Preparing Your Trip to Alicante

 

Alicante is a city on the beautiful Mediterranean coastline of Spain. It lies on a stretch known as the Costa Blanca - or White Coast. Alicante is also the second biggest city in this part of Spain, which is called Valencia.

 

Alicante is, of course, widely known for its lovely weather. With 300 days of sunshine a year and many beautiful beaches, it is no wonder that holiday crowds flock to the city throughout the year.

 

Sightseeing

 

Alicante has much to offer the visitor apart from lazing on the beaches. One of the most popular tourist attractions is Santa Barbara Castle. This is a famous landmark dating back to the 9^th century. It overlooks much of the city.

 

Another must-see is the Catedral de San Nicolas de Bari, a beautiful cathedral built in the Renaissance style. Of particular note is the huge dome and highly ornate cloister.

 

The renovated historical area called El Barrio does not only have many architectural delights, but it is also a great place to just get lost and end up sitting at a sidewalk cafe watching life go by.

 

What To Do

 

Many people come to Alicante simply to enjoy the wide, sandy beaches and soak in the sun. If you want more than that, you will find that the city has plenty to offer.

 

Just wandering around the many wide esplanades and beachfront promenades is a delight in itself. The delightful Rambla Mendex Nunes with its many Al Fresco dining opportunities is usually packed with diners morning, noon and night.

 

If shopping centres, bars and entertainment venues are what you need to make your holiday perfect, you should no doubt head straight for the area known as El Puerto. Here, nightclubs rub shoulders with taverns and live music venues to create a wildly exciting ambiance that lasts until the early hours of the morning.

 

Arranging Your Trip

 

Before coming to Alicante, you will obviously have to decide how you are going to arrive there. If you're planning on keeping your trip to a budget, last minute flight deals can be found if you're willing to travel on a weekday. The city has a clean, modern international airport on the outskirts of town, where you can draw money and arrange a car hire in Alicante.

 

There is an airport bus that will drop you in the centre of town. Otherwise, take one of the many airport taxis into town.

 

Accommodation

 

 

The city has a wide range of hotels to cater to all budgets. The best and obviously most expensive hotels can be found on the coastline. The Plaza Puerta del Mar is particularly popular, with hotels there overlooking the marina.

 

The old quarter and the city centre, especially around Plaza del Ayuntamiento, also have many accommodation options, which are usually more affordable than the seafront hotels. For those with early flights, there are also a number of hotels near the airport on the south-western side of the city.

 

 

The Weather

 

As already mentioned, Alicante has splendid weather for a large part of the year. Visitors are even able to enjoy the beaches for the biggest part of winter. Average summer daytime temperatures hover in the early thirties. In the middle of winter you can still count on at least 16 degrees most of the time.