Car Hire Alicante

Parking in Alicante

• Interparking Plaza del Puerto (03001) is close to Muelle 12, Museo The Oean Race and Alicante’s marina.
• Parking Alfonso El Sabio (03002) is the ideal place to park if you’re visiting Santa Barbara Castle.
• Parking Alicante (03003) is a multi-storey car park close to the waterfront and shopping district.

Key roads in Alicante

• Autopista AP-7 (AP-7) connects Alicante to other coastal towns and cities, such as Cartagena south and Benidorm north.
• A-77 leads inland from Alicante towards Albacete.
• N-332 is the main road through central Alicante. It also leads along the coast, charting a scenic route to Playa Carabassi, Torrevieja, Villajoyosa and Gandia.

How to get from Alicante to Benidorm

It takes 35 minutes to drive the 28 miles from Alicante to Benidorm.

1. Leave the rental car park at Alicante Airport, following the one-way system.
2. Join N-338 northbound.
3. Turn right on to A-70 (E-15) and stay on this road when it becomes AP-7.
4. Take a right at Exit 65 on to Avenue Comunidad Europea in Benidorm.

How to get from Alicante to Denia

The popular holiday resort of Denia is just a 65-minute drive from Alicante. Just use A-70 and AP-7 to pass Benidorm, then take Exit 62 to join CV-725.

Best hotels in Alicante

Hotel Hospes Amerigo

Calle Rafael Altamira, 7, 03002 Alicante

A five-star hotel set in Alicante’s atmospheric old town, Hotel Hospes Amerigo is luxurious and distinctly Mediterranean. The on-site Fondillon Restaurant serves refined tapas, while Bodyna spa offers a place to enjoy stunning views alongside treatments.

Hotel NH Alicante

Carrer de Mexico, 18, 03008 Alicante

If the rooftop pool isn’t enough to capture your imagination, then Hotel NH Alicante’s spacious interiors are bound to. There’s a gym and sauna on site, but access to the city centre is enviable too. Climate-controlled suites with sofas and balconies give the hotel an airy, metropolitan feel.

The Level at Melia Alicante

Paseo del Puerto Viejo, 3, 03002 Alicante

For a laid-back holiday atmosphere, The Level at Melia Alicante competes well – it enjoys an exclusive location close to Postiguet Beach and the marina. This adults-only hotel pairs impressive views with great amenities – there are flat-screen TVs, coffee machines and even an executive lounge.

Best places to eat in Alicante

Restaurante El Canto

Carrer Alemania, 26, 03003 Alicante

Authentic tapas is the order of the day at El Canto, a restaurant where the decor is distinctly traditional and locals, rather than tourists, fill the seats. Fill up on baguette slices topped with Iberico ham, eggs served alongside asparagus, tuna steaks or garlic-roasted prawns.

Templo Restaurante

Calle Periodista Pirula Arderius, 7, 03001 Alicante

Another favourite with locals, Templo Restaurante is a high-end haven for carnivores. In a small and sophisticated setting, you can sample dishes to match – there’s steak tartare, lamb chops sauteed with garlic, and beef ham topped with truffle oil.

Porto Felice Ristorante Italiano

Muelle Levante, 8, Módulo 4, Local 2, 03001 Alicante

Dine with a view of the Alicante marina at Porto Felice Ristorante Italiano, where Italian cuisine has an ocean focus. You might dig into a dish of linguine topped with fresh clams and garlic while the kids enjoy a classic pizza, then treat everyone to tiramisu and crepes to finish.

Best things to do in and around Alicante

Explanada de Espana

Passeig Esplanada d'Espanya, 03002 Alicante

If there’s a single must-do in Alicante, it’s strolling along the iconic, mosaic-marble boulevard that runs parallel to the port wharf. Beneath the shade of towering palm trees, you can browse trinkets, see street artists in action and coffee shops aplenty. By night, there are open-air concerts during summer.

Santa Barbara Castle

Santa Barbara Castle, 03002 Alicante

Alicante’s huge fortification serves as a reminder of the city’s past, long before tourism made this the glamorous beach holiday destination it is today. Hike up to Mount Benacantil to see the medieval walls up close and enjoy some of Alicante’s best views.

San Juan Playa

Av. de Niza, 03540 Alicante

Just five miles (eight kilometres) from central Alicante, San Juan Playa is a popular beach for families and couples. It’s wider and longer than Alicante’s city beach, there are plenty of parasols available for hire and volleyball nets too.