Santa Barbara Castle
The great fortress on Mount Benacantil, 166 metres above the harbour, with a free-to-enter castle, a lift cut through the rock, the carved Face of the Moor, and the best view of the Costa Blanca.
Valencian Community, Spain
Alicante & the Costa Blanca
Alicante is Spain's easiest sun-and-culture city break: a hilltop castle over a working harbour, a palm-lined Explanada paved in marble waves, a whitewashed old quarter climbing the hill, and a central market that feeds a city obsessed with rice, tapas and late dinners.
This guide books the city properly, then opens the whole Costa Blanca around it, with the walled island of Tabarca, the cliff-top village of Guadalest, the blue-domed lanes of Altea, the rock of Ifach at Calpe, the UNESCO palm grove of Elche and the theme parks and beaches of Benidorm. It pairs those experiences with hotels from the Explanada to Altea's hills and Benidorm's Levante beach, because on this coast where you sleep decides how much of it you see.
Don't miss
Santa Barbara Castle
The great fortress on Mount Benacantil, 166 metres above the harbour, with a free-to-enter castle, a lift cut through the rock, the carved Face of the Moor, and the best view of the Costa Blanca.
Central Market and Old Town Tapas Tour
The modernist Mercado Central, with fish, cured ham, olives and fruit under one roof, plus an old town walk and tapas stops that explain how Alicante eats.
Tabarca Island Day Trip
A small walled island, Spain's first marine reserve with clear coves, a fortified Genoese village and caldero rice, reached by boat from the coast near Alicante.
Santa Cruz Old Town Walking Tour
Whitewashed lanes, flower pots and blue doors climbing the castle hill, plus the Baroque town hall, the Basilica of Santa Maria and the co-cathedral. A guided walk is the best way to read the old centre.
Things to do in Alicante & the Costa Blanca
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Santa Cruz Old Town Walking Tour
Whitewashed lanes, flower pots and blue doors climbing the castle hill, plus the Baroque town hall, the Basilica of Santa Maria and the co-cathedral. A guided walk is the best way to read the old centre.
Explanada de Espana and Postiguet Beach Bike Tour
The mosaic promenade shaded by palms, the marina and the city beach at the foot of the castle, best explored on a relaxed guided bike ride that ends at the central market.
Central Market and Old Town Tapas Tour
The modernist Mercado Central, with fish, cured ham, olives and fruit under one roof, plus an old town walk and tapas stops that explain how Alicante eats.
Tabarca Island Day Trip
A small walled island, Spain's first marine reserve with clear coves, a fortified Genoese village and caldero rice, reached by boat from the coast near Alicante.
Guadalest Village and Castle Tour
A cliff-top village reached through a tunnel in the rock, with a ruined castle, tiny museums and a turquoise reservoir below, one of the most photographed places on the Costa Blanca.
Algar Waterfalls (Fuentes del Algar)
Cascades, turquoise pools and shaded walkways in a green valley near Callosa d'en Sarria, a cool escape from the coast and an easy add-on to Guadalest.
Altea Old Town and Blue Dome
A white hill-town of cobbled lanes and artists' studios, crowned by the blue-tiled dome of the church of the Consuelo, with sea views over the bay of Altea.
Calpe and the Penon de Ifach
A 332-metre limestone rock rising from the sea beside a lively port town, with a natural park, salt flats, beaches and a walking trail to the viewpoint.
Benidorm Skyline, Old Town and Beaches
Spain's high-rise beach capital, with two long beaches, a surprisingly pretty old town on a headland and a balcony viewpoint over the sea.
Terra Mitica Theme Park
The Costa Blanca's big theme park, with Mediterranean-civilisation zones, roller coasters, shows and evening events, a short ride from Benidorm's beaches.
Terra Natura Benidorm
An animal park designed with open habitats and few visible bars, from big cats and primates to birds and reptiles, with a water park next door.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Melia Alicante
Explanada / Marina
A large seafront hotel by the marina and the Explanada, with sea views, a rooftop pool and the old town and castle a short walk away.
Check rates →The Level at Melia Alicante Adults Only
Explanada / Marina
An adults-only, upgraded-service option within the Explanada hotel complex, with premium rooms, quiet spaces and the same walk to the old town and castle.
Check rates →INNSiDE by Melia Alicante Porta Maris
Marina / Explanada
A spa-focused hotel with suite-style rooms near the marina and the Explanada, popular with couples and longer stays.
Check rates →Hotel Alicante Gran Sol
City Centre / Rambla
A tall city-centre hotel on the Rambla, close to the Explanada, the market and the old town, with upper-floor views and a good-value central address.
Check rates →Sercotel Maya Alicante
Albufereta / North Coast
A mid-range hotel near the Albufereta coast, a quieter beach-side base with easy access to the city by tram, bus or taxi.
Check rates →Hotel Abaco Altea
Altea
A boutique hotel in Altea, close to the whitewashed old town and the sea, a charming base for exploring the northern Costa Blanca.
Check rates →Melia Altea Hills Resort
Altea Hills
A hillside resort above Altea with sea views, pools and space to relax, a calm option for families and couples who want a resort-style base with a car.
Check rates →Hotel BCL Levante Club and Spa Adults Only
Levante Beach, Benidorm
An adults-only hotel and spa in Benidorm near Levante beach, a quieter option in a lively resort with spa facilities and sea access.
Check rates →Port Benidorm Hotel and Spa
Benidorm
A four-star-class resort hotel in Benidorm with a spa, pools and sea views, a polished base for beach days and the nearby theme parks.
Check rates →Aparthotel BCL Levante Beach
Levante Beach, Benidorm
Apartment-style rooms near Levante beach in Benidorm, with kitchenettes and extra space for families, groups and longer stays.
Check rates →Alicante & the Costa Blanca guides
Alicante in Three Days: Castle, Old Town and the Coast
A practical three-day plan that puts the castle, the old town, the market and the best day trips in a sensible order, with food stops and timing tips.
Where to Stay in Alicante and the Costa Blanca
How to choose between the Explanada, the quieter north coast, Altea and Benidorm, with hotel types matched to the kind of trip you want.
Eating and Drinking in Alicante: Rice, Tapas and Local Wine
What to order in Alicante, from rice dishes and red prawns to nougat and Monastrell, with advice on timing, markets and where to taste.
Best Time to Visit Alicante and the Costa Blanca
Season by season: when the beaches are warmest, when the festivals fall, when the theme parks run and how to avoid the biggest crowds.
Day Trips from Alicante: Villages, Caves, Islands and Vineyards
The best excursions within an hour or two of Alicante, how to combine them and which ones suit which kind of traveller.
Alicante with Kids: Beaches, Parks and Easy Adventures
A family guide to Alicante and Benidorm, with beaches, theme parks, caves and gentle outings for different ages.
