Located on the east coast of Spain, Alicante is a popular holiday destination just 25 miles south of Benidorm. The city has miles of beautiful sandy beaches lined with palm-shaded promenades. Holidaying in Alicante gives visitors the chance to sample real Spanish life unlike the more commercialised neighbouring resorts. The city attracts sun lovers, families, water sports enthusiasts, golfers and naturists. The old town of Alicante attracts visitors to its narrow streets, Spanish tapas bars, restaurants with various types of paella on the menu, bars and excellent shopping facilities. Visitors interested in art and culture will love the displays of treasures including Roman and Moorish sculptures, medieval tapestries and works of art by Dali and Picasso which are housed in the museums and buildings of the city. Alicante is well known for its great shopping opportunities with a huge central market selling just about everything. The streets of the town offer excellent bargain and souvenir hunting at the traditional craft shops, markets stalls, upmarket stores and designer outlets.
Playa del Postiguet is Alicantes main beach and is a long stretch of fine pale sand. After a dip in the beautiful waters here you can enjoy a tasty al fresco lunch in one of the many beachside cafes. Other popular sandy beaches in the area include Albufereta Beach and San Juan Beach which stretches from Cabo de Huertas to Campello. At Cabo de Huertas there are secluded rugged coves and the beach of Playa del Coco are popular with those looking for quieter beaches. Local buses and trams run an excellent service which links all of the Alicante beaches.
Away from the beach there is plenty to do on your family holidays to Alicante. A visit to the cathedral and Santa Barbara Castle, the harbour and the marina should not be missed. Santa Barbara Castle sits on a hillside and not only offers amazing panoramic views of the city and the coastline but also houses several exhibitions of Arabic and medieval art. The whole family will love a tram ride along the coast to picturesque Campello, a boat trip to the small island of Tabarca and of course a visit to Benidorm. There are also plenty of theme parks, water parks and zoos along the coast for family days out. Alicante is a spacious city with lots of green space with plenty of parks, gardens and woodland where you can take a picnic and enjoy the surrounding flora and fauna. For the more energetic there is a leisure park which is located by the Tossal Mountain where a range of activities like mountain biking, skating, mini-golf and bowling can be enjoyed. Alicante is surrounded by some beautiful countryside with woodland, mountain paths and marshland waiting to be explored. Guided walks make a welcome escape from the beaches on your family holidays to the Costa Blanca. Carrascal De La Font Roja nature reserve has beautiful pine forests which are home to a multitude of different animals and birds, including badgers, wild boar and golden eagles.
Alicante offers a wide range of different dining venues including traditional Spanish restaurants alongside restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, from Moroccan to Thai. The city also has plenty of cafes and bars for a quiet relaxing break.
Due to the city’s close proximity to the airport and great all-year-round mild climate Alicante is a popular destination for direct holidays during the summer and also during the winter season. From May to October Alicante enjoys fine sunny weather, especially in the peak months of July and August. Summer temperatures reach up to 29C with the height of the season seeing around 10 hours of sunshine every day. Winter temperatures rarely fall below 13C, often seeing 5 hours of sunshine a day.