The Mediterranean40
Alicante old town with pastel walls, faded blue shutters, and a palm tree in soft sunlight

Chapter II

Alicante Guide

A small, lightly opinionated guide. Use what's useful; ignore the rest.

Clima

​Alicante in late May

Expect 28–32°C in the day, dropping to a perfect 22°C by midnight. The breeze arrives at sunset like a kind guest. Sunscreen in the morning, a light layer in your bag for the evening — that's the whole forecast.

Vestuario

What to wear

Linen, cotton, anything that breathes. Whites, sands, faded blues, a touch of terracotta if you're feeling it. Friday is barefoot; Saturday asks for something a little more considered. Sunday is whatever you fell asleep in — within reason.

Calzado

Shoes that actually work here

Alicante rewards sensible shoes more than ambitious ones. Leather sandals, espadrilles, a soft loafer for the evening. A pair you can walk a few kilometres in, because at some point you will want to.

Esenciales

Best beaches

  • · Currency: euros. Cards almost everywhere; coins for the bakery.
  • · Plugs: European two-pin.
  • · Tap water is fine. Order it "del grifo".
  • · A "café con hielo" is an espresso poured over ice. Trust it.

Taxis

Getting around

Uber and Bolt are widely available in Alicante. So are regular taxis.
To travel between the city centre and San Juan Playa, the tram is pretty convenient. Lines 1 and 3 are faster and take about 15 minutes. Lines 4 and 5 are slower but more scenic, revealing all shades of green and blue as they glide along the coast.

Playas

Best Beaches

  • · Playa de San Juan — long, soft, golden. Where Friday and Sunday live.
  • · El Postiguet — in town, under the castle and just opposite the Meliá. A swim before brunch? Yes.
  • · Cala Cantalar — small, quiet, cliff-tucked. For the adventurous Sunday.
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Mi Alicante

My Alicante, for you

A living map of the places I love — cafés for slow mornings, bars worth a detour, beaches for every mood, and corners I'd happily send you to on your own. Open it, save it, wander.

Hand-drawn watercolour illustration of Alicante — coastline, San Juan beach, El Postiguet and Alicante centre
Click the map to open my Alicante list on Google Maps, then save it to your account.Open in Google Maps →
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"If you only do one thing on your own — walk up to Santa Bárbara at dusk. The whole city turns gold."