The second largest city in the province of Valencia, Alicante was once known as the 'City of Light,' and is a popular tourist destination with a decidedly elegant Mediterranean feel. The beaches are the main draw for most, and rightly so, but Alicante also features many well curated museums and contemporary art, with a rising food culture. HAPPYCAR is here to help you find the best car hire Alicante has to offer so you can take full advantage of this provincial city and a car hire Alicante Airport is also available. We check the prices of international and local providers so that you don’t have to check each website to provide you with the best deals to make your money go further on a rental car that fits your specific rental needs.
General Information
Alicante is located in south Valencia and is an important tourist player in the region under the Costa Blanca brand. Seafront alfrescoes and wide esplanades are beginning to make a name for themselves in this city that is renowned for its nightlife and cuisine. Alicante is also a prime archaeological destination, with many UNESCO World Heritage Sites sprinkled around the city. There are many famous Spanish festivals that are celebrated each year in Alicante, including the Bonfires of St John on midsummer night, where giant structures are built and burned and the Moors and Christian Festival in Villajoyosa, where mock battles are waged and arquebuses are fired into the air.
To Do
A trip to Alicante wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the beach with one of the favorites to enjoy is Postiguet Beach in the heart of the city. At night, the lights around the sandy beach illuminate the waves and provide a lovely backdrop to your evening. With an Alicante car rental you can also drive to the four mile long San Juan Beach, one of the finest in Spain. There are also several companies near the port that offer catamaran trips to the island of Tabarca. Towering over the city is the Castle of Santa Barbara, which is a pleasant walk up and offers sweeping views over Alicante. You can also wander through the city, through the breezy esplanade, past the array of churches and into the splendid Museum of Contemporary Art, including works from Dalí, Sempere and Picasso, housed inside a 17th century Gothic building.
Attractions
The old, narrow streets of Alicante make for a great excuse to wander, and stumble upon the lovely sights that are spread out over the city. The most prominent attraction in the city is the Castle of Santa Barbara, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain and built by Muslims in the 9th century. There is also a lovely sight in the Plaza de Carmen through tight winding streets. Up north is the Castle of San Fernando, built at the beginning of the 19th century on Tossal Hill, and is a popular place to relax.
Eating
As with many Spanish cities, Alicante boasts a range of cuisine from all around the world, including Turkish, Moroccan, French, Thai and Indian, and fresh local produce is standard. Seafood and rice dominates in Alicante, as is the fashion in Spain, with paella at the forefront, but there are also over a hundred different rice recipes in the region. Sausages are produced in the mountains nearby and are definitely worth a try. For a unique dessert, try turrón, made with whole almonds, honey, sugar and egg whites. For an unusual drink made with tiger nuts, look for “horchata,” a popular local cocktail.
Excursions
A car hire in Alicante, Spain, provides many interesting destinations to explore in the surrounding areas. The Canalobre Caves can be found around 15 miles north of Alicante, and features an impressive set of stalactites and stalagmites and inside feels much like a cathedral. Around 18 miles away from the city is Novelda, a quaint little town with a number of interesting landmarks, including the Sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena and several natural salty lakes. Nearby you can also find Elche, famous for housing the biggest European forest of palms. A slightly longer drive can take you to other activity-filled cities such as Benidorm to the north, and Murcia to the south. Don't forget to check out other cities such as the capital Madrid or you can go a little further and explore the beautiful Palma de Mallorca.