In this post we analyze the currency exchange options in Alicante.
Alicante (or Alacant, in Valencian) is one of the most welcoming destinations on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. With nearly 330,000 inhabitants, it is the second largest city in the Comunidad valenciana and the main gateway to the Costa Blanca, one of the most important tourist areas in Spain.
In this post we talk about tourism, but also about the currency exchange options in Alicante at your disposal. Alicante forms together with Valencia and Castellón the Valencian Community (Comunitat Valenciana in Valencian).
Alicante
Dominating the city is the imposing silhouette of Mount Benacantil, where the Santa Bárbara fortress stands. The old city of Alicante, with its narrow streets and historic buildings, spreads out below.
Although the sun and the sea are undoubtedly the main attractions for visitors, Alicante offers many other leisure and fun options: nautical sports, interesting museums and rich local cuisine. Without forgetting the two great moments of the year in the city: the Night of San Juan, on June 24 and the Moors and Christians festival in July.
Saint John’s Night
Any time of the year is ideal to visit Alicante and enjoy its charms, although if you had to choose a specific day it would undoubtedly be San Juan’s Eve.
The famous bonfires (or fogueres de Sant Joan) illuminate the night of Alicante’s major festivals. The main protagonist is fire. They are celebrated between June 20 and 29, with the night of San Juan, the 23rd, being the peak moment. The origin of these festivities is of pagan origin and is lost in the mists of time.
Like the Fallas in Valencia, in Alicante the agenda of bonfire celebrations includes important milestones such as the Pregón, the Plantà or the Ninot parade, as well as parades and parades that take place in the different neighborhoods of the city. The satirical sculptures, made of cardboard and wood, are consumed by flames on the magical night of fire.
After the big days of the festivities, on the night of June 29, the fireworks competition launched from Cocó beach, near El Postiguet, takes place. A spectacular end to the celebrations.
The San Juan de Alicante Festival has been declared of International Tourist Interest. In parallel to the festivities, one of the most important bullfighting fairs in Spain is held.
What to see in Alicante
These are some of the corners of Alicante that you should not miss during your stay in the city:
Santa Barbara Castle
Visible from almost any point in Alicante, the Santa Bárbara Castle spectacularly crowns the summit of Mount Benacantil, at 166 meters above sea level. This 14th century fortress preserves all its historical atmosphere.
Alicante Santa Bárbara Castle
On the way up to the castle is La Ereta Park, a beautiful open-air space where there is a restaurant, a cafeteria and an exhibition hall. Its viewpoint offers unparalleled panoramic views of the city and the coast.
Beaches of San Juan and El Postiguet
San Juan Beach, undoubtedly the most famous in Alicante, is equally appreciated by Alicante residents and tourists. With almost three kilometers of fine sand and transparent waters, and equipped with all the services, this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the best of the Mediterranean.
Along the beach stretches a promenade full of shops, restaurants and beach bars, some of them located right on the sand, where you can enjoy good rice or some of the classic dishes of Alicante gastronomy. In addition, the beach has areas accessible to users with mobility difficulties (PRM).
Playa de San Juan Alicante accessible area
On the other hand, it is also worth visiting El Postiguet, Alicante’s urban beach, located next to the famous Paseo de la Explanada and Paseo de Gómiz, famous for its palm trees and the patterns on the pavement.
La Albufereta, Agua Amarga or La Almadraba are other beaches in Alicante that are worth discovering.
Central Market
Probably the most emblematic building in the city due to its modernist appearance is the Alicante Central Market (Mercado central).
It was built between 1911 and 1912 on the old city walls. The Central Market of Alicante is covered by a hemispherical dome known as “the Rotonda”.
Mercado Central de Alicante
The streets surrounding the market are full of gastronomic establishments, shops of all kinds, cafes and restaurants.
Tabarca Island
It would be unforgivable to travel to Alicante and not dedicate at least one day to visit the island of Tabarca, the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community, located right in front of the city. In reality, Tabarca is the largest of a small archipelago that historically was a refuge for pirates.
The boat ride from Alicante takes approximately one hour. Once there, visitors find a small paradise of small coves and a charming fishing port. In the restaurants of Tabarca the star dish is the cauldron, perfect to regain strength after a walk through the town and a visit to the island’s museum.
According to AENA statistics, El Altet Alicante airport (the main gateway for travelers to the city) has experienced a spectacular increase in passenger traffic in recent years, reaching 14 million users.
The other routes of arrival of visitors to the city are, in this order, the train station and the port of Alicante, where numerous tourist cruises regularly dock in high season.
In 2018, the hotels in Alicante and the Costa Blanca reached 17.5 million overnight stays, currently being the leading destination in Spain in terms of national tourism.
Currency exchange in Alicante
If you are going to change currency in Alicante, keep in mind the different options at hand: airport, in-person exchange offices, exchange office websites and your bank.
Currency exchange at Alicante airport or at your bank
Alicante´s El Altet airport offers you a currency exchange service at departure and arrival offices. It is managed by the Spanish currency supplier Global Exchange. However, their rates are not interesting at all.
To show this price comparison today, December 26, 2023, to exchange 1,000 euros to dollars at Alicante airport or with Cambiator:
- 1,000 € get you 874 dollars at the El Altet airport (supplier Global Exchange)
- Cambiator gives you 1,072 dollar for the same 1.000 euros.
As you can see, the difference between being carefree with your currency exchange (leaving it for the last day at the Alicante airport) or looking a little and making your euros count, today is called 1,072 – 874 euros = 198 dollars more or less less.
Therefore, we always recommend that you exchange currency to make a prior comparison of the exchange rates in Cambiator, before deciding on a specific exchange house. And of course, except in case of extreme necessity, do not change currency at Alicante airport.
Here we explain how currency exchange works at the airport.
We also do not recommend changing at your bank because practically all of them charge you an exchange rate and also a commission close to 3% of what you change with a minimum of 6 to 9 euros. Here we explain the currency exchange at your bank.
Online currency exchange
Another option is to order your currency online and receive it at home with Ria or iCambio (use the code CAMBIATOR to get a discount). All four entities collaborate with Cambiator (even with an additional discount), which shows that they are transparent about their prices and do not mind competing with each other when it comes to offering you good rates.
Of course, in addition to comparing exchange rates of the day, don’t forget to also check the home delivery costs so that you can compare pears with pears and apples with apples, you know…
Currency exchange at street level
Alicante is a tourist destination with many foreign currency exchange suppliers. You have exchange offices in Alicante city, in Benidorm, Torrevieja, Punta Marina and La Zenia.
Although initially designed to buy currency from tourists (English, North American, etc.), in exchange for euros, these offices also offer the sale of foreign currency for your trips. If your currency is different from the US dollar or the pound sterling, we recommend that you reserve online in advance to ensure stock before going to the office.
Regarding the rates, if you live in Alicante and are going to travel abroad, we recommend that you compare the price of the exchange offices with that of your bank and not exchange at the airport. The reason is simple, exchange offices are cheaper than the airport and they should not charge you a commission (at least if you reserve the currency online and pick it up at the office later), which banks do.
And if you are a tourist arriving in the city from abroad, we do not recommend changing at the airport because the exchange office has to charge you more to make a living and also pay a commission to the airport’s managing body (AENA) for being over there.
We recommend you use our comparator to check the daily prices for your specific currency.
Alicante in a sentence
Perhaps the phrase that best defines Alicante, and the best known both among Alicante residents and visitors, is “la millor terreta del món” (the best land in the world).
This definition appears in the Alicante Anthem. The lyrics of this musical piece were written in Valencian by Mariano Roca de Togores, Marquis of Molins, in 1841, and this is his best-known stanza:
It is the greatest land of the world, because the poet is going to say,
and on the Malecó passeig, there is no time to compete.
And from the Castell matxo, you look at God: qu’encant!
This is not the old town, it is altre Alacant!
Visit Alacant!
Origona valencian verses:
És la millor terra del món, perque el poeta li hu va dir,
i en el passeig del Malecó, n’haurá qui li puga competir.
I desde el matxo del Castell, mires i dius: qu’encant!
no es este ja el poble vell, qu’es altre Alacant!
Visca Alacant!
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