Dog friendly beaches Costa Blanca

Costa Blanca has beaches for everyone. Even for our best friends, the dogs.
Find dog friendly beaches on this page.
The beaches are the heaven on earth for your friend but also for yourself.
Let your dog enjoy the beaches, the sand and the water while he is on vacation with his owner.
At the Costa Blanca there are several dog friendly beaches to let your dog run around.

dog friendly beaches
dog friendly beaches

Tip.
Relevant is that you don’t forget to bring a bottle of water and in addition a bowl.
Due to Mediterranean sun your dog can easily overheat.
Because not all the dog beaches have dog fountains .
As result that your dog is being thirsty.
So you can never be too safe at the salty Mediterranean sea.

Also as a dog keeper : “scoop your poop” and also use the rubbish bins.
Spending time with your dog at the Costa Blanca dog friendly beaches is a great way to relax and also enjoy the beautiful beaches.

But most of all,  enjoy the summer with your friend  and first of all read our top 6 of dog friendly beaches.

Alicante’s dog friendly beaches : Aguamarga

From 15 June till 15 September the Aguamarga beach will have a dog friendly beaches.
The beach will be  an area full of amenities for dogs. This is really the best beach of all.

Dog friendly beaches Agua Amarga Alicante
Dog friendly beaches Agua Amarga Alicante

A company will take over the service  from the town hall.
The councilor wants a beach first of all adapted for the animals .
Where users with their four feet friend will be able at the same time to ask for a snack but also for a drink at the beach bar.
As a result that the service will be first class and set finally the standard for other dog beaches on national level.
At the beach bar the dog owners will be able to buy  a new a lead  or a life jacket for their furry company.
Near the beach bar, there will be a space offering dog owners information on the dog related services such as shops and vets.
At the beach there is post to tie their mascots safely and give water and food.

Furthermore 

The dog friendly beaches will include hammocks with umbrellas, so the dogs can escape from the heat of the sun.
Even elevated platforms for when the dogs want to take a break away from the hot sand.
On the 250 squares meters of the dog beach there will be an area for the pets to do ” their business” . This place will be cleaned and disinfected daily.
All dogs must have their passport with vaccinations.
Seems like at Aguamarga Alicante there will be a beach, where dog owners will able to enjoy together with their pet a probably a perfect sunny and relax day.

lovely dog friendly beaches
lovely dog friendly beaches

Villajoyosa dog friendly beaches :Playa El Xarco

The beach of El Xarco at Villajoyosa is a very quit pebble beach. The beach can be windy.
The access is only possible by car by Venta El Xarco on the main road.

Gandia, Playa Can. 

At Gandia the dog friendly zone  is sandy and located  at the end of the beach.
On the beach dogs must be on leads.
Except when the dogs are swimming in the clear water.

Santa Pola,  Calas del Cuartel.

This doggy beach is located  by the Santa Pola light house.
The dog beach is  a small sandy beaches with a little bit of pebbles.
At Santa Pola beach the pet owner is well come with maximum two dogs.
Dogs who are dangerous must wear  therefore a muzzle to avoid problems with other dogs.

Santa Pola is setting up a small car park near the beach for the dogs.
The dogwalkers have called for proper  parking facilities.

Denia

The dog beach for Denia is the Playa de la Escollera Norte.

Elche, Playa El Pinet.

This beach in Elche has sandy dunes and also pine trees.
Same as at the beach of Santa Pola, there is a muzzle obligatory for the dogs who can be dangerous.
At the doggy beach of Elche, due to the Spanish law, all dogs must have their passport with vaccinations.

In the future,  Calpe , Torrievieja  and Beniisa  are thinking of opening also their dog beaches. So that your dog can jump into the Mediterranean Sea.

El Campello

The best thing in Campello there are two dog beaches.
First : Playa de Punta del Riu.
At El Campello the dog friendly beach is located near by the dry river. Therefore the beach is a pebble beach.
At the beach there are natural rock pools, but take care of the currents while your pet is swimming .
Then Playa Barranc d’ aiges.

Altea

Altea has a beach where  the dogs are welcome. More specifically is the Playa Mar Y Monatana.

Torrevieja

Torrevieja will have two temperaly dog beaches.
They will be located at the Cala del Moro and the Punta Margalla.

The good thing is that the dogs and their owners can already enjoy the beaches and the sea at Torrevieja this summer.

dog beaches
dog beaches

But at  last.

Finally at all beaches as an owner of a dog,  you must clean up after your pets.
Their fore the authorities  give heavy fines to foul the beaches.
By Spanish law, all dogs must be micro chipped. Your pet must be vaccinated yearly against rabies and your little darling need to have a pet passport. The authorities may demand to see “Max” or ” Lola” passport.

New dog friendly beaches at Orihuela Costa 

Between La Zenia and Punta Prima there is new a dog beach.
Read more about this beautiful place on our special page dogbeach at Orihuela Costa 

Orihuela Costa

End of februari there is a “Perroton” at the Orihuela Costa .It consist of a walk  accompagnied by the participants dogs . So it is a day out with the family and the pets.
Various animal welfare associations will be presentThe event has also a charity side.
Dogbag dispenders are also present.
The community of  Orihuela Costa is one with international residents and tourist.
Animals are not a toy.  So they deserve to be looked after.

Dog beach Orihuela Costa
Dog beach Orihuela Costa

Checklist before taking “Lola” or “Max” on vacation to the Costa Blanca dog friendly beaches.

  • European passport filled with completed schedule of vaccination certificate, the vaccination against rabies and possibly the health declaration.
  • Necklace with tube with vacation address and telephone number.
  • Bench: ideal to transport your pet but also usually required in your holiday.
  • Eat and drink bowls.
  • Can opener for food.
  • Dog poop bags.
  • Photo of your pet if he would run away.
  • A first aid kit.
  • Toys for your pet.

Dog friendly beaches : a success.

Since it was opened in June 2016 more than 100 dogs a day where registered.
So Lola and max have been enjoying the beaches.

The city council said it has been an even more popular than they expected.Many pet holders have been coming regularly from all over the province. They prefer the beaches  to others nearby where the dogs are allowed.
The town hall checks  daily the quality of the water  the health controls of the pets , the identity of the dogs, the setting even the quality of the sand.
The council have received many congratulations for their initiative.
in addition the behavior of the dog owners and pets are excellent .

Dog beach
Dog beach

Ikea Alicante

A new Ikea Alicante store.

In Alicante a new Ikea Alicante  Furniture store will open it doors in 2015.
That was a promise of IKEA…….
The Ikea will be located in Rabasa Alicante.
There shall also a new shopping center will be build.
Also next to this, there will be a new construction site. On this site will include housing beside the shopping center.
Up to 13.500 houses are planned to be build next to the shopping center.
The new Ikea Alicante will occupy 300 000 square meters. The Ikea will provide for 9000 direct and indirect jobs in the city.

The Ikea is estimated to bring around 5 million customers each year to Alicante. So this would definitely be a major boost for the entire region.  The Job opening will be directed at mostly people from Alicante. So that  is more environmentally friendly. The employees will drive easily to their nearby work each day. Till now all this is just a rumor.

The Ikea in Alicante will be closer for most people than the newly build Ikea in Valencia  or the on in Murcia.

The commercial site will also include an  120 000 square meters for restaurants, offices and commercial buildings.

Other planning ?

Unfortunately some false rumours have surfaced of the IKEA being built across La Zenia Boulevard Shopping Centre in Orihuela Costa.
Although this would have been a great place to build an Ikea.

Ikea in La Zenia Shopping Boulevard 


Now in 2023 there is a little shop of IKEA in La Zenia .
It is more a place were you can order or ask for some help.
But important , what you have order you cab pick it up  some days later in La Zenia shopping boulevard.

Ikea Zenia Boulevard
Ikea Zenia Boulevard

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Alicante it can simply attract more tourist from the North side of Costa Brava like Benidorm and Calpe. So people from Orihuela Costa will have to choose either drive 30 minutes to the Shopping Centres in Murcia and visit the Ikea there.
Or go to Alicante which takes you around 45 Minutes.

For the moment people can visit the Ikea in Valencia or the Ikea in Murcia.

This article will be update as soon as we hear more news.

Update Ikea Alicante.

 After years of struggle  for Ikea a final decision could be close to a solution in the nearby future.
The mayor of Alicante  and the company admitted  that they were negotiations.
But nothing has been concreted till now.

 

A new Ikea Alicante store ????

Still rumors …..



Ikea Alicante
Ikea will open a new furniture store in Alicante

 

 

 

 

Alicante Airport

Alicante Airport
View of Alicante Airport

Alicante Airport (airport code ALC) is also called El Altet. Now it is one of the biggest airports in Spain.

A busy airport.

Presently Alicante airport is in the top 50 of Europe busiest airports.
More than 80 % of the passenger flights are international.
In the past , , Alicante Airport handled 10.000.000 passengers.
Now , Alicante Airport it is classified as the second busiest of the group of airports in Europe, with between 10 and 25 millions passengers per year.
Only Cologne Bonn grew more  over this period. Malaga airport in Spain and  Palma de Mallorca followed.
In the present, security concerns means that part of the leisure demand to external markets  will continue to shift towards the EU destinations and in sum their airports.
More specifically  the North African destinations  have suffered from the continuing instability. As a result  the holiday takers  choose Spain and the Costa Blanca.
Furthermore, the airport has recently been improved by a new terminal that replaced the old one.

Location Alicante Airport

In the first place, the airport of Alicante is 10 km southwest of Alicante city.
In addition, the airport is the gate way to Costa Blanca, Costa Azahar and Costa Almeria.
Besides, there are a great number of international passenger flights from all over Europe.
Most of the flights are tourism and come from West and North Europe.
But the airport is also attractive for national flights. For instance, the flights to Madrid, to Barcelona and to Palma the Mallorca are popular destinations.

Of course Alicante airport handled a passengers flight . But also 2500 tonnes of cargo a year.

At the present time, Alicante airport has three terminals. The new terminal is in a L shape.
Now, the airport offers several floors.
Below there are bars, shops and restaurants. Also a pharmacy, post office, car park and tourist information.
Beside this there are also duty-free shops which offer an large selection of items. Like there are : music and electronics, library , fashion. But also wines, watches or perfumes.

Airlines Flying into Alicante.

In the present Ryanair flies into Alicante from over 26 routes. Operating 166 flights a week.

Flying from Belgium to Alicante.
At the present , there are different options to fly into Alicante from Belgium.
First of all over 5 Cities have direct flying routes into Alicante.
In Particular, these cities are Ostend, Brussels, Charleroi , Luik and Antwerp.

Flying from Ostend (Oostende) to Spain El Altet.
Jetairfly offers flights  3 days a week. Jetair even increase the capacity in the summer.

Flying From Brussel to Alicante Elche AIrport.
Four flying companies are flying directly to the Airport.
In fact, this companies are Vueling, Ryanair , Jetairfly, Transavia  and Brussels Airlines.
Vueling is the low coast company of Iberia.

Next, Brussels Airlines flies  2 days a week to the Airport of Alicante. They uses an Airbus 319.

Getting to and from Alicante Airport.

In spite of that the Alicante airport is so import .The only way to get to the airport is by road.
We hope that in the next years they will be a train. But till now, there is no train.
At this moment the road to the airport is the N 338.
This road connects the airport with the different motorways. The N 332 is the old highway from Cartagena to Valencia.
The N 340 leads to Murcia.
The largest motorway nearby the airport is the A 7 is the “Autopista del Mediterraneo”  or the Mediterranean motorway.

Now you can get to Alicante city with a taxi. So a taxi takes you to center in about a 15 minutes and cost about 25€.
Next, from the airport of Alicante,  buses are leaving in several directions. Benidorm, Alicante ans indeed also , Torrevieja schedule.
In brief , the mayor international companies of car rental have offices in the airport. Like Avis, Europcar, Hertz and others.
In fact you can hire at the airport but you can also  pre-book a car online.
But in the first place compare the different prices.

Check out our page on Car Rental

Alicante Airport Supermarket.

Presently a  supermarket is open in Alicante-Elche airport.
So you can buy some quick groceries when you have an early or late night flight.
It is in front of  the car rental services.
So, it is accessible by travelers and non travelers.
The size of the supermarket is around 80 square meters.
In fact  the supermarket offer a little range of products. From food and drinks, to mobile phone and some basic medication.

Kiss and FLY Parking.

Recently a new car parking opened  . Because it  makes it able to drop off the passengers without the risk of a fee.
At the front you can park for free at the new parking for 15 minutes.
Now in the new parking there are 80 parking spots.  Even though after the 15 minutes the fee is immediately 1.90 euros.

Tip Fly parking

If yo stay over this free allowance you will be charged 12 cents from the first minute.
So for instance we did pay nearly 4 euro for a half hour.:-(.
So, the next time we parked the car in the short term park.
The charges are much more cheaper.
For instance for the same half hour we did pay 1, 30 euro.
So if you think you may longer than the 15 minutes go straight the  short term car park.

Airport Parking Alicante Airport.

The airport offers several parking options.
Indeed you have the choice between  ” First class “car parking, “long-stay” parking or” general “parking.
In fact  for long-term parking, garages in the area offer a cheaper option. Usually these garages offer a free shuttle service to the airport.
To conclude choose the parking or in Spanish “aparcamiento “,  which suits you best and save time and/or money.

Longterm parking
There is a option to park your car for two years for 400 € at the ParkandGo.
There are more than over 1000 outdoor spaces and more than hundred covered parking places.
Minibuses do the shuttle service  between the parking and the airport.
Seven days a week , 24 hours a day. For customers there is also a free carwash , a waiting room with drink and eat facilities.
The booking can be done by smartphone.

Hotels.

In spite of all this possible guests, there are no hotels at the airport or nearby.
In fact the closest solutions is “Holiday Inn” in  Alicante .

Shopping and restaurants, bars.

Finally “Costa Blanca Plaza” is the shopping and restaurant area of the airport.
But first you have to pass the douane .
On this floor there are many  bars side by side . Such as Starbucks, Valor, Saboramar, Burger King…

For the shops see below 🙂

Furthermore also nice  shops, restaurants, press and indeed also a pharmacy.
But also the nice gift shops offer a large selection of items: music and electronics, Spanish fashion, wines, watches, perfumes.
The last point to buy some souvenirs.

Personal shopper

You can discover a new shopping experience  at the airport with the  help of a Personal Shopper. This service is free.
So it is a great opportunity to go shopping at a selection of top brand stores.
For instance : Boss, Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein, Superdry, Guess,Lacoste , Samsonite or Kipling.
Furthermore there are shops from Desigual, Swaroski, Victoria Secret, Wekkend Max Mara , Trucco or Natures.
But also a large choice of accessoires like ” Parfois’ or Sunglass hut.
So get a personal assistance with Duty Free and Tax refund.

You find her in front of the alicante Duty free store. Nearby the Starbucks.

Apersonal shopper

personal shopper

Luggage. 

In brief you can not store baggage at the airport due security reasons.

Information.

First, on the check-in floor and in the arrivals Hall in the center there is an information desk about the airport .
On the ground floor close to the arrival gate a Tourist Information is available.

Wheelchair.

Naturally there is special parking spaces are near the entrance. So disable passengers can be easily dropped off nearby the entrance of the terminal.
While wheelchairs are available nearby the entrance. Additionally, the  airport has large wheelchairs ramps and adapted elevators and toilets.

Pharmacy.

Low down, in the ground floor of the terminal is located a pharmacy. And the next important , its is open from 7 to 23.
Nearby is a 24 hours first’s aid post.

Address.

03195 EL Altet , Alicante , Alicante, Spain

Telephone. 
902 404 704

News about Alicante Airport.

Now Alicante airport hit the 12 million passenger mark. Thanks to this the airport now becomes Spain 5th busiest airport.
In the first place: , Madrid. In the second place Barcelona El Prat. Then Gran Canaria, followed by Malaga.
Of course British tourist are leading. Followed by the Spanish tourists, on 3 the place the Dutch people, then the German tourist, the Belgians and the Norwegians.
All over across Spain the rise in tourist sector is noticeable.

Train  airport Alicante .

In spite off it all , there is a lack of a rail access to El Altet.
Besides, it is very strange that an airport with more than  12 million  travelers  has not a train or tram to reach the airport.

Till now, you have first need to Alicante city. From there you can go to different places.
But , there is a bus line , the C 6 bus service.
So, this bus service runs between the airport terminal and Alicante city center. Also, the bus runs every 20 minutes. Every day of the year.
The bus stops at the RENFE train station , but also at the other locations around Alicante.

In the past, the national government for Spain local trains overlooked the Alicante project.
For many travelers is a big disappointment that there is no rail link between the city and the airport.
Above all this is a discussion, who started already  in 2010 !
The bizarre thing is that the Alicante Murcia train line us only one kilometer away.
On the million cost would be offset by a potential seven million passengers each year.

Bus Alicante airport Torrevieja, a success.

Bus Alicante airport Torrevieja is a huge success among travelers and people who rent houses in Torrevieja or Orihuela Costa.

Torrevieja bus
Torrevieja bus

In the present , there is a daily service.
It takes about 55 Minutes between the airport of Alicante and Torrevieja. Meanwhile the bus is fully capable of taking a lot baggage. So you don’t need to worry about your big bags filled with scuba equipment.

During  the summer season a bus drives every hour but we posted the bus schedule down this page.
In brief the bus is the really the cheapest way of transport  to get Torrevieja.

Costa Azul bus.

The Company of the bus is  called “Costa Azul”. Indeed keep an eye on the buses with Airport Shuttle Costa Azul on it.
Because you can book the bus ticket directly from the bus driver, it is for most people very attractive.
Meanwhile in the summer season there is also a ticket sailing office in the airport. In front of the arriving zone.

bus alicante airport torrevieja
bus alicante airport torrevieja

Indeed the residents or the tourists who go to spend their holidays in Torrevieja or Orihuela Costa can use the bus service.
If you want to read more about Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa find more  on our page : Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa  .

Never the less a direct bus service bus Alicante Torrevieja Alicante El Altet Airport is not a luxury. It is even very popular.
About 18 percent of all travelers arriving at the airport, have the region of Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa  as destination.

In the past, many of them had to take a taxi for 50 €.
In fact,  it was sometimes more expensive than the price they had paid for their flight with their low coast fly.
As you can read, the new bus Alicante Torrevieja  will even contribute to the growth of tourism in Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa.

In brief, the bus Alicante airport Torrevieja is a very cheap and easy way to get to your holiday destination .

Bus stop at Alicante airport.

The bus stop is just outside the departure hall at level 2 .
Take the elevator to the departure hall.
The bus stop Alicante airport is at the end of the departure hall.
The bus company “Costa Azul “ is running several times a day the distance  of 63 kilometers and also the trip back.

The service that offers the bus line  Alicante Torrevieja is “direct “with 3 bus stops and its rides 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
The bus runs through the A-7 and stops in Santa Pola, La Marina, Guardamar and Torrevieja.
Equal important : the bus is accessible for wheelchairs.
And at least the bus has a large luggage space.

A new look for the Shuttle bus Alicante airport Torrevieja . 

In particular Torrevieja has a  new bright and breezy airport shuttle. Presently it is colorful designed by the graphics artists of the town hall’s tourism service.
In fact, they hope that the attractive bus will encourage more tourists to use the bus and visit the region.
Immediately,  it will allow people to identify very quick their bus in the airport.

Departures:
Bus Alicante airport to Torrevieja

Daily starting from 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00  12:00  13:00  14:00 16:00 17:00  18:00 19:00  20:00 22:00
In blue from 1st April  to 31th October .

Departure and arrival in the bus station of Torrevieja , Calle del Mar 50

Arrival and departure in the Alicante airport in the second floor.

Bus Torrevieja to Alicante airport

Daily starting from 7:00 9:00 10:00   11:00 12:00 13:00 15:00 16:00 17:00  18:00 19:00  21:00
In blue from the 1st April till 31th October
Departure and arrival in the bus station of Torrevieja , Calle del Mar 50

Arrival and departure in the Alicante airport .

Bus Alicante Torrevieja
Bus Alicante Torrevieja

It take you to your destination in one hour to get there. The bus run inland via the A7 highway.
Not on the N 332 ( old route ) . In fact, so the bus avoid traffic delays in the summerseason on the N 332.

Departure and arrival point:bus Alicante airport Torrevieja

The most important,departure and arrival point is the Torrevieja bus station. Calle del Mar, 50.

Ticket Price: € 8 from kinds older than 4 year and adults . The little ones are free. Some drivers ask for the ID.
Pensioners get 30% discount when there are living in the Valencian region.

The tickets are for sale in Torrevieja bus station and in the airport. You can also pay the driver.
Furthermore , you can buy the tickets online.

Also important , the buses are handicap accessible. Furthermore there is free WiFi and enough space for the luggage.

On the one hand the bus is an cheap way to get to the airport or Torrevieja.
On the other hand, when you have a low cost flight it is possible that your plane land after 22:00.
Equally important is that the bus is popular. So sometimes the bus fills up very quickly in the summer season.In fact, then you have to wait for the next bus.

This page on the web is not update daily with the information on the bus Alicante airport Torrevieja.
See for daily details  Costa Azul :  965 710 146

Prices of a Taxi Alicante Torrevieja.

In fact the Price of a taxi from Alicante El Altet will cost you about  65 euros. While the biggest advantage of the taxis are that they can be pre-booked. And will take you quick to your final destination.
Naturally  this might be a good option to consider when you are with 4 or more people and share the price.

Also  Interesting:

For instance visit our webpage  Alicante Airport Car Rental Comparison

On this page we do a Torrevieja Airport Car Rental  Airport Pick up Comparison

Important note : Yourspain is not responsible for the change in the timetables.

Alicante, Costa Blanca

Alicante is the provincial capital of the Alicante region.

Boulevard
Boulevard

First, the town is situated in the middle of the Costa Blanca coast.
At the North of Alicante is “Northern Costa Blanca”.
With  popular tourist city’s as Benidorm, Calpe, Denia, Valencia, ….

At the south of  Alicante is situated “Southern Costa Blanca” .
With lovely towns like Santa Pola with fortress and castell , Torrevieja and his salt lakes  and Orihuela Costa .

Connecting the coast in the Orihuela
Connecting the coast in the Orihuela

Weather

Of course, Alicante has a Mediterranean Sea climate.
Because of  the influence of the azul Blue sea.
As a result hot summers and mild winters. So,  it rains only  about 20 days each year.
So, there are more than 300 sunny days or 3 000 hours of sunshine per year.
For instance, the average day temperature from march till October is around  25 degrees.
Even in winter the temperatures are good.
Instead in winter,  if you want to stroll for the evening , it is better to bring a jacket .

What to see in Alicante.

First, the town is  best known for its Mediterranean Sea harbor and his airport  El Altet ( El altet Airport ).
Also known as Miguel Hernandez airport.
But the city  is not only the place, where most of the flights in El Altet airport are landing.
Besides the important airport, the  city is self is full of attractions, museums, parks, bars, restaurants. All of them are suitable for every one.
Indeed,the town is beautiful and attractive , and not only a place to start your sunny holiday.

Boulevard with palm trees

First off all the town is famous for its wonderful boulevard with palm trees and the beaches.
During a scroll, it’s very nice to drink something in one of the many little bars and nice restaurants.
The best of it is that most of  them are nearby the old harbor and in the city.
The place to be for a real Spanish “tapa”.

As  you take your time to visit the town, you will  discover a town plenty of huge plaza, parks and the many shops in the shopping streets.

In Alicante there are eight kilometers of sun-baked beaches at the  Mediterranean sea .

The next best the night life in “El Barrio“, a district of Alicante.
Equally important, the town provides a nightlife until the late ( or early) hours for locals and  tourists.
At the past the original name of Alicante was ” Lucentum” . This is translated as ” City of Lights”.

Alicante Cultural.

Castillo de Santa Barbara.

Highest attraction is the “Castillo de Santa Barbara” or the Castle of Santa Barbara.
On top of the hill is the location of the beautiful castle.
As a result the Mount Benacantil gives an astonishing view on the city.

Castillo de santa barbara Allicante
Castillo de santa barbara Allicante

So, “El Castillo de Barbara”  is one of the largest medieval fortress of the Costa  Blanca.

Furthermore , it is also an important land mark on this Spanish coast.
On the top , inside the castle there is a museum of the city of Alicante.
Of course the museum introduce you to different historical Spanish quests throughout the centuries.

From below at the beach, you can even  the view and see a see a part of the castle.
Because, the part is in the shape of a head it is  known as the ” Moors head”.
At the past, on the slopes of the Mount Benacantil have been found remains of the Bronze Age, Iberian and Roman influence.
But the origin of the “Castillo de Santa Barbara” is in the late 9th century with the Muslim occupation.

Now, if you want make a visit to the castle, the easy way is with an elevator.
Or the more beautiful way, walking a path with amazing sea view and panorama over the city and the port . We did enjoyed very much.
As a result, taking the path you also can admire the old barrio of Santa Cruz. This is the old quarter of Alicante.

Opening hours Castle

First  : open daily from 10.00 till 19.00.
But on bank holidays: from 10.00 till 14.00.
Closed on Monday.
While last lift up is at 18.30
Last lift down  at 18.45
Presently  the entry is five euro.

At last the adress : Avenida de Juan Bautista Lafora 6 03002 Alicante

MARQ

Now, the MARQ is the archaeological Museum from Alicante .
In fact , it is one of the best museum in Spain.
In brief, if you like archaeology read more about on our page : MARQ, in Alicante city.

MARQ Alicante

The old quarter of  El barrio de Santa Cruz

Below the castle,  you can discover the oldest en the most authentic quarter of the city.
With little streets and  flowers everywhere. After all, there are some very old houses with authentic charm. Because, the streets are narrow and lovely white houses.
As a result that they are  very attractive for photographers with their  nice white houses .

Furthermore in the old quarter, there is an old chapel dating from the 18th century.

To conclude, the old area is popular for tourist . So you can find also many nice  ( tapa) bars and little restaurants.

Alicante Old Quarter
Alicante Old Quarter

Castillo de Fernando 

In addition a part of the Castillo de Barbara, is the Castillo de Fernando.
It was built against the foreigner advances.
In brief, it is not so impressive.
But the ornate doorway and the parts of the Castillo de San Fernando are still worth to see.

Basilica de Santa Maria .

Next the “Basilica de Santa Maria” or the St Mary basilica.
In the past, this building  was built between the XIV and the XVI centuries.
So now s a result that the basilica is an example of the Gothic style in Alicante. Because of this , it is one of the most important attraction of the town.
In particular it is nice to known is that it has been constructed over the ruins of a Moorish Mosque.

Reminder
Most of the museums are closed on Mondays and for the famous Spanish Siesta which is mostly from 14.00 till 17.00.

The town Hall of the Ayuntamiento.

All  the Spanish town have an important building in their center, the town hall or “Ayuntamiento”.
In alicante is is a very nice building to admire.
Behind the Santa Maria  and nearby  the La Explanada park.

Next  at the  “Ayuntamiento” there is an interesting instrument to discover . Indeed a standard for measuring ,  a small disc to measure the correct  height above the sea level in all other parts of the Spanish Region.

Isla de Tabarca.

One example of a nice family trip is a boat trip .
In brief : one of the to do attractions with good weather is a trip to the island of Tabarca.
The island is located  on the front off  the coast of Alicante.
Nearby  the harbor there are several companies who are sailing to the island Tabarca.
As you can see on other webpage : a nice trip for the lovers of scuba diving and snorkeling.

Beaches.

The most important the  beaches in Alicante  has been awarded  with the Blue Flag.  The beaches are long and open, ideal for swimming and sunbathing even with children.
In front of the beaches, there are a good selection of water sports, shops, bars and restaurants.
As a result that in summers season it become crowdy.

The Marina.

In short, the Marina is the meeting place of tourists. The place to be .
Naturally  you can enjoy the  luxury and admire the beautiful yachts and  boats. Side by side the Marina,  there are shopping centers, fine restaurants and excellent bars.
In brief, the Marina offers a luxury ambiance which reflects in the higher prices for the food and drink facilities.
So go for a nice walk, and enjoy the Spanish life style.
The Marina is located close to the ” Zone de Levante”.

The daily central marketplace or Mercado central.

Every market is the place to be  for fresh food and good quality. So also the Mercado central of Alicante.
The market is very famous with the the locals.
There are nearly 300 stalls  selling fruit, bread, fish , meats , pastries, flowers and typical  food of the region.
Some stalls have a family tradition from nearly more than 100 years.
You will love the many colors and tastes of the market.
There are two floors . The ground floor is the place to be  for meat cheese, ham. The underground is  the selling place for  fish, fruit, vegetables, pastries, bread .
Of course, nearby there are bars and  little restaurants.
Nearby is also the floral market.
The market is open from 7:00 till 14:30 from Monday till Saturday.

We think that the Mercado central is well worth a visit because it is a nice way to learn the real Spanish way of life.

Like Spanish markets ? read more about on our page Markets in the South Costa Blanca  

Markets-Costa-Orihuela-Costa-Blanca
Markets-Costa-Orihuela-Costa-Blanca

Parks.

If you take you time, there are also a lot of parks in Alicante to discover.
The nice things about the parks is, that most of the time they offer all sort off activities.
For instants some times there is  music, often dance. Furthermore an open air exhibition.

Palmeral Alicante
Palmeral Alicante

While the oldest park in the town,  is the Canalejas Park.


In the park you can find sculptures  of lions and dogs, children’s play zone , fountains and a map of Spain in stone.

canalejas park Alicante
canalejas park Alicante

Like wise another nice park in Alicante  is ‘El Palmeral’.
On the edge of the city you can find the ” Palmera”  what  means the  palm trees.
At sum, El Palmeral park has hundred of palm trees, beautiful waterfalls and “zen” lakes.
The Palmeral park is open the all day, from 9 to midnight.

Connection.

First of all, Alicante is well-connected by train, bus and trams (also at night).

In fact, the coaches are managed by Alsa, the company  which rides all over Spain.

Alicante is connected to High Speed rail network which should decrease the travel time between popular destinations like Madrid (normally 4 hours).

Tip for sailors :  The iconic Volvo Ocean Race.

Since 2008 Alicante is the home of the Volvo Ocean Race, the world toughest race for sailors.

Volvo Ocean Race Alicante
Volvo Ocean Race Alicante

Indeed, the  race is the example of months mental and physical roller coaster.
Because the race is days and nights of speed, storms and adventures.

During eight months the sailors Race over the oceans around the world.
Now, it will be the fourth time the town is the opener of the action since the Ocean Race set up his permanent headquarter in the harbor of Alicante.

Read more about it on our page  Volvo Ocean Race in Alicante  

Volvo Ocean Race Museum.

Additionally , there is also an exhibition which explains why the Volvo Ocean Race is so special .

While, a team of 25 photographers  capture superb shots. As a result a report of every drop of blood , sweat and tears on board.
So, the Museum offers a family friendly tours trough the history of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Naturally they use multimedia  with games, video and a simulator of the race.
So,  the Museum give you a view of the legends  of the race,  the technology, the equipment.

More sports news in Alicante : the return of the Vuelta.

Once again, the town of Alicante will be on the route of the famous ” Vuelta” .
With this Vuelta attracting the top of the cyclist of the world, Alicante hoops that the residents and the tourist will have the change to see the famous cyclists  .

Alicante Vuelta
Alicante Vuelta

As a result, an audience of 5 million people will watch the race. And this promotion will be seen in more than 50 countries.
So, welcome Vuelta to Alicante !

Life as a fisherman in Alicante

Today, fishing tourism is one project in Alicante.
So, professional fleets of older or traditional crafts to carry out activity’s.
More specifically, this means that they can have small groups of tourists on board of their ship.
In fact, small groups of interested people who want to known nearby the experience of professional fishing.
Now, the tourist can spend a day of the life of a fisherman.
Even help participate in bringing in the fish to the  harbor and auction.
Everything is on board. So you can enjoy a wonderful day fishing at the Costa Blanca.
Some offer a half day , others a full day fishing trips. Everyone is welcome.From novice to experienced fishers.
In brief : enjoy a great day fishing in Alicante.

TRAM of Alicante

Presently, 30 years of transporting passengers with 100 million passengers.
This landmark figure is celebrating his 30 birthday.
Currently, the TRAM operates 5 lines with 69 stations ans stops.
Now, it is  modernizing its line with Benidorm.
So, the old Tram have now a greater comfort and a higher speed .
In addition, a reduction of breakdowns and delays.

TRAM
TRAM

Guide covering Alicante.

A series of 7 themed guides  about the Alicante  are find online.
The guides covers  the landscape, the sea, the wetland, the forest…
This easy reading guides give you  details for walking, scuba diving, cycling, climbing and of course  tours of the  salt history.
Important to known : they are  available in English.

Tips for trips Alicante

If you are staying in Alicante you can easy go to the popular  Benidorm with his many family attractions parks.
In fact, you can read more about it on our page Benidorm. While it is a hour drive.

Benidorm
Benidorm

Besides, nice to see are also the waterfalls of Algar and Guadalest.
In brief, it is a countryside trip. But worth the trip to the ancient villages and the refreshing waterfalls.

Guadalest Algar waterfalls
Guadalest Algar waterfalls

Or  the Orihuela Costa is also nice to visit.
This part of the Costa Blanca is  the favorite place for the golf players.

Orihuela Costa Cabo Roig
Orihuela Costa Cabo Roig

Casino Gourmet Alicante

First, there is a new meeting place for the lovers of gastronomy : Casino Gourmet Alicante.
Now, in the old Casino there are several bars and restaurants .
So you have a large  choice between the Spanish and the International Gastronomy.

Casino Gourmet Alicante
Casino Gourmet Alicante

In fact, if you want , you can chose for “pintxos” the tapas from San Sebastian in North Spain.
Or the “jamon of Trevelez” of South Spain.
But also taste the sweet temptations of the Spanish kitchen.
Or the kitchen from Italy or Mexico.
While the hamburgers are made on the grill.
So after renovation the casino has a new destination .

Casino Gourmet Alicante
Casino Gourmet Alicante

To conclude

As you can see, there are lots of possibilities in the city.
Nearby the crystal blue sea, a lively center, a beautiful beach promenade and many shops.

So, Alicante is  a good holiday destination worth coming to.