Anyone done a city break in Alicante ?

[AnyFucker]

Would you recommend it ?

Yes. We stayed in the Melia hotel on the beach. The city was great for sightseeing and for shopping. We stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020. Would definitely go again.

Yes. A few years ago, we stayed for 2 days en route to a holiday home.
It's OK, but there are far more interesting cities in Spain.

Yeh, I did, but from Almería. Stayed in el Hotel Maya, also close to the beach.
I agree Alicante feels quite modern, I love the beach near big town combination. Yeh there are more interesting cities but a day trip to nearby Elche could give you that historical feel.

Yes. My partner suggested it and i was not convinced at all. I loved it. Also stayed at the melia on the beach. Has a pool and outdoor spaces to sit and great view of beach from breakfast room and marina views too.

So quick to get to on local bus from airport. Can walk up to the castle. We got on a tram and went along the coast to el campello? And walked part of the way back along the beach and watched a volleyball tournament and had lunch. We also spent an hour in the yacht race museum. We found some great restaurants and found it quite cosmopolitan as oppose to touristy with a lot of international students sat around outside the bars and very international and great shopping too. We also did a boat trip.

Alicante city is lovely, so much to see and do, great shopping, architecture, food. Would recommend.

Another one who has stayed at the Melia at the beach - and had a great time. Only 4 days, and to be honest I didn't do much "sightseeing" - found a lovely bar at the top of the road and mainly just watched the world go by. But plenty to keep you entertained if you wanted to do more. Bus stop for the airport bus was 5 mins walk from the hotel, 20 mins from airport - easy transfer.
I'd easily do it again, when time & money allows!

Yes. Stayed in an apartment right on the beach. Three days was enough but really enjoyed it. Relaxing, shopping, eating out, trip up to the castle.
Liked Malaga too with that city/beach combo.

How about a winter break in Jan/Feb ?

I went in February 2020 and in the day wore tshirt and shorts. Colder in the night and needed a jacket.

I've not done Alicante but have been to Malaga for long weekends a few times.
It's brilliant. Like a mini palma. Cathedral/beach if warm enough/amazing shopping precinct Zara/cos/massimo etc. lots of lovely tapas bars and a real buzz to it.
I've not been jan feb, October is the latest in the season I've been and it was very warm then.
Oh and there's a cable car too up to a little village in the hills.

Looking tempting so far and can get 3 nights at the Melia inc flights for less than 600 quid

Have been to Alicante a few times - not stayed there but have a holiday home about an hour away. Plenty of lovely restaurants, the indoor food market is good and the castle worth a visit. Take a warm jacket for night times but you should get a few hours of warm sunshine during the day, enjoy

We went in early November and had fabulous temperatures. We rented an Airbnb apartment in an old fisherman's house (old house not fisherman 🤣) overlooking the beach and had a great time. Taking a tram to San Juan beach or Vila Joiosa are good day trips. I think it's an underrated city as people pass through it to go to the resorts but this bit of coastline does have pockets of high rise. I'm glad we went but I would probably rate Palma and Malaga above it.

I quite like it as a city - well lived there years ago and enjoyed it! I know you are looking at going in January/February when there's still plenty of sunshine but I definitely recommend going in June for Las Hogueras which is a huge fiesta. It runs from 20th-24th June. Daily fireworks displays (Mascleta), processions, music, night time fireworks and huge statues around the city that are all burnt on the last night. It's amazing. Like Las Fallas in Valencia but less well known. The old town (barrio) bars were great at the weekend too. Thursday - Saturday night. Doesn't really get going until midnight though but tonnes of little bars. Beach nice too.