Alicante is one of the best-known towns on the Costa Blanca and is a historic Mediterranean port. Book a low-cost, last-minute flight to Alicante and you'll soon be enjoying the palm-fringed beaches of the Costa Blanca.
Ten handy facts about Alicante
Alicante is the capital of the province of Alicante, in the region of Valencia.
The population of Alicante is around 300,000 but if you include the metropolitan area of the city, number are estimated to be around 700,000.
Alicante is the eighth largest metropolitan area of Spain and one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
The climate in Alicante is extremely pleasant, with an average winter temperature of around 16°C and a summer temperature of 32°C.
The city is lively all year round but is particularly busy during the summer months due to the popularity of the Mediterranean coastline.
The city's economy is based predominantly on tourism and the production of wine.
The Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Majorca are easily accessible via ferry from Alicante.
Roughly 15% of the population of Alicante is foreign, mostly from Argentina, Ecuador and Columbia.
The area around Alicante has been inhabited for over 7,000 years.
The official language is Castilian (Castellano) Spanish but Valencian is also spoken, as is English and German.
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