Touring the Neighborhoods, Beaches and Castle of Alicante, Spain Special

Alicante, located on Spain's southeastern coast, is not as popular as the country's more prominent destinations such as Barcelona and Madrid, but it offers a lively, fun, sun-bathed, and cheaper experience for travelers of all-ages.

The first thing you will notice in Alicante is the Castle of Santa Barbara perched high atop Mt. Benacantil. The castle is adjacent to downtown and the popular beaches and is a striking backdrop from nearly any location in the city. It dates back to the 10th century and is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. Several long stone walkways lead up to the top where the best views of Alicante are found. The castle is illuminated at night and offers equally stunning views of the lights of Alicante and the surrounding cities. Entrance to the castle is free. Despite fewer tourists than other major Spanish cities, Alicante can be flown to for cheap from virtually any location in Europe through the British airline Ryan Air. A number of Europe's northern citizens, namely the British and Swedes, and Germans, zip down to Alicante for an extended weekend. You will find them tanning at the beach, in addition to taking part in the raucous nightlife in "el barrio."

Mat Elmore

The heart of Alicante's nightlife is "el barrio," located right next to the Santa Barbara Castle and the beach.

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Barrio is the Spanish word for neighborhood, but in Alicante it is the heart of nightlife. Visit the barrio any night between Thursday and Sunday and you will find yourself confronted by bar promoters yelling "chopitos gratis!" (free shots) and thousands of Spaniards and tourists drinking and dancing. You can find Irish pubs, traditional Spanish tapas bars, Moroccan to-go carts, up-scale Italian restaurants, and all-night dance clubs. Alicante is not known for its culture, but there are a number of museums that are worth a visit. Museo de Arte de Siglo XX La Asegurada (Museum of Contemporary Art) is housed in a building dating back to the 17th century and contains an interesting collection of contemporary art.

Mat Elmore

Santa Barbara Castle in Alicante, Spain

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The Museum of Archeology is another prominent museum in Alicante. It is definitely worth a visit, regardless of whether you are interested in archeology or not. The most typical dish found in Alicante is paella. The dish can be made with a dizzying array of ingredients, from white fish, crab, and squid to pork, chicken, beef, and rabbit or just vegetables. Anything with fresh seafood from the waters off the coast is recommended, in addition to a number of pastries and desserts made from almonds and chocolate. You can't visit Alicante without visiting the beaches. Most tourists travel from the other side of Europe just to sit on its long wide beaches. There are several worth visiting, but many of them are packed in the summer and early fall. Nearest to downtown is Postiguet Beach, which is several kilometers long and located near downtown. If you want something more secluded and with less people, travel on Alicante's new tram to San Juan beach, a 6 km beach. The water is warm all summer and into the early fall.

Mat Elmore

View from the top of Santa Barbara Castle

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