<p>Alicante (Spain) &#8211; Detailed City Guide with Photos. Main Sights with Descriptions, Travel Guides, and Maps.</p>
<div class="table-of-contents open"><!--noindex--><div class="table-of-contents__header"><span class="table-of-contents__hide js-table-of-contents-hide">Contents</span></div><ol class="table-of-contents__list js-table-of-contents-list">
<li class="level-1"><a href="#the-city-of-alicante-spain">The City of Alicante (Spain)</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#geography-and-climate">Geography and Climate</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#best-time-to-visit">Best Time to Visit</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#practical-information">Practical Information</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#beaches-of-alicante">Beaches of Alicante</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#history-and-interesting-facts">History and Interesting Facts</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#how-to-get-there">How to Get There</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#shopping">Shopping</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#food-and-drink">Food and Drink</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#sights-and-landmarks">Sights and Landmarks</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#other-landmarks-and-museums">Other Landmarks and Museums:</a></li><li class="level-2"><a href="#video">Video</a></li></ol><!--/noindex--></div><h2 id="the-city-of-alicante-spain">The City of Alicante (Spain)</h2>
<p>Alicante (Spanish: <em>Alicante</em>) is a resort city in eastern <a href="https://mandry.club/en/countries/spain-2/">Spain</a>, the capital of the province of the same name. It is considered the capital of the eastern Spanish coast and the main resort of the Costa Blanca. Alicante is a place where you can find almost everything a tourist needs: the sea and pristine sandy beaches, a rich history and landmarks (from a medieval fortress to a classic Mediterranean old town with narrow cobbled streets). This is a dynamic and modern city, which is one of the best holiday destinations in Spain.</p>
<figure id="attachment_2987" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2987" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante14.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2987" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante14-1024x554.jpg" alt="Alicante Spain panoramic city view coast" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2987" class="wp-caption-text">Panorama of Alicante</figcaption></figure>
<h3 id="geography-and-climate">Geography and Climate</h3>
<p>Alicante is located in the southeastern part of Spain, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The province borders Valencia to the north, Murcia to the south, Albacete to the west, and is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the east. There are mountains in the northern and western regions. The south is quite flat. The Segura River flows east through the entire province. The climate is a mild Mediterranean one. Summers are hot and dry, winters are very warm.</p>
<h3 id="best-time-to-visit">Best Time to Visit</h3>
<p>Alicante can be visited all year round. The ideal time to visit is from May to October.</p>
<figure id="attachment_2990" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2990" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante17.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2990" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante17-1024x554.jpg" alt="Alicante coast Spain beach holiday" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2990" class="wp-caption-text">The Coastline</figcaption></figure>
<h3 id="practical-information">Practical Information</h3>
<ul>
<li>Population &#8211; 328.7 thousand people (11th most populous city in Spain).</li>
<li>Area &#8211; 201.3 square kilometers.</li>
<li>Language &#8211; Spanish. Locals speak the Valencian dialect.</li>
<li>Currency &#8211; Euro.</li>
<li>Visa &#8211; Schengen.</li>
<li>Time &#8211; Central European UTC +1, UTC +2 in summer.</li>
<li>Meal times: breakfast: from 7:30 to 10:00, lunch: from 14:00 to 16:00, dinner: from 21:00 to 22:30.</li>
<li>Most hotels, restaurants, and shops accept credit/debit cards.</li>
<li>Mains voltage is standard &#8211; 220-240 V.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Tourist Information Centers:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Plaza del Ayuntamiento 1 Alicante 03001</li>
<li>Alicante&#8217;s Airport (ALC)</li>
<li>Rambla Méndez Núñez, 41 Alicante, 03002</li>
<li>Avda. de Salamanca, s/n. Alicante</li>
<li>Playa de San Juan (Beach of San Juan)</li>
</ul>
<figure id="attachment_2992" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2992" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante01.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2992" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante01-1024x554.jpg" alt="San Juan Beach Alicante golden sand blue flag" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2992" class="wp-caption-text">San Juan Beach</figcaption></figure>
<h3 id="beaches-of-alicante">Beaches of Alicante</h3>
<p>The province is famous for its beaches, many of which have the &#8220;Blue Flag&#8221; (the sea water here meets the highest standards). The most famous and large beaches of Alicante:</p>
<ul>
<li>San Juan &#8211; one of the most popular and largest beaches in Alicante. Almost three kilometers of golden sand, turquoise sea, and excellent infrastructure.</li>
<li>Albufereta &#8211; a popular sandy beach among locals, located to the northwest of the city. Length &#8211; 400 meters.</li>
<li>Postiguet &#8211; a famous sandy beach located in the city center at the foot of the Santa Bárbara Castle. Length almost one kilometer.</li>
<li>Saladar-Urbanova &#8211; a sandy beach 5 km south of the city center. Length &#8211; 1600 meters.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="history-and-interesting-facts">History and Interesting Facts</h3>
<p>During the time of the ancient Greeks, a fishing harbor was located on the site of modern Alicante. In the 3rd century BC, the Carthaginians founded a fortified settlement here called Akra Leuka, later captured by the Romans and named by them Lucentum. In the 12th century, the city was captured by the Arabs and named Al-Lakan, which transformed into the modern name.</p>
<p>In 1246, Alicante became part of the Kingdom of Castile. In 1308, the city became part of the Kingdom of Valencia. By the end of the 15th century, Alicante had become one of the largest commercial ports in Spain.</p>
<figure id="attachment_2993" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2993" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante16.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2993" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante16-1024x554.jpg" alt="Alicante Spain port marina boats" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2993" class="wp-caption-text">Port of Alicante</figcaption></figure>
<p>In the 19th century, the city began to expand and prosper intensively, facilitated by the presence of a port and a railway. Today, the province of Alicante is the second-largest region in the Valencian Community, and the city itself is one of the largest and most popular resorts in Spain.</p>
<h3 id="how-to-get-there">How to Get There</h3>
<p>The airport is located 11 km south of Alicante. A bus runs from the airport to the city every 20 minutes, departing from level +2 of the new terminal.</p>

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<p>The main railway station is located in the city center. All major Spanish cities such as <a href="https://mandry.club/en/cities/madrid-spain/">Madrid</a>, <a href="https://mandry.club/en/cities/seville-spain/">Seville</a>, <a href="https://mandry.club/en/cities/barcelona-spain/">Barcelona</a> have daily train connections to Alicante. A high-speed train runs from Madrid and Valencia. The average travel time from Alicante to Madrid is 3 hours and 30 minutes.</p>
<figure id="attachment_2995" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2995" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante05.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2995" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante05-1024x554.jpg" alt="Alicante Spain landmarks cityscape" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2995" class="wp-caption-text">Panorama of Alicante</figcaption></figure>
<p>One of the best ways to travel short and long distances from Alicante is by bus. The bus station is located on Calle Portugalia — near the harbor. Many bus carriers operate from this station and offer routes to other cities and regions of Spain.</p>
<h3 id="shopping">Shopping</h3>
<p>Along Explanada de España you can find many places selling souvenirs. In general, Alicante has a lot to offer in terms of shopping. On the streets between La Rambla and Federico Soto to Alfonso El Sabio there are many shops. In El Barrio, the old quarter of Alicante, there are also many shops.</p>
<h4>Large Shopping Centers:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Centro Comercial Gran Via</li>
<li>Centro Comercial Panoramis</li>
<li>El Corte Inglés</li>
<li>Centro Comercial Plaza Mar 2</li>
<li>Centro Comercial Puerta de Alicante
<p><figure id="attachment_2996" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2996" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante10.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2996" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante10-1024x554.jpg" alt="Alicante Spain Explanada de España promenade" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2996" class="wp-caption-text">The Promenade</figcaption></figure></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="food-and-drink">Food and Drink</h3>
<p>As everywhere in the region, dishes with seafood, tapas, and paella predominate. To save on food, we recommend ordering the &#8220;menu of the day.&#8221; Many restaurants do not serve dinner until 9 pm, so keep this in mind when planning your evening meal. Among drinks, the excellent wines are worth noting.</p>
<p>Alicante is known for its nightlife. The El Puerto district is known for its clubs and bars. In the summer, many parties take place on Postiguet and San Juan beaches. El Barrio is also famous for its nightlife, its narrow streets filled with numerous bars, while the Explanada square is more popular in the summer months.</p>
<h3 id="sights-and-landmarks">Sights and Landmarks</h3>
<p>The main landmarks and interesting places in Alicante.</p>
<figure id="attachment_2997" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2997" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante03.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2997" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante03-1024x554.jpg" alt="Santa Barbara Castle Alicante fortress Benacantil mountain" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2997" class="wp-caption-text">Santa Bárbara Castle</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Santa Bárbara Castle</strong> — one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain and the most famous landmark of Alicante. Located on top of Mount Benacantil at an altitude of 166 meters with beautiful views of the city and the bay. The fortress has Moorish roots. The last reconstruction of the castle dates back to the 16th century. The best time to visit this place is morning or evening.</p>
<p><strong>Church of Santa María</strong> — one of the main landmarks of Alicante. It was built in the Gothic style between the 14th and 16th centuries on the ruins of a Moorish mosque. The church has an elaborate Baroque facade, among which the image of the Virgin by the sculptor Juan Bautista Borja stands out. The main altar is made in the Rococo style.</p>
<figure id="attachment_2998" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2998" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante19.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2998" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante19-1024x554.jpg" alt="Cathedral of Saint Nicholas of Bari Alicante blue dome" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2998" class="wp-caption-text">Cathedral of Saint Nicholas of Bari</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>The cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari</strong> was built in the 17th century in the Renaissance and Baroque styles. It is located in the Old Town near the City Hall. The church has a beautiful blue dome and a lovely garden.</p>
<figure id="attachment_2999" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2999" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante11.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2999" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante11-1024x554.jpg" alt="Alicante City Hall Baroque architecture" width="750" height="406" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2999" class="wp-caption-text">City Hall</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>City Hall</strong> — a historic Baroque building. Interesting features of the town hall are the council chamber, the chapel, and the twin towers over 30 meters high.</p>
<p><strong>Casco Antiguo</strong> — a charming district in the Old Town, more like a Spanish village. The locals take pride in their homes, decorating balconies and doorsteps with fresh flowers and painting their shutters.</p>
<figure id="attachment_3001" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3001" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante24.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3001" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante24-1024x546.jpg" alt="Explanada de España Alicante marble promenade" width="750" height="400" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3001" class="wp-caption-text">Explanada de España</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Explanada de España</strong> &#8211; the elegant marble promenade of Alicante. It starts in the old town and continues to the pier.</p>
<h3 id="other-landmarks-and-museums">Other Landmarks and Museums:<a href="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante06.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-3002" src="https://mandry.club/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/alicante06-1024x554.jpg" alt="Alicante Spain old town streets" width="750" height="406" /></a></h3>
<ul>
<li>Tabarca Island — located 11 nautical miles from Alicante. A charming place.</li>
<li>Archaeological Museum — exhibits from antiquity to the Middle Ages.</li>
<li>Museum of Contemporary Art &#8211; 800 works of art representing many of the most famous 20th-century artists, including Picasso, Francis Bacon, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró.</li>
<li>Watchtowers &#8211; starting in the 1500s, a complex network of defensive and lookout structures was built to protect the coast from pirates. About 30 of them have survived to this day.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="video">Video</h3>
<p><amp-youtube width="640" height="360" layout="responsive" data-videoid="iOYacSXpKrk"><amp-img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iOYacSXpKrk/hqdefault_live.jpg" placeholder layout="fill" /></amp-youtube></p>
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