Alicante is one of the most accessible resorts on the Costa Blanca. It has its own airport (with flights from many UK airports), a fabulous city beach and a charming Old Town. It is a great destination for a holiday or a weekend break. There are many options for how to get from Alicante airport quickly and conveniently, such as pre-booking private taxis to the city centre or hotel from HolidayTaxis or getting a local taxi from the airport.

 Here’s how you can spend 48 hours in Alicante:

Day One:

This day should be dedicated to seeing as much of Alicante as possible. The best place to start is the magnificent promenade. The Explanada de España runs along the seafront next to the harbour, is palm and fig tree-lined and features a pattern of waves picked out in 6.6 million black, red, and cream tiles. You often find market stalls selling handmade crafts and there’s always a café and bar to step into for a refreshing drink or snack.

From the Esplanade, it is fun to join a walking tour. In about two hours you are guided around the city, learning about the history of Alicante and seeing the key sights in the Old Town, passing City Hall, the Contemporary Art Museum and the Basilica of Santa Maria. Choose the right tour and you will finish at the Mercado Central in time for a delicious lunch.

Walk off those calories with a stroll through the quietness of Barrio Santa Cruz. Set on a hillside, it’s quite a steep climb through narrow winding streets of colorful, floral-bedecked houses, but it’s lovely and the real aim is to reach the top of Mount Benacantil and the 9th-century Castle of Santa Barbara. It towers over Alicante and provides splendid views. If you can’t manage the walk, there’s a lift to the castle from Postiguet Beach.

After learning more about the history of Santa Barbara, head back down to the city with a stop for ice cream. Ice cream is definitely a favorite in Alicante! Treat in hand, head to the harbor to admire the yachts. From here, you can walk to the Volvo Ocean Racing Museum or around the other side to Playa del Postiguet to relax and wind down before deciding where to eat dinner. It’s good to return to the beach or harbour after your evening meal to enjoy a sundowner and watch the sunset.

Day Two:

Start the day with a typical Spanish breakfast then walk to “Mushroom Street.” Mushroom Street is actually San Francisco Street but gets its nickname from the brightly colored mushroom statues erected in 2013.

From here, it’s an easy walk to the Museum of Contemporary art, only open since 2011. Free to enter, it hosts works of art by the likes of Picasso, Chagall, Sempere and Miro.

After absorbing the culture for an hour or two, you deserve to enjoy the beach. You can choose the city beach but it’s more fun to take the tram to San Juan Beach. It’s beautiful white sand with plenty of room for sunbathing and there are also water sports to try. Stay for the afternoon then eat dinner in one of the many seafront restaurants. Or, you could get back on the tram to go to Altea just a little further down the coast. You’re bound to find a very good eatery in the picturesque winding streets and it’s nice to ride the tram back to Alicante in the late evening to enjoy the scenery.

This is a fairly easy going itinerary. If you want to cram more activities and sights in, there’s plenty to fill your to-do/to-see list. You might consider the Water Museum, the MARQ Provincial Archaeological Museum, or shopping along Avenida Maisonnave and Avenida de Alfonso X El Sabio. You could take a boat to the marine reserve of Tabarca Island for some snorkeling or enjoy a round at the Alicante Golf Course, which was designed by Seve Ballesteros. There are also plenty of places and attractions a short holiday taxi ride away.

IMAGE SOURCE