all over the city, it would be a shame not to enter at least one of them. Alicante is a fairly accessible city in terms of shopping within walking distance. The stores are well organized in terms of position, which will allow you to have a shopping session like a book. They are spread throughout the city center, on the main streets, or in shopping centers such as Centro Comercial Gran Vía, Centro Comercial Plaza Mar 2 or Puerta de Alicante Shopping Centre.

So, although it doesn't have the fame of other well-known cities in Spain (nor the high prices), Alicante is a real treasure, whether you're looking for history, museums, modernity or sunny beaches. It is certain that a vacation here will take you into a relaxing atmosphere, from which you will not want to leave!

In case you are thinking about a possible holiday in Alicante, we will leave you a list of links to help you organize your trip:

TRANSPORT:

ACCOMMODATION:

TOURIST OBJECTIVES AND OTHERS:

3 days in Alicante - Tourist attractions! One of the beauties of the Costa Blanca!