Alicante Compass
Discover Alicante Like You Live Here
First-hand travel tips and essential expat resources. Discover the secrets of the Costa Blanca from a local perspective.
"When I first moved to Alicante, I spent months figuring out what the good guides never told me — which beach on the Costa Blanca actually has parking, which Alicante neighbourhood to avoid for an apartment, where locals eat on a Tuesday night.
Alicante Compass is everything I learned, written down so you don't have to figure it out the hard way. Every friend who visited Alicante came back with the same story: great weather, wrong restaurants, missed the best bits — the hidden coves, the best beaches in Alicante province, the tapas bars locals actually go to, the things to do in Alicante that no travel blog mentions.
This is my attempt to fix that — one honest, specific, regularly updated page at a time. Whether you are visiting for a weekend, moving to Alicante, retiring on the Costa Blanca, or already living here as an expat in Alicante and still discovering it.
No fluff. No filler. Just an honest **local guide to Alicante** — as it actually is."
Alicante Compass is everything I learned, written down so you don't have to figure it out the hard way. Every friend who visited Alicante came back with the same story: great weather, wrong restaurants, missed the best bits — the hidden coves, the best beaches in Alicante province, the tapas bars locals actually go to, the things to do in Alicante that no travel blog mentions.
This is my attempt to fix that — one honest, specific, regularly updated page at a time. Whether you are visiting for a weekend, moving to Alicante, retiring on the Costa Blanca, or already living here as an expat in Alicante and still discovering it.
No fluff. No filler. Just an honest **local guide to Alicante** — as it actually is."
Petro
Alicante Compass
Alicante Travel Guide — Independent, Free & Written by a Local
Alicante is far more than a destination on a travel map — it is one of Spain's most liveable, most beautiful, and most underrated corners of the Mediterranean. I built Alicante Compass because it deserves better than a generic top-10 list copied from another generic top-10 list.
Whether you are planning a long weekend on the Costa Blanca, searching for a quiet cove away from the crowds in Alicante province, exploring the best tapas bars and local restaurants in Alicante city, or seriously considering moving to Alicante or retiring on the Costa Blanca — this is the guide I wished existed when I first arrived.
What you will find here:
Alicante is far more than a destination on a travel map — it is one of Spain's most liveable, most beautiful, and most underrated corners of the Mediterranean. I built Alicante Compass because it deserves better than a generic top-10 list copied from another generic top-10 list.
Whether you are planning a long weekend on the Costa Blanca, searching for a quiet cove away from the crowds in Alicante province, exploring the best tapas bars and local restaurants in Alicante city, or seriously considering moving to Alicante or retiring on the Costa Blanca — this is the guide I wished existed when I first arrived.
What you will find here:
- Honest, first-hand beach guides across the entire Alicante province — from Dénia and Altea to Torrevieja and Guardamar
- Local food guides — the best tapas in Alicante, neighbourhood restaurants, and markets the tourists miss
- Practical guides for expats moving to Alicante — neighbourhoods, cost of living, schools, healthcare, and bureaucracy explained
- Insider tips on things to do in Alicante beyond the castle and the Explanada
- Everything you need to explore the Costa Blanca like someone who actually lives here
Alicante doesn't end at the waterfront.
Keep exploring:
Best Beaches
in Alicante & Costa Blanca
From hidden turquoise coves to vast golden sands — find your perfect beach on the Alicante, Costa Blanca.
Day Trips from Alicante
The Costa Blanca doesn't end at the city limits. Castles, coves, mountain towns, and seaside villages — all within an hour. Here's where to go.
Parks & Nature in Alicante
The green spaces, coastal paths, and quiet corners of Alicante that most visitors walk straight past. Worth slowing down for.
Stop Guessing. Start Planning.
A small selection of tools that make Costa Blanca travel easier. Some links are affiliate — meaning I earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. I only include services I'd genuinely recommend.
Hotels, apartments, and villas across the Costa Blanca. Summer fills up fast — the good spots go first.
Alicante Airport (ALC) connects to most major European cities year-round. Compare and lock in the best price before it moves.
The Costa Blanca stretches 200km. A rental car is the only way to actually see it — buses don't go where the good stuff is.
Day trips, boat tours, and guided excursions across the Costa Blanca — handpicked and worth your time.
Hi, I’m Petro, the face behind Alicante Compass.
This guide is free and always will be. Running it takes time, fuel, and a lot of coffee — researching places that don't show up on Google Maps, verifying details that other sites get wrong, and writing guides I'd actually want to read myself. If Alicante Compass has saved you time, money, or given you one moment worth remembering — I'd be grateful for your support. Every contribution keeps me on the road and the content free for everyone.
Ask Petro Directly
No question is too small. If you can't find the answer on the site, send me a message — I'll get back to you personally.
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