Alicante

Alicante, Spain

Different civilizations have passed through these lands, leaving their mark which can be seen in all corners of this emblematic city. All of this adds to the appeal of this modern city with a primary focus on tourism, but also a special interest in industry and commerce. Alicante, situated on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, offers not only a great variety of services but also a wide range of cultural activities, with its museums, its festivals and its nature areas, in particular the Island of Tabarca (Mediterranean Marine Reserve).

Population:

335,459

Currency:

Euro, €1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

112 Emergencies
091 Police
062 Guardia Civil

Opening Hours:

Smaller, privately-owned shops are mainly open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Big department stores, larger chains and shopping centres are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays. Shops may be closed on Sundays. Most banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 2-2.30 p.m. Only some branches open on Saturday mornings.

Newspapers:

Información
Costa Blanca News

Beach Life

Some of Alicante’s best tourist attractions are its excellent beaches. Year after year they receive the Blue Flag award by the European Union, which earns them well deserved international recognition.

During the summer season, beaches like San Juan, Postiguet and Urbanova have an educational leisure area for the mentally handicapped and an access point for the physically disabled.

Alicante is also the perfect destination for the year-round enjoyment of water sports such as jet skiing, yacht charters, sailing, diving, snorkelling, surfing, windsurfing, competition fishing and water skiing.

The City

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 Bárbara, 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 de España and Avenida Alfonso "X" 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!

Do & See

The ideal location of Alicante on the Mediterranean coast makes it an attractive destination for beach-lovers, golfers and outdoors enthusiasts, but the city offers so much more than fun in the sun. The old quarter is rife with beautiful architecture, from the cathedral and the cloisters to the town hall and many winding alleys, and a wealth of fascinating museums can keep even the most ambitious visitors busy for days.

Golf

The city of Alicante, capital of the Costa Blanca, has become, through its own worth, one of the most popular destinations for playing golf. The key factors of its success, apart from its magnificent 18 hole golf courses, are its first rate hotels and restaurants, its culture and entertainment found in the city, its proximity to the Alicante-Elche International Airport, just 12 kilometres from the city centre, and the mild Mediterranean climate which it enjoys throughout the year, with an average annual temperature of 18 degrees centigrade an more than 3.000 hours of sun a year.

Alicante's golf courses are located in natural surroundings with sea, mountain and nature spot views, and they enjoy the privileged Mediterranean microclimate, which is characterised by its mild winters and warm summers. We hope you enjoy the wide range of options available, presented hereafter.