Alicante is a beautiful city on the eastern coast of Spain and is renowned as a popular tourist destination. This coastal city benefits from a series of fantastic golden beaches, year-long sunshine and high temperatures, and a wave of superb architecture and tourist attractions. As far as destinations go, Alicante and the surrounding region is certainly a gem on the Costa Blanca. Thousands of tourists flock here during the spring and summer months and towns such as Benidorm and Torrevieja feature a host of magnificent hotels and amenities.
If you are planning a trip to this region of Spain, ,. This travel guide lists a series of popular sites in and around Alicante and will allow you to see the best of what this city and region has to offer!
Day 1 – Explore the Castle of Santa Barbara
On your first day in Alicante, we advise simply taking time to explore the city itself and get to know your bearings. The greater metropolitan area of Alicante is expansive, but the city centre itself close to the port is quite easy to navigate. Consider walking along the Avenue Conde de Vallellano and taking in some of the amazing boats docked in the harbour.
Once you have done this, head on up to the Parque de la Ereta and up the slopes to the Castell de la Santa Barbara. This immense fortress has Arabic origins and dominates the Alicante skyline – you can still see some of the original Moorish designs. Make the climb to the castle (or take the lift!) and take time to explore its many passages and battlements – don’t forget to look down at the expanse of Alicante sprawled out beneath you.
Day 2 – Relax on Postiguet Beach
After a busy day of sight-seeing and scaling the castle walls you may want to kick it back a notch and relax. Due to its location on the Costa Blanca, Alicante is, of course, privy to some beautiful beaches. The most popular beach is undoubtedly the Platja del Postiguet. This beach sits adjacent to the Castle of Santa Barbara and stretches for some 700m.
Take a tram to the Juan Bautista Lafora station and walk across the picturesque Paseo de Gomiz. From here you can pick out the perfect spot on this golden stretch of sand and make your camp for the day. Consider hiring a sun lounger and parasol to protect your skin from the beautiful Mediterranean sun and simply relax and rejuvenate your body. If you wish, you can take a dip in the calm waters or head on over to one of the beach bars or cafes. Make the most of the sun and let your feet rest after your previously busy day.
Day 3 – Take a round of Golf at the Alicante Golf Club
Now that you have refreshed your body and mind with a fantastic day at the beach, it is time to try out one of Alicante’s premier golf courses! If you enjoy this sport, you are in for a true treat – Alicante and the surrounding region has a plethora of world-class courses all within a short distance from the city centre. If you want the ultimate golfing experience, we advise taking the tram to the district of Playa de San Juan and enjoying a round of golf at the Alicante Golf Club.
By now you should have mastered the cities tram system and found a suitable station from your hotel – you must head for the Campo de Golf station which drops you directly outside the golf course. This course features Roman ruins, some superb hole arrangements and was also designed by the legendary golfer Seve Ballesteros – what more could you want?
Day 4 – Take a day trip to Murcia
After a fun-packed day of golf, it is now time to head out of Alicante to explore the wider region. Hopefully, in the first three days, you will have experienced much of the city itself and discovered what it has to offer. We now advise jumping in your hire-car and taking the A7 road to Murcia. Murcia is another prime and historic city in the region of Alicante and a fantastic place to visit for a day trip.
When touring Murcia, your first stop should be the beautiful cathedral – this religious structure has a magnificent Baroque exterior and some breath-taking sculptures too. Next, head on over to the Plaza de las Flores – this picturesque square is one of the most beautiful in the city and has a laid-back and charming atmosphere.
Continuing the theme of flowers, you could then take a break in the Floridablance Garden and admire the gorgeous varieties of trees and plant life. Finally, no trip to Murcia would be complete without a visit to the stunning Monteagudo Castle – set a little outside the city; this epic structure is crowned with a beautiful statue of Christ and is an icon of the city.
Day 5 – Plunge underground and visit the Canelobre Caves
To top off your Alicante adventure you must experience the surreal and majestic Canelobre Caves. If you hop into your hire-car and travel approximately 35 minutes to the northeast of Alicante you will reach the small village of Busot. This village is home to the fantastic Cuevas del Canelobre – a visit to this subterranean marvel will complete your holiday in style!
Guided tours of the caves are available and we advise taking one to learn about the history of the caves, and the weird and wonderful shapes and caverns held within.
There you have it – a simple but effective 5-day itinerary for your Alicante Adventure. This plan should allow you to experience the best of what this city has to offer, and make the most of your Drivalia hire car by exploring the wider region too!