Travel guide – costa blanca
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Overview
Lying on the eastern coast of Spain, the Costa Blanca draws millions of tourists each year to its turquoise waters and miles of white sandy beaches. Alicante is the capital and major city on this stretch of coast, but it is Benidorm that attracts the most visitors and this is the place to go for those looking for a lively and entertaining holiday with hundreds of bars and all-night clubs catering mainly for British tourists. However there is more to the Costa Blanca than crowded beach resorts - within the mountainous interior are a series of fascinating medieval towns and fortified villages which have been largely unaffected by modern development.
Alicante, situated on a bay between two capes on the east coast of Spain, is the centre of the popular Costa Blanca holiday resort region. The city has a distinct African flavour with women clad in caftans and hawkers selling African carvings along the waterfront and esplanades. Alicante’s historical central district, though, is filled with Baroque buildings, bearing testimony to the city’s past when it was a major seaport. The main thoroughfare of the city is the Rambla, lined with palm trees, outdoor cafes and ice-cream parlours serving the unusual local drink, horchata, made with almonds. There are shops aplenty, parks and gardens, marble paved plazas and the broad Explanada d’Espanya encircling the yacht harbour with its mosaic promenade. Visitors come to Alicante mainly for the beaches, particularly San Juan which sports villas, hotels and restaurants. The city has an international airport that makes it the gateway to the nearby package tour resorts such as Benidorm and Torrevieja, and ensures that the city is crowded with tourists all year round. Alicante’s energy reaches a peak during the last week of June each year when visitors and locals alike throw themselves into celebrating the unrivalled fiesta of Saint Joan.
Things to do and see in or around Alicante
Castell de Santa Barbara
The impressive castle that towers over Alicante was originally built by the Carthaginians in 400BC and later used by the Romans and Moors. The fortress is massive, encompassing moats, drawbridges, tunnels, cisterns and dungeons, not to mention a stately tower and keep. From the top of the castle there is a wonderful view of the bay and city. The castle can be accessed in an elevator from the Explanada d'Espanya.
Telephone: 96 526 3131 ; Daily 10am to 7.30pm (summer), 9am to 6.30pm (winter)
Museu de Arte del Siglo XX Asegurada
In the Plaza de Santa Maria stands Alicante’s oldest building, a former granary dating from 1685. Ironically the city’s oldest building contains its most notable modern art collection, donated by painter and sculptor Eusebio Sempere in 1977. Among the noteworthy paintings on display are those of Dali, Picasso, Calder and Miro.
Telephone: 96 514 0768 ; Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm; Sundays 10.30am to 2.30pm; closed Mondays
Elche
For a change from beaches, just 12 miles (19km) inland west of Alicante is Europe’s only palm forest, forming a lush oasis around the city of Elche (Elx). The city boasts several beautiful parks and public gardens. The Parque Municipal is one of the most popular, festooned with palm trees, grassy promenades and children’s playgrounds. Most beautiful is the Hort del Cura, filled with shade trees and bright flower beds. Elche can be reached by an hourly train service from Alicante, or by regular bus connections.
Telephone: 96 545 2747
Isla Tabarca
The tiny islet of Tabarca is becoming an increasingly popular day trip destination from Alicante, with its quiet fishing village offering an old fort, several very reasonably priced fresh seafood restaurants, a rocky beach with clear turquoise water, and several coves and tidal pools ideal for bathing. The island lies ten miles south of Alicante and can be reached in an hour by ferry from the dock on Explanada d’Espanya in the city.
Telephone: 96 596 0058
Away from the madding crowds of Benidorm, the peaceful town of Altea offers plenty of amenities for those who prefer a less frenetic beach holiday, without the glitz, glamour and gusto. Of all the towns on the Costa Blanca, Altea is probably the one that remains the least exploited and overdeveloped, where daily life remains uninterrupted by tourists and huge hotels have yet to be built. Altea has a long jetty and attractive walkway fronting a calm stretch of shoreline with pebbly beaches encircling the town. The town’s central Plaza de la Iglesia leads onto narrow cobblestone streets and offers beautiful Mediterranean views.
Rows of shops selling beach buckets and flip-flops line the sea front of Benidorm, the Costa Blanca's largest and liveliest resort town where hordes of tourists throng the streets 24 hours a day. Of the thousands who come to holiday here on the town's three miles (five km) of white sandy beaches each year, many have stayed and purchased apartments in the numerous blocks that now dot the skyline. Benidorm, north of Alicante, is the party capital of the Costa Blanca with an unrivalled nightlife and a daytime carnival-like beach culture. Remnants of Benidorm's historic past are now well hidden, but tucked into the Casco Antiguo section are the ruins of a castle built in the 14th century to fend off Berber pirates. Benidorm's spectacular sunsets are best viewed from the castle's 'mirador' (balcony). The place to see and be seen in the town however is the Playa de Levante, a two-mile (three km) boardwalk lined with trendy cafes and bars.
Things to do and see in or around Benidorm
Terra Mitica
Situated on the outskirts of Benidorm, Terra Mitica is Spain’s largest theme park and, with its rides, shows, restaurants and shops, can be a great day out for all the family. Its latest attraction is the Tizona – an inverted roller coaster that reaches speeds of 62mph (100kmh) and heights of more than 100ft (31m) with visitors suspended beneath the track.
Telephone: 902 02 02 20 ; Daily 10am to 8pm; 10am to midnight in peak season
Climate
The most popular time to visit the Costa Blanca is between May and October when the weather is guaranteed to be sunny and warm most of the time. The temperature can get up to 104°F (40°C) in August, with the sea at a very comfortable 77°F (25°C). It is too hot and crowded for some during this busy season and many visitors come out over the winter and spring months when it is cooler and risk the odd shower, but many of the bars, restaurants and attractions are closed over this period.
Health
There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.
The basics
Getting Around
There are good, cheap bus services within the main resorts and to nearby towns. Taxis are also good value, particularly for those travelling as a group. There are also some good value local car rental firms, popular with those wishing to explore off the beaten track.
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