About Alicante
With shattered mountains in the background, the city is located in a bay with a cosmopolitan harbour. Tropical palms line the avenues. From the sea front you can look up towards Mount Benacantil, where the historic Castillo de Santa Barbara, open to the public, is located.
You will find small narrow streets near big avenues with lively business activities in the area of Rambla Méndez Núñez. Elegant pubs and sophisticated restaurants can be found in the more modern part of the city between the sea front, Explanada España and Avenida "X" Alfonso El Sabio. In the evenings in “El Barrio,” a pedestrian area in the Old Town around the Cathedral, locals meet up with visitors of all ages and from all over the world.
Spanish and English, along with some sign language and lively gestures, are apparent among the conversations that often end in a mutual toast. Salud!
Activities
Santa Barbara Castle
A visit to the Santa Bárbara Castle is highly recommended. Perched on top of Mount Benacantil, at a height of 166 metres, stands one of Spain’s largest mediaeval fortresses, providing great views of Alicante’s perfect bay. Visitors can access the castle via a lift.You can also reach the castle on foot or by car. Curiously, when viewed from El Postiguet beach, Mount Benacantil looks like a human face in profile which is known as“The Moor’s Face” and is one of the city’s most emblematic images.
Tabarca Island
A visit to Tabarca island is an absolute must for visitors. Boats from the company Kontiki depart from the marina in Alicante several times a day. The journey takes around one hour from Alicante. The route will give you the opportunity to enjoy the coastline. Try one of the traditional fish stews on the terrace of one of the restaurants. Also, you will find nice little bays to swim. If you decide to stay overnight on the island, there are also little hotels peppered along it.
Pop Gallery
It is located in "Alicante Golf" in Playa de San Juan area and is a place to enjoy culture, leisure and gastronomy. Pop Gallery is a part of the new so- called Gastro Village, open 365 days a year
Tips
Good to know
Public Transport
There are city buses running to every district of the city, and Alicante’s suburbs. The central bus station offers regular connections with other towns in the area, as well as the main Spanish cities and European capitals, as well as Morocco (www.subus.es).
Trams leave from the Mercado Central station in direction to San Juan beach and the coastal town of El Campello, Benidorm and also connect with the tram (narrow gauge train) service going up the north coast of Alicante, including Calpe and Denia. Due to the spectacular landscape along the way, the tram is loved and popular among tourists.
The train is another useful method of transport. Thanks to modern trains, Spanish as well as European capitals can be reached easily and comfortably from the station located in the city centre.
Coach Station: +34 965 130 700
Railway Station: +34 902 240 202 / www.renfe.es
Tram: +34 900 720 472 / www.fgv.es
Electricity
220-240 volts
