VII Gran Carrera del Mediterráneo 21K
The officially certified coastal half marathon starts at Alicante's Provincial Council Palace and finishes in Santa Pola. It combines sport with Mediterranean views and forms part of the national race calendar.
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Alicante
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City
ℹ️Practical info — Alicante
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Take the elevator from Postiguet beach to Santa Barbara Castle to save the climb, but walk down through the Santa Cruz neighborhood.
- Stroll along the mosaic-paved Explanada de España promenade in the evening when the temperature is cooler.
- Use the TRAM for day trips; it connects Alicante to other coastal towns like Benidorm and Altea.
- Spaniards eat late; dinner is rarely served before 8:30 PM. Plan for some tapas if you get hungry earlier.
- Visit the Mercado Central in the morning for the freshest produce and an authentic local atmosphere.
🍽 Food
🍽
Arroz a Banda
Look for restaurants along the marina or San Juan beach that specialize in local rice dishes.
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Turrón de Alicante
Buy this hard nougat at specialty shops in the historic center or the Central Market.
🍽
Tapas
Calle Castaños is a bustling street excellent for evening tapas and drinks.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
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Mercado Central
Historic market building offering fresh local produce, fish, and meats.
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Avenida Maisonnave
The main commercial avenue for fashion brands and department stores.
🧘
Parque de Canalejas
A shady park with giant ficus trees, well-suited for a break near the marina.
🧘
Barrio de Santa Cruz
Wander the narrow, whitewashed streets and stairs of the old town below the castle.
🧘
Cabo de las Huertas
Rocky coves east of the main beaches, well-suited for peaceful snorkeling or relaxing.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
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Traditional Festivities of Raval Roig
Alicante's official calendar of traditional festivities lists a multi-day neighbourhood festival for Raval Roig in early September. For visitors, it offers another chance to experience local festive culture close to the seafront.
Hombres G - Best Years Tour
Legendary Spanish rock band Hombres G performs their greatest hits at the Plaza de Toros in Alicante.
KURIOS, Cabinet of Curiosities
Cirque du Soleil brings KURIOS to the big top at Playa de San Juan. The production combines acrobatics, humour, and an imaginative steampunk world over several consecutive evenings.
San Roque Festivities
This long-running neighbourhood festival on the slopes of Benacantil brings together parades, dancing, a paella contest, brass bands, and a procession in honour of the saint. It is one of Alicante's historic popular festivities.
Comedy Series at Santa Bárbara Castle
The summer programme at Santa Bárbara Castle combines stand-up evenings and family activities in a historic fortress setting. The August opener brings an open-air comedy night above the city.
Bonfires of Saint John (Hogueras de San Juan)
Alicante's biggest festival in late June, where large papier-mache sculptures are built and burned on Saint John's night, with fireworks and street celebrations.
Holy Week in Alicante
In spring, solemn processions with brotherhoods and religious figures pass through the old town.
Alicante is a prominent Mediterranean port city and the capital of its province within the Valencian Community. Its history spans several millennia, originating as the Carthaginian settlement of Akra Leuke and later the Roman city of Lucentum. The city's skyline is dominated by the Castle of Santa Bárbara, a massive fortress situated on Mount Benacantil, 166 meters above sea level. The Explanada de España serves as the social heart of the city, a palm-lined promenade paved with 6.5 million marble tiles in a distinctive wave pattern. Alicante benefits from a semi-arid climate, providing mild winters and high annual sunshine hours, which sustains its major tourism industry. Beyond leisure, the city hosts the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and maintains an active commercial port specializing in goods and logistics.
Your journey, your memory
A postcard from Alicante
Turn your own photo into a personal postcard with a local stamp. Free and no sign-up required.
Create a postcard- Location: Galicia, Spain
- Top sights: Museo Bellas Artes Gravina · Teatre Arniches · Teatro Principal
- Nearby: Sant Joan d'Alacant (7 km)
- Population: ~348.901
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 9 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 10 |
| Rain mm | 31 | 19 | 35 | 37 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 15 | 42 | 36 | 41 | 34 |
Live webcam – Alicante
See what it looks like near Alicante right now.
Alicante: Valencia, Spania · 0.2 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com
Geography
Facts
- The Santa Bárbara Castle sits on Mount Benacantil at 166 meters elevation.
- Explanada de España is paved with 6.5 million tricolor marble tiles.
- Alicante has served as the headquarters for the EUIPO since 1994.
- The Roman ruins of Lucentum cover approximately 30,000 square meters.
- The average annual temperature in Alicante is approximately 18 degrees Celsius.
- The Bonfires of Saint John (Hogueras) is the city's official festival.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
A day in the city
Pick weather + travel mode, get a concrete day plan.
09:00→21:192.6 km walk8 places0/8
Day budget: ≈ 21–29 €Entries 25€ · Transport 0€
Start your day at the Central Market, where the local hustle makes Alicante feel truly authentic. After visiting the massive dome of San Nicolás, dive into the narrow, flower-filled alleys of Santa Cruz, the city's oldest neighborhood. For lunch, enjoy local gastronomy in the historic center, then visit the Gothic Basilica of Santa María. In the afternoon, head up Benacantil Mountain to Santa Bárbara Castle, standing 166 meters above the sea. Evening is spent walking the tricolor waves of the Explanada de España. Finish your day at Postiguet Beach, where the sea breeze accompanies a late dinner by the water.
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09:00→19:346.2 km ride7 places0/7
Day budget: ≈ 31–41 €Entries 24€ · Transport 12€
Discover Alicante on two wheels. We start at the cool Explanada and cycle along the coast to Postiguet Beach. Then, our route leads to the award-winning MARQ museum to grasp the region's ancient history. After lunch at the marina, the challenge awaits: climbing Santa Bárbara Castle via the panoramic road. The view is worth every effort. We wrap up at the market and the picturesque old town.
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09:00→20:2616.6 km drive7 places0/7
Day budget: ≈ 22–30 €Entries 23€ · Transport 3€
By car, we combine the city center with the vast northern beaches. We start at the market and explore the old town on foot while the car stays parked. At noon, we drive up to the castle for the panorama. The afternoon is spent at the 7 km long San Juan beach, escaping the urban noise. To finish, we stop by the MARQ museum on our way back to the center.
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Sights in the town Alicante (15)
Frequently asked questions
What is the castle on the hill?
The Castillo de Santa Bárbara, one of Europe's largest fortress complexes with great views of the harbor.
What is the name of the famous promenade?
Explanada de España, known for its mosaic pattern made of 6 million marble stones and its palm trees.
Are there beaches directly in Alicante?
Yes, Playa del Postiguet is located right at the foot of the castle and the edge of the city center.
Can you visit Tabarca Island?
Yes, boats depart daily from Alicante harbor to Tabarca Island, the only inhabited island in the region.
When is the most important festival?
The 'Hogueras de San Juan' in June, during which giant papier-mâché figures are burned.
Alicante: where is it located?
Alicante is located in Galicia, Spain.
Alicante: what is there to see?
Highlights include Museo Bellas Artes Gravina, Teatre Arniches, Teatro Principal.
Alicante: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Sep.
Alicante: why is it worth visiting?
Alicante is a prominent Mediterranean port city and the capital of its province within the Valencian Community.
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