Tourist guide: what to do and see in Alicante
On the Mediterranean, with views of the bay
They say that cities on the water have a special kind of light, and Alicante is surely no exception. A light which, furthermore, may be enjoyed year-round: summer or winter, the pleasant weather means a stroll around the port and seashore will fill you with positive energy. Still, though the beach is a key attraction here, do explore the nearby inland towns for a more complete view of everything this charming province has to offer.
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
Central Market
The traditional market, the best place to buy fresh produce.
Fresh produce and friendly attention.
A colourful market whose vendors know the customers by name while offering fish so fresh that their eyes and skin are still shiny or fruit and vegetables from the Mediterranean garden: that is the Mercado Central, over 11,000 square metres and 292 food stalls. If you would like to go and take a look at one of the most traditional markets in the city, go to Alfonso X el Sabio avenue and look at the old Modernist building, which first opened in 1921 and which was savagely bombed when Alicante was attacked on 25th of May, 1938, during the Spanish Civil War. To fully enjoy the flavours of the land and the sea, the juiciest fruit and the traditional salazones, this is the best place to buy fresh produce.
Plaza Mar 2
If you want to spend a day shopping and relaxing, go to this shopping centre and enjoy yourself.
Shopping, restaurants and relaxation, all in the same place.
For those cold or stormy days that are incompatible with the beach and sunbathing, there's a place that's perfect for leisure and shopping: the Plaza Mar 2 shopping centre, where you can spend hours and lose track of time. It's a good place for those last-minute buys, because anything you may want will be there. Fashion, accessories, shoes, jewellery, sports clothing, perfumes and cosmetics or presents, Plaza Mar 2 -on Avenida de Dénia- also boasts a wide range of places to eat, for when it's time to stop and grab a bite, with all the usual fast food chains and other franchises. Alternatively, you can relax in its spa and beauty centres. If you are travelling with children, it might be a good idea to take them to watch a film in the Plaza Mar 2 cinemas, where you'll find the latest blockbusters and newest films.
Summer Handcrafts Fair
A great place to do your souvenir shopping, or to just go and take a look, if you happen to be in town when it takes place.
All the handcraft you can imagine - and then some.
If you go to Alicante during the summer and you love handcrafts, the best place in Alicante to buy original presents is at the stalls of the Feria de Artesanía de Verano, which was held in 2013 for the 15th time. This fair, organised by the Cámara Oficial de Comercio, Industria y Navegación de Alicante (Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Alicante) takes place in the space known as Explanada de España and aims to recover old crafts and trades that have become endangered in modern times. Here you will find craftsmen and tradesmen who have learned their trade from generation to generation. Natural soap, ceramics, leather goods, glass or wooden products can all be found in the Feria de Artesanía de Verano, open in the afternoon from Thursday to Sunday, and also in the morning from Friday to Sunday.
Fang d'Art
Hand made presents, directly from the craftsmen, in a very traditional setting.
The best place to buy handcrafts.
If you'd like to get some original presents from Alicante, or if you just love local crafts, do not miss the gallery-shop Fang d’Art, open since 2002 on Maldonado street. Vases, plates, sculptures: here is where clay becomes art. Its founder, artist Ramón Cortés chose these premises at the foot of Santa Bárbara castle to celebrate the work of master ceramists, exhibiting their work in a peculiar, cave-like setting with living rock walls. Fang d’Art looks like a real museum, displaying the newest, most avant-garde trends alongside classic or even historical pieces of ceramic art, offering the work of both new and established Alicante artists. When looking for an unusual object with a certificate of exclusivity, look no further: this gallery is the place you need.
Rambla de Méndez Núñez avenue
Either for a mid-afternoon coffee , for shopping or for a drink at night, you will surely come to this street more than once.
A very lively thoroughfare.
Ready to go for a shopping afternoon, stopping for a cup of coffee between shops and a cocktail to relax at the end of the day? If you don't want to spend a lot on shopping, you should either avoid Rambla de Méndez Nuñez or leave the credit card at the hotel, because this is the shopping thoroughfare in Alicante par excellence. Clothing, shoes, complements, jewellery, décor: anything you want, you'll find it here. Among the night-time entertainment premises, there's the house music pub La Habana; Mulligan's, the three storey club or Murphy's Irish Pub. This palm tree lined boulevard, with benches where the locals sit in the evening for a chat a bit of fresh air, will also surprise you with its handcraft markets, its caracature artists and street musicians.
Santa Faz Handcraft Market
You will surely find something nice to buy in this market.
Quality handcraft shopping.
Who does not enjoy walking around open air market stalls showing small works of art at affordable prices? If you are the kind of person who would rather buy straight from the craftmen instead of spending your money at large shopping centres, this Mercado Artesanal held on the Plaza de la Santa Faz, in the middle of the old part, is perfect to spend some time in the early evening when the temperature drops a little. It is organised by the Asociación Cultural para el Fomento de las Artes y Oficios Tradicionales (Cultural Association for the Support of Traditional Arts and Crafts), and is held from Friday to Sunday afternoon in the summer, or just Sunday morning in the winter here you will find all sorts of things, from leather goods to handcrafts with stones and minerals, glass and wire jewellery made by the same artisans who sell them, and fabrics and complements you can only find here.
Chocolatería Valor
Chocolate is always delicious, but when it has a long tradition behind itself, it is even better.
You'll fall into temptation even if you don't have a sweet tooth.
You could buy a t-shirt with a funny message or a fridge magnet as a memento from Alicante. But wouldn't it be better to find a delicious, special product? The mythical Chocolatería Valor was opened by an Alicante chocolate making family from Villajoyosa, who opened shop in 1881 and has since then been able to combine the chocolate masters' tradition with tasty innovation. In addition to this, in Villajoyosa they have a Museo del Chocolate Valor, where you can learn all about the creative process behind their products. But when it's time to take them home, go to the Valor shop in Alicante, on Paseo Explanada de España street, where you can taste their cocoa creations on the terrace or take them home as a pretty box full of chocolates, turron, almendrados, chocoperlas and other delicacies.
Salazones and wines
Mediterranean gastronomy has much to offer and choosing is dificult, but here we offer a clue.
Take home a good memory of your holiday.
One product typical of Mediterranean gastronomy is the 'salazón', obtained by dehydrating and air-curing various types of food, in particular meats and fish. The product obtained not only lasts longer, it also has a more intense taste and scent. If you like to take home special products that are typical of the place you visit, you cannot miss the chance of visiting the "Salazones Mar Menor" shop on Capitán Segarra street, where this preserving technique -possibly originated in Ancient Egypt-is still practiced. To make your gourmet purchase complete, we recommend you also go to the avant-garde wine shop "Va de Vins", on Castaños street, which sells the same wines you can sample in the outstanding restaurants "Nou Manolín" and "Piripí". This cellar also specialises in local and international D.O. wines.
Museo de Belenes (Nativity Scene Museum)
Behind the nativity scene there is a long history, a lot of creativy and work; here you can learn about all of that.
And we only think about them for Christmas…
The craft of the maestros belenistas (nativity scene masters) is only ever thought about for Christmas, when their representation of Jesus' birth is taken out of the loft. However, they work all year long to create their figurines: miniature oxes, mules, kings... they are all part of an art with many centuries of history. Did you know that the first scene ever recorded was made in the cathedral of Barcelona in the year 1300? Or that king Carlos III was greatly fond of the nativity scene, and made them popular in religious places, among the people in his court? The Museo de Belenes de Alicante, located on San Agustín steet, collects and exhibits these curious facts, and many others, along with its tiny art pieces. There are scenes explaining the evolution of the figures and an exhibition showing scenes from all over the world: from Europe to Japan, Africa or China.
Museo de Aguas de Alicante (M2A)
A sustainability icon born out of the history of the city that nowadays has become an environmental museum.
Caring for the environment.
Known as the Pozos de Garrigós (Garrigós Wells), and located on the hillside of Mount Benacantil and not far from Plaza del Puente, these wells used to receive and accumulate the rainwater brought by an aqueduct to a city with serious water shortage problems. These large wells, whose origin dates back from the Muslim age and which were later consolidated in the 19th century, now house the Museo de las Aguas de Alicante (M2A - Alicante Water Museum) where the exhibition explains how the city's water problems (droughts and subsequent floods) were resolved. The museum was created in 2009, on the 110th aniversary of the creation of Aguas de Alicante, and has become a bechmark in environmental terms. This museum is part of an effort to place the city as a symbol of sustainability among European cities; a curious mix of history and environmental future for a society marked by a lack of water.
Centro Cultural las Cigarreras
With a schedule as varied as it is interesting, this cultural centre also offers cultural evening events.
Art at its best.
The old tobacco manufacture of Alicante, also known as "La Tabacalera", on San Carlos street, has lately been turned into a space for cultural dinamisation, for the projection of up-and-coming artists and also as an artistic exchange centre. The 2,900 m2 of the Centro Cultural Las Cigarreras -divided into several spaces: Nave Cultural Contemporánea, sala Patrimonio Cultural, Casa de la Música and Jardín Vertical, the first vertical garden in the city- have become an essential visit in Alicante. In addition to the temporary sculpture, photography and painting exhibitions, there's a music and theatre programme including jazz, arthouse cinema, flamenco, drumming workshops or conferences on technological innovations. Regardless of whether you are livinig in Alicante or just spending a few days, do not miss the chance to learn about the latest trends in art.
Bag Museum
Bag lovers, this is your place. A journey through the history of this accessory.
You've never seen a museum like this one.
Did you think you had seen it all in terms of museums? Think again, and come to the surprising Museo del Bolso de Alicante. Had you noticed that, for millenia, from cave paintings to the Dutch masters, nobody painted a single bag? The answer suggested by this Museum is that bags were considered mere containers. From the roughest of pouches to the finest current design, the museum has developed a theory about the bag's evolution which is therefore displayed in it. Therefore you'll find things like the "metal mail bag", from the Middle Ages, the "nozzle bag", which was all the rage in France during the 18th century, or those made of tortoise shell and ivory in the 19th century. In addition to the bag exhibition, the museum also offers books on the matter and, of course, they sell exclusive bags with prices ranging from 20 to 150 euros.
Lonja de pescado (Fish market)
A building devoted to art exhibitions where there's always something worth taking a look at.
Urban art and street market at the same time.
Despite its name and its fishing past, the Lonja de Pescado de Alicante is not a maritime museum, but an exhibition space owned by the Council, which since 1992, has housed temporary exhibitions from various branches of art, and other cultural activities. The Lonja de Pescado is on Paseo Almirante Julio Guillén Tato street, and you will know it by its early 20th century building with north African and historical style details. Its long, wide interior is only divided by panels to separate the rooms, and it has exhibited all sorts of things: paintings, sculptures, photographs, ninots and historical exhibitons, as well as puppet festivals, handcraft markets and book presentations. When in Alicante, if you are into culture and want to see the latest trends, in art, archeaology or prehistory, do not miss this multicultural space.
Fine Arts Museum (MUBAG)
You may see this impressive building while taking a walk in the old part; do not miss what's inside!
A museum, inside and outside.
The Palacio Gravina del Conde de Lumiares palace is another historical monument in Alicante that has become a museum. The first thing that will amaze you about this noble 18th century building, is the perfect condition of its magnificent architecture, a jewel in the old part, located between the Postiguet wall and the stairs of Santa María. The next surprise is the Museo de Bellas Artes (MUBAG) itself, its modern museum design vividly contrasting with the old architecture. The collection began in 1838, on the initiative of the Provincial Government of Alicante, which received many religious works of art from the disendowment, such as the "Calvario de Cristo", by Rodrigo de Osona. Since then, it has grown with the work of well-known Spanish artists (Antoni Tàpies, Rafael Canogar, Luis Feito), exchange agreements with other museums and private donations.
Museum of the City of Alicante (MUSA) - Castle of Santa Bárbara
The castle is already a recommended visit, but if it also houses the city museum, you cannot miss it.
The history of the city in a different enclave.
The medieval castle of Santa Bárbara stands 166 meters above the city, on Mount Benacantil, since the 9th century, when Alicante lived under Muslim rule. However, the remains of the fortress that can be visited today date from the 17th century onwards, after surviving constant enemy artillery attacks. Curiously, the visit to the castle of Santa Bárbara can be requested normal or dramatized (tickets cost five euros), with characterized characters that explain the defensive evolution of the walled enclosure and the life of its inhabitants. Inside, there is also the Museum of the City of Alicante (MUSA), which since 2011 has been describing in a multimedia way the origin of the city through its archaeological remains, cave-blocks, cistern, torture room and viewpoint. to the Mediterranean, of great influence for the evolution of Alicante.
Bonfire Museum
Discover the origin of this, the most deeply rooted traditon, and experience the night of Sant Joan in a different way.
Sant Joan, all year round.
One of the most deeply rooted traditions on the Spanish Mediterranean coast is the celebration of Les Fogueres de Sant Joan (Saint John Bonfires), which have their own museum in Alicante. This traditional festival that signals the beginning of the summer began during the 1920s, although they were violently interrupted during the Civil War years, from 1936. In this museum, a black-and-white photographic journey shows the preparation of the great pyres, the comments in the newspapers of the moment, the coats of arms of the festival committees and the 'bellesas del foc', the beauty queens elected during the festivals. The Museo de Hogueras, housed by the Casa de la Festa in Bailén street, continues its historical journey from the 1940s to the present with the winning 'ninots' (dolls) from each year, which have been spared the bonfire, and which reflect the political and social satire of their year.
Contemporary Art Museum of Alicante (MACA)
Those who love contemporary art should not miss these collections, gathered over several decades.
Contemporary art for your eyes.
The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MACA) dates back from the seventies, when artist Eusebio Sempere donated his legacy to the city of Alicante, which is known as 'Colección Arte siglo XX' (20th Century Art Collection). As decades went by, this municipal museum increased its collection and the Casa-Granero de la Asegurada, where the collection was exhibited, slowly grew to accommodate it, eventually becoming the architectonical giant it is today, with over 4,600m2 in the old part of the city. The original building, from the 17th century and located opposite the church of Santa María, was restored and completed with great architectural design. The MACA has increased Sempere's collection with that of the artist Juana Francés, who belonged to a 20th century avant-garde group known as "El Paso", as well as some loan agreements signed with various organisations.
Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ)
Learn about the archaeological findings in the area in a different kind of museum.
An interactive museum.
Have you ever thought you would like to be Indiana Jones? The Museo Arqueológico de Alicante (MARQ), on Plaza del Doctor Gómez Ulla, will show you that this is a thrilling profession which allows you to make historical discoveries. Following an etnographic journey from the 5th century BC to the present, the MARQ is an outstanding museum, not just for the artifacts exhibited, but also for its interactive approach to archaeology. The Sala de Arqueología de Campo (Field Archaeology Room), Arqueología Urbana (Urban Archaeology) and Arqueología Subacuática (Underwater Archaeology) reflect the current work in the local sites, where they keep finding traces from the past. For the younger ones, MARQ organises workshops, dramatised visits -Roman re-enactment included- and night excursions to the Parque Arqueológico Lucentum, an archaeological site at the Tossal de Manises, in the Albufereta area, declared an Historical-Artistic Monument since 1961.
Volvo Ocean Race Museum
Discover every secret of one of the oldest, fiercest cometitions in Spain.
The sail reigns on Alicante.
The best opportunity to learn all about one of the hardest, most demanding sea sompetitions, the Volvo Ocean Race, which dates back from the seventies, will be coming to Alicante in October 2014, when it is going to take place again. But if your trip does not coincide with it, the next best thing is visiting the Museo Volvo Ocean Race, which opened in the Port of Alicante in 2012 and, since then, has become one of the main features in the city. The museum is a collection of multimedia exhibitions showing every secret of the sailing world, such as the control room from where the participants are monitored, audiovisual projections with the most important milestones in the competition, photobiografies of the sportspeople, models and interactive points that will make you feel like a yacht captain for a day.
La Illeta dels Banyets
Not far from Alicante, you'll find this small island with a very interesting archaeological site.
Bronze Age in Alicante.
Less than 10 km away from Alicante, you can find an extraordinary site showing the life of the early Alicante people, before even the arrival of the Romans: the Illeta dels Banyets archaeological site. This small island waas actually joined to the mainland until an earthquake separated them. In 1943 it was joined again and the archaeological work continued, which you can now observe during an excursion that allows you to admire simultaneously the history and the landscape. The researchers have found artifacts belonging to the Bronze Age, older even that the Iberian population that preceded the Romans, and the Muslims, which were eventually conquered by the Christians. Illeta dels Banyets, with just 10,000 m2, was a key point for its situation in relation with the sea, and it was a commercial area for centuries.
Villajoyosa landing
If your dates are right, do not miss one of the oldest festivals in Spain.
Moors and Christians
If you are planning your trip for July, it is worth going to Villajoyosa to see this festival, the Desembarco y la Batalla de Moros y Cristianos (the Landing and the Battle between Moors and Christians). Apparently, this festival is based on something that happened in the 16th century - the landing of Berber pirates and the defense carried out by the Villajoyosa people - and has been celebrated for the past 250 years, which makes it one of the oldest in Spain. The invading Moors hardly touched land at all: the locals repelled them with the help of a monumental storm and flood provoked by Saint Marta, which sank the pirates' ships. The Moors and Christians Battle of Villajoyosa is celebrated during a whole week with processions, medieval markets, historical recreations and the dramatisation of the final battle of the Landing on the sea.
Tabarca Island
This is an almost mandatory visit if what you want are unique landscapes and areas with few humans.
Paradise beaches in a desert island
Do not try to imagine how the Berber pirates felt in the 18th century when they hid opposite the Alicante coast: go to Isla de Tabarca and see for yourself. It's easy, you just need to get a boat in the Alicante port, sail eleven nautical miles into the sea and you're there. The island is really a small archipelago formed by the islands of Nao, Cantera and Galera, totaling 1,800 m2 of almost virgin land, with a cute little port and perfect beaches. The historical past of the island is almost like a film: King Carlos III ordered that this land be fortified and walled to protect Genoese marines who had been rescued from the Tunecine city of Tabarka. In recent years some lodging and restaurants have opened where you can enjoy its traditional food, such as 'caldero', and can also spend a night in this extraordinary place.
Las Lagunas de la Mata and Torrevieja National Park
Bird watching and natural lagoons will offer you the peace you are looking for on your vacation.
Not everything is beaches in Alicante.
Would you like to observe a flamingo colony of almost 3,000 specimens? Walking through wetlands where the black-necked grebe breeds? If you don't know about birds but would like to learn and enjoy an excursion in a protected space, the Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja National Park is your place. In this place there is an Interpretation Center where they will give you information about what you will find on the walk, the recommended routes and the basic rules to maintain the ecosystem. The Las Lagunas Natural Park is located in the Vega Baja del Segura region, between the towns of Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura, among other municipalities, 40 minutes from Alicante. The Visitor Center is only open in the morning and, in addition to having an exhibition, offers informative brochures to visitors.
Guadalest Valley
Prepare yourself for a special day and admire the local nature.
Hiking in natural surroundings.
For the adventurous ones who would like to do some inland exploring despite having the beach at hand, Alicante hides one of the most picturesque villages in the Valencian Region: the Castell de Guadalest (Guadalest Castle), which is located in a Marina Baja valley and has just over 200 inhabitants, surrounded by a large rocky crop around it. Declared Historical and Artistic Ensemble, Guadalest still has traces of its Muslim days, such as the 11th century castle and the Casa Orduña, which belonged to the said noble family from the 17th century onwards. Among its many curious features is the Museo de las Miniaturas (Miniature Museum), which exhibits reproductions of works of art made from lentils, and the Embalse de Guadalest (Guadalest Dam), built in 1971, around which there is hiking, cycling routes and water sports. Bring your camera because when you enter the Valle de Guadalest you'll be lost for words.
Canelobre caves
Admire the amazingly shaped stones and how they have changed over the years.
Nature's own works of art.
Only 20 minutes to the northeast of Alicante is the village of Busot, beside which is one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena: the subterranean erosion that forms caves with fanciful shapes thanks to the action of water over the ages. The Cuevas del Canelobre offer guided tours to see the surprising stalactites and stalagmites that look like Gothic cathedrals, wet underground works of art, which were discovered in 740 AD, although it is believed that the action of water on the ground has been taking place for over seven millin years. The average temperature inside the caves is 18ºC, and there are also remains form the Jurassic period to be discovered in their 80,000m2 of stone splendour with a dome that rises a hundred metres over your head.
Algar Waterfalls
A wet area to spend the day and enjoy its crystal-clear waters.
Take a bath beside a waterfall.
If your idea of Paradise is a virgin, leafy jungle with waterfalls and small lakes, you need to know that there is such a place in the Alicante province and it is called Fuentes del Algar. This is a meandering emsemble of creeks, fountains and waterfalls which together form the river Algar, creating a cool, humid micro-climate that has been declared "Protected Wetland". Tear yourself away from the city for a day and drive 40 minutes to get to this natural paradise that will make you loose track of time while bathing in its crystal-clear waters. The admission to the Fuentes del Algar is €4 per person and although you are not allowed to take your own food to prevent environmental pollution, there are restaurants to have a bite along the way.
Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural park
Forget about the beach for a day and take a day trip to this beautiful natural park.
A trekking day in a natural environment.
There's more to Alicante than sun and beach, especially if you are into hiking and adventure. One of the best places for a day outdoors is the Parque Natural del Carrascal de la Font Roja, in Alcoy, 65 km from Alicante and with over 2,300 hectares of wild nature to get lost in. Its Mediterranean forest landscape is highly populated with species such as the Eurasian eagle owl, Bonelli's eagle, common gennets and badgers, and there are two sign posted routes: Barranco del Infierno, 4.5 km long and the Pla de la Mina, 6 km long, that will take you to the 1,352 high Mirador Menetjador. On your way you will pass by old, 19th century masías, ancient natural carboneras (coal bunkers) and neveros (caves in which snow was packed to turn it into ice), nearly lost among the vegetation, which includes yew, ash and maple trees.
Playa de la Granadella
If you have time for a day trip, this is a good place to go.
A beach surrounded by cliffs.
If you would like to do a day trip along the coast in a car, you can go near Cabo de la Nao and spend the day at a beach with amazing waters surrounded by cliffs: Granadella beach. Drive 97 km east of Alicante, beyond Benidorm and Calpe and 20 minutes away from Jávea... and you will suddenly find the pine-scented wooden steps that take you down the cliffs to the sea. The views from above are dominated by the incredible turquoise palette of the Playa de la Granadella waters. Despite it being relatively secluded and seemingly perfect to get way from everyone, it is becoming increasingly popular due to its paradise-like beauty, so it's best to go early.
Parasailing at Postiguet
Can you imagine flying along the coast? Here you can do it!
A new, exciting experience.
Have you ever considered going parasailing while at the beach? If you had never heard of this water sport, you can go to the end of the Postiguet beach, where beside the bar you'll find the most adverturous types getting ready to fly with their vests and their harnesses. This involves sailing in a boat with a parachute that will pull you up in the air when the boat picks up speed. That's parasailing: getting high and contemplating the coast like seagulls do, in an unforgettable, refreshing ride that feels like being on a giant swing on the water. If you would like to try, just go to where the boats are waiting for the daring ones and ask for their availability.
Playa de la Albufereta
Looking for a place to spend the day basking in the sun and enjoying the Mediterranean? Look no more, this is it.
An urban beach.
When visiting the Albufereta beach, between Tossal de Manises and Serra Grossa, remember that this was the place where the Roman legions first set foot in the Peninsula, walking on the golden sands and under the palm trees with their sandals and their banners. The original city can be found just a few metres away, in the Lucentum archaeological site, which you can visit if you would like to add some culture to your beach and chiringuitos day. The Playa de la Alfubereta is in the development of the same name and is only 400m long, so the typical image of an overcrowded Mediterranean beach could have been taken here. It has been awarded a blue flag, but if you don't fancy the crowds, you'd better think of another place.
La Taberna del Gourmet
A nice place to enjoy the best Alicante cuisine and the beauty of the place.
Quality produce prepared in original ways.
With the Bar of the Year National Award under their belt, the Taberna del Gourmet on San Fernando street has over 30 years' gastronomic experience. They had time to consolidate their wide choice of tapas, montaditos and salt-pickled food, as well as to renovate their premises with a modern twist and an exhibition of delicacies to make your mouth water as soon as you come in. The vegetables from the Alicante area share the spotlight with fresh, just-caught fish and seafood, pata negra cured meats, and D.O. olive oils and wines. Their menu is long, so if you find yourself a bit lost, why not try one of the 'Menús degustación', between 27 and 55 euros, which include specialties such as 'pan de cristal (ciabatta) with tomato' or 'grilled scallops with guacamole'.
Cervecería Sento
It really is worth making the time to try their tasty tapas with a beer.
Cold beer and great tapas.
Can you imagine a tapa combining beef sirloin, rocket and turrón de Jijona? Those who love creative mini-cuisine, the tapas-and-cold-beer culture, must go to the small Cervecería Sento, in Teniente Coronel Chapulí street. Regulars will tell you that it is worth coming, despite it being always full, even if only to watch the hyperactive chef preparing the delicious montaditos and raciones, while you wait, at the speed of light. Best to get there early because there's little room inside and the bar is always crowded. Try their awesone ham, onion, brie cheese and foie montaditos (a slice of bread with stuff on it) or the delicacy with quail eggs and ham. Your mouth will water just by reading the menu, and your wallet will be quite happy too.
Amalia
Local, great quality gastronomy in the historical centre: do not miss it!
Homemade food in a traditional setting.
When exploring Alicante's old part, combine it with the best Mediterranean food with a local touch: book a table in the renovated restaurante Amalia, on General Lazy street. Re-opened in 2011 with a touch of 'home kitchen' style, the Amalia is perfect for a romantic dinner or special occasions in its wood-panneled private rooms. Its specialties include 'vegetable ratatouille stuffed tubot with coconut and leek cream' or 'roast suckling pig with apple, red peppers confit and sauted onions' and in particular the 'glazed duck and apple stuffed Chinese bread rolls in crispy corn'. If you don't know where to start, ask the staff for suggestions or order a 'Menú degustación' that will let you sample their best selection.
Pesca Al Peso
A peculiar restaurant where you can choose the fish and seafood you are going to have.
Come in, choose your stuff, enjoy!
Unfortunately, those allergic to seafood will probably not be able to come near Pesca Al Peso restaurant, but seafood lovers should not miss it while visiting Alicante. Located in the old part of the city, on Mayor street, the Pesca Al Peso (fish by weight) honours its name and has an original approach to choosing your dinner: first, you go to the fishcounter, you choose from among its amazing variety of fish, then they will weigh it for you and ask you how you'd like to have it; after that you need to decide on drinks and side dishes and pay for the whole thing. And hey presto! Just go to your table and wait for your wish to come true. If you can't decide, let them surprise you with the 'Menú Degustación' which can be shared by two people, and order some arroz meloso (creamy rice) to go with it.
Livanti - Gelato di Sicilia
Sweeten your day in Alicante's best ice cream shop and dare to try their most original flavours!
A sweet treat.
You may not want a full meal, but rather you'd like something nice to keep you going while exploring. If you are anywhere near the Concatedral de San Nicolás, on Muñoz street you will see happy-looking people passing by with ice cream cones. They come fron the Livanti-Gelato di Sicilia ice cream shop. Get near their windows and you'll feel tempted to try their creamy texture and the unsual combinations of flavours, which range from the classic ones to truly innovative concepts, as well as a wide assortment of chocolate flavours, like the 'Chocolate maya' where cocoa is combined with hot spices, resulting in an entirely original taste. Locals know this place well, so don't be put off if there's a queue coming out of its tiny premises: it really is worth the wait.
Restaurante Baeza & Rufete
A new place to try new, delicious flavours without breaking the bank.
Fine dinning and reasonable pricing.
One of the new jewels of the Alicante cuisine scene is the Restaurante Baeza & Rufete which, since its opening in August 2012 in Ansaldo Avenue, has become a benchmark of Mediterranean haute cuisine with a personal twist and affordable prices. Foodies will be able to tell the difference from the rest and tourists will be amazed by the assortment of flavours coming from chef Joaquín Baeza Rufete's kitchen, who has received the Best Young Valencian Chef award, among other prizes. The menu is prepared according to seasonal produce and the 'Menú Gastro Tapa' (35 euros) includes delicacies such as 'iced foie biscuit with green apples and eels', 'veal cheek stewed in red wine with pumpkin purée, vanilla and sweet migas' or the impressive 'cod cube with creamy rice, grilled tomato and horn of plenty mushrooms'.
TriBeCa Music Bar
All-in-one: good quality fast-food and a great place to have a drink.
Start and finish the night here.
Whether you are looking for a gap-filling New York-style hamburger or you would like to have a cocktail after dinner while listening to good music, TriBeCa Music Bar is the place to go. Always full of hipsters, students and foreigners, its casual atmosphere will surely make you come back the next night. This place has been open since the seventies, when Pitu Perramón, goalkeeper of the Spanish handball team, opened a German-style sausage shop that soon became the place to go in Alicante. After its refurbishment in 2005, it continued its sausage tradition in a more unconventional style, with interior design by Dutch tattoo artist Morbella, and adding to the menu all sort of sandwiches and Galician beef grilled hamburgers. All this served with good music and a wide range of cocktails, is a great way to kick start the night.
Monastrell
A place to try the chef's recommendations for a special night out.
Haute cuisine and mixed flavours
A master of signature cuisine - with all these words imply, including not coming too hungry because the dishes are not that generous- and of use of space, the Monastrell is the perfect choice when you want to be surprised by an intimate décor and a selected ambience. Its premises at Pasaje del Amérigo have a lovely terrace for romantic or informal evenings and they also offer great cocktails. Their dishes boast unusual combinations of flavours, mixing local Mediterranean produce with the innovating ideas proposed by its owner and self-taught chef María José San Román, among which is the reinvention of the 'bocadillo de calamares' (squid sandwich). The Monastrell can be found in Rafael Altamira street, where its large cellar is located, with its D.O. wines that are the perfect match for their dishes, and even a bookshop selling cooking books about the most delicious specialities.
El Portal Tapas & Wines
Tasting wine or gin after a tapas dinner is another option to end the day.
Quality wines and tapas
One of the few places in Alicante that offer guided wine and spirit tasting is Portal Tapas & Wines. Located on Bilbao street, this place boasts careful service and a chic ambience that are ideal if you are looking for something different. If you are into spirit tasting, you may choose between amaretto, brandy, cognac or juniper, almond, liquorice, cardamon or walnut-flavoured gins from all over Europe and with Protected Denomination of Origin. But you surely would rather face this liquid delight with a full stomach, so first get a table at Portal Tapas & Wines, with the certainty that their raciones and 'portalitos' (montaditos) will certainly not dissapoint you. The "red tuna with bacon and ginger" tapa and the "grilled scallops with cauliflower, almond and truffle" are some of their delicacies.
Celeste / Don Carlos
You don't know what you'll get. You only know that it will be top-quality and in large amounts… do you dare give it a go?
A unique dinning experience
Those foodies visiting Alicante who would like a different kind of dinner, can visit restaurant Celeste, a private room in Restaurant Don Carlos, only suitable for deep pockets and by appointment only from Wednesday to Saturday. When you enter restaurant Celeste, located on General Primo de Rivera street, they ask you three mystery-questions: 'are you allegic to anything, or is there anything that you absolutely dislike?', 'Do you prefer meat, fish or vegetables, or would you rather try various tastes?' and finally 'do you drink spirits/wine?'. Once you've answered this and decided whether you prefer a four, five or seven course menu (from 55 to 115 euros), you are entirely in the hands of chef Jorge Jurado and will not have a clue about what you are going to have until it is set before you, always with excellent presentation and accompanied by exclusive wines. The result will be a gastronomic evening to remember, and there's a Michelin star to guarantee it.
Asador los Troncos
Quality produce and masterful preparation mean that this place is one of the best grills you will ever find.
A carnivore's paradise.
Meat-eaters of the world, if you come to Alicante, there is a place you must not miss: Asador Los Troncos, where you can devour with relish an exclusive selection of cuts from the best local beef. Not far from the Albufereta beach, it has a fantastic terrace for dining al fresco in the summer. The restaurant Asador Los Troncos has decided to make the most impressive meat dishes affordable, without leaving aside its vegetarian and fish-loving clients. Although the Argentinean-style parrillada is its specialty, they do not disregard other requests, which are always served with top quality produce. Best to go when starving. The 'Menú los Troncos' includes chorizo gallego sausage cooked with beer or chistorra sausage cooked with cider, Mediterranean salad, Lomo Alto sirloin steak and delicious desserts.
REACT - International Festival of Urban Dance and Culture
Urban art and fun come together in one of the most important festivals in Europe.
A festival for all tastes.
One of the leisure proposals with the most international pull meets in Alicante every summer: the REACT or International Festival of Urban Dance and Culture. The performances and championships of dance, graffiti, 'cockfight' are held in the Auditorium of the Diputación de Alicante, among other locations, and since this festival was launched
Aqualandia Benidorm
A perfect plan for great family day: go to one of the best water parks.
How about some good thirlls?
When travelling with children or teenagers, they might not be overly happy with just visiting museums and monuments, so if you can go to Benidorm, you must take them to the Aqualandia waterpark. Its extraordinary variety of attractions make it also a great choice for adults too: there's the tallest toboggan in Europe (free-falling from 28m) and the tallest capsule-toboggan in the world, 33 m high, to get you pumping adrenaline like crazy. This is a one-of-a-kind attraction, it feels like jumping off a 13th floor building and you'll reach 100km/h on your way down. But if this is a bit much, there are also large swimming pools with waves, zig-zagging slides or soft ones.
El Jabalí Chillout
A garden, beds and a chill-out ambience to relax with a drink after a busy day.
Oasis in the city.
Five minutes away from Playa de San Juan in Alicante and ten minutes away from the city centre, there is a place that looks like something out of a film, an oasis in the midst of the urban desert. El Jabalí Chillout pub is a 600m2 garden with diaphanous white Arabian-style tents, sofas and deckchairs hidden amongst green bushes and bamboos. This is the place to listen to good music, watch videos and have exclusive cocktails in an intimate, relaxed environment, due to the many nooks and crannies around the garden. Many of the regulars come for a drink after dinner in the French restaurant next door, El Jabalí. Both places share a similar ambience, so they're a great choice for a pleasant, slow-flowing evening.
Noray Cafébar
Live music, a cocktail or a cup of coffee, and take your time to enjoy one of the most original places in Alicante.
A café by the sea
How would you like to have a coffee or a cocktail almost literally floating on the sea? The Noray Cafébar is located in a privileged spot of the Port of Alicante, right beside the berth from where the catamarans that go to the Tabarca island leave, so if you have planned to do just that, you can relax in the Noray's cosmopolitan, marine ambience upon your return. Designed by architect J.C. García Soler in wood and metal, the Noray Cafébar opened its doors in 1999 and since then it has become a benchmark for the most relaxed Alicante nights and the dawns lulled by classical music. In this floating bar you can revel in its marvelous coctails and live music, from flamenco to neotango, including fussion jazz and classical music, while watching the boats sail in and out of the port.
Luz de Luna
A quiet tea room with a terrace to soak up its ambience and make an afternoon of it.
Enjoy a delicious cup of tea and forget about the time.
Luz de Luna, an exotic, bohemian tea room in L'Olleria street since it opened in 2002, is a place where time moves at a different pace and clocks don't matter. On its terrace you can find live ethnic music or dance shows, which you can watch while enjoying a tropical fruit smoothie or a natural juice, or perhaps a cup of tea chosen from their wide range. The idea behind Luz de Luna was inspired by a Buddhist legend according to which Buddha cried when he saw the fate of men, predestined to suffering, decay and death. And where his tears fell, there grew a bush that would soothe the sorrow of men: the tea bush. And all its varieties and variations can be found in this tea room.
Wellness Center Alicante
A massage session with a view, a thermal bath… what else can you ask for to get rid of stress?
This is relaxing...
Imagine receiving a relaxing massage while looking at the Mediterranean... would you like to forget for a while about the crowds and the stress for getting enough room for your towel by the seaside? One of the best places to get away from the busy beach life is the Wellness Center Alicante, in the Plaza Puerta del Mar and devoted to turn your stressed self into a happier, more relaxed being. The hydrotherapy treatments include a route through the thermal pools with hot and cold water, jacuzzi, foot bath, Scottish shower, Finnish sauna and cold mist walk. This is an ideal environment to enjoy your hydrotherapy treatments, with a large window overlooking an interior garden, which filters the light and provides a leafy frame for the views of the Alicante Bay. Those looking for more specialised therapies will also find them here: mud therapy, chocolatherapy, redicing treatments, tea ceremony or Indocean spa treatment with mild exfoliation, massage with aromatherapy and hydrating wrappings.
Artespíritu
A drink on their terrace is the perfect way to relax after a day exploring.
A great way to end the day.
At Artespíritu, a bar with live music and a bohemian ambience, the Alicante nights taste of caipirinha and mojito. If you would like to get to know the local night scene, you should spend the evening al fresco on their lovely terrace sipping your drink: Artespíritu is small enough to guarantee intimacy and an exclusive crowd. You'll find it on Plaza San Cristóbal, where you will not just enjoy their drinks, but also a unique blend of art and music through temporary exhibitions of local artists and specialised concerts. Saturdays are electronic music DJ nights; Fridays are for reggae fans and on Thursdays there's live jam sessions with bass, trumpet and guitar trios or hip hop sessions by local bands. Whatever your style, at Artespíritu you'll spend an evening to remember.
Rancho La Ofra
Go to this place if you're travelling with children. And even if you aren't!
A different, unforgettable day trip.
If you've had enough of the sun-and-beach routine in Alicante, you can always go a bit inland for an unforgettable experience, both for children and adults. In Callosa d'En Sarrià, a 67 km drive from Alicante, you'll find the Rancho La Ofra, where you can enjoy horse riding on a route carefully monitored by professionals. The ride will take you to the banks of the river Guadalest, among lemon and orange trees and under a leafy, green canopy. This route requires only minimal riding experience and it takes about 2 1/2 hours, going thorugh woods and glens and enjoying the beautiful views of the Mediterranean and the medieval Guadalest village. There is a special breaking-in programme for experienced riders and private classes. To join the guided route excursion you need to call in advance and book your place.
Costa Blanca Yatch Club
Would you like to learn to sail?If it's not your cup of tea, you can always spend an afternoon watching a sailing competition.
Enjoy watching the yachts… or dare to sail one.
Maybe, if you are lucky, your trip to Alicante will coincide with one of the many sailing competitions held on Mediterranean waters, or maybe you can witness, from the beach, the professionals training. Either way, if you would like to try and learn the basics of sailing for a different holiday, the Club Náutico Costa Blanca offers beginners' courses to take a peek into this fascinanting world. You can even enroll your children in intensive summer courses. Located in the marina, the Escuela Mediterránea de Vela (Mediterranean Sailing School) has been offering sailing, windsurfing, diving, snorkeling, rowing, kayaking and sports fishing classes since its opening in the 70s. If you are in Alicante only for a short time, you can still enjoy water activities by the hour at very reasonable prices.
The Discovered City
The remains of Alicante's past and a sample of the city's old splendour.
Recovering what was lost in the past.
The mythical 'Lost City' of Alicante has its origin in the many destructions it suffered over centuries of battles among different sectors of Peninsular people and their enemies, who usually came by sea, not to mention the internal power struggles. The result of these conflicts was that Alicante was left desolated and destroyed after the so-called 'Guerra de los Dos Pedros' ('War of the Two Peters') in the Middle Ages, for instance, and was again wrecked by the French Army bombing in 1691. Many historical buildings dating from those times have been lost, and now Alicante is trying to find its hidden past. The area of Jorge Juan street, by the ground floor of the new Council building, is the centre of the so-called 'Discovered City' ('Ciudad Descubierta'), an urban archaeologic site displaying blocks of stone and traces of building as well as the old city walls, reminders of fishing villages, Islamic houses and walls of what once was the commercial hub of the city.
Chapel and Mirador of Santa Cruz
Getting to the top and discovering the fantastic views are worth the climb on foot.
The best views in town.
At the foot of the Castillo de Santa Clara (Castle of Santa Clara) is one of the most picturesque areas in Alicante, the barrio de Santa Cruz, where the chapel and mirador of the same name can be found. The way up to the chapel goes through narrow lanes with whitewashed houses, whose balconies boast colorful flowers and decorative tiles; these lanes will take you to the old Torre de la Ampolla, on the remains of the medieval city wall. The best time of the year to visit his humble chapel is during Easter week, when the locals take out the Cristo de la Fe or 'El Gitano' (the Christ of Faith, also known as 'The Gypsy') on procession and the streets are packed full of people, the faithful and tourists alike. Another good time is the festival of the Cruces de Mayo (Crosses of May Festival), when the neighbourhood balconies are decorated with flower crosses competing in beauty, colour and scent.
Castle of San Fernando
Once built to defend the city, it is nowadays a place of Cultural Interest.
The Alicante defense.
The Castillo de San Fernando shows how the Alicante people foresaw a possible French invasion in 1813, during the Independence War. It actually proves that they were far-sighted and optimistic, because the main purpose of this castle on Monte Tossal was to keep prisoners, since they though they would capture all their enemies. Surprisingly, the Castillo de San Fernando -built to provide support to that of Santa Bárbara- was never actually used, because when the French ships had almost arrived in Alicante, they were called back to take part in the invasion to Russia and only ever carried out a warning bombing. Therefore, the Castillo de San Fernando was left to oblivion and dereliction, since its architecture contained numerous mistakes, due to the speed at which it was built. After declaring it a Cultural Interest Site, its state has been analized to rebuild those parts most affected by time.
Lucentum
These archaeological excavations where many Roman artifacts were found make for an interesting visit.
The remains of the city's Roman past
The Tossal de Manises, also known as the ancient Roman area of Lucentum, is an archaeological monument open to the public, where research is being carried out to this day. This site has been worked on since the 18th century, obtaining artifacts that show the evolution of human occupation from the arrival of Romans and Carthagineans to the Alicante area, up to Muslim times. At Lucentum, you can watch the researchers working on site and also at the laboratory where they process the samples. The experts at the Museo Arqueológico de Alicante have proposed a study to analyse and, later, display the remains of a fierce battle that took place in this area between Romans and Carthagineans during the Second Punic Wars.
Council of Alicante
In addition to its being an impressive building, it has a particular feature not many know about.
The altitude at the step.
Did you know that the altitude "above sea level" is in fact calculated from a step at the Town Hall of Alicante? Curiously enough, this measuring system was ordered in 1871, when the Red Nacional de Nivelación (National Leveling network) chose the Alicante Bay for its stable orography and the small difference between high and low tides. The measurement was taken at the dock, then transferred to the first step of the Council building, where a bronze plaque shows the 'zero level', from which the altitude in the rest of the country is measured. If you came here specifically to see this, take a moment to look up and let yourself be amazed by this 18th century Baroque palace, with its nearly 50 m long façade with balconies, flanked by two towers that are communicated by means of narrow alleys to the Plaza de la Santa Faz.
Monastry of the Holy Face (Monasterio de la Santa Faz)
It is said that its walls hide a secret. Would you like to discover it?
The monatery with a mystery.
According to tradition, in the Monastery of the Holy Face in Alicante, the enclosed St. Clare nuns have kept, since the 16th century, a relic from the last minutes of Jesus' life: a blood-stained cloth that could be the one Veronica used to wipe the sweat and blood from Jesus' face on his way to the Calvary, whose face became impressed on the cloth. This is one of the cloths that have been acknowledged by the Vatican as authentic, and arrived in Alicante in the 15th century as a present from Rome to the Alicante priest Pedro Mena. There is little left of the original cloth, since wealthy families at the time paid to keep pieces of it. During the Civil War, the relic was hidden to save it from the anticlerical pillaging.
Basilica of Santa María
The basilica and its surprising interiors are still standing.
A basilica built over a mosque
As was usual at the time, the Christian re-conquerors devoted themselves to destroying the Muslim mosques that had been built all over Spain and building churches on their ruins that can still be visited today. Such is the case of the Basilica of Santa María, considered one of the oldest in Alicante, which was built in the 15th century Gothic style over the ruins of the main mosque in the city. The basilica has also been damaged by the centuries since it was built, including bombing from the sea by enemy ships, so it has been rebuilt many times in a great variety of styles, from Baroque to Rococo. Inside, you will be astonished by its rich, profusely ornated décor, including a Carrara marble baptismal font that may have been carved by Michelangelo's disciples in Italy in the 16th century.
Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás de Bari
It deserves a visit, not only for its spectacular Baroque interiors, but also during the patron saint celebrations.
House of the city's patron saint.
The Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás de Bari, the city's patron saint, is easily recognised by the sober lines of its late-Renaissance façade, which hide an impressive Baroque interior, in particular the Comunion Chapel, decorated with stucco and marble, and an older cloister (15th century), built on the ruins of an old mosque.
Its 45 metre dome is an attraction in its own right for the visitor who comes to plaza Abad Penalba, where the church is.
But if you would like to see more than architecture, you must go to the traditional celebrations to honour the patron saint, Saint Nicholas of Bari, held in early December, when a live figure rides through the old city streets giving sweeties to the children and greeting the Moors and Christians as they parade, which takes place on the same day.
Maisonnave Palace
Currently, it houses the city's Municipal Archive, but it has a long history.
Roman ruins in Alicante.
This is probably one of the very few buildings still standing in Alicante since Roman days. It now houses the Municipal Archive, and is known as the Maisonnave Palace, due to the rich family of Irish ancestry who bought it in the 18th century.
The mansion was built on late Roman ruins (6th century) including a necropolis, which later were reused to built a medieval house, rebuilt in the 15th century and again at a later date.
Throughout the ages, the 6th century Roman stones were reused over and over until they became the current palace, where restoration works and archaeological digging in the 80s confirmed its antiquity.
The Municipal Archive opens its doors to the public to visit a glass-covered cave where the archaeological site can be seen, although the exhibited bones are copies, to keep the originals safe.
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