Two days in Alicante: What to do on a short break

Day One

Morning

There’s nothing quite like seeing a town from above to really get the lie of the land. Looming high up above the city is the 9th-century Castillo Santa Barbara – a sprawling fortress complex with ancient ramparts, tunnels and courtyards. On a cloudless day, there are stunning views out to the nearby island of Tabarca and along the coast.

You’ll get a wonderful bird’s eye view of Alicante’s Old Town immediately down below, and the Castillo also features the interactive Museum of the City of Alicante (MUSA), complete with caves and suits of armour that are guaranteed to amuse the kids. Be prepared to spend the morning here, if not longer, and there’s a café and shop in case you need refuelling.

The simplest way up to the top is by lift or, if you’re planning to drive further afield and have hired a car, you can drive. Otherwise, if you’re feeling especially energetic, there’s a steep, winding path.

Walking back down from the hilltop you’ll end up in the Santa Cruz district, which borders the Casco Antiguo (Old Town). These two areas are full of narrow, meandering streets that are perfect for getting lost in, and while there are tourist restaurants aplenty, there’s also no shortage of authentic bars packed with locals.

Afternoon

As you may know, Spanish lunchtime tends to start from about 1.30pm onwards, and this is the perfect time to tuck in. The old town is packed with excellent restaurants and tapas bars, so it’s hard to go wrong. One of the most famous – both for tapas at the bar downstairs or for full meals in the grand dining room – is Nou Manolin.

Look out for local specialty rice dishes such as arroz meloso, which contain ingredients from super fresh prawns to tuna and mullet. Alternatively, try Sento Rambla Brewery, which is less than five minutes walk away.

After lunch there’s plenty to see in the old town. Top attractions include the blue-domed, 17th-century Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás, the Basilica of St Mary with its gothic interior and MACA Contemporary Art Museum, which features works by Dali, Picasso and Chagall.

You’ll probably stumble upon it anyway, but you should also keep an eye out for the impressive Plaza del Ayuntamiento square with its grandiose 18th-century Town Hall.

Evening

Most locals won’t sit down for dinner until 9.30 or 10pm, so if you feel like freshening up or having a siesta, there’s plenty of time.

For a Masterchef-style fine dining take on Alicante classics, La Ereta is the place to go. Set high up above the city in the La Ereta park, it has spectacular views of the city (expect set menus starting from €75 per head).

Or, for similar elegance at unusually reasonable prices, L’Atelier is just the ticket (€26 per person for 3 courses). Set menus are changed daily and offer up to four courses including appetisers and sorbet. If you fancy a nightcap, the old town has plenty of lively bars to choose from.

Day Two

Morning

Alicante’s old town may be its beating heart, but no trip to the city would be complete without a stroll along the seafront promenade, Explanada de España, which is just a short walk from the Barrio. Lined with palm trees on both sides and filled with pavement cafes and street performers, the Explanada was built in the 19th century for residents to take their formal evening stroll and has a distinctive op-art-style, wave-effect mosaic floor made up of millions of red, black and white tiles.

Look out for Number 1, Explanada – aka the Casa Carbonell – a frothy white mansion built in the 1920s by a local industrialist.

Afternoon

Follow the Explanada along to the marina where there’s a string of harbourfront restaurants – as you’d expect, seafood is obviously a big deal around these parts. Giant red prawns are a local specialty, and you’ll find good local rice dishes pretty much everywhere.

Otherwise, for elegant tapas with a modern twist, Restobar Gema Penalva serves exquisite morsels like smoked salmon with dill, cod carpaccio or caramelised foie gras, as well as their refined take on classics like patatas bravas or Russian salad.

If all that salty sea air has whetted your appetite for the beach, walk along to Platja del Postiguet (the main beach). But rather than stopping there, take the tram for a short but spectacular journey along the coast, past the charmingly named Cabo de las Huertas (Cape of the Orchards) headland to Platja de San Juan, the city’s favourite beach. With 6km (4 miles) of wide silky, fine sand, climbing frames for the kids, pedalos to hire and a string of cafes and restaurants lining the promenade, you could easily spend a whole day here.

Back in the city, head to the marina and watch the sun across the yachts over coffee, ice cream or excellent aperitifs at waterfront Santi Restaurante.

Evening

Round off your trip with tapas or dinner at the stylish Hospes Amérigo Hotel. This is smart, contemporary cooking, and the menu offers simple but tantalising dishes like turbot with fennel or duck with a sweet wine reduction (mains around €20-€24). The hotel’s rooftop bar also does a mean cocktail and has great views to Santa Barbara Castle and city centre.