Spring in Alicante: what should you visit in a hire car?

At last we’re in spring and, for many reasons, April and May are the perfect time to visit Alicante, so we’re inviting you to spend a few days in our city.

There are many incredible places throughout the whole province, so we’re going to create a small list so that you don’t miss out on the most important ones. As we mentioned in our blog a few days ago, take advantage of these photography apps to turn your mobile into your perfect travel companion that will help you to immortalise your memories.

Everything you can visit in Alicante

Throughout the length and breadth of the city you will find fantastic locations, particularly in the historic centre and the archaeological ruins. You can visit many of these on foot, as well as the fine sandy beaches, but today we offer you a car  so that you can get that little bit further and fully discover our land.

Castle of Santa Bárbara

Our first stop is the Castle of Santa Bárbara, a must see for every tourist (and local). It is over one thousand years old, it was built by our Arab ancestors and has had so many uses throughout its life that its walls hold the complete history of the city.

Entry into the complex is free of charge, although you can book a guided tour which will tell you every detail about the fortress. The views from the highest parts of the city are incredible. From this time onwards, the seasonal exhibitions and displays begin, so don’t forget to organise your dates accordingly.  

The eastern headlands of the Costa Blanca

The Cabo de la Nao extends into the Mediterranean Sea, as it is the most easterly point of the province of Alicante. You can continue along the coast and discover the beaches and cliffs; passing by the headlands of Cabo de San Antonio, Santa Pola, Cap d’Or, Penyal d’Ifach…

These are perfect trips to take with your family and enjoy those spring mornings before stopping off somewhere to eat. If you want to go a little further, you could also visit the Cueva del Tesoro (the Treasure Cave) or the Cova Tallada (the Sculpted Cave) in Dénia.

The salt lakes: historic and biological interest

Being in close contact with a sea like the Mediterranean, allows you to take advantage of all the resources it offers, such as sea salt. Throughout the whole province you will find many salt lakes, and these are usually accompanied by museums or interpretation points about the salt and the work required to extract it.

The Salt Museum at Santa Pola is possibly the most complete, as it reviews the history and its economic and social importance for the whole region. Today, salt continues to be an important industry which supports many families in the area.

Hiking, the great unknown

Although the beaches of Alicante are a great tourist attraction, being able to walk along the province’s mountain trails is a real privilege.  With the pleasant spring temperatures, before they begin to rise in the summer, you could take a walk along trails that will provide you with some incredible views.

However, there are some very demanding peaks: the Sierra de Aitana (1.558 m), Puig Campana (1.406 m), Montcabrer (1.390 m)… These are just some of the highest in the region, but you can discover marvellous places on any of the prepared routes, which have gulleys and valleys for every taste.

Visit different towns

There are dozens of them, with many points of interest. If you head to Vila-Joiosa (Villajoyosa), you can enjoy the beach and the Chocolate Museum. If you head inland (Biar, Villena, Sax, Castalla…) you will discover some of the most important castles which once bordered the Kingdom of Aragon.

We can’t leave out Jijona and its Turrón Museum, Alcoi, Cocentaina, Muro… Although these towns are delimited by a thoroughly industrialised region, they are still full of history. You can also visit Ibi, a small town which has two very interesting museums: the Toy Museum and the Museum of Biodiversity.

Now you know about some of the most incredible places of our province, its time to look for dates and reserve your trip. Don’t forget the most important things: hotel, activities plan, hire car… Alicante is waiting for you with open arms.