The most iconic image of Alicante—the craggy Castillo Santa Barbara rising above the bustling nightlife and brilliant beaches of the modern city—is also the reason Alicante’s become such a huge tourist destination. Surrounding mountains and lush pine forests make an outdoorsy complement to lazy days in the sand, while loads of free museums and attractions grab those looking to pack up their beach bags and beat the heat—the only site that charges admission is the world-famous MARQ, which is well worth the €3 price tag.

Just after sunset, the streets in the old city teem with groups of young things crawling to fill restaurants, cozy bars, and hopping clubs, while the bright discotecas of the port fill with tourists and locals as the night marches on. Though a busy party and sunbathing destination in its own right, Alicante has also become the home base for those looking to tap all of the summer resources of the Costa Blanca, or“White Coast,” that stretches from Dènia to Alicante, named for the color of the fine sand that pads its shores. While the other towns along the water, such as Altea and Dénia, make for more relaxed, secluded, and clean beach going, Alicante boasts cheap, sometimes quirky, and incredibly social accommodations just a short TRAM ride away that trump the rising prices of those developing resort destinations.