Located in south-eastern Spain, on the Costa Blanca, Alicante is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, offering a wealth of historical attractions. Renowned for its 300 days of sunshine a year, magnificent beaches, old town, monuments and nightlife, Alicante promises a good dose of entertainment all year round. Whether you’re here for a cultural city break, a party, or just to bask in the sun, Alicante is sure to meet your needs. So where to stay in Alicante for a successful vacation?
In this guide, we’ll come back to the question of accommodation in Alicante. We’ll take a look at what’s on offer in each area, including entertainment, tourist attractions, transport and restaurants. Then we’ll recommend the most interesting places to stay for each, grouped by budget.
Main information
Before going into the description of the places to target when selecting accommodation in Alicante, here are the essentials to know from a tourist point of view. They should give you a better idea of the city and its constraints.
Our favorite places to stay
For those in a hurry, here are our favorite places to stay in Alicante:
- $ this accommodation, just a few steps from the marina and Santa Barbara Castle
- $$ this hotel is well located and offers a view of the city
- $$$ this luxury establishment, 2 steps from Postiguet beach, is one of the best places to stay in Alicante
Map of Alicante neighborhoods to stay in
To give you a quick overview of the different places we recommend to stay in Alicante, you’ll find on the map below all the Alicante accommodation recommendations we’ll be sharing in this guide. You can also use it to locate the different neighborhoods we’ll be detailing.
The essentials for choosing where to stay in Alicante
Where to stay in and around Alicante
Let’s get to the heart of the matter with a review of the main areas where we recommend staying in Alicante.
Staying in the Santa Creu district: the best place for a first visit to Alicante
Located right next to the modern center of Alicante's historic district, Santa Creu is, from the outset, the best place to stay if you're visiting Alicante for the first time. You'll appreciate its rich architectural heritage, cultural offerings and numerous activities.
Considered the most visited area, this picturesque spot has retained its old-world charm. In fact, it's Alicante's oldest district. You'll enjoy strolling through its colorful cobbled streets.
You'll find many historic buildings and cultural attractions. We recommend a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which features masterpieces of Spanish culture. Continue on to the Water Museum, where you can discover the history of water in the region. We also recommend a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria, the oldest in the city.
There are a large number of Spanish restaurants serving authentic cuisine, as well as numerous bars where you can quench your thirst on the terrace. For party-goers, there are plenty of lively venues, including some of Alicante's hottest nightclubs.
In terms of transport, you'll find several bus and streetcar lines. If you like walking, it's a convenient place to get to Alicante's most interesting points of interest on foot.
Where to stay, it's one of the places with the most concentrated offers of accommodation. However, prices can sometimes rise very quickly due to the attractiveness of this area. You'll find apartment rentals, as well as mid-range to top-of-the-range hotels and even youth hostels. If you're staying here during the summer months, we recommend that you book your accommodation well in advance.
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Enjoy accommodation with typical Spanish charm and breakfast. You'll appreciate its colorful decor and ambiance, and its proximity to Postiguet beach.
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This boutique hotel offers spacious, modern and refined accommodation. You'll appreciate the charm and decoration of the establishment and the presence of a terrace.
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In this former Dominican convent, you'll enjoy a superb 5-star establishment overlooking the cathedral. Enjoy free access to the rooftop spa, with sauna, swimming pool and gym. You'll also appreciate the elegantly designed rooms, decorated with paintings.
Accommodation in Alicante's Modern Center: the most popular shopping area
Located between the old town and the port of Alicante, this is the city's commercial district. Particularly lively, you'll find a wide range of stores, shopping arcades and brand-name boutiques. There's also a wide choice of restaurants to suit all tastes. As you can see, this area is ideal for staying close to all amenities.
You can admire the neoclassical architecture and narrow streets of the area as you shop. As for tourist attractions, we recommend a visit to the Esplanade d'Espagne, a large, colorful promenade lined with palm trees. We also recommend a swim on the nearby Postiguet beach.
If you want to get around, this is the strategic place to stay, as all the main public transport routes pass through here. In fact, the main railway station is located here. For parking, this area also boasts numerous parking lots.
For accommodation, the modern center offers a wide range of hotels and apartments to stay in. The majority of accommodation is in apartments. Budget-wise, there's something for everyone. But on the whole, accommodation in this area is affordable. So it's a good choice for staying in Alicante.
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This accommodation features rooms with garden or balcony views. You'll appreciate the rooms' colorful, designer decor.
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Enjoy apartments with terraces, living areas and fully equipped kitchens. Enjoy city views and modern, chic accommodation.
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In a sublime establishment with a historic building, enjoyluxurious, spacious apartments with refined decor. You'll appreciate the on-site bike and car rental service.
Stay in a quieter, more natural area: San Antón
Located to the east of Alicante's historic district, San Antón is a much quieter place, away from the hustle and bustle. In fact, you'll find fewer restaurants and bars than in other areas.
You'll find some interesting alleyways with craftsmen, as well as stores selling pottery and paintings of seascapes. For history and architecture buffs, you'll also find a wide range of historic sites, such as Santa Barbara Castle, which we recommend you visit. This is Alicante's ancient fortress, with panoramic views over the bay.
It's also a good alternative for reconnecting with nature, as the area abounds in parks. If you're a sporty type, you'll find plenty of hiking trails with beautiful views. In fact, we recommend the Ereta park, with its breathtaking views.
To get around, Sant Anton has numerous bus stops and parking facilities. To stay, it's less attractive for accommodation than other areas and is fairly concentrated. You'll find plenty of apartments in this area, as well as youth hostels. Accommodation in this area is quite affordable.
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This youth hostel offers air-conditioned rooms with a shared kitchen and lounge. You'll appreciate the simple, modern decor.
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This establishment offers rooms with city views. You'll appreciate the Jacuzzi in your accommodation and the spa bath.
Lodging along the beach and marina: Paseo del Puerto Viejo
Located to the south of the historic center, Paseo del Puerto Viejo is theideal place to stay close to the water. In fact, thanks to its location between the beaches and the marina, the accommodations offer exceptional views over the Bay of Alicante.
There are also numerous parks in the area. And if you like sports in the great outdoors, you'll find a number of hiking trails to enjoy along the coast. In terms of tourist attractions, we recommend a visit to the Museo The Ocean Race, dedicated to competitive sailing, and a visit to the casino, with its restaurant and art gallery.
Lively, you'll find plenty of bars and restaurants along the coast.
To get around, there's very little in the way of public transport. However, there are plenty of parking lots. If you want to stay the night, there's not a lot of accommodation on offer, mainly high-end resorts.
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This splendid hotel offers elegant suites with terraces overlooking the port or the sea. Enjoy an outdoor swimming pool and a wide variety of gourmet dishes.
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This magnificent establishment will seduce you with its accommodation with private terrace. There's also a heated swimming pool and a restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine.
Summary
Alicante has many different areas of interest for accommodation. As you have seen in this guide, accommodation is fairly affordable even in the center of Alicante. You’ll find a wide range of accommodation where to stay, including hotels, apartments and youth hostels. To sum up :
- If you want to stay close to a lively area, you’ll have to opt for the modern center of Alicante
- If you want to stay in an authentic area steeped in history, head for the historic center of Santa Creu
- If you want to stay in a quieter area close to tourist attractions, San Antón is the place to go
- If you want to stay close to the water, choose the Paseo del Puerto Viejo harbor area to stay.