It's my wife's birthday in March, and since she loves the sea, I thought I'd surprise her with a trip. She's been learning Spanish in her spare time, so it was time to put it into practice — we were off to Alicante, Spain.


The only downside was that we were going in early spring, so we'd have to be brave enough to swim in the sea. But there was so much to discover beyond the beach, so let's go.

DAY ONE


tapas and vermouth


We arrived early in the morning, checked in and quickly started exploring the area. We grabbed a coffee and a croissant, and off we went. The area had a great atmosphere. We'd watched a few videos of the city the night before we left home, but I liked it even better in person. We made a list of things we wanted to see, but as usual we just got lost.

People gathering outside historic Mercado Central entrance with ornate architecture.
Art deco style Mercado Central building with palm trees in foreground.
Outdoor cafe scene with palm trees and people gathering on terrace.

I love seafood, my wife Orsi is a vegetarian, so anything that comes out of sea is out of the question, but she never liked seafood even before. We accidentally walked past the market and I thought I'd take some pictures of the fish and crabs. Unfortunately we arrived late and they had already cleared away, but we found something even more interesting. 


There were lots of interesting little fish dishes on the counter. These were tapas, and I thought I'd give some of them a try. The barman turned out to be a vermouth sommelier and suggested having a drink with a few tapas. He helped me choose the right pairing. Back home, vermouth was basically considered the worst kind of alcohol in the '80s and '90s, so I was pretty apprehensive about trying it. We tried two varieties, and both went surprisingly well with the fish. Orsi and I agreed that we both liked the sea salt vermouth better, it was really special. We realised that tapas was a pretty good thing — and that we liked vermouth too.

Gourmet tapas dish with artichoke and garnishes served on a black slate board.
Illuminated wine bar interior with extensive bottle collection on display.
Glass jars filled with colorful pickled vegetables and olives on display at a bar counter.
Close-up of Spanish tapas with toothpicks arranged on serving platters.

Fish, olives and artichokes

Amber bottles illuminated behind glass with a menu chalkboard in the background.
Large mason jars containing various pickled vegetables with handwritten labels on display.

Spicy delicacies

Cocktail glasses and blue bottle arranged on a bar counter with mood lighting.

Both tasted really good but the blue one with sea salt is king

Sangria cocktail garnished with orange slices being served at a bar.

So, what exactly is vermouth? A quick guide. Vermouth is a fortified wine flavoured with spices and herbs. There are two main types of vermouth: dry and sweet. The drink originated in Italy and France and is often used as a base for cocktails such as Martini and Negroni. The herbs and spices used for flavouring can be varied, including cinnamon, cloves, wormwood and citrus. And why did I like it? Because I love bittersweet drinks and herbal flavours. For example, Italian Chino soft drink or Maltese Kinnie are big favourites.


Palm tree lined promenade with decorative patterns on the pavement.

Passeig de l'Esplanada d'Espanya — cloudy skies and still very few tourists

We thought it would be better to move on before things got too serious with the tasting. We visited the famous seaside promenade and window-shopped, went shopping in the surrounding streets and then sat down by the harbour for a rest before starting the late afternoon and evening.

Modern building with vertical green gardens on its facade in an urban downtown setting.
Majestic banyan tree with large twisted trunks surrounded by tropical palm fronds in a garden setting.
Large decorative anchor sculpture displayed near palm trees in an urban setting.
Alicante branded wine barrels displayed along a palm-lined Mediterranean boulevard.
Luxury yachts docked in a marina with turquoise waters and a rusty mooring bollard in the foreground.
Artisanal toast topped with pistachio spread and white chocolate pearls in a takeout box.
Close-up of a golden crepe being served at Le Mien food stand.

Pistachio crépes and waffles — just to have enough fuel for more exploring

Blue tent shelter on a sandy beach with folded umbrellas and palm tree.
Scenic beachfront boardwalk with palm trees and lifeguard tower along the Mediterranean coast.
Curved beach promenade with white shade sail, palm trees, and geometric pattern flooring.
Tranquil beach scene with palm trees framing blue umbrellas and ocean views.
Coastal walkway with glass barrier, palm trees, and beach views under blue skies.
White lifeguard tower stands against a cloudy sky with palm trees and beach views in the background.
Seaside promenade with palm trees and modern buildings along a beach on a cloudy day.
Modern curved walkway with glass barriers along a beach with palm trees and lamp posts.

Next stop is Cervecería 100 Montaditos. It is a popular Spanish fast-food chain known for its variety of small sandwiches (montaditos). It offers a casual dining experience, with over 100 different combinations of sandwiches, including options with ham, cheese, chorizo, and other traditional Spanish ingredients. The beer was cold and the prices were low, sound like our place :)

Glass of Aguila Cruzcampo beer sits on a menu at a restaurant.

First checking the menu

Close-up of a glass of golden Aguila Cruzcampo beer with menu in the background.

Then checking the beer

I'm starting to like Spanish gastronomy so, I thought I'd try some more for dinner. Here are a few tapas that represent the rich flavours and variety of Spanish cuisine:


  • Patatas Bravas – Fried potatoes served with a spicy tomato sauce or aioli.
  • Tortilla Española – A traditional Spanish omelette made with potatoes, eggs, and onions.
  • Jamón Ibérico – Thinly sliced cured Iberian ham.
  • Gambas al Ajillo – Shrimp sautéed in garlic and olive oil.
  • Croquetas – Breaded and fried croquettes filled with ham, cheese, or other ingredients.
  • Albóndigas – Spanish meatballs typically served in a tomato or almond sauce.
  • Chorizo a la Sidra – Chorizo sausage cooked in cider.
  • Pimientos de Padrón – Small green peppers, some of which are spicy, fried and sprinkled with salt.
  • Pulpo a la Gallega – Galician-style octopus, usually served with paprika, olive oil, and potatoes.
Various tapas and drinks served on a restaurant table with atmospheric lighting.
Traditional Spanish tapas bar with hanging wine glasses and olives in serving bowls.
Bar interior with hanging wine glasses and beer taps in warm amber lighting.
Dried chorizo sausages hanging in a traditional Spanish tapas bar.

DAY two


Castillo trip


Let's not change what worked before. We returned to our “favourite” breakfast spot for coffee and croissants. After breakfast, we set off to climb St. Barbara's Castle. It's 166 metres above sea level, so we needed to make sure we had enough energy for the climb. We stopped a few times on the way up, partly because the view was gorgeous and partly because we needed to catch our breath. It was a tough climb. You can also take the lift up, but then you lose the view and there's no challenge. 

Fresh croissant and coffee served with other breakfast pastries on a cafe table.

Cortado, croissant and a ham sandwich for starting the day right

Ancient fortress perched on a rocky hilltop against blue sky with vegetation in foreground.

So we'll walk up here - we stopped in a park half way up

Ornate stone archway entrance to historic church with religious statue in alcove above.
Vintage golden keyhole on textured dark teal door.
Interior of ornate Catholic church with white vaulted ceilings and religious artwork.

Above is the Concatedral de San Nicolás in Alicante. Interestingly, on our previous trip we visited the church of the same name in Bari. The cathedral has a 45-metre-high blue dome, which appears several times in the following photos.

Church bell tower visible through trees and buildings in urban setting.
Sunny narrow stone stairway between historic buildings with traditional street lamp.
Ancient fortress ruins viewed through tree branches against blue sky.
Vibrant red hibiscus flower blooming among green foliage.
Mediterranean coastal view with cruise ship in harbor through yellow-tinted foreground.
Coastal cityscape view from fortress walls overlooking turquoise Mediterranean Sea.
Coastal cityscape with modern high-rise building and pink flowers framing the Mediterranean Sea view.
Aerial view of coastal city with modern port facilities and historic buildings against blue Mediterranean Sea.
Historic Mediterranean cityscape with ornate domed buildings and terracotta rooftops overlooking the sea.
Close-up of prickly pear cactus with ripe purple fruits growing in sunlight.
Modern high-rise building contrasts with historic church towers against bright blue sky.
Urban rooftops with domed buildings and terracotta tiles in a Mediterranean coastal city.

Bon appétite — we've already done it

Information sign showing a map of Santa Barbara castle and fortress against a stone wall background.

Welcome to the castle

Red Estrella beer can held up against a scenic coastal Mediterranean beach view.
Aerial view of Alicante's coastline with mountains and buildings along the turquoise Mediterranean Sea.
Blue telescope overlooking a coastal city with a seagull perched on the wall.
Panoramic cityscape of Alicante with mountains in the background and a blue telescope in the foreground.
Stone archway with purple lavender flowers framing a view of the Mediterranean coast.
Historic black cannon positioned between stone walls overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Stone fortress walls overlooking a beautiful turquoise beach and Mediterranean coastline.
Aerial view of Alicante's marina and port with boats and Mediterranean waters.
Spanish flag waving against blue sky over Alicante's landscape.

On our way back from the castle, we stopped by the snack bar to see what was on offer. There weren't any sandwiches, but I had the best olives I've ever tasted. Or maybe it was just so good with beer. I'm going to make a point of buying this olive from now on.

Cold glasses of Estrella beer served with olives on a sunny seaside terrace.
Whiskey glass casting a dramatic shadow on a red table surface.

A vermouth after these long walks?

Hand holding a cup of artisanal ice cream with a spoon against a blurred outdoor background.

Or ice cream would be a better idea?

Coastal Mediterranean cityscape with turquoise waters and mountain backdrop.

View towards Benidorm

Palm tree with green fronds against deep blue sky.

We had to climb up to the castle and then come back down again. It was a long hike, but the view was well worth it. It was a long day with a lot on the menu, so we kept going. Next stop was the harbour, where Orsi took a break while I went off to take some photos of the boats.

Palm tree lined waterfront promenade with blue ocean views.
Large orange rescue vessel docked at harbor with palm trees.
Bright orange rescue ship moored at palm-lined dock under blue sky.

In the afternoon, we went back to the market hall to see if we'd make it in time and whether the fishmongers would still be there. Fortunately, it was open, and we finally got to photograph some of the sea's predators.

Fresh whole fish arranged on ice at market display.
Vendor displaying fresh seafood at bustling market counter.
Fishmonger in blue apron preparing fresh seafood at market counter.
Fresh fish being prepared at seafood market counter.
Large red lobster displayed on ice at seafood market with price tag.
Fresh whole lobster displayed on ice at fish market counter.
Various fresh fish and seafood displayed on ice at market counter.
Fresh fish with price tags displayed on ice at seafood market.
Fresh fish and seafood arranged on ice at market display counter.
Fish vendor preparing fresh salmon at market counter while customers watch.
Worker preparing fresh produce at market station with greens visible.
Customers at Pescados Mado fish market counter viewing fresh seafood.
Glowing amber glass tumblers stacked in rows creating a warm illuminated pattern.

Probably you guessed who we visited again, I don't dare to write it down once more :)

Next stop is the castillo

We also visited Castillo San Fernando, another castle in the city. It's a great way to get some exercise, but there's not much at the top apart from the chance to take a few photos of the city from above.Instead, we decided to head to the coast for some sunbathing. Orsi considered going into the sea, but apart from her, only a couple of locals were brave enough.

Brown sign displaying 'Castillo de San Fernando' against blue sky.
Person in blue walking up pathway towards communication towers on hilltop.
Scenic cityscape view from balcony with tall apartment building and ocean in background.
View through window frame of sandy courtyard with stone walls.
Aerial view of urban streets and terracotta rooftops in Mediterranean city.
Mountain backdrop behind dense urban cityscape with apartment buildings.
Narrow street lined with parked cars between residential buildings.

back to the beach

Beachfront hotels and palm trees under bright blue sky.
People relaxing on sandy beach with coastal cityscape in background.
Beachgoers relax on a sandy shoreline with coastal buildings and mountains in the background.

We found another harbour with a great view of the castle, so we decided to wait for sunset. And what a good decision that was — the clouds painted the sky in beautiful colours.

Palm tree silhouetted against vibrant pink sunset sky over marina with castle-topped hill in Alicante.

The colours kept changing and were breathtaking throughout

Night view of illuminated marina and castle in Alicante with boats reflecting on calm waters.

We waited a little longer to experience the blue hour

DAY three


visiting benidorm


This is the third and final day. We thought we'd check out one of the neighbouring towns, Benidorm. It was interesting to discover that a tram connects the two cities, with a journey time of about an hour and a half. We walked straight through town towards the old town and beach, as we didn't have much time before we had to catch our flight.

Panoramic coastal view of Benidorm's skyline and beach along Mediterranean sea.
"Quite a sight, I could get used to this"
Palm fronds frame a beach scene with blue lounge chairs and sunbathers on golden sand.
Wooden boardwalk and sandy beach with mountains and high-rise buildings in the background.
Coastal cityscape with palm trees and beachgoers enjoying a sandy beach against a backdrop of high-rise buildings.
Seaside balcony with blue and white striped awnings framing ocean view.

Not sure what to look at — that island is pretty tiny.

Two beach towels laid out on golden sand next to turquoise ocean waters on a sunny day.

A little afternoon power nap, I hope they used sunscreen

Yellow tourist boat cruising on bright blue waters with parasailing activity in the background.
Palm trees frame a crowded beach scene with blue loungers and umbrellas scattered across golden sand.
Scenic Mediterranean beach cove with turquoise waters and urban skyline against mountain backdrop.
Beachfront restaurant terrace with diners enjoying ocean views on a sunny afternoon.
Outdoor beach restaurant with palm trees and wooden furniture offering seaside dining.
White decorative balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with tourists enjoying the viewpoint.
Mediterranean coastal cityscape with modern buildings and mountains visible in the background.
White ornate staircase leads up rocky cliff to viewing platform with decorative compass rose pattern at base.
Circular white balcony overlook with compass rose design floor pattern above turquoise Mediterranean waters.

Showing them the right direction

Lifeguard station with green flag and blue umbrella on sandy beach overlooking turquoise ocean.

Watching the watcher watching

There were long, sandy beaches in every direction. The crowds were already pretty impressive, but what surprised me most was that the majority seemed to be British pensioners enjoying their second teenage years. It was an amusing and slightly terrifying experience all at once.

At last, we sat down for a drink and said goodbye to Spain.

Person holding a large glass of cold beer at an outdoor restaurant.

Cheers, bye

This was another great trip. Perhaps next time we should visit Alicante and the surrounding area in summer as well. Happy birthday, my love! I hope you enjoyed your time here.

Coastal city view with palm-lined beach promenade and modern buildings against mountain backdrop.





Adiós España,

espero verte pronto