The 10 most attractive towns around Alicante to visit with a hire car

For many travellers, the province of Alicante is only a place for beaches and summer holidays. But apart from this being true, they are not the only things that you can visit in our region, because we have incredible coastal and inland towns that will delight any tourist.

Whether surrounded by forests and mountains, bathed in sunlight and by the Mediterranean, or preserving their medieval appearance; today, we want to create a route through the ten most attractive towns. Get into one of our hire cars and start enjoying the views, as we start off in the north, at Denia. 

Hire car route through Alicante

Denia

Known as ‘The pearl of the Costa Blanca’, you can now imagine why this location is visited so much. Beyond its beaches (you shouldn’t miss a visit to Les Marines and Les Rotes), you can also discover the Parque Natural del Macizo del Montgó (The Montgo Massif Natural Park), a rocky structure with numerous caves which look out onto the sea. Other must-see visits are Denia Castle and the Toy Museum.

Jávea

Continue along the coast in your hire car in Alicante until you reach some of the best beaches and coves in the whole province. Despite having become a tourism paradise, the conservation groups have fought to preserve some of the most incredible landscapes along the whole Mediterranean coast. This is a fishing village with an inviting historic centre. 

Moraira

A little further south you arrive at Moraira, the perfect place to relax, with the Mediterranean at your feet. The beaches and fishing quarter are a great place in which to lose yourself while visiting the different viewpoints and getting to know the area. If you want to continue to explore the area, the path from Moraira to Benitatxell will provide you with some spectacular views.

Calpe

But follow the route in the hire car around Alicante, and this time head to Calpe. Here, you will get an incredible view of the Peñón de Ifach (the Ifach Crag), but the trekking routes, diving and climbing are also essential activities to do in this municipality. In the inner part of the town you can discover its seagoing past, with large salt mines and a small port.

Altea

Still keeping to the coast, this time you will reach the most attractive town in Alicante (according to people’s opinions). Everyone can decide for themselves, but it is indisputable that Altea oozes charm and romanticism from every corner. On the one hand, enjoy a charming maritime promenade, and on the other, go to its historic centre and discover the history of its streets.

Guadalest

Now change direction, and with your hire car in Alicante, leave the coast behind. El Castell de Guadalest will be your next stop. Hidden among the Alicante hills it will show you its great medieval history. Apart from the Castle of San José (from the 11^th century), you will find interesting museums and a circular route which will enable you to discover the surroundings of this beautiful town.

Alcoy

Travelling a little further inland you will reach Alcoy. I can assure you that, if this is your first time here, you will want to return many more times to discover all of its secrets. Known as the ‘town of bridges’, you can enjoy its urban centre and the Parque Natural de la Font Roja (the Red Spring Natural Park), this is a real focal point for the native life of the area. Another essential visit is the Museo Alcoyano de la Fiesta (Alcoy Festival Museum).

Biar

Following the inland route in your hire car in Alicante, you will reach this town of just over 3.600 inhabitants. A majestic castle will greet you, while the hill at its feet wraps around the houses in a lattice of streets which almost resembles a spiral. Very close to here, you can visit a 15^th century aqueduct and a neoclassical sanctuary which has some incredible views.

Villena

Your last stop before returning to the coast is Villena. In the 12^th century the Atalaya Castle was erected on San Cristóbal hill. This is the best starting point for the well-known Castles of Alicante Route. It has been an important fortress at different times in history, from the Reconquest to the War of Independence.

Tabarca Island

The route in a hire car in Alicante ends with a drive to Santa Pola. Leave the car here and take a boat to visit the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community. For almost 300 years, different Genoese families settled here after it was rescued by King Charles III, and today you can stroll around the few streets of this town. Currently, only around a hundred people remain on the island, but they continue to be established there.