A view over Alicante, Spain 2026
I have recently returned from Alicante, Spain. A bit of a last minute get away and adventure, I booked a flight 24 hours before and packed a bag and headed for Manchester Airport. I flew Ryanair from Manchester to Alicante the flight was smooth and short around about two and a half hours.
My plan ultimately was to have no plan, wake up everyday and see where the day takes me. I started each morning with a walk along Platja del Postiguet, the main beach in Alicante. A good sized sandy beach busy in the afternoon most days but a great start watching sunrise each day.
Day 1 - Alicante Oldtown
The first day I ventured through the cobbled streets and winding roads of the oldtown, some streets were picture perfect and felt never-ending you could easily spend hours absorbing it all and for some parts of everyday I did whilst looking for some independent coffee shops. My first stop was Madness Coffee a quick stop but a good stop I grabbed a filter coffee made fresh I also got a slice of Sourdough with peanut butter and banana… delicious. Fuelled and ready for the day ahead I continued to leisurely walk through the streets talking with some locals and taking some pictures along the way, this is what I needed just a chill, relax day. I then spent an hour or so on the beach and grabbed some Tapas and local beer from D’Tablas a local small tapas bar a must visit just off the main promenade.
Carrer de Sant Rafael, 42 in the historic Barrio Santa Cruz (Old Town)
Day 2 - Castle of Santa Barbara
I planned on visiting Castle of Santa Barbara today but it was 35 degrees outside at 10am and it was around a two hour walk and hike to the top, I decided to take on the challenge I loaded my backpack with bottles of water and a couple of small bananas and off I went up the steep and steady incline stopping to take in the scenery as I got to the top. What a day for it, perfect 360 degrees all over Alicante the sun was shinning and I was happy! There are a few ways up including grabbing a local taxi its definitely worth the visit and you’ll have 360 degree views for miles all round. In the afternoon i decided to chill by the sea and relax on the beach, i’m not a beach person most of the time but it was good to rest and soak up some sunshine.
The Castillo de Santa Bárbara
Day 3 - Exploring Alicante
Sometimes the best adventures are the adventures you don’t plan, i woke up did my usual walk along the beach and had some coffee and I decided just to explore Alicante by foot. Explore more see more kind of vibe. I walked along the marina front admiring all the boats and thinking how much money they cost and which one I liked best. I then headed into the streets getting lost in every direction but I was enjoying myself, Alicante feels like a chilled city and there’s something for everyone. I finished the day off by visiting a local restaurant having sword fish and potatoes and a couple glasses of Sangria.
Day 4 - Beach, Beer and Sunhine
My final day in Alicante, so I decided to make the most of the sun before returning to the cold UK. The beach was quiet and the sea was calm so I decided to have a swim in the sea, the water temperature was perfect. I then started journaling and making some plans for my next adventure and had a couple of local beers and a amazing Caesar salad for lunch. I then went home and got changed went out to watch the football and relax and have a chat with some locals.
Alicante for me was the perfect get away to relax , do as little or as much as I wanted and I did exactly that. Would I recommend Alicante to others? Yes 100%, there are a vast amount of restaurants, bars and shops to check out. The beach was great and Castle of Santa Barbara is worth a visit.
I used my Travel Card and eSIM throughout my stay paying for things and using social media and google maps to find the hidden gems and locations on my phone. Not having to worry about roaming charges or issues with my bank.