Sandy beaches, sunny days, streets full of culture, amazing food and the best atmosphere. This is also a way to describe Spain. Come with me to explore places and activities in a 7-days trip to Alicante, with some useful tips.
Transportation
How to get to Alicante
Plane. Alicante airport is a quite small airport, but very easy to get around. There are flights from different countries and several airlines. Plane tickets to Alicante have reasonable prices, out of the season even often very cheap. There are several buses from the airport to the city center or other surrounding areas. You can easily catch a taxi or call an uber for easier transportation.
Trains and buses. If you are traveling from a different part of Spain, you can use the trains or buses. Getting around Spain by train is very easy and comfortable. Alicante has both a small train and bus station, so you won’t get lost.
How to get around Alicante
Buses and trams. Public transport is well organised in Alicante. You can get all around the city and to the suburbs with mostly buses but also trams. You have to be careful with the timetables tho, because it doesn’t always show correctly. Especially if you are catching a flight or a train, make sure to go on time and have some time reserve.
Tip: Alicante is a very walkable city. The city center and most of the attractions are close to each other making it easy to explore.
Accommodation
Alicante offers a huge variety of accommodation. Whether you are looking for hotels, private apartments or hostels, there are plenty of choices. The most popular are Airbnbs at a variety of prices. If you are booking in the high season, don’t forget to book in advance as the choices get limited and might get more expensive.
I went for a family vacation and I booked a big apartment for a very reasonable price.
Note: The hosts very often don’t speak English.
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Market, Beach day
Start the day with fresh groceries from the market. The central market of Alicante is an amazing place full of fresh meat, pastry, vegetables and fruits or even flowers. You can not only buy a breakfast with a coffee there but also pick from a huge variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also find different types of meat or fish and seafood. It’s not only an amazing local experience but also an aesthetically pleasing location.
After picking up a tasty and healthy snack it’s time to relax or have fun on the beach. There are several beaches around Alicante. Some less and some more crowded. One is very central, only a few meters from the promenade or the city center. The beaches in Alicante are sandy and the water is clear. You can do some water activities like water scooters, boat rides, parasailing or renting a pedal boat. The sea near the city is mostly very calm and safe for everybody. You can rent a sunbed with an umbrella or just bring your own blanket. You can enjoy a drink in one of the beach bars and end the day with dinner in a restaurant. What’s better than watching the sunset on the beach with some good food.
Day 2: Fort Santa Barbara
The fort is standing on a high hill protecting over Alicante. There are several ways to get there. You can go walking, use an elevator, take a bus or a taxi. Entrance to the fort itself is free and the view is stunning. Count with some physical activity as this place is all hilly. You can visit different parts of the fort and learn about its history. There are small exhibitions in some parts, making the experience more interesting. There are many spots to relax, take pictures and enjoy the stunning view on the whole Alicante and even further.
Tip: I recommend taking the bus to the castle. The cost of the ticket is under 2€ making it the cheapest option (besides walking). It’s also the easiest if you are coming in the high season because the elevator can get quite crowded, making you have to wait for hours or not getting in at all if you are not lucky.
Day 3: City tour
It wouldn’t be a good trip without having a city tour. You can rent a guide or even a Tuktuk if you want, or you can just simply explore by yourself. Walking through the center you can visit the shopping streets. Whether you like shopping or just window shopping, you can’t miss El Corte Inglés. It is a very well known huge shopping mall in Spain offering several floors with clothes, cosmetics, electronics or toys. You can find many high end brands there but also smaller or local ones.
Away from luxury shopping and more in the little streets of the city center you can find some small souvenir shops and many different cafes, bars and restaurants. Walking through the city you can’t miss the Mushroom street. This attraction is especially exciting for the little ones. There are several big mushrooms, a few meters high, located over one street. The mushrooms have a fairytale vibe with faces and friendly bugs over them. There are also a few smaller ones where the children can hide in.
Moving out from the city center closer to the seaside, a place not to miss is the promenade. It’s lined with palm trees from both sides providing some shadow for the hot days. The colorful tiles make this place picturesque. There are plenty of restaurants surrounding the promenade open throughout the whole day. This place is worth it at any time of the day, it might get quite crowded tho.
Leaving the promenade you come across an outdoor market with several stands selling jewelry, clothes, toys and souvenirs or food. It is located in front of the casino of Alicante, if you are interested in trying your luck.
Note: It’s important to note that this place changes throughout the year. During summer there are many stands, while later over the year there can be less or different stands.
Behind the casino there is a museum of The Ocean Race and another promenade over the sea. From here you can enjoy the view of the sea, the port and the fort.
Another fun place to visit is The World of the Kids. It’s a place with many carousels and games for the kids. But don’t worry, there are some fun activities also for the big kids, like pooltables, videogames or minigolf. It’s an amazing place to finish your day with.
Day 4: Day trip
A very nice way of making your vacation more interesting is a day trip. There are several places you can go to. Some worth mentioning are Benidorm, Altea or Murcia.
Note: I did a day trip to Albacete.
Day 5: Beach day at San Juan
San Juan is an amazing beach further from the city. You might have to take a bus or a tram to get there but it’s surely worth it. This beach is huge and really long. You can find your perfect spot and rent a sunbed with an umbrella. There are playgrounds for children, a lot of space for sports like volleyball or badminton. The sea is beautiful and clear but there might be bigger waves so be careful if you are not an experienced swimmer. There are also plenty of restaurants, bars and shops. It’s an amazing place to spend your day.
Day 6: Harbour and a boat ride
Another great activity is to go for a boat ride. There are several boat excursions you can go to. Some of them might be pricier depending on what you want and how much time you want to spend there. You can go through the day or in the evening.
If you are not really into boat rides and rather enjoy the view of the boats from the land you can just go for a walk in the harbour. It’s a very nice walk and there are hundreds of boats parked. You can walk all around the harbour and if you are lucky you can find some more souvenir stands on the way.
Day 7: Barrio Santa Cruz
Another place I fully recommend visiting is Barrio Santa Cruz. This neighbourhood is a part of the old town of Alicante. It is located under the Fort of Santa Barbara. It is a very colorful and unique part of the city. You should definitely get lost in the little streets to see all of the little houses. The locals are very friendly and they decided to take care of this beautiful place, keeping it clean and the plants healthy and beautiful. Yes, there are also many plants in vibrant blue pots. You can also visit the chapel and support the locals with a donation of your choice.
Food
The Spanish cuisine is definitely worth the hype. As one of the Mediterranean countries it consists of a lot of seafood. A must try is Paella, a national dish made of rice and seafood and as a desert you must have Churros.
Tip: Worth mentioning is Chocolateria Valor, where you have everything chocolate and you can also order some churros on the side.
Spanish people love tapas, so it’s again something you should try while enjoying your vacation. Like this you can share with your whole family or friends and get to try many things at the same time.
Tip: You can really find tapas anywhere you go but I recommend some smaller local place, if you manage to find one. Like this you get more of the local taste and a lot better prices.
And for a drink, what is more Spanish than Sangria. Sangria is an alcoholic drink made of wine and some chopped fruits, similar to this is Tinto de Verano. If you want something nonalcoholic try Horchata. Horchata is an icy sweet drink made of tiger nuts, definitely something unique to try.
People
The locals are really nice and open people, often loud and filled with good vibes. Most of the Spanish don’t speak English but they always appreciate it if you learn a few words in Spanish. Some of them might be a bit annoyed by the overwhelming wave of tourists that comes to Spain, so always be respectful as this is a place where people live and not just a huge tourist attraction.
Spain is a country very close to my heart and Alicante is a wonderful city with many beautiful and unique places. I know I will be back, but what about you? Have you ever been to or are you planning to visit Alicante?