Alicante, Spain

Most people arriving at Alicante/Elche Airport (ALC) are on their way to either Benidorm, Calpe, Torrevieja or one other the other smaller Costa Blanca resorts.

Called the Costa Blanca (white coast) due to the endless stretches of pristine white sand this part of sunny Spain has long been a popular destination for millions of European tourists each year.

Getting around Alicante is usually stress-free thanks to the number of trams/trains stations that are all around the city. Getting from Alicante Airport though, If you don’t book a transfer with a coach or shuttle company, you will be forced to get a taxi from the airport which can add hidden surcharges to your fare. Of course, if you book a taxi in advance you’ll have an idea of the fee but your time of travel may still dictate extra charges being added on. If you would prefer to get off the beaten track while staying at your hotel and avoid the higher priced excursions, you may prefer to drive your family around and explore other local tourist hot-spots. After a little research into car hire fuel policies and car hire excess, hiring a car at Alicante airport could actually be the best option for an adventurous trip.

Do you really need to get a rental car? What many visitors do not realize in their haste to get to their hotels or rental accommodations, is that the province of Alicante itself has many beautiful beaches along with plenty of things to see and do.

Overlooked by an imposing Moorish fortress renamed the Castillo de Santa Bárbara following the Reconquista in 1246 Alicante has a glitzy marina and palm-fringed promenade called the Paseo de la Explanada España which is just splendid!

Tucked away a couple of streets from the seafront is the city’ Old Town where you will find a maze of cobbled stone streets that wind their way up to the castle.

Adorned with flowers hanging from wrought-iron balconies, the Old Town is where you will discover Alicante’s best tapas bars and restaurants.

Besides visiting the castle to learn about its rich and illustrious history, you can visit the MARQ Museum of Archaeology, wander around the Roman ruins of Lucentum or take a boat trip to the pirate island of Tabarca.

Tabarca is an islet located close to the town of Santa Pola, in the province of Alicante and is also a sanctuary for the protection of birds. From May to October, you can enjoy a 40-minute ride on a glass-bottomed Catamaran which leaves daily from May to October. The water is crystal clear here, therefore, you can really appreciate the maritime fauna underneath the glass floor of your boat.

Summer is, of course, the best time to visit Alicante but in the offseason, some incredible bargains can be found for airfares and accommodation and other than perhaps November and April you can expect to have sunny weather with clear blue skies. Check Tourism updates here.