The amazing port city of Alicante on Spain’s Costa Blanca is a stunning destination and a deserving addition for a holiday home or a simple vacation. Brimming with history, culture, and legendary nightlife, Alicante is definitely worth visiting or having a holiday home.
Alicante has something for everyone, from quaint city charm to epic nightlife and bustling beaches. With a real mix of action and relaxation, it represents the best of the Spanish Med. So it’s no surprise that over three million tourists flock to the provincial shores every year. Whether you’re debating a European holiday this summer or trying to choose the perfect Spanish destination for a holiday home, here are 7 reasons why you should pick Alicante in Spain:
With almost 250 kilometers of sumptuous coastline, the beaches in the Alicante province are a huge pull factor to the city and are among the best in the country. From wide golden sands to protected coves, and dozens with Blue fa*g status, there’s something for all sea lovers in Alicante.
Playa Postiguet is the main city beach and the golden shores are lined with cafes, bars, benches, and greenery. Perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkelling, you’d hardly know that this sandy haven is practically located in the old city. At the foot of the Santa Barbara Castle, the beach provides sweeping views of the marina and is accessible by the sprawling Explanada de Espana, Alicante’s tiled promenade.
2. The Food
Spanish food is unique and iconic, and a reason as good as any to visit or live in this colourful country. Taking traditional Mediterranean ingredients, and putting their own spin on them, Spaniards sure know what they’re doing in the kitchen, and Alicantians are no different.
Like much of southern Spanish gastronomy, traditional Alicantian food revolves around the sea. But the eastern coast is also a vegetable growing region, and rice, legumes and fresh produce are at the centre of most local dishes.
Tapas is also a signature plate in Spain, but these tantalizing appetizers differ by region. National favourites like mojama de atún come from the region, and the oily fish isn’t the only salt-cured delicacy. Offal and roe are preserved the same way and these plates are often served with thin slices of ham and a generous glug of olive oil as bar snacks.
Alicante is also the birthplace of Turrón, a distinctive sweet nougat snack that is a traditional Spanish Christmas food. It is textured by grinding almonds with honey, both of which thrive in the warm Mediterranean climate. Turrón is so important to the town from which it originates, Jijona, located 30 kilometers north of Alicante city, that turrón production is protected by the Spanish Council and Geographical Indication of Jijona.
All of these national staples can be savoured in Alicante’s dynamic restaurant scene. Lively tapas bars, international fusion restaurants, and cosy local eateries share the street space from the Old Town to the harbour.
3. The History
The city might be best known for its sprawling public beaches, lively nightlife, and great restaurant scene, but Alicante is brimming with heritage and is a fantastic vacation spot for history buffs.
Alicante’s history spans thousands of years and it is one of the longest inhabited cities in Spain. Iberian tribes built the first settlements in around 5000 BC before Alicante was officially founded by Phocaean Greeks in 325 BC. First crowned “Akra Leuke”, meaning “White Summit”, Alicante later became “Lucentum” when it was captured by the Romans in 201 BC. Successively inhabited by Arabic Muslims and then Christians, this eclectic mix of cultural influences still lingers in the city and is reflected in the architecture.
4. The Weather
Spain is Europe’s most climatically diverse country and the weather is temperate for the most part. Hot, muggy summers and cool winters dominate inland areas like Spain’s capital of Madrid, but when it comes to the south and southeast coastline, the Mediterranean sun blesses the sultry shores.
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Alicante is warm and dry for the majority of the year. Average temperatures hover around the 26 degrees from June to September, reaching as high as 38 degrees Celsius in July and August. Hot and humid with a welcomed sea breeze, Alicante is a dreamy summer vacation spot but also fantastic for winter sun.
The winters are long, cooler, and windy, but Alicante experiences very little rainfall and temperatures rarely dip below 5 degrees Celsius. The coldest month is January but you can expect averages of 12 degrees making it an all-year holiday destination.
5. The Costs
Spain is great for snapping up a deal, with plenty of charming undisturbed towns and all-inclusive resorts lining the coast. Despite being a thriving provincial capital, Alicante is among Spain’s cheapest holiday destinations and you can get by on a shoestring budget if you know how.
The average cost of a holiday to Alicante for a solo traveller is around €1,041 ($1,128), €1,870 ($2,026) for a couple, and €3,506 ($3,800) for a family of four. Still, these prices can be halved if you have some money-saving tips at your disposal. One of these tricks is to book all-inclusive accommodation, of which Alicante and the surrounding regions have plenty. Hotels range from €34 ($37) to €141 ($153) per night, averaging at €62 ($67). But you can go all-inclusive at a three-star hotel with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included for as little as €80 ($86) per day.
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Sampling the local restaurant scene in Alicante can also be done cheaply. Inexpensive meals come in at around €10 ($11) per dish in the city, and it costs around €50 ($59) for two people to eat at a mid-range restaurant. This means you can get by on €40 ($43) a day for food, and there are plenty of free activities to keep budget travellers busy. Alicante doesn’t need to break the bank, and if penny-pinching is on your agenda the city is widely accessible.
6. The Nightlife
The nightlife in Alicante is buzzing all year round. Populated by tourists, but also a university town with plenty of young professionals, Alicante’s diverse party scene appeals to a variety of audiences and is among the best in Spain.
You’ll also find much more authentic nightlife in Alicante as opposed to the surrounding resort areas like Benidorm where entertainment is catered towards a British crowd. From the bustling tapas bars to the classy terraces and local discos, which don’t really kick off until the early hours, hordes of international tourists can soak up the evening entertainment among well-versed locals.
7. The Art
Alicante's impressive museums and galleries are iconic works spanning centuries and are housed in the city’s ancient buildings.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MACA) is especially notable, situated in a 17th-century baroque mansion. You’ll find the works of 20th-century Spanish-born geniuses like Picasso, Dalí, Miró, Tápies, and Chillida within these gothic walls. There’s also MUBAG, the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts. Housed in the 18th-century Palacio del Conde de Luminaires, the palace is as much a feature as the artwork, recently declared a historic monument. You’ll find sculptures by Francisco Salzillo and a portrait of Ferdinand VII by Vicente Lopez Cortana here. The gallery also houses a number of regional works by important nineteenth-century painters like Antonio Gisbert and Joaquin Agrasot and is a must-see for art lovers.
And for contemporary expressionists, art can be found all over the city. From the graffiti to the commissioned murals, and the Explanada de Espana, Alicante’s colorful tiled promenade which is lined with lofty palms, Alicante is a walkable art feature in itself.
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