Alicante City Guide (Spain): Everything You Need to Know Before Moving

1. Location and Map

Alicante stretches along the Mediterranean coast and extends several kilometres inland. The city centre is concentrated around the port and the Santa Barbara fortress on Benacantil hill, which is considered the city’s main attraction.

Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC)

From the airport to central Alicante, you can take the C6 bus, which runs every 20 minutes from 7:00 to 23:00 and hourly from 23:00 to 7:00. The bus stops at key stations: tram stops Luceros and Mercado (lines 1, 2, 3 and 4), RENFE railway station, Alfonso X el Sabio, Plaza de Los Luceros, Vazquez de Mella and others. Travel time is approximately 20 minutes. Ticket price: EUR 3.85.

Taxis at Alicante airport are operated by Radio Taxi Elche. They are easy to recognise by the green stripe on a white car. Taxis operate from 9:00 to 1:00. A ride to central Alicante costs approximately EUR 19. A maximum of 4 adult passengers per vehicle.

For trips along the coast, it is convenient to rent a car directly at the terminal. Most offers range from EUR 50 to EUR 200 per day depending on the size and specification of the vehicle.

Map of Alicante City

Cities Near Alicante

• Elche (20 km). The city of Elche is located west of Alicante. It is famous for its numerous palm groves, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The local Gran Teatro de Elche is also an attractive destination for tourists.

• Guardamar del Segura (40 km). Heading south along the coast, in half an hour you will reach this small coastal town. It is a pleasant resort with a population of around 15,000, excellent ecology and abundant vegetation. Guardamar offers several wide, well-equipped beaches.

• Torrevieja (50 km). A little further south is Torrevieja - the largest town in this part of the Costa Blanca, a popular destination for foreigners and investors. This city is ideal for both seasonal holidays and permanent residence. Here you will find several sandy beaches and rocky coves, as well as two salt lakes that make the local air truly therapeutic.

• Murcia (75 km). The capital of the province of the same name, an administrative and business centre, a fairly large city (around 450,000 people). Travellers love this place for its historical heritage, Arab and medieval architecture, castles, bridges and parks. Murcia is home to the prestigious Universidad de Murcia, founded in 1272.

• Benidorm (40 km). Benidorm, by contrast, is located north of Alicante, approximately 30 minutes by car. This city is called the Spanish Las Vegas. If you want to have fun, visit nightclubs, bars and casinos - Benidorm awaits! The population is just over 70,000, but in summer the number of people here multiplies many times over.

• Valencia (160 km). Finally, heading north brings you to Valencia, the regional capital. It is the third most populous city in Spain (around 800,000 people) and an important tourist and business centre. Some travellers call Valencia one of the “smartest” cities in Europe for its developed transport system, vast network of cycle paths, theme parks, the famous City of Arts and Sciences and much more.

2. Weather and Climate in Alicante

Average Sea Temperature

3. Hotels in Alicante

Alicante offers a wide choice of accommodation: from luxurious five-star hotels to modest budget hostels. The most affordable options start from EUR 15 per night, with an average price of around EUR 100. During high season (May to October), prices typically increase.

Best hotels in Alicante by rating and reviews:

• Hotel Maya Alicante - located near Santa Barbara fortress and the Marq-Castillo tram stop.
• Melia Alicante - situated by Postiguet beach.
• Hotel Boutique Alicante Palacete S.XVII - adults-only hotel, located in the bar and restaurant quarter.
• Smile & Co Hostal Boutique - a budget option with high ratings, near the promenade.
• Hotel Hospes Amerigo - a luxury hotel with high ratings, within walking distance of the beach.
• Sercotel Suites del Mar - panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the marina.

4. TOP 5 Beaches in Alicante

• Playa Postiguet.

• Playa de la Albufereta.

• Playa de la Almadraba.

• Cabo de las Huertas.

• Playa San Juan.

5. Leisure and Recreation

6. Best Golf Clubs and Resorts in Alicante

• Alicante Golf. One of the main and busiest courses in the city, founded in 1998. Conveniently located near San Juan beach, not far from the centre. You can view the price list and book a tee time online.

• Near the airport is El Plantio Golf Resort. The course was built in 1999. It covers 49 hectares of land, with 18 holes (par 72) and a large practice area.

• To reach Alenda Golf resort, you need to drive 10 km west of the city. This is not just a golf course but an entire complex with a gym, sports grounds and a fine restaurant. Additionally, there is a large golf school for children and adults.

• Font de Llop is located slightly further west, ten minutes by car from the airport. This golf club is renowned for its atmosphere: situated at the foot of hills, it offers stunning mountain views. The complex is also surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.

7. Restaurants, Bars and Cuisine

• La Taberna del Gourmet. A popular gourmet restaurant near the Esplanada. Prices are high, but visitors spend willingly: some confess they never imagined a product could be prepared in such a way. The explanation is simple: the restaurant is run by Maria Jose San Roman, one of Spain’s most famous contemporary chefs and a Michelin star holder. Bread is baked on site and served with the highest quality olive oil. We recommend the red prawn from Denia, oysters or scallops. If you want to try a bit of everything without spending too much, the restaurant offers a tapas set for 29 euros.

• El Portal. This restaurant also specialises in refined dishes and can hardly be called an affordable venue. Patrons come here for “expensive” drinks. The menu includes grilled turbot (EUR 59.90 per kilo), red tuna tartare with wakame (EUR 24.90) or grilled Iberian pork (EUR 20.90).

• La Tagliatella. Located on Calle de Castanos, which we mentioned earlier. This is a cosy restaurant with urban design. Waiters serve Italian dishes, and prices are wallet-friendly. Hungry guests can choose from numerous pasta, pizza and dessert options.

• For something more exotic, head to the Japanese restaurant Daikichi. Various rice dishes and traditional sushi are prepared before your eyes. Try the smoked eel, which is so good it needs no soy sauce or wasabi, and the octopus balls - best described as Spanish croquettes with a Japanese twist.

• Wasi (Wasi Restaurante Fusion). Another unusual venue featuring Peruvian cuisine. Small and rather modest in terms of service, but a worthy restaurant. The most famous Peruvian dish is ceviche; a similar dish is also popular in Chile, Colombia and Mexico. It consists of white fish (or seafood) in a special marinade (usually lime juice) with beans and corn. You can choose between hot and cold versions.

8. Shopping

One of the city’s largest shopping streets is Avenida Maisonnave: at each end stands an El Corte Ingles department store. The first sells household appliances and homeware, the second clothing, shoes and accessories.

In the Plaza Mar 2 shopping centre you will find clothing, cosmetics, accessories and homeware shops. Another excellent option is Centro Comercial Gran Via with a Carrefour supermarket and clothing stores such as Primark.

For fresh produce, we strongly recommend visiting the Mercado Central (central market). From the outside it looks like an architectural monument, while inside it offers a genuine Spanish atmosphere.

If you want to buy souvenirs on your last day, visit the Ale-Hop shop on Calle Alfonso.

9. Other Activities

Tourists who have already explored Alicante look for interesting excursions nearby. Many take a mini-trip to Tabarca Island - the largest island in the Valencian Community. Here you can stroll through picturesque Spanish villages and narrow streets. The island is located 20 kilometres from Alicante. There are no sandy beaches, but there are excellent diving and fishing opportunities.

El Campello has a paragliding centre. A flight lasts approximately 40 minutes and costs around EUR 70.

If you enjoy gastronomic tourism and are willing to travel beyond Alicante, we recommend visiting Denia (Quique Dacosta restaurant - three Michelin stars) or Javea (Bon Amb restaurant - two Michelin stars). These towns are also wonderful for walks.

10. Property for Sale in Alicante: Houses, Villas and Apartments

It is worth noting that Alicante is the most popular region in Spain for property purchases by foreigners. In 2019, foreign buyers acquired over 50% of all property in this region.

In the city centre, closer to the sea, resale property aged 70-80 years predominates. Moving inland, new-builds can be found, some offering sea views. The Parque Avenidas and Vistahermosa districts are private development zones with small chalets and luxury villas with pools.

The most actively developing part of the city for property stretches along San Juan beach.

Recommended Districts by Purchase Goal

11. Conclusion

Overall, Alicante boasts an ideal location. You can fly in or arrive by car or train from any city in Spain. Alicante offers a mild climate, warm sea and beautiful beaches. There are numerous sightseeing spots, cafes, restaurants and sports facilities. This city is excellent for both holidays and permanent residence. It is worth noting that demand and property prices in this region continue to grow steadily, so you are likely to profit from resale.