Alicante

Alicante has sun-soaked beaches and a busy Mediterranean waterfront sitting below a hilltop castle. Santa Bárbara Castle, high on Mount Benacantil, has wide views over the harbour and the Costa Blanca coastline. A lift from Postiguet Beach takes you up through the rock. The Explanada de España promenade, lined with palm trees and mosaic tiles made from marble, is the main strip for a stroll along the marina. The old quarter, Barrio de Santa Cruz, climbs the hillside behind the castle with narrow streets and whitewashed houses. The Central Market (Mercado Central) is an art nouveau building selling fresh produce, cured meats, and local turron (nougat). Playa de San Juan, a few kilometres north, is a longer sandy beach popular with locals. The cruise terminal is a short shuttle ride or 15-minute walk from the centre. Horchata, a cold tiger nut drink, and tapas of octopus or prawns are the local order.