Alicante City Guide
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Spain

Alicante City Guide

Valencian Community

Alicante is a sunny port city on Spain's Costa Blanca with beaches, historic sites, and a relaxed vibe. It blends modern city life with traditional culture and has good infrastructure for remote workers. The weather is warm year-round, making it a nice place to live by the sea.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

Mediterranean cuisine is strong, with fresh seafood and rice dishes like arroz a banda and paella. There are international options, and vegetarian/vegan choices are growing. Dinner happens late; many spots stay open late on weekends.

Local Dishes:
Arroz a banda, Paella, Turrón, Fresh seafood
International Cuisine:
Italian, Asian, European
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife is lively in the Santa Cruz and El Barrio areas with bars and clubs for different tastes.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

Traditional Spanish coffee culture is common, with a growing number of specialty coffee shops emerging.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is optional and usually a thank you for good service. Restaurants often get 10-15% if service is good. Taxis and small services usually just round up.

Top Attractions
Santa Bárbara Castle
Historic
Castle overlooking the city with panoramic views.
Explanada de España
Outdoor
Palm-lined promenade by the sea.
MACA
Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art.
Central Market
Market
Large market with fresh products.
Postiguet Beach
Beach
City beach with golden sand.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are available at the airport, provider stores like Vodafone, Orange, Movistar, and electronics shops. Registration requires ID or passport. Major providers offer good coverage; eSIMs are becoming common.

Available at:
Vodafone
Orange
Movistar
Yoigo
Electronics retailers
Recommended Apps
EMT Alicante(Transport)
Cabify(Transport)
Glovo(Food)
Google Maps(Navigation)
WhatsApp(Communication)
Renfe(Transport)
MyTaxi(Transport)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
7

Streets and public areas are mostly clean with regular waste collection and recycling bins.

24/7 Services
Good
6

Some pharmacies operate 24/7 on rotation. Emergency hospital services available all day. Convenience stores and restaurants have limited late hours.

Groceries
Mercadona
Consum
Carrefour
Lidl

Supermarkets like Mercadona, Consum, Carrefour, and Lidl offer local and some international products. Fresh markets like Mercado Central provide produce and seafood. Stores usually open 9-10 AM to 9-10 PM, Monday to Saturday; many close Sundays.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most places accept cards, including for tips. Cash is still used for small purchases.

ATMs

ATMs are common across the city, especially from CaixaBank, Santander, BBVA, and Sabadell. Non-local cards may incur fees, so check with your bank.

Schools
International

Several international schools teaching in English and Spanish, some offering German. Admissions open in autumn for the next year; popular schools may have waiting lists.

Available Schools:
AIS International School
Magno International School
El Limonar International School Villamartin
Willow International School
Xábia International College
Lady Elizabeth School
Elian's British School of La Nucía
Newton College
El Valle International College
Costa Blanca International College

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
8
Available Spaces:
ULab
Popular spot with day passes and free trials.
LKL18
Offers 24/7 access with meeting rooms.
24/7 Access
Space & Sky
24/7 access and meeting rooms.
24/7 Access
Terretup
Affordable coworking and private offices.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Digital Nomad Community
Good
7

A growing hub with coworking spaces, meetups, co-living, and online groups. Plenty of places to work and network.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
8

Several parks are well-maintained and good for walking and running, offering shaded areas too.

Running
Excellent
8

Good running routes along the waterfront and in parks. Generally safe and popular with local running groups.

Gyms
Available

Many gyms and sports centers are available, but specific popular names were not provided.

Tennis
Good
7

Tennis and padel courts are common, with bookings and coaching widely available.

Padel
Good
7

Padel courts available at sports clubs with rental and coaching options.

Yoga
Good
7

Yoga studios and classes are available, including some organized by coworking spaces, with English-speaking instructors common.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Various gyms offer Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, BJJ, Muay Thai, and Boxing, with drop-in options. English-speaking instructors are sometimes available.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing nearby; nearest resorts are several hours away in Sierra Nevada.

Water Sports
Good
7

Kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and windsurfing are available. Equipment rentals and guided tours run in warmer months.

Surfing
Good
6

Surf spots like San Juan Beach suit beginners and intermediates. Waves are moderate, best in winter. Several surf schools provide lessons and rentals.

Diving
Excellent
8

Diving at Tabarca Island Marine Reserve offers clear water and rich marine life. Suitable for all levels with multiple dive centers providing courses and rentals.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Good public and private healthcare options. Private hospitals like Vithas Alicante offer English-speaking staff. Public care is free with EHIC; private care costs around €20-50 per visit.

Hospitals:
Hospital Vithas Alicante
Vithas Hospital Medimar
General University Hospital of Alicante
Pharmacies:
Farmacia Central
Farmacia Lo Morant
Farmacia Plaza Calvo Sotelo
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water meets European standards and is safe to drink, but some prefer bottled water for taste.

Common Scams
Pick-pocketing in tourist areas, public transport, and markets., Bag-snatching in crowded places.

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Plenty of parks with playgrounds and family attractions nearby like Terra Mitica and Aquopolis water park. Baby supplies available in supermarkets and pharmacies.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
9

Alicante is welcoming and safe for LGBTQ+ people, with many inclusive venues and annual pride events.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet-friendly places are growing, with dog parks, vets, and pet supplies available. Transport rules vary by size of pet.

Communities
Expats in Alicante (Social)
Digital Nomads Alicante (Nomad)
Alicante English Speakers (Social)

Quick Facts

Population
349,282
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Electricity is stable with rare and short outages.

Beach Access
Available

Postiguet Beach is central and sandy. San Juan Beach is 7 km away, accessible by tram. Both have clear water and Blue Flag status.

Mountains
Available

Mount Benacantil and Sierra Grossa offer hiking close to town with good views.

Languages
Spanish(95%)
Valencian(55%)
English(40%)
Emergency
112
European Emergency Number
091
National Police
092
Local Police
062
Civil Guard
085
Firefighters
965252525
Red Cross Ambulance

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
4

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
July, August
Summers get hot, often over 30°C.
Calima dust
Winter, Spring
Saharan dust can lower air quality and visibility occasionally.
Occasional flooding
Autumn
Heavy rain can cause localized floods, but this is rare.

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