Renting a car in Alicante allows you to explore a whole new side to the capital of the Costa Blanca. From an elegant city with wide boulevards to clean-whitewashed beaches and a sparkling new harbour, sightseeing opportunities abound in Alicante. The following is a guide to the best places to visit in Alicante and beyond with car hire.

Alicante Airport Mini Guide:

Alicante Airport is situated 11km to the south of Alicante. The airport offers passengers a range of excellent facilities including shops, ATMs and banks.

Things To See/Do in Alicante:

Alicante is located on a sun-soaked bay between two capes on the east coast of Spain. It is regarded as the epicentre of the popular Costa Blanca holiday resort region. Tourists flock here every year in their droves to enjoy the sandy beaches and sizzling temperatures. With Alicante car hire though, it's possible to enjoy a range of superb day-trip excursions. The city's historical district for one makes for an excellent alternative to sun-loungers and beachside reads. The main street is called the Rambla and is lined with lush palm trees, outdoor cafés and ice-cream parlours. It's worth parking the car for a while and exploring the marble-paved plazas and verdant parks and gardens of the Explanada d'Espanya, which encircles the yacht harbour with its shiny mosaic promenade. Santa Cruz makes for another great place for a stroll. This picturesque city is charm epitomised, featuring wrought iron balconies and a quaint little chapel, built into the old town wall. As you climb, you pass a range of small colourful houses. Don't forget to bring along your camera to capture all those magic moments!

Eating Out in Alicante:

As is the case with most tourst friendly cities in Spain, Alicante boasts a wide range of restaurants offering cuisine from around the world including Thai Indian, Turkish and Moroccan cuisine. If you're on a budget Tapas is an excellent way to fill your tummy without emptying your pockets! The now world famous Tapas bars actually started life in Alicante. Montaditos are must. These tasty snacks are placed on a slice of crusty bread and handed out free to customers. If you're looking to get an authentic taste for the city, it's worth sampling local specialities such as grilled red mullet in oil, garlic and parsley, smoked sausages and saffron flavoured fish stew. While on the subject of soups, be sure to sample tasty 'oleta' broth or net fresh sardines grilled on the barbeque.

Day Trips/Events in Alicante:

If you can drag yourself away from Alicante for a few hours, you'll find a plethora of wonderful day-trip destinations on the city's doorstep. Attractive excursion options include Eche, which can be reached within a 19km drive west of Alicante and Castell de Santa Barbara, a superb medieval architectural feat that encompasses moats, drawbridges, dungeons and drawbridges.

Alicante plays host to a wonderful variety of events throughout the calendar year. Calendar highlights in Alicante include October's annual Moors and Christians Festival, August's Alicante Summer Festival and Noveember's lively Fesititeres festival.