Why you will fall in love with Alicante.
Today we will tell you about a very nice and cozy city in Spain – Alicante. A small city with a surprisingly welcoming atmosphere. You will find that almost any time of the year Alicante is interesting, and fun with warm and sunny days.
Alicante offers well-preserved historical and architectural monuments of different eras, a warm and mild Mediterranean climate all year round, and a long line of beaches – all this makes travelers from all over the world love Alicante.
1 Beaches and activities in Alicante
For an excellent beach holiday, it is not at all necessary to travel outside the city. Alicante is rightfully proud of its many sandy beaches, many that are located right inside the city. The beaches of Alicante received the international Blue Flag Award for cleanliness and environmental standards.The best beaches in Alicante are San Juan, Urbanova and Postiguet.
Water sports are a big deal in Alicante, you can engage in such activities as snorkeling, diving, surfing, and windsurfing, as well as fishing competitions.
Besides those Alicante is world famous for its Golf Courses many of which host the European Tour events each year.
These impeccable golf courses are successfully integrated into the natural hilly landscape of the city. Our recommendation is the course El Platino, located on the grounds of the four-star El Plantio Golf Resort. And is open for green fee visits for players not residing on the resort. Another famous golf course that we warmly recommend is Hotel Alicante Golf. Here guests will find a luxurious 18-hole course, designed by designer and Spain’s most famous golf player Severiano Ballesteros.
Gastronomy
Swimming and sports involve significant energy costs. To make up for them, we recommend that you go to one of the local gastronomic institutions, especially since the local cuisine here is simply wonderful. Firstly, we of course recommend you to try the traditional Spanish paella. In restaurants in Alicante the local paella will be cooked with vegetables and seafood. Given the proximity of the sea, the latter is guaranteed to be fresh.
For an excellent paella, head to Taberna To-Bar (Calle Músico José Torregrosa, 28). Visitors note the variety of menus and excellent service facilities. However, we recommend taking care of the reservation in advance, as the place is popular with both guests and residents of the area.
Another excellent restaurant that is a little bit more expensive but fully lives up to its pricing policy is Don Carlos Alicante (Calle General Primo de Rivera, 12), which also surprises with a rich wine list. A paella does not have to be expensive however, for the economical traveler we recommend Fast & Bio (Calle San Agustín, 1) who offer nearly the same quality at more affordable prices. This is also a great alternative for all vegetarians as their vegetarian menu is quite generous.
Orchata is a bit of a hidden gem for some tourists. It is a drink that originates in the region and has influences from the historical kingdom of Andalusia – this soft drink made from ground almonds with the addition of sesame, rice, barley and other ingredients in various combinations is a refreshing drink served ice cold. By the way, a drink can make an excellent company for turron, a local sweet also made from almonds which is cultivated everywhere around Alicante.
The city of Alicante itself is also a beautiful city. For the sake of which it is worth taking off the swimsuit for a while and opt instead for some sightseeing. For example you can choose to simply walk along the ancient streets, or visit the fortress of Santa Barbara.
- The hallmark of the city and one of the most popular attractions is the Explanada de España. A wide walking road runs along the promenade. Palm trees and flower beds are planted on either side of the beautifully tiled promenade, and sculptures can be seen on the lawns.
- Сastillo de Santa Bárbara is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain. It was built during the times of Arab rule, but also influences the French and the Spaniards who later completed and modernized the epic fortress. To get to the fortress that is located up on the mountain you take an elevator that has been built into the mountain itself.Once up there visitors of the fortress are given the best panoramas of the city. After the visit we recommended skipping the elevator and instead suggest you walk down to the city by a road running through the picturesque park de La Ereta.
On a fine day, you can go to the island of New Tabarca. A small Mediterranean island is located about 22 km from Alicante because the journey here takes no more than an hour. Tourists just need to visit the island and feel the unity with nature, this place with charming bays, grottoes, and beaches with crystal clear sea is just perfect. A lot of catamarans depart daily from the city pier for the island, the ticket price is usually 20-25 euros.
Vacationers from all over the world chose Alicante for their vacation because of its rich culture and gastronomy, that you can successfully combine with beautiful beaches and a multitude of other activities.
