Where to stay in Alicante & Costa Blanca
Compare Alicante city centre, Playa San Juan, Benidorm, Albir, Altea and Torrevieja. The guide helps you choose the destination first – and then the hotel.
Alicante city or Costa Blanca – which suits you?
“Alicante” can mean both the city itself and the wider holiday area around the Costa Blanca. If you want culture, restaurants, shopping and easy airport access, central Alicante is the simplest choice. If beach and resort atmosphere matter more, Playa San Juan, Benidorm, Albir/Altea or Torrevieja may suit you better.
- Alicante city centre: Best for first visits, city life, restaurants and sightseeing.
- Playa San Juan: Best for a beach holiday with easy access to Alicante city.
- Benidorm: Best for resorts, families, entertainment and a huge hotel choice.
- Albir / Altea: Best for a quieter stay; especially relevant to Scandinavian travellers.
- Torrevieja: Best for longer stays, apartments and the southern Costa Blanca.
Check hotels for your dates
Hotel prices vary substantially by date and season, so this guide avoids fixed nightly rates. Search with your actual travel dates and compare location, total price and cancellation conditions.
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Alicante city centre: best for a city break
Best for: first-time visitors, couples, solo travellers and anyone wanting city life and beach in the same stay.
The centre around the Old Town, City Hall, Rambla Méndez Núñez and Explanada is the most practical base for exploring Alicante on foot. Postiguet, the marina, restaurants and shopping are close, with easy access to TRAM and the airport bus.
Central Alicante – the Old Town, Explanada, marina and Postiguet are clustered closely together.
Playa San Juan: beach first, city as a bonus
Best for: families, couples and travellers prioritising a large sandy beach.
Playa San Juan lies northeast of the centre and offers a more traditional beach-holiday setting than Postiguet. The area has restaurants, supermarkets and TRAM connections to central Alicante.
Playa San Juan – the stronger choice when a large beach matters more than staying in the city centre.
Would you rather stay outside Alicante city?
Many travellers fly into Alicante but continue to other Costa Blanca destinations. We therefore keep the most important alternatives here as separate destinations – not as neighbourhoods of Alicante.
Benidorm: resorts, beaches and a huge hotel choice
Benidorm has a very large choice of holiday hotels, two major urban beaches and extensive entertainment. It works well for families, travellers who value resort facilities and visitors who want plenty within walking distance. Poniente is calmer than the liveliest parts of Levante.
Benidorm – one of the Costa Blanca's largest resort destinations, with an extensive hotel market.
Albir & Altea: a quieter Costa Blanca
Albir and Altea suit travellers looking for a calmer base than Benidorm. Albir has a beachfront promenade and a clear Norwegian/Scandinavian presence; Altea has a more historic, small-town atmosphere.
Albir – a quieter beach destination with an established Norwegian and Scandinavian community.
Altea – historic centre and a calmer coastal setting north of Benidorm.
Torrevieja: southern Costa Blanca
Torrevieja is most relevant if you are considering an apartment, a longer stay or a base in the southern Costa Blanca. La Mata is one of its most attractive beach areas. There is no TRAM connection to Alicante city.
La Mata in Torrevieja – useful for longer stays and holidays on the southern Costa Blanca.
Search accommodation in Torrevieja
Hotels and Pretty Links we keep
We keep the hotel links that remain useful, but correct their descriptions and locations. Fixed prices have been removed because they become outdated quickly.
Alicante city
Hotel Alicante Gran Sol Affiliated by Meliá
📍 Alicante city centre
High-rise hotel in central Alicante with rooms that can overlook the Mediterranean or Santa Bárbara Castle. A strong option for a central base.
Check current pricesEurostars Mediterránea Plaza
📍 Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Four-star hotel on City Hall Square, very close to the Old Town and Postiguet. It has a rooftop terrace with views and a 24-hour gym.
Check current pricesHospes Amérigo
📍 Old Town / city centre
Five-star hotel in a historic city-centre building, with spa, fitness area, sun terrace and panoramic rooftop pool.
Check current pricesMeliá Alicante
📍 Postiguet / marina
Set between Alicante Marina and Postiguet Beach. A strong choice for combining the city centre with beach access and sea views.
Check current pricesBenidorm
RH Corona del Mar
📍 Poniente
Four-star hotel opposite Poniente Beach and close to the Old Town, with pool and wellness facilities.
Check current pricesHotel Mediterráneo Benidorm
📍 Rincón de Loix
Four-star hotel in Rincón de Loix beside Benidorm Palace and near Aqualandia/Mundomar, with pools and an all-inclusive option.
Check current pricesGran Hotel Bali
📍 Poniente area
One of Benidorm's landmark high-rise hotels near the Poniente area, with spa and extensive resort facilities.
Check current pricesAlbir & Altea
Albir Playa Hotel & Spa
📍 El Albir
Albir hotel with pool, tropical garden, restaurant, gym and spa. Useful for travellers wanting a quieter Costa Blanca base.
Check current pricesHotel Cap Negret
📍 Altea
Four-star seafront hotel in Altea, suited to a quieter stay with beach access and easy reach of Altea.
Check current pricesComparison: Alicante & Costa Blanca
| Place | Best for | Beach | City life | Without a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante city centre | City breaks, culture, restaurants | Postiguet walkable | Excellent | Very easy |
| Playa San Juan | Beach holiday + Alicante city | Long sandy beach | Quieter | Easy by TRAM |
| Benidorm | Resorts, families, entertainment | Levante / Poniente | Excellent | Easy |
| Albir / Altea | Quiet holidays, couples, Scandinavians | Pebble/shingle beaches | Quiet | Possible by TRAM/bus |
| Torrevieja | Longer stays, apartments, southern coast | La Mata and others | Moderate | Bus/car more useful |
Booking tips worth keeping
- Choose the destination before the hotel. Alicante city, Benidorm and Albir produce very different holidays despite sharing Alicante Airport.
- Compare the total price and cancellation conditions, not only the first nightly rate shown.
- Book earlier for summer, Easter and major local events if you have a specific hotel or room type in mind.
- If you do not plan to rent a car, prioritise central Alicante, Postiguet, Playa San Juan or central Benidorm.
- Check the map before booking: properties marketed with “Alicante” may be far from Alicante city.
Check hotels for your dates
Search Alicante / Costa Blanca hotels on Booking.comNext step: dedicated guides when the data justify them
This page can remain the main hub. If GSC or Semrush later shows enough demand for queries such as “Benidorm hotels”, “where to stay in Albir” or “Torrevieja accommodation”, we can create a dedicated evergreen guide and link to it from here: hub → destination guide → Booking.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay on my first trip to Alicante?
Central Alicante is usually easiest if you want the Old Town, restaurants, shopping and Postiguet. Playa San Juan is better if the beach is the priority.
Is Benidorm part of Alicante?
Benidorm is a separate city in Alicante province on the Costa Blanca. Many visitors fly into Alicante Airport and continue to Benidorm.
Why is Albir relevant to Scandinavian travellers?
Albir and l'Alfàs del Pi have an established Norwegian and Scandinavian community, including Norwegian schools and the Norwegian Seamen's Church.
Should I stay in Torrevieja?
Torrevieja works well for longer stays, apartment holidays and the southern Costa Blanca. If Alicante city itself is the goal, it is less convenient than central Alicante or Playa San Juan.
Do I need a rental car?
Not necessarily in Alicante city, Playa San Juan or central Benidorm. For more flexibility along the Costa Blanca, a car can be useful.
When should I book a hotel?
It depends on your dates. Earlier booking is sensible for summer, Easter and major local events.
Updated: October 2026. Hotel offers, services and availability can change. Always check current information and pricing for your dates before booking.