Local Flair and Festivals in Alicante

Visit Alicante at any time of the year for fun local festivals and gorgeous weather. Explore the city on foot or head to the nearby beaches.

The Best Time to Visit Alicante

As far as weather goes, there is no best time to visit Alicante. With it's mild winters and hot summers, this city is a beautiful place to visit all year long. The peak travel season tends to be in July and August. Head to Alicante between April 21 and 24 for The Moors and Christians Festival (Moros y Cristianos). This festival reenacts the 12th century battles between Arabs and Christians. Visit Alicante from June 20 to 24 to witness the St. John's bonfires. These celebrations mark the start of summer with fireworks and paper mache monuments that are burned on 24th June.

Important Information to Know Before Your Trip

Head slightly out of town for less crowded beaches. The popular local food is a regional favourite known as Paella. The cost of living in Alicante is about 30 percent lower than in London. Restaurant prices are also typically about 45 percent lower. Alicante is in a time zone that is UK time plus 1 hour. The airport in Alicante is also used by tourists visiting Torrevieja, Benidorm and other area beach resorts. Be sure to visit car-free Tabarca Island, a small walled town surrounded by a nature reserve.

Local Travel Tips

The airport bus to central Alicante costs approximately € 3.80 and takes around 20 minutes, with buses arriving every 20 minutes. Local buses leave from the terminal building departures area in the airport and head to Alicante, Benidorm, Torrevieja or Murcia. A taxi ride to central Alicante costs about € 25. Alicante has a reliable bus network. Trams also go to important destinations in Alicante and along the Costa Blanca. Single tickets for Zone 1 cost about  € 1.35. A 10-trip, rechargeable card costs about € 7.60 plus € 2 for the card itself. Central Alicante is also easy to explore by foot. Taxis are less expensive than in London but not a whole lot faster than public transport.

Hotel rooms cost from around € 40 per person per night and hostels cost from about € 15 per person per night in shared rooms.