Flying into Alicante Airport for many means staying local to the Airport and enjoying the area around Alicante. But if you fancy exploring further afield, where else can you easily travel to from the Airport to enjoy a different side of Spain?
We explore the possibilities, flying from Cornwall Airport Newquay twice a week throughout the year with Ryanair.
Murcia – 40 minutes drive from Alicante Airport
The city of Murcia is only 40 minutes from Alicante Airport or an hour and a half on the train. Spain’s 7th largest city, Murcia provides a real change from the beach cities and towns in the region, with fantastic architecture, great food and fabulous shopping.
Known for being a laid back university city, Murcia really is a city to wander around. Explore the famous Cathedral de Santa Maria, the art museums such as the one dedicated to Murcia native Ramon Gaya and the castle of Monteagudo, a fortress from the 11th century.
Cartagena – 1 hour 15 minute drive from Alicante Airport
Cartagena was an ancient trading hub in the 3rd century before being conquered by the Romans and their influence is everywhere in this fascinating city. The Roman Theatre Museum is a 2,000 year old theatre found in 1988 under the ruins of an old cathedral and as well as walking around the theatre itself you can enjoy the museum artefacts. If you are going to Cartagena for the history, you’ll find more at the Military Museum, the Spanish Civil War Museum and Municipal Archaeology Museum.
Travelling from Cornwall, you’ll see a familiar sight in Cartagena in the form of mines. Mined by the Romans and then throughout history, there are a number of mining attractions in the area including Las Matildes Mine.
Another city well known for it’s architecture, this time modernist, you can spend your days wandering through the typical Spanish paseo, or pedestrianised streets, taking in the ambience and enjoying the many bars and restaurants throughout the central city area. Much of the Modernist architecture still contains bullet holes from the Spanish Civil War, as the city was a Republican military stronghold and therefore heavily attacked by Nationalist forces.
Altea – 45 minute drive from Alicante Airport
Nicknamed the “Santorini of Spain”, Altea’s quieter beaches and hilltop old town seem a world away from some of the more built up resorts of Costa Blanca, despite only being a few miles North of Benidorm.
Altea is an area that for years has been attracting artists and musicians, creating a very different vibe in the old town. The old town is filled with small shops selling art, pottery, jewellery and clothing, as well as plenty of bars and eateries. With the blue and white domed church overlooking the town and beaches below, the area is reminiscent of some our fishing villages (just with a more reliable climate!)
There is 6km of coast, some of it sandy but much of it a little more pebbly than other parts of the Costa Blanca. Walking along it’s coast you’ll find coves aplenty to explore and swim in and much of it quiet and undisturbed by large groups of tourists.
Valencia – 2 hour drive from Alicante Airport
While it is a longer distance from Alicante Airport, the stunning Spanish city of Valencia is still only a few hours by car or train and offers you the opportunity to experience an incredible city within reach of a direct flight from Newquay!
Valencia has everything that you want from a city break, with some stunning beaches and scenery thrown in! 20km of golden sand beaches surrounding the city means that there is something for everyone, from urban beaches that are in areas full of restaurants and leisure facilities to those in the L’Albufera Nature Park.
As with many of the larger Spanish cities, you will find a full events and festival calendar which you can coincide with your visit, including many religious festivities that are somewhat of a spectacle for many tourists.
Known as the City of Arts and Sciences, there are plenty of tours, experiences and museums to keep both young and old alike entertained and informed. The Oceanografic is Europe’s largest aquarium and is held in a number of different buildings housing examples of the most important ecosystems from each of the planet’s seas and oceans.
Ryanair fly to Alicante Airport twice a week, year round, from Cornwall Airport Newquay. Currently Spain requires a full vaccination record or a negative PCR test to enter the country, more information can be found on the UK FAltea – 45 minute drive
Nicknamed the “Santorini of Spain”, Altea’s quieter beaches and hilltop old town seem a world away from some of the more built up resorts of Costa Blanca, despite only being a few miles North of Benidorm.
Altea is an area that for years has been attracting artists and musicians, creating a very different vibe in the old town. The old town is filled with small shops selling art, pottery, jewellery and clothing, as well as plenty of bars and eateries. With the blue and white domed church overlooking the town and beaches below, the area is reminiscent of some our fishing villages (just with a more reliable climate!)
There is 6km of coast, some of it sandy but much of it a little more pebbly than other parts of the Costa Blanca. Walking along it’s coast you’ll find coves aplenty to explore and swim in and much of it quiet and undisturbed by large groups of tourists.
Valencia – 2 hour drive from Alicante Airport
While it is a longer distance from Alicante Airport, the stunning Spanish city of Valencia is still only a few hours by car or train and offers you the opportunity to experience an incredible city within reach of a direct flight from Newquay!
Valencia has everything that you want from a city break, with some stunning beaches and scenery thrown in! 20km of golden sand beaches surrounding the city means that there is something for everyone, from urban beaches that are in areas full of restaurants and leisure facilities to those in the L’Albufera Nature Park.
As with many of the larger Spanish cities, you will find a full events and festival calendar which you can coincide with your visit, including many religious festivities that are somewhat of a spectacle for many tourists.
Known as the City of Arts and Sciences, there are plenty of tours, experiences and museums to keep both young and old alike entertained and informed. The Oceanografic is Europe’s largest aquarium and is held in a number of different buildings housing examples of the most important ecosystems from each of the planet’s seas and oceans.
Ryanair fly twice a week, year round, from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Alicante Airport. Spain currently requires a full vaccination record or a negative PCR test for entry but you can find full requirements on the UK Government website.
Valencia Market
Altea Old Town