“Is Alicante fun?” someone asked me recently. The answer seems obvious to me. I’ve lived in Alicante on the Costa Blanca for twenty years. So that answers the question straight away. In this blog I try to answer the most frequently asked questions about Alicante: the airport, the temperature in Alicante, what there is to do in the city, and whether you should choose Alicante or Valencia. Most summer holidays and friends’ weekends are in fact planned during the winter months.

How long is the flight to Alicante

Alicante is about a 2.5‑hour flight from Schiphol. You can fly from there with Transavia or Vueling. Often Schiphol is immediately the most expensive airport to fly to Alicante from. And as you can imagine, it can also be quite a walk to get to the right gate. But it’s an experience in itself.

You can also fly from the following airports:

Rotterdam : Transavia

Advantage: A very small airport; you get to your gate and through security super fast. Disadvantage: Only Transavia flies from Rotterdam, so you’re dependent on a single airline.

Eindhoven : Transavia & Ryanair.

Advantage: Small airport, quick through security, and a short walk to your gate.

You’ll usually find cheap tickets to Alicante outside the high season via Ryanair and Vueling. Also check, for example, the Skyscanner site. You can enter airports and dates there and find the best prices for Alicante.

Alicante Airport

Alicante–Elche Airport is called “El Altet” and lies a 10‑minute drive from Alicante city center. It’s about an hour’s drive to Benidorm, Albir, and Alfaz del Pi, and 15 minutes to Torrevieja. Ideal, because you’ll be at your holiday destination in no time! The airport was completely renovated a few years ago. When I moved to Spain, there was a tiny arrivals hall and two baggage belts. By now the airport has grown to one that receives more than 10 million passengers a year — including over 80,000 Dutch travelers in September 2022 alone. Yet it’s easy to navigate; you don’t have to walk far, and you’re quickly outside in the arrivals area. From there you can easily take bus line C2 to the center, grab a taxi (plenty right at the exit), or pick up the keys to your rental car.

Alicante or Valencia

( Casa de mi corazón in Alicante)

Valencia is 220 kilometers from Alicante . That means a two‑hour drive and you’re standing in the middle of the capital of the Valencian Community! I often call Valencia Alicante’s big brother. The houses have the same style and the vibe is similar. Valencia has a large dry riverbed with lots to do, such as a beautiful zoo and a kids’ park. In this blog I’ve previously written about the best local tips in Valencia. Valencia has plenty of nice neighborhoods for shopping, eating tapas, or cycling around. Because Valencia is quite a bit bigger, it’s not always as practical for a weekend trip. You’ll more often need to take a bus or bike to get from A to B. Especially when traveling with a group or if you’re less mobile, it takes more organizing.

When you’re on holiday in Alicante, it’s definitely worth taking a day trip to Valencia. Rent a car or take the train.

Valencia’s annual festival is called Fallas. In Alicante the same kind of festival is called Hogueras , and this summer celebration takes place in the week before June 24. Gigantic constructions, called Ninots, are made from polystyrene and wood. These are then burned under the supervision of the fire brigade. A huge event!

(I took this photo at the end of October on the rooftop terrace of Milagro B&B.)

The weather in Alicante

Alicante has 360 days of sunshine a year. Sometimes you can see snow in the mountains 30 km away while you’re drinking a cold beer in a T‑shirt on the boulevard in January. It’s no wonder so many people come here to overwinter. I always use the app “ El tiempo .” It’s free and gives the most accurate 14‑day weather forecast for Alicante.

I have to admit I don’t check it that often, because the forecast is usually “sunny and pleasantly warm.” Did you know the Costa Blanca has the best climate for people with rheumatism and lung issues? Few temperature fluctuations and clean, salty sea air. Alicante is also increasingly known for medical tourism these days — like the work I do for Kinderwens Alicante . More and more health insurers in the Netherlands are finding their way to the Costa Blanca, too. Rehabilitation clinics are popping up like mushrooms.

Is Alicante safe?

Alicante is a safe city to live in or to visit on holiday. In the 20 years I’ve lived here, I’ve never experienced anything strange myself. One reason is that people here really respect the police. And secondly, there are always people on the streets, late into the night. Of course every city has dark, lonely side streets, but I always feel safe. As with any large city, stick to the usual, well‑traveled routes. Alicantinos are friendly people who warmly welcome tourists.

What is there to do in Alicante

Alicante is a very easy city to get around. You don’t really need to take a bus or tram to go from A to B; walking is just fine. In my blogs I share as many tips as possible about lovely Alicante. For example, it’s great fun to take a Blue Bikes/Baja Bikes city bike tour and learn all about the locals here. You’ll get fun facts about the castle, Castillo Santa Bárbara. You’ll see the city differently when you discover it by bike. And the tour is in Dutch. Alicante has quite a large nightlife area — it’s party time until the early morning and there’s something for everyone. Cozy Spanish bars for tapas and beer, but also clubs with typical Spanish music, like Havanna. You can eat wonderfully well at places like La Ereta and Distrikt 41 , both listed in the Michelin Guide.

Friends’ weekend or company outing

Most decisions for the annual company outing or friends’ weekend are made during the winter months. As you’ve read above, Alicante is perfect for your annual trip: a 2.5‑hour flight, 10 minutes by car from the airport to the center, and a huge range of activities. How about going out on a giant SUP with your whole group of friends, archery on the beach, a mountain hike with picnic, mountain biking along the coast, or canoeing to a secluded beach? If your group prefers less action, Alicante also has a great cooking studio where you can learn to make paella from a real master chef! Read this blog I wrote before you sit down with your friends to plan — then you’ll know everything you need about friends’ trips in Alicante.

The beach Playa del Postiguet is a stone’s throw from all accommodations. Options range from cozy bed & breakfasts to the 5‑star Hospes Amérigo (where you can also enjoy brunch on Sundays, even if you’re not staying there).

In Alicante’s harbor, enormous cruise ships regularly dock from all over Europe. And the long pier stretching out into the sea — home to the trendy club Marmarela — was built especially for the Ocean Race, which set off from Alicante again in January 2023.

Has the above made you enthusiastic? You can read more great tips in my E‑book , which I reissue every year. In it you’ll find all my recommendations discovered over the past 20 years. Clear and easy to read in half an hour — perfect for the plane as you prepare your trip to Alicante. You’ll receive the book as a PDF on your computer or tablet, so you can also print it at home and read it on paper on the way.

What to Do in Alicante