Alicante

The first time we visited Alicante for a day from Benidorm, I really liked the city. The next year, we stayed in an appartment in Alicante for 5 days, since then, I really fell in love with Alicante! Because I love the city that much and there is so much to talk about, I divided it into several posts.

Alicante beach El Prostiguet and the castle
Alicante checks out all the boxes for a beautiful Spanish coastal city. A castle on a mountain, check. An old town with a cathedral and terraces, check. A fine sand beach, check! Plenty of shops and bars, check check! But Alicante is much more than the typical elements. Here, the beach is right across the street of the old town...they have loads of creative boutiques next to brand stores...there is an old moors neighborhood; a maze of stairs, white houses and blue doors... and a beautiful pier with lounge bars, disco's... and did I mention the mosaic-paved promenade filled with street artists in the evening...
Alicante Market Hall
Alicante is also a cheap city. Because it is a small hidden gem, hotels are pretty affordable, and eating out or drinking is really cheap...
Alicante is a nice day trip from Benidorm, but it also could be part (or whole) of your vacation. Book a few days in Alicante before going to Benidorm and you won't be disappointed.

If you should visit it for just a day, you could start by visiting the huge covered markethal, then try going up the 166 meters high castle and walking back down over the wall. Then stroll around in the old and quiet moors neighborhood before having a drink on a terrace in the old town. There are plenty of restaurants, but I would recommend eating tapas, like in the Calle San Francisco where dozens of tapabars try to lure you in with cheap offers.
Old 'moors' town Alicante
If you have energy left, you can try some shopping in the hundreds of boutiques in the low traffic streets between the Rambla, Av. Alfonso El Sabio and Av. Oscar Espla... To much to do in too little time...

 I made some articles of sights to see in Alicante:
Museo de Belenes (Nativity Scene museum) Alicante

Visit to the market hall (Mercado Central) Alicante

Practical tips
  • Alicante is reachable by tram and bus. The best option here is the tram. It leaves at the tram station in Benidorm and will drop you of at Luceros in Alicante, at the old town or at the shopping mall... The tram ride is quite long, a small 2 hours, but you won't be bored, because the tram meanders round the hills of the coastline and offers stunning views on the Mediterranean sea. I believe a return ticket is around 6 or 7 EUR.
  • Stunning view over the entire town
    from the castle
    The castle in Alicante is free to visit. It does have a museum with entrance fee
  • On sundays, there is a small flea market on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town hall square).
  • Visit the market hall of Alicante on the Av. Alfonso el Sabio early, because it closes in the afternoon.
  • In the old town of Alicante is a small and strange museum: Museo de Belenes (nativity scene museum). Go take a look if you happen to find it. It is free and offers beautiful models of the birth of Jesus.
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