As the sunniest place in the entirety of Europe as ranked by monthly hours of sunshine, Alicante is a great destination regardless of time of year. When I was there this past week in mid-January, it certainly lived up to its title.
If you're looking to make the most of the winter sunshine, you can stay a little outside the city to benefit from the seemingly never-ending beach and promenade in one of the small towns that stretch along the coast, like El Campello. You will also find accommodation here to be cheaper than in the city and can also rest easy with the many free parking areas.
Alicante is a city well connected with tram lines running frequently and efficiently for less than €1.50 per journey, thanks to this, you can stay a little outside of the city and remain connected to Alicante's vibrancy and hospitality within twenty minutes.
ALICANTE
I spent my day in the city exploring the old town of Barrio de la Santa. With its small winding streets and colourful Spanish architecture, you can easily spend hours soaking up the history of the place and thanks to its proximity to Mount Benacantil, you can see some pretty spectacular backdrops to already delightful scenes.
After winding your way up to the top of the barrio, you can follow numerous paths that take you up to the very top of the hill where you'll find the sprawling ruins of Santa Bárbara Castle. With undisturbed views in all directions, the castle provides the best vantage point to admire the city and sea below.
The castle is free to enter and is dog friendly! If you're travelling with your pet and want them to enjoy some off-lead time, take the path that runs around the back of the mountain away from the old town, where you'll find more rugged terrain yet still with clearly marked paths and more amazing views free from the traffic of the other side.
After walking your way around the old town a castle, it's a great option to head down to the port where there are many bars and restaurants with large terraces which soak up the sunshine, also most of which are dog friendly.
EL CAMPELLO
If you're looking to get the best out of both city and beach, just a twenty minute tram from Alicante will take you to the soft golden-white sands of Playa de Muchavista, in the area of El Campello. With its promenade that stretches for almost seven kilometres, the area is ideal for cyclists, runners, and dogs alike.
Although dotted with slightly outdated high-rises, the area provides a relaxing place to stay away from the city with many hotels and tourist apartments that line this vast stretch of beach and offer sweeping sea views. With restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and even a small strip of nightclubs, the area has everything you need for a beach-side break.
In the winter season the area is largely emptied of tourists with just the locals and ex-pats remaining, allowing for a hassle free stay and the luxury of a near-empty beach. Honestly, I don't think I would have enjoyed this area in the summer as I can only imagine the amount of tourists and hawkers that pack the streets but if you're looking for a quiet winter retreat, El Campello is a wonderful option.
It's worth checking Airbnb to find some great winter deals, I was able to find a penthouse apartment with uninterrupted sea views for only €45 per night.
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