What to do in L'Alacantí

Arrive at Alicante Harbour by boat and join the 80,000 visitors who dock here each year. Since the 1980s, when the city’s maritime industry was transferred north to Valencia, Alicante Harbour has been a tourist haven. Cruise ships, ferries and pleasure craft are constantly arriving here each week. Search the bustling area around the harbour to take your pick from a range of bars and restaurants. Many attractions on the east coast of Spain are just a boat ride away.

Next to Alicante’s bustling harbour district, Postiguet Beach is the most convenient place to cool off in the city. Spend the day climbing Mount Benacantil or wandering the Old Town and then go swimming at Postiguet before the sun goes down. Swim in the Mediterranean and explore the rock clusters that hide tide pools and sea life.

Take a “paseo”, the Spanish word for their beloved evening stroll, on the Explanada de España. This walkway, covered in more than 6 million marble tiles, leads from the port and hugs the curving coast. As you walk, follow the red, white and black designs on the esplanade that depict waves on the Mediterranean Sea. Join the crowds of locals and tourists who are on the path day and night. This is the city’s most popular walking route.

If you haven’t picked up on the Spanish love for food yet, Central Market will surely prove their passion to you. This local food market at the heart of Alicante is a central part of the daily routines of residents, who flock here every morning. See more than 200 stalls over two levels. Shop for fresh meat and produce or find souvenirs and gifts in the extensive selection of preserves and non-perishables. Whatever you have planned for the day in the Alicante area, stock up at the Central Market for a cheap and tasty picnic and chat with the friendly locals.

Marked with a lake in the shape of an “S,” the designer’s initial, there is no doubt that Alicante Golf Course is a source of pride for both Severiano Ballesteros and the people of Alicante. Opened in 1998 to cater to both the increasing numbers of Spanish golf players and the many beachgoers looking for somewhere to play golf between dips in the sea, it now serves as a championship course that is also beloved by amateurs. Bring clubs or rent some and try the ingeniously designed challenges of the greens.

The two 41-metre (165-foot) towers of Alicante’s historic Town Hall rise over the city’s Old Town. Built where the Casa de la Ciudad (town hall) once stood, the Alicante Town Hall (or Ayuntamiento), is one of the city’s landmark buildings. The interior, featuring two ornate rooms and a small chapel, is just as gorgeous as the façade. Tour the inside and notice the paintings by local artists that hang on the walls. Visit a permanent exhibition on archaeological digs that have happened in the region. This small museum is located in the newest part of the Town Hall along with the offices of the city council.

Alicante’s biggest attraction is also its oldest. The Castle of Santa Bárbara is over a millennium old, dating back to Muslim rule of the region in the ninth century. Despite its age, the building is almost completely intact. Crowning Mount Benacantil in the northeast part of the city, the Castle of Santa Bárbara sits 166 metres (545 feet) above sea level and overlooks Alicante. It is among the largest medieval castles in Europe today, covering the whole summit of the mountain.