What to see in Alicante for couple of days?

Just two hours away, south of Valencia, Alicante was the second stop of our road trip through Spain. The city attracts tourists from all over the world as it's a perfect spot for different vacation needs. As soon as you enter the city, it spreads out the warmth of summer and the tranquility of its vacationers. You immediately relax and feel that the time spent there will be an unforgettable experience.

Alicante is a resort, located on Costa Blanca - the southeastern coast of Spain. The city very successfully combines everything a person could need for a complete vacation. Numerous hotels, bars and restaurants, an endless beachside walkway, ancient architecture and, of course, the typical Spanish vibes: beaches of fine sand, wide sea and long summer.

Ние си бяхме отделили 3 дни за престой в Аликанте, които за нас бяха напълно достатъчни да съчетаем сутрешния плаж със следобедните разходки из града и неговите забележителности. Ако искате да разберете как организирахме цялата си екскурзия, скоро ще може да разгледате статиите за Валенсия, Толедо и Мадрид.

The main attractions of the city are several and are within a short walking distance.

Santa Barbara castle (Castillo de Santa Barbara)

It is one of the largest castles on the Mediterranean coast. It is located on the entire Benacantil hill - 166 meters above the coast and very close to the beach. The castle dates back to the 9th century and has undertaken numerous changes and restorations over the years. The view from the top is beyond inspiring and its ramparts can be seen from almost every point of the city. When choosing which cities to include on this trip to Spain, we came across some great photos of the central beach and the hill with castle towering above it. It seemed very interesting and different place to rest and we immediately wanted to visit it.

The views of the bay, the harbor and the city are amazing. We climbed the hill at sunset and it was super beautiful and very romantic.

Santa Cruz

It is the heart of the historic city center. Its located at the foot of Benacantil hill and from the small streets you can see how the castle seems to watch over the city. The neighborhood is interesting to visit, both during the day and at night. The houses located in it bear the spirit of ancient Spain - bright and welcoming, decorated with colorful pots and flowers. You will notice that on each of them the family that lives there has its name beatifully painted. In the evening, the narrow streets are filled with life from the many bars where you can relax from the hot day with a glass of sangria, a plate of tapas and some good company.

The buildings of City hall (Ayuntamiento) and Carbonell house (Casa Cabonell) are so emblematic and could not be passed by.

Alicante's current city hall had been housed in an ancient building that dates back to the 18th century. The design of the building is rectangular in shape, with an open square where you can enter for free and you can sit and rest with a cup of coffee in hand. I quite felt that coffee acquired a bit different aftertaste - it left such a sweetness and bliss from the place, from the view, from the whole environment.

Carbonell House is not a historical monument, but it had bacome an emblematic building for Alicante. It was built in 1925 from a prominent Spanish businessman who wanted a super-luxury beachfront house. Apperanty, the new building outshined even the most expensive hotel in town. Nowadays, the building is not open to tourists. It houses several business offices. But even with its exterior and location, the house is a wonderful tourist spot.

Basilic of Saint Maria

It is the oldest functioning church in Alicante. It was built in the 13th century on the remains of a mosque. The style is gothic. However, after a fire in the 15th century, it was reconstructed in the Baroque style. The most notable feature of the exterior is the sculpture of the Virgin Mary surrounding the main entrance.

Admission is free, but there are opening hours that you should keep in mind when planning a visit.

Cathedral of Saint Nicholas

The cathedral is hidden inbetween the narrow streets and many ancient buildings in the old part of the city. When entering through the high gate, the tourist flow and the noise from the bars remain outside and you are instantly carried away to a quiet, peaceful and hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. It was built in the 15th century on the site of a mosque, and the iconostasis has remained intact eversince.

There is no entrance fee, but it is not always open for visitors. I suggest checking the opening hours prior visiting.

Central city market (Mercado central)

For all lovers of culinary tourism and real fresh food, especially Mediterranean, this place is a must! This market is the largest one in the city, housed in a building from the 20th century and it is a tourist attraction. It is located at one end of Rambla Mendez Nunez ("La Rambla" for short). The street is famous for separating the old part of the city from the new one.

La Explanda street

This is undoubtedly the most famous street in the city. With a length of almost 600 meters, it is the most preferred place by tourists and locals for walks and friendly meetings. It takes place from Puerta del Mar to Canalejas Park, alongside with the port and beachfront walkway.

Плаж Постигет (Postiguet)

Postiguet Beach is in the heart of Alicante. Right next to the main harbor and La Explanda, close to most of the attractions and just below Santa Barbara Castle. We went to this beach, as the hotel we chose, mainly for the location, was just a street away. We didn't want to waste time traveling and exploring the other beaches in the area, since we only had 3 days anyway. And this one was more than satisfactory! Fine pine golden, almost white sand caresses your feet, while the sea with its pearly clear waters, cools you down from the hot sun. In the background - a towering castle, and many palm trees everywhere. Sounds really heavenly, doesn't it? Definitely worth seeing and experiencing!
We've read great reviews about San Juan Beach as well, so you might want to diversify by checking it out.

On our third day, we skipped the beach in the afternoon and went to the city of Benidorm - 35km away from Alicante. It turned out to be a great getaway. The town is very different from the others on the east coast of Spain. I am planning to write a seperate post about it.

So, pretty much that's all we managed to see in a few days in Alicante. There are certainly more amazing places that we should come back for, someday. The next stop on our journey was the ancient city of Toledo, where we were about to dive into the world of Don Quixote.

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