A guided Shopping Trip around Alicante

The city offers a number of places to shop... so where to head for?

The Rambla de Méndez Núñez is the traditional shopping area of the city, it's a vibrant street to meander down that offers you a good choice of shops as well as a slice of Alicante life! In the streets between The Rambla and Avenida de Frederico Soto you will find a number of individually owned shops intermingled with café bars and restaurants. Here you can buy shoes, jewellery, fashion clothes and home decoration items. Surprisingly there are also a number of high-class shops selling fabulous wedding dresses in salubrious surroundings, so if you are a bride to be, they'll definitely be of interest.

In the area of Maisonnave you'll find the larger department stores and famous name shops that often stay open until 9.00pm. At either end of the street there's a large El Corte Ingles, the largest department store chain in Spain, and Alicante's two branches sell completely different products. The one at the start of Maisonnave sells household items, though it does also have a small café and supermarket section. The Store at the other end of the street sells a wide range fashion, cosmetics and jewellery. Also on this street you will find Mango, Zara (a whole 3 floors to explore) and Springfield a popular menswear store.

There are a couple of impressive shopping centres, accessible by car or taxi, on the outskirts of the city. One of the largest is the Gran Via (Avenida Gran Via). It is light and airy with a huge choice of shops selling everything from fashion to household goods along with a smattering of cafes where you can revitalise if you are in any danger of flagging!

At the Playa Postiguet end of the city is the Plaza Mar 2 shopping centre. Situated on Avenida Denia this centre is one of the new kids on the block and has some excellent fashion shops whilst also offering some good music stores where you can easily lose track of time.

By far the most beautifully positioned is the Panoramis Complex, and it is open 24 hours! More than just a shopping area, it's a complete entertainment centre in its own right with a wide variety of shops, great bars, fine restaurants and a 13-screen cinema. It also has a privileged position on the new marina with a breathtaking view of the seafront.

If you have an interest in food then head for the wonderful old 'modernista' building that houses the enormous Mercado Central located on the Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio. This fabulous market offers locally grown fruit and vegetables temptingly displayed in a riot of colour, along with a choice of fresh fish and meat that would leave any budding gastronome speechless.

And finally, if you're feeling a tad romantic, then behind the market is a lovely flower sellers' square, where you can linger at one of the cafes and take in the colourful sights and aromas of the huge floral display.

An insider tip…..If you have a sweet tooth, try the turron (similar to nougat), a Spanish delight mainly consumed around Christmas but delicious at any time of the year.

See our Spotlight recommended buys

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