A brief guide to the gay life of Alicante

Alicante, a lively city on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, is a popular vacation destination for many gay travellers. Although much smaller than Madrid or Barcelona, ​​​​Alicante offers numerous opportunities to enjoy an unforgettable summer vacation.

Most of the tourists are attracted by its fascinating beaches. With endless miles of golden sand and sunny summer weather, Alicante is the perfect place to get in touch with the Mediterranean. The most popular beaches among gays and lesbians are undoubtedly the nudist beaches of Alicante: Urbanova and Cabo de las Huertas. Urbanova beach is located in the southern part of the coast of Alicante, several kilometers from the city center. It is quite close to Alicante airport and planes can often be seen flying over the beach. It can be accessed by car following the N-332 road, towards Elche. Another option is to take a bus number 27 in front of the main Alicante RENFE train station, which runs once an hour. Urbanova is a long sandy beach, which offers plenty of space and a breathtaking view towards the port of Alicante. Another option is the rocky beach of Cabo de las Huertas. It is a place with the wildness of untouched nature and many flat rocky plates. It can be reached either by bus number 22 or by simply walking back from San Juan beach along the rocky seashore, past the lighthouse.

Coming back from one of your favorite Alicante beaches, you can start socializing already in the afternoon or early evening. Just visit one of the gay coffee bars. Or i Ferro (Gold and Iron) is an old bar with a family atmosphere, located on Calle Belando next to Plaza Luceros. Another is Pikadura, located on Rafael Altamira street next to the Rambla and the Paseo de la Explanada. These two bars are the best places to find out more about Alicante’s gay nightlife. Have a drink, have a snack and read gay newspapers and reviews.

After midnight, you can get the party started in various pubs and nightclubs. They offer a diverse atmosphere, always full of people during the hot summer nights. You can start with Canibal Pub, definitely the most popular gay bar among young people. It is located in the Plaza Nueva (there is an interesting Aquarium in the square with great Mediterranean fish, so you can’t miss it). The Canibal Pub regularly hosts special events such as Halloween parties, featured music nights or New Year’s Eve celebrations. You can have a drink, have a good time for half an hour and then go to the next bar, they are all within walking distance of each other.

Crossing the Avenida de la Rambla, we enter El Barrio – Alicante’s Old Town. El Barrio is a large pedestrian area with numerous nightclubs with good music for all tastes. You will meet thousands of young people having fun in the streets. If you like europop music, visit the Divina bar. You can find it on Montengon Street, near the Cathedral. It’s quite small and always packed. Turning the corner, we arrive at Santa Faz, a beautiful historic square behind the town hall. Here you can find the El Forat bar. It is the oldest gay bar in Alicante and one of El Barrio’s veterans, attracting a large number of gay-friendly visitors. Passing the main square and entering Gravina street, you can finish your walk in Missing. This nightclub is located near the MUBAG museum and the Esplanade promenade. Its darker atmosphere and special nightly events mix a pub vibe with a nightclub look.

Once you close the circle, you can start another round, visiting the club that you like the most. The old town of Alicante is quite small, everything can be easily reached on foot and there is a lot of fun both inside and on the streets. Finally, once the bars in El Barrio are closed, you can continue partying in one of the nightclubs in Alicante. The usual choice for gays and lesbians is the Byblos nightclub, located on Calle San Francisco parallel to the Paseo de la Esplanada. Enjoy dancing, drinking and partying until dawn.