Alicante Airport is the gateway to the Costa Blanca, a wonderfully sun-drenched region where myriad beautiful towns and villages are just a short car hire drive away. The following is a list of recommended drives that can be easily made from Alicante.
1. La Villajoyosa: ‘The Chocolate City’
Rather disappointingly, La Villajoyosa is not actually a town made of chocolate. However, there’s plenty of sweet sights to be seen all over town which more than make up for this!
Located just to the south of Benidorm, La Villajoyosa is a city that you smell before you see. The distinctive aroma of chocolate is undeniable as you enter the town. La Villajoyosa first began to import chocolate in the 18th century. Today the produce is available in shops all around town called Valor, which produce chocolate for sale all over Spain. While in town, be sure to sample the local speciality Chocolate Con Churros, donut-like pastry accompanied by small pots of chocolate sauce.
Watching your weight? Don’t worry, La Villajoyosa also offers plenty of opportunities to burn off all those calories. The beach of Paraiso is well known for windsurfing and water sports.
2. Altea
A 14km drive to the north of Benidorm will take you to the town of Altea, a beautiful and traditional fishing village that has been well preserved. Car hire in Altea allows you to explore all of the charms of the village as well as the beautiful surroundings. Altea boasts 5km of beaches, each offering stunning views and pretty places to relax. Meanwhile, a short drive away from Altea will take you to the scenic mountainous area of Sierra de Bernia.
3. Moraira
The tranquil town of Moraira is situated close to Denia, Calpe and Altea and is a charming old fishing town that has cloaked by mountains and washed by the Mediterranean Sea. If you find yourself in the town between Tuesday to Sunday, be sure to catch the fish market that is held daily in Lonja right next to the port area.
Moraira also offers visitors a range of picturesque beaches including the Portet, where the famous watch out tower near the Cape D’Or is within easy walking distance.
4. Orihuela
The fabulous city of Orihuela is situated about 50km to the south west of Alicante, just between Elche and Murcia. Orihuela is the capital of the city known as ‘La Vega Baja’ (low fertile lowlands), one of the largest regions in the province of Alicante that forms part of the Valencian Community. Attractions worth seeing include The Cathedral and the Palace of Rubalcalva. A short car hire drive away will take you to the beautiful 16km stretch of beaches that are located 20km from the city centre.
5. Benissa
Situated right on the waterfront, Benissa is a city that is located between Alicante and Valencia. Benissa has over 4 kilometres of coastline, providing the perfect ingredients for a relaxed seaside day trip.
Benissa is a town that is rich in cultural attractions too. It’s worth setting some time aside on your Benissa car hire excursion to visit beautiful buildings including the ‘lonja’, the city’s oldest building and the pretty Portal quare.
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