Alicante, and it's wonderful boulevard with palm trees and shopping streets, is one of the most well-known towns along the Costa Blanca. Known for its miles of sandy beaches, Alicante is a starting point for thousands of tourists every year.

If variety is the spice of life, Alicante takes the cake, whichever way you look at it. The city combines modern and classic, business and pleasure, entertainment and educational opportunity, with a population of over 300,000, it still manages to have golden beaches and glorious mountains. There is even an Island just off the coast, which incidentally is the only inhabited island in Valencia. Along the Alicante harbour you find beautiful long alleys for nice relaxing walks, enjoying the palm trees and the mild climate. With many historical buildings around the entire city, Alicante offers countless sightseeing attractions, from cathedrals to churches and of course a wonderful harbour area. As well as sightseeing you can enjoy the long sandy beach that leads its way up to San Juan. Just drop your towel on the sand and enjoy a wonderful day in the sun.

Alicante history stretches back as far as the prehistoric times, since the third millennium BC, archaeological remains have surfaced. In 1490, Ferdinand the Catholic granted charter to the area, making it a city, and it has thrived ever since. Its title includes the praiseworthy epithets of “eminent, loyal, noble, illustrious and always faithful ”, it now bears, since 1524, a golden fleece on the coat of arms with the permission of Carlos V. Now, thanks to the fantastic Alicante beaches and the excellent climate, Spanish charm and tradition, Alicante museums as well as tourist attractions, make it a first rate tourist location.

Alicante provides a variety of fiestas and many cultural events like street concerts and festivals, choirs, theatre groups, conferences, exhibitions and seminars of every kind. Alicante is dedicated to giving its patrons a good time, people are never left wanting for a bar. At any time of the day or night, people can be seen drinking socialising and having a good time. Not many cities can claim to possess such a wide collection of the most beautiful, golden beaches and magical coves within the city boundaries, almost all of which have been awarded blue flags by the European Union for the high quality of the water and the beaches.

Stroll along the palm-fringed Paseo de la Explanada - the impressive seafront promenade lined with street cafes and inlaid with red, cream and black marble. Spread out in front of the main part of the city, this impressive boulevard, stretches around the harbour. Stop at the music pavilion and enjoy a free al fresco concert by the sea. Concerts are held in the afternoons, on feast days and on Sunday mornings during the summer months.

In the midst of the Mediterranean Xanadu there is, sadly one note of warning: be especially wary here of pickpockets and bag-snatchers. Northwest of the Explanada, towards the centre of the city, you'll see the imposing Catedral de San Nicolas, and around it, the narrow streets of the El Barro, or old quarter, which has most of the cheaper accommodation and the best nightlife. To the southwest, near the Calle de Italia, you'll find the main tourist office, post office, and the city's central bus and train stations. Alicante is a hive of activity throughout the year, not just in the summer months. It's a city where the sand seems to go on forever…and so does the entertainment. It's a city steeped in history, rich in culture, awash with every kind of shop and restaurant imaginable and literally bursting with beach life.