City Break in Alicante
This year we decided to do 4 nights on the way home from a week on the sunny Orihuela coast and explore the city and it didn’t disappoint.
We stayed in the beautiful Alicante Gran Sol Hotel which is affiliated with the Melia Hotel Group. It is the tallest building in Alicante and is situated overlooking the beautiful Alicante port. Just outside the hotel is the beautiful colourful promenade which has a selection of fantastic restaurants. We stayed in a 2 bedroom family room situated on the 22nd floor with breath-taking views. The hotel is spotless with excellent staff. There is a restaurant on the 25th floor which you can enjoy lunch and dinner from which I would highly recommend and also make sure to book in advance, we enjoyed a very special wedding Anniversary lunch here. There is also a bar where you can enjoy a drink from and take in the stunning views from.
The old town is a 5 minute walk and has a range of things to see and do from beautiful churches, restaurants and bars with several little squares hidden throughout. There is also the famous mushroom street with giant mushrooms along it which is a must do to walk down. Alicante is also great for shopping with the main shopping street / area called Avenida Maisonnave and Calvo Sotelo Square. There is also a huge outlet shopping centre on the outskirts of the city of you really want to shop til you drop.
We did the open tour but that brings you around the city which is great for getting your bearings and learning about the city and takes only 50 minutes. In the cooler months a walking tour would be an excellent way to get to know the city which can be easily arranged. There is so much history and culture within Alicante. We visited the medieval Castillo de Santa Bárbara, set on a hilltop with sweeping views of the Mediterranean coast. There is a lift that takes you right up the top and I would highly recommend spending an afternoon here.
Alicante has one of the largest bull rings that seats 15k people and is steeped in history .Placa de Bous d’Alacant is a cultural and bullfighting treasure that captivates the essence of Spanish tradition. The historic bullring invites you to immerse yourself in the excitement of bullfighting and the rich bullfighting heritage. You can purchase tickets for bullfighting from €15 on the website www.plazatorosalicante.com Alicante is home to a diverse array of art exhibitions centres and museums both large and small spanning from archaeology, fine arts , ceramics , bullfighting and many more.
Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art located adjacent to the Santa Maria Church and is a must see for art lovers alike. All of the up to date information on cultural events are on the following website. https://alicanteturismo.com/en/museums-and-cultural-centres/
Alicante also has a beautiful beach to enjoy with a range of beach bars and you rent sun loungers and umbrellas and spend some time swimming in the beautiful Mediterranean sea.
Alicante has something for everyone. Whether its a family break , girls weekend away or a city break Alicante comes highly recommended. Check out my highlights on my Instagram page @emma.dowlingtravelcounsellor for more inspiration on Alicante. If this sounds like a destination you would like to visit get in touch and I would love to plan your next trip.
