After the Maratón de Murcia: Alicante
The Route: Murcia del Carmen → Alicante → Alicante Airport (ALC) Logistics: Train from Murcia del Carmen to Alicante, about 1 hour 15 minutes on the Cercanías C-1, faster on some long-distance services. Bus from central Alicante to the airport, about 30 minutes. Marathon Month: February Duration: 1 night
Murcia del Carmen ──(about 1 hr 15 mins train)──> Alicante ──(about 30 mins bus)──> Alicante Airport (ALC)
Many runners at the Maratón de Murcia fly in and out of Alicante, and one night there turns the airport transfer into a short break by the sea. Alicante is 80 km north-east of Murcia, and its centre, seafront and castle are compact enough to see without much walking.
February in Alicante is one of the mildest winters in mainland Spain. Afternoons are often in the high teens and sunny, mornings are cool and rain is infrequent. The sea is too cold for most people to swim, and the beach bars run on reduced winter hours. It is a month for walking the seafront, not for sunbathing.
Trains leave from Murcia del Carmen, south of the river. The Cercanías C-1 takes about 1 hour 15 minutes with stops at Orihuela and Elche, and runs roughly hourly at weekends. Some long-distance trains are quicker. Fares on the C-1 start from about €4. Alicante's main station is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the seafront.
Night One: Alicante
The Explanada de España is the recovery walk: a palm-lined promenade of about 500 m along the harbour, paved with a rippling pattern of millions of red, cream and black tiles. It is flat, with benches all the way, and continues along the harbour and the Postiguet beach promenade if your legs want more.
The Castillo de Santa Bárbara sits on Mount Benacantil, 166 m above the town. Do not walk up. A lift cut into the rock rises from an entrance on Avenida de Jovellanos, opposite Postiguet beach, and delivers you close to the top, where the views run along the coast and over the town. There is a small charge for the lift; the castle grounds are free. The upper sections involve some slopes and uneven ground, so stay on the main terraces.
The MARQ, Alicante's archaeological museum, is a well-regarded modern museum a short tram ride from the centre. Check whether it is open on the day, as many Spanish museums close on Mondays.
The old quarter of Santa Cruz climbs the lower slopes of the castle hill in steep, whitewashed lanes and steps. Look from the bottom on the day after the race.
Where to stay. The Hospes Amérigo, a converted convent in the old town, is a few minutes' walk from the Explanada and close to the restaurants. The Meliá Alicante sits on the harbour between the Explanada and Postiguet beach, with sea views and the castle lift nearby.
Where to eat. Alicante is a rice town. Arroz a banda, rice cooked in fish stock and served with alioli, and arroz negro, coloured with squid ink, are on most menus around the Explanada and the old town. Rice dishes are usually cooked for two or more and served at lunch; order early in the day.
Getting to Alicante Airport (ALC)
Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC) is about 12 km south-west of the centre. The C-6 airport bus runs from the city centre, with stops near the station and the seafront, and takes about 30 minutes. Taxis take 20 to 25 minutes. Allow two hours at the airport for an international flight.