Fideuá, paella and arroz, Fried calamari, pan y tomate under the first Spring Sun: how to spend 4 days in Alicante and some other villages around.
I want to share with you some essential info before the three long articles where I describe our full experience in Alicante. Things you cannot miss, Food you have to try, small villages you have to explore.
When
21st to 25th of March
Beginning of Spring, two weeks before Easter, low season, great temperatures around
20 to 24 degrees. Not so many tourists at this time of the year.
Flight
Glasgow Airport- Alicante with Ryanair
Rent a car
We rent a car for 4 days through the Ryanair website with Wiber it was only £28 for the 4 days plus insurance and a baby chair. This company is super reliable and they have a free shuttle service running very often from the airport to their depot and vice versa.
Plenty of choice of new cars and kind staff.
Hotel
We stayed in a hotel called Hotel Almirante in an area of Alicante called Playa de San Juan. I cannot recommend this hotel enough for the customer service, the cleanliness and for the fact that they are home to Pocardy restaurant.
For us having a good restaurant in the hotel is handy as we are usually out all day and also because we have a 2 years old baby and we try to follow a bit of routine even if on holiday. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.
It has a free parking space and it is also dog friendly.
Transport
The tram service is great. From our stop Costa Blanca to the Mercado stop in the city center it was only 15 minutes. Tickets on board.
The tram service can also bring you to other touristic places like Benidorm or Altea.
Things to see in Alicante
A stop at the Mercado Central is compulsory to sneak around but also to eat something!
A walk in the old town. Get lost in the narrow streets and reach the Castillo de Santa Barbara from the characteristic and colorful Barrio de Santa Cruz.
On your way back get a rest and have some lunch in one of the bars in front of La Basilica de Santa Maria or in front of La Concatedral de San Nicolau de Bari.
Museums not to miss: The MARQ (Museo archeologico) and the MACA (Museo de arte contemporanea)
I loved the long walk at the port and then at the Explanada de Espana with its beautiful black and red marble colors.
Villajoyosa
A lovely little village with colorful old houses in front of a large beach.
Good for a quick stop to escape from the city and to enjoy the sun in one of the bars on the main road.
Altea
White houses from the bottom to the top of this ancient village not far from Alicante.
Be ready to do some steps to reach the top and enjoy the views: sea from one side, mountains from the other.
The Church of Nuestra Senora del Consuelo with its domes made with Levantine blue tiles will be there waiting for you.
Nice little shops with artisan products are waiting to be discovered just nearby.
Where we ate
Alicante
Lunch at Mercado Central- a stall called El Pale. Spanish food with a modern twist. Amazing.
Lunch at La Barrita de Santa Maria- Spanish food with multicultural contaminations in front of the Basilica de Santa Maria.
(Both Lunches - 3/4 large tapas- around € 50 with beers)
Snack: El bar del Rey del Bocata de Calamar
(C. Reyes Católicos, 20, 03003 Alicante)
A beer and a bocata with fried calamari and mayo €6.
Different options for tapas - ask for tortilla)
Villajoyosa
Breakfast at La Mar de Salat (Carrer Arsenal, 40, 03570 Villajoyosa) with pan y tomate. What else? Famous for its bocatas gourmet. In front of the beach and with a beautiful view of the colorful houses.
Altea
Lunch at Restaurante Los Jazmines (Partida la Olla, 94, 03590 L'Olla, Alicante)
On the beach close to Altea, the perfect place locals choose to eat the famous rices with family and friends.
What to eat
The area of Alicante is famous for its rices so definitely put it on the list of the things to eat the famous paella. Don't be shy to try Arroz a la Banda or the Fideuá, done with pasta.
I recommend having it with fish but there are also plenty of options with meat or vegetables.
Salazones Alicantinos- Alicante typical salted fish cold cuts.
I tried the Mojama, bonito seco, hueva de maruca y hueva de atun.
Fantastic if you love things like bottarga.
Fish, fish and more fish
Fried Calamari, mixed fried fish, octopus, cuttlefish and tuna are just among the things you can find in every restaurant.
You cannot miss the famous Bocata de Calamares- a sandwich with fried calamari and mayo. Enjoy hot with a beer!
Pepito de ternera
A great little sandwich with steak beef but like only Spanish can do. We shared one with foie on top and we cannot stop talking about it
Croquetas, Ensaladila Rusa and Tortilla
You can find them in every bar. They are usually served from early in the morning.
Locals eat "a trozo de tortilla" for breakfast too and it is so good.
Eat hundreds of croquetas. These bon bon with bechamel and different ingredients will never let you down. The most common are with jamon but there is a world to discover.
For the ensaladilla rusa: eat with some bread on the side. It melts in your mouth.
I hope you enjoy this Alicante in pills- more details in the next posts!
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