Alicante City Break from the UK — Weekend Guide & Itinerary

Overview

Why Alicante for a city break?

Alicante is one of the most accessible Spanish city breaks from UK regional airports — Ryanair and easyJet operate from dozens of UK airports year-round, making it a genuinely convenient long-weekend destination. The city itself is more rewarding than its reputation as a Costa Blanca gateway suggests: the Santa Bárbara Castle above the city (the largest medieval castle in Spain, accessible by a lift carved through the rock) gives the most dramatic clifftop view on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, the Explanada de España promenade is one of the finest palm-lined seaside walks in the country, and the local tapas culture — particularly the arroz (rice dishes) and the seafood from the Alicante fish market — is excellent.

From virtually every UK airport it's 2–2.5 hours — Ryanair and easyJet from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol and dozens of regional airports. Alicante-Elche Airport is 12km from the centre (TRAM train, 25 minutes, €3.85 or bus C6, 35 minutes, €2). Go from March to November: the summers are hot (35°C+) but the beach life makes it tolerable. Spring and autumn are perfect. The Las Hogueras de San Juan festival (Midsummer bonfires, June 20–24) is the most spectacular local festival — enormous sculptural structures burned on the beaches at midnight.

Where to stay & explore

Alicante's best neighbourhoods

El Barrio (Casco Antiguo)

The medieval old town below Santa Bárbara Castle — the Cathedral of San Nicolás, the tapas bars of the Casco Antiguo and the most local daily life.

Explanada & El Puerto

The waterfront — the marble-paved Explanada de España promenade, the port, the Alicante Sail (a futuristic hotel tower) and the best seafood restaurants.

El Campello & San Juan beach

The northern beach suburbs — the finest beaches near the city, the Denia prawn restaurants and the most popular bathing spots.

Things to do

What to see in Alicante

1

Santa Bárbara Castle

The largest medieval castle in Spain — a Moorish and subsequently Spanish fortress crowning the 166-metre Mount Benacantil directly above the city, accessible either by a lift carved through the rock (€2.70 return, entrance on the beach) or by a footpath. The castle has been occupied and modified by Muslims, Christians and Spaniards from the 9th century to the 20th; the views from the ramparts over the city, the port and the Mediterranean are the finest on the Costa Blanca. The archaeological museum inside covers the castle's history. Free after 7pm.

2

Explanada de España and the MARQ

The Explanada de España — a 500-metre palm-lined promenade of extraordinary geometric marble mosaic (6.6 million marble tiles, three colours, wave pattern) beside the port — is the finest public walk in Alicante and the city's social heart. At the northern end, the MARQ (Archaeological Museum of Alicante) is the finest regional archaeological museum in Spain, with collections covering the Iberians, Romans and Islamic periods of the Costa Blanca. The MARQ building (a converted 19th-century hospital) is exceptional.

3

Mercado Central and Alicante tapas culture

The Mercado Central de Alicante — a 1920s modernista market building of extraordinary tile and iron work — is the finest food market on the Costa Blanca: Denia prawns (the finest in Spain, with a sweetness that has no equivalent), bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean almadraba trap nets, local citrus, almonds and nougat (turrón, invented in the nearby town of Jijona). The tapas culture in the Casco Antiguo streets around the market is excellent: boquerones (anchovies), gambas al ajillo (prawns in garlic), ensalada alicantina (salt cod, orange and olive) at prices that seem implausibly low to UK visitors.

4

Tabarca Island

The smallest inhabited island in Spain — 11km south of Alicante, accessible by ferry from the port (Kontiki ferries, 45 minutes, €22 return), with an 18th-century fortified town, crystal-clear water in a marine reserve (the oldest in Spain) and no cars. The fish restaurants on the island serve Tabarca's signature dish: caldero tabarcón (fish stew with rice and alioli). Go in the morning, swim in the reserve, have lunch at any of the island's four restaurants, return on the afternoon ferry.

Food & drink

Where to eat in Alicante

Monastrell

One Michelin star / modern Spanish

The finest restaurant in Alicante — María José San Román's tasting menu celebrates the produce of the Alicante province (Denia prawns, rice from the Pego-Oliva wetlands, saffron from the Castilla-La Mancha border) with extraordinary intelligence. The olive oil sommelier service and the rice preparations are both unique to this restaurant. Book months ahead.

La Taberna del Gourmet

Tapas & pintxos / old town

The finest tapas bar in Alicante — the Denia prawns (served simply grilled, with nothing else), the tuna mojama (salt-cured air-dried tuna, a Phoenician preservation technique surviving in Alicante), and the house selection of local wines (Alicante DO) are all exemplary. The bar counter is excellent; the dining room requires booking.

Casa Julio

Rice restaurant / Villajoyosa

The finest rice restaurant near Alicante — 30km north in the village of Villajoyosa, consistently rated among the best arroz restaurants on the Costa Blanca. The arroz a banda (fisherman's rice cooked in fish stock, served with alioli), the arroz con bogavante (lobster rice) and the arroz negro (squid ink rice) are all extraordinary. Book weeks ahead.

Itinerary

3 days in Alicante — a suggested itinerary

Day 1

Castle, Explanada, old town tapas

TRAM train from the airport to central Alicante (25 minutes). Walk to the Santa Bárbara Castle lift on the beach — the lift through the rock, the castle ramparts, the Mediterranean view. Walk back down through the Casco Antiguo old town: the Cathedral of San Nicolás, the streets of tapas bars. The Mercado Central for the Denia prawns and the local produce. The Explanada de España promenade at sunset — the marble mosaic, the palm trees, the port. La Taberna del Gourmet for dinner (book the dining room ahead).

Day 2

Tabarca Island day trip, beach afternoon

Kontiki ferry to Tabarca Island at 10am (45 minutes, book at the port). The fortified town, the marine reserve swimming, lunch at one of the island restaurants — the caldero and the fresh fish. Return ferry to Alicante at 5pm. The Postiguet beach beside the castle for a late afternoon swim. The Alicante seafront chiringuitos for aperitivo.

Day 3

MARQ museum, market lunch, one last prawn

MARQ museum (opens 10am) — the Iberian and Roman galleries, the exceptional building. Mercado Central for the last time: buy turrón (Alicante nougat with whole almonds) and mojama for home. Lunch at any of the market-side restaurants. The Explanada de España for a final walk. One last Denia prawn, grilled at the port-side restaurants. TRAM to the airport.

Also worth considering

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