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British Newspaper Names Spain’s Alicante a Must-Visit Hidden Gem
The Times has praised Alicante as one of Spain’s best-kept secrets, citing its Moorish history, the Castillo de Santa Bárbara, and Mediterranean charm.
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Jul 22, 2026
Updated Jul 22, 2026
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The prestigious British publication The Times has officially designated Alicante as one of Spain’s premier hidden gems, elevating the Costa Blanca capital from a traditional transit hub to a highly coveted, must-visit European destination.
The high-profile endorsement validates extensive municipal efforts to rebrand the city. Long overshadowed by the metropolitan gravity of Barcelona and Madrid, or utilized merely as an airport gateway to coastal resort towns, Alicante is now seizing the international spotlight for its unique synthesis of medieval architecture, vibrant gastronomy, and pristine Mediterranean shorelines.
Architectural and Historical Anchors
Central to The Times’ praise is the city’s profound historical footprint, which allows tourists to step beyond conventional beach holidays. The skyline is dominated by the Castillo de Santa Bárbara, one of the most expansive medieval fortresses in Spain. Originally constructed during the era of Arab rule in the 9th century and subsequently modified by French and Spanish forces, the citadel offers unrivaled panoramic views of the Mediterranean coastline and the city below.
Equally celebrated is the Explanada de España, a sweeping, palm-lined maritime promenade paved with millions of tricolor marble tiles. The boulevard functions as the civic artery of Alicante, linking the historic port to the intricate, narrow alleys of the Casco Antiguo (Old Town), where the city’s Moorish heritage remains palpably preserved in the architecture.
- Key Landmark: Castillo de Santa Bárbara (9th-century fortress).
- Civic Center: Explanada de España (marble-tiled promenade).
- Gastronomy Focus: World-renowned regional paella and fine local wines.
- Global Accolade: Voted a top hidden gem by The Times.
The Economics of European Tourism
The endorsement from a Tier-1 British publication carries immense financial weight. Post-Brexit, the competition among Southern European cities to capture the lucrative British tourism market has intensified. British tourists contribute billions of pounds annually to the Spanish economy. By securing this designation, Alicante is positioned to attract a higher-spending demographic seeking cultural depth rather than budget package holidays, driving increased revenues for local boutique hotels, high-end tapas bars, and regional vineyards.
Kenya’s Coastal Strategy Comparison
Alicante’s successful transition from a transit point to a cultural destination offers a strategic blueprint for the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). Similar to how Alicante was historically bypassed for Benidorm, the historic city of Mombasa is frequently treated merely as an airport transit hub by tourists rushing to the resorts of Diani Beach or Watamu.
Mombasa possesses comparable, if not superior, historical assets—such as the 16th-century Fort Jesus, the intricate Swahili architecture of Old Town, and a deeply layered culinary heritage. If Kenyan authorities aggressively marketed the specific historical and cultural uniqueness of Mombasa, elevating it in international press exactly as Alicante has done, the economic multiplier effect could be transformative.
Attracting high-value British tourists directly to Mombasa’s cultural sites would inject crucial foreign exchange (GBP converted to KES) into the local economy, supporting heritage conservation and generating sustainable employment beyond the confines of all-inclusive beach resorts.
As international travel patterns increasingly favor authentic cultural immersion over generic leisure, Alicante’s recognition by The Times proves that strategic preservation and aggressive international marketing yield profound economic dividends.
The documents, data and reporting consulted for this article. Links open the original material so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
- 01EuroWeeklyNewsNews report
Spain’s hidden gem: British newspaper names Alicante a must-visit cityPublished 22 Jul 2026Accessed 22 Jul 2026- • Alicante was praised by The Times as a must-visit city and hidden gem.
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