Alicante

General

Alicante also known as "The City of Light" is the capital of the Comunidad Valenciana, located in the south-east of Spain. This versatile and cosmopolitan city with its 331,000 inhabitants boasts a wide cultural offer, excellent shopping and glamorous nightlife. Each year the University of Alicante receives thousands of exchange students from all over the world adding to its unique and international ambience and flare. Privileged with a mild Mediterranean climate, stunning urban coastline and beaches it also hosts the Ocean Race Europe, adding to its polularity as one of the most visited cities in Europe anually. Alicante is served by its own International Airport, with excellent connections to Europe and rest of the world.

Exploring the City

Alicante lends itself for urban strolling and exploration any time of day during the year. Visit the indoor market El Mercado Central for some fresh, regional produce with its colorful flower stall outside. Its landmark El Castillo de Santa Barbara is one of Spain's largest medieval fortresses, and offers not only great views of the Mediterranean but also interesting exhibitions. Make sure you’re in town during the celebration of the Bonfires of San Juan every June and take your time to stroll the city’s oldest residential town El Barrio de Santa Cruz. Here you will discover more than one hidden corner, amaze with their whitewashed buildings decorated with flowers and chat away the day with the friendly locals. Alicante is full of cozy boutiques, fine buildings, good restaurants, chic bars and laidback ambience. Lose your time and place by the seafront promenade La Explanada de España, packed with market stalls and handmade artisanry. At the end of the promenade, you will reach the urban beach of Playa del Postiguet and Alicante’s beloved harbor El Puerto, home to some spectacular yachts and chic nightclubs.

Enchanting Surroundings

Charming and surrounded by interesting places to visit, amazing nature, and endless cultural and outdoor activities. The small city of Albufereta just north of the city is where its history began, as its most famous archaeological sites Tosal De Manises also knows as Lucentum (old Roman settlement) witnesses of. Its golden urban beach has very good facilities and shares it border with San Juan to the north followed by El Campello dotted with long, white sandy beaches. To the south of Alicante, on the other hand you’ll find Elche famous for its palm groves followed by the pristine beaches of Santa Pola and Guardamar. Take it a step further and hop on the ferry from Santa Pola to the island of Tabarca. In less than 20 minutes you’ll be exploring the amazing marine life with your goggles and snorkel. And if you want a superb ending to the day, treat yourself to some tempting fresh seafood straight from the sea to your plate!