Duration of trip: 4 nights, early morning arrival back in Budapest
Season: Spring (early April)
Mode of transport: Ryanair BUD- ALC, rental car for two days
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Alicante and exploring the City Centre
Day 2: Barrio de Santa Cruz, Castillo de Santa Bárbara
Day 3: Biar, Villajoyosa
Day 4: Peñón de Ifach, Guadalest, Benidorm
Back to Alicante: Seeing the City With New Eyes
Some people like to return to places they’ve visited and loved before, while others prefer to explore new ones all the time. I’ve always been a bit of both.
I spent a semester living in Alicante on an Erasmus exchange in 2008. It was the first time I had ever traveled by airplane and the first time I had spent a long period away from my family. I knew so little about traveling back then. I remember how excited I was about living by the sea and being surrounded by palm trees. It was an important time in my life, but after hearing other Erasmus stories, I felt like I had missed out on something. The city didn’t have the Spanish energy I expected — or maybe I just didn’t know where to look.
Fast forward to this year: when the idea came up to meet some friends near Barcelona, it crossed my mind to go back to Alicante. Returning turned out to be a beautiful way to reconnect with my 21-year-old self — and, of course, to meet my palm tree again.
The best part of the trip, however, was realizing all the things I hadn’t noticed back then. My younger self was all about the sea, but this time the first thing I noticed from the airplane — just before landing — were the mountains surrounding the city. A few days later, our exploration of small villages revealed the authentic Spanish vibe I had once been searching for.
Exploring the Old Town and Seaside
If you’re not all about summertime, spring is the perfect moment to visit Alicante. Even at the beginning of April, climbing up to Santa Bárbara Castle with the sun shining above us felt almost like summer.
Apart from the castle, the most iconic spot in Alicante is surely the Explanada de España. This promenade, designed to resemble the waves of the sea, runs parallel to the port and leads to Playa del Postiguet, lined all the way with palm trees. Since this was my favorite part of the city back then, it was the first place we headed after leaving our luggage at the accommodation and grabbing a quick lunch
When I lived here, I had a favorite palm tree that I must have passed a thousand times while walking down the street. After searching for it, I finally found it again — and it was there, waiting for me.
Going down the street, we arrived at the beach. It was windy; it’s not yet the time of year when you can go into the water — at least not for me. Standing there, I remembered the days when I used to gaze out at the horizon, thinking that my home was somewhere out there. It felt so distant back then.
We spent the day exploring the streets of the old town, eating ice cream, and later took a short evening walk near the castle.
Barrio Santa Cruz and Santa Bárbara Castle
The next day, we headed up to Santa Bárbara Castle. On the way, we passed through the Barrio de Santa Cruz, with its charming little streets full of flowers, colorful doors, and azulejos. If you’re looking for the most romantic corner of the city with a Spanish vibe, this is the place — a perfect spot to shoot your next phone wallpaper!
From the castle, we looked down at the sea and spent a little while watching the seagulls flying through the sky. There is also a museum inside where you can learn about the history of the castle and the city. If you don’t know much about the history and administrative divisions of Spain, I recommend reading up on it before visiting the country, because many people are unaware of its huge cultural diversity. Alicante is part of the Valencian Community, where, in addition to Spanish, Valenciano is also an official language.
After visiting the castle, we walked down to the city center to try one of the most famous dishes of Spanish cuisine: paella. In fact, paella originates from the Valencia region, so it’s a must-try — although, to be honest, we didn’t manage to find the best place.
In the afternoon, I went for a quick run down to the coast and along the beach. By the time I got back, the place was packed with people walking around.
Let the adventure begin!
Before the trip, we looked for small towns near Alicante because I remembered there were some charming ones I never got the chance to visit. The only town in the area I saw during my Erasmus days was Elche — and if you love palm trees, it’s a must. It has three UNESCO sites and more than 200,000 palm trees.
This time, we were determined to explore new places: castles and climbing spots. It quickly became clear that the province of Alicante had much more to offer than I ever knew. At first, we considered taking the train, but after looking into schedules and connections, we realized it wouldn’t allow us to visit all the places on our list. That’s when we decided to rent a car, which turned out to be surprisingly affordable and gave us the freedom to explore farther and faster.
On the road
On the first day, we headed north to visit the castles my boyfriend had discovered. Our first stop was the Monastery of Santa María Magdalena in Novelda. The drive was lovely as we began to move into the mountains, but to be honest, the monastery didn’t really impress us. We didn’t let that stop us and continued north, stopping by the Castell de Saix. It was a small castle in the middle of a beautiful park, but unfortunately, it was closed.
Biar – A Quiet Gem Among the Hills
Shortly after, we arrived in Biar — and immediately felt like we had discovered a hidden gem. The little medieval town has a 12th-century castle perched on a hill, and you can climb up to it through the charming little streets. Surrounded by the Mediterranean landscape, the village itself was almost empty and the streets were quiet, yet the little bars and restaurants still had an authentic Spanish atmosphere.
We decided to try another typical Spanish dish: tapas. The food was delicious, and we had a great time in a small bar surrounded by locals enjoying their first drink of the day. Afterwards, we enjoyed a coffee at another tiny café, soaking up the sunshine before heading up to the castle. From the top, the views over the village were peaceful and serene. Although the castle was closed, simply seeing it from the outside and taking in the surroundings was already a wonderful experience.
Villajoyosa
On our way back to Alicante, we made a brief stop in Villajoyosa, a town famous for its colorful houses along the seafront. We took a short walk along the shore, enjoying the view despite a bit of wind. It was a peaceful pause before our final day of sightseeing.
Peñón de Ifach
The next day, we headed west along the coast to Calpe, home to the Peñón de Ifach, a limestone rock formation rising 332 metres above the Mediterranean Sea. After visiting Biar, this hike became one of the highlights of the trip, adding a moderately challenging adventure to our last day.
Climbing the rock was incredible, with the sea sparkling beside us and hundreds of seagulls circling overhead. Experiencing the climb with the sea right beside you is completely different from a regular hike. The route begins with a shaded forest trail, then gradually becomes rockier until reaching a tunnel with slippery stones. Chains along the path help with climbing, and the final section near the peak requires using your hands to navigate larger rocks. It took us around an hour to reach the top.
While enjoying our summit lunch, seagulls came incredibly close, and the stunning views made the effort completely worth it. After a short break, we began our descent, still accompanied by the birds. Although you need to book an appointment to access the hiking route, it’s free and can be done online. The path is well-maintained, but you still feel completely surrounded by nature.
Guadalest
Since the hike wasn’t very long, we were back in the car around 2 pm. We still wanted to visit Guadalest, Benidorm, and possibly Altea, so we drove up into the mountains to explore Guadalest. The journey itself is already a highlight, with spectacular mountain scenery along the way.
The most striking feature of the village is the 11th-century Gothic castle perched atop a cliff, but from the village itself, you can enjoy beautiful views in every direction. By the time we arrived, parking inside the village was full, so we left the car just outside next to a restaurant. We wandered through the charming narrow streets, had a coffee, and took in the stunning vistas. We had hoped to grab a bite to eat, but we arrived right in the middle of siesta, so most restaurants were closed.
Benidorm
On our way back down to the coast, we debated whether to stop in Benidorm or Altea. In the end, we chose Benidorm. Even though it’s a bigger town and crowded on a Sunday afternoon, it has its own charms, and I don’t regret the decision. That said, if I had to choose again, I might visit Altea instead of Villajoyosa, as I’ve seen many beautiful photos of Altea’s white buildings. Villajoyosa, while pretty, didn’t feel as special in person as it does in pictures.
In Benidorm, my favorite spot was the Balcón del Mediterráneo, a seaside viewpoint in the old town. A charming white-stone staircase leads down to a circular platform, with subtle blue details that I really admired. Another highlight was discovering small tapas restaurants tucked away in the alleys of the old town—the perfect spot to enjoy a final taste of Spain before saying goodbye.
The next day, we had a very early flight. Since getting to the airport by public transport would have been difficult, we returned our rental car directly to the airport, making the journey home smooth and stress-free.
Highlights
If you’re visiting Alicante, don’t miss the charming villages and towns in the province. In my experience, Biar, Benidorm, and Peñón de Ifach were the standout spots. Biar charms with its medieval streets and authentic Spanish bars, Benidorm surprises with its old town and seaside viewpoint, and Peñón de Ifach offers a breathtaking coastal hike.