Alicante
Alicante is a sunlit Mediterranean city where daily life stays close to the sea.
It feels relaxed and practical, so you can plan a lot or simply drift.
People come mainly for warm coastal energy and an easy getaway.
Spring and early fall are ideal, especially April to June and September to October.
Average annual temperature is about 18°C / 64°F.
Meanwhile, summer is hotter and busier, however the sea breeze helps.
Because the center is compact, you can move between beach time and culture quickly.
Also, visitors choose Alicante for simple pleasures, good food, and a steady pace.
On the other hand, many travelers want a comfortable base for exploring the Costa Blanca.
As a result, Alicante often feels welcoming, bright, and pleasantly unpretentious.
Alicante in images
Know before you go
Alicante is a Costa Blanca hub with a historic core and long beaches, so it works well for both quick breaks and longer stays.
For the best weather and fewer crowds, visit in May to June or September to early October.
One day fits a highlights stroll, 2–3 days feels balanced, and more days suit day trips.
Stay in the Old Town for character, or around the Ensanche and beachfront for easier logistics.
Walk in the center, use trams and buses for nearby towns, and skip a car unless you plan villages.
Lunch is often 2–4 pm, dinner 9–11 pm, tipping is small.
Budget is mid-range, keep belongings close on promenades, and book beachside tables for weekend nights.
Accomodation
Exploring Comunitat Valenciana
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Top things to do
In Alicante, couples often plan sunset viewpoints, families focus on beaches and parks, solo travelers add a guided history walk, and friends mix food with nightlife, while seniors prefer flat routes near the waterfront.
With 1 day, keep it to the center, with 2–3 days add museums and a tram ride, and a week supports coastal day trips.
Because heat rises in summer, start outdoor time early and save afternoons for shade.
Most walking is easy, however castle routes involve climbs, so go before 10 am.
Group by zones, Old Town and castle first, then Explanada and the beach strip.
Many strolls are free, paid entries run about €3–€9, guided tours €15–€25, and if lines grow, swap to a seaside walk or a market stop.
Click here to download the Local Secrets app.
Must try local flavours.
Start with arroz a banda, rice cooked in fish broth, because it’s a proud coastal staple best at lunch.
Try caldero, another rich rice dish, and add tapas de salazones, cured fish bites, as a pre-lunch snack.
Order coca amb tonyina when in season, and don’t miss turrón for something sweet.
Sip horchata for a non-alcoholic break, or choose local wine with dinner.
Say, “Un arroz a banda para dos, por favor,” and expect €3–€6 for tapas, €18–€35 for rice dishes.
Look for gluten-free rice options, pair salazones with tomato salad, and tip by rounding up.
Authentic, high quality local favourites
In Alicante, a “local favourite” is a place residents choose repeatedly for everyday meals, not a menu designed around quick turnover tourists.
Look at mercados, neighborhood bars, rice restaurants, and simple seafood spots, then follow signals like short seasonal menus, busy lunch tables, and staff who recommend the day’s catch.
Order one classic well, like a rice dish, grilled fish, or a daily stew, and keep it paired with a local white.
Old Town suits tapas hopping, while the Ensanche and beachfront fit longer dinners.
Go before 2:30 pm for lunch, or around 9 pm for dinner.
Expect € / €€ / €€€, avoid laminated photo menus, and note older venues may have steps, so ask ahead if you need access.
4 Most Popular Itineraries + 2 Secret Spots You Can’t Miss
Alicante First Day Classics: Explanada de España, Old Town lanes, Santa Bárbara Castle, Postiguet Beach, Mercado Central, sunset viewpoint
Beach and City Easy Pace: Postiguet Beach, Marina walk, Explanada de España, Ensanche cafés, tram ride, evening tapas streets
Culture and Food Loop: Mercado Central, Old Town, Santa María Basilica area, museums zone, rice lunch spot, seaside stroll
Week Base with Day Trips: Alicante tram hub, Playa de San Juan, Altea, Villajoyosa, back to center, night walk by the marina
Secret Spot, Local Alicante: Santa Cruz neighborhood, quiet chapels, hidden patios, traditional salazones shops, backstreet plazas, local bakeries
Secret Spot, Coastal Curiosities: Serra Grossa paths, lesser viewpoints, small coves edges, calm morning promenade, old docks corners, local tapas bars
Festivals and events calendar
Hogueras de San Juan, bonfires and parades, usually late June yearly, about 5–7 days, citywide, mostly free, go early for main nights, expect crowds and booked hotels.
Semana Santa, religious processions, usually March or April yearly, about 7 days, central routes, free to watch, arrive early, some streets close.
Carnival, costumes and street parties, usually February yearly, several days, downtown areas, mostly free, evenings busiest, expect noise and full bars.
Santa Faz Pilgrimage, local tradition, usually April or May yearly, one day, route to the monastery, free, start early, traffic diversions happen.
Summer concerts (seasonal), music events, usually July to September, dates vary, evenings, ticketed, buy ahead, popular nights sell out.
Christmas lights and events, late November to early January yearly, weeks-long, center streets, mostly free, evenings busiest, restaurants book up.
Recommended shop for authentic, high quality gifts and souvenirs
Mercado Central: Fresh local food and pantry goods, high turnover means quality, buy salazones, olives, spices, €€; center, go before 1 pm, ask what’s seasonal.
Turrón and sweets shops: Traditional Alicante treats, buy turrón, almond sweets, chocolates, €€; central streets, best value is mixed boxes for sharing.
Local ceramics and craft studios: Handmade pieces with clear origin, buy tiles, bowls, small plates, €€€; Old Town, choose signed work for quality.
Gourmet and wine stores: Regional bottles and preserves, buy local white wine, conservas, olive oil, €€; Ensanche, request protective packing for flights.
Independent bookshops with local prints: Cultural gifts with context, buy maps, postcards, small posters, €; center, carry coins, some small items are cash-only.
Discover the Authentic Alicante
