From Finland to Alicante, Spain: Beaches, Food and Places We Love

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After experiencing the long, dark winter months in Finland, sometimes all you want is sunshine, warm weather, good food, and a beach.

That was exactly what we were looking for when we traveled to Alicante, Spain, in June 2025.

We had talked about visiting some of Spain’s more famous cities like Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia. We would still love to visit them someday, but for this trip, we wanted something different.

We wanted the sea.

We wanted warm weather.

We wanted somewhere beautiful where we could slow down and enjoy a few days together as a family.

And Alicante seemed perfect.

Our trip lasted four days and three nights, which sounded enough when we were planning it.

By the end of the vacation?

We wished we had stayed longer. 😅

Between the beaches, mountain views, historical places, Spanish food, and simply being able to walk outside under the warm sun again, Alicante gave us exactly the kind of family break we needed.

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Why We Chose Alicante

One of the biggest reasons we chose Alicante was simple:

We love beaches. 🌊

Living in Finland has given us beautiful lakes, forests, snow, and peaceful nature, but every now and then, we miss that feeling of really warm weather.

We wanted somewhere where we could enjoy the Mediterranean, walk around in summer clothes, and let our little one play by the water.

Alicante also seemed to offer a nice combination of beaches, history, mountains, restaurants, and places that were easy to explore as a family.

We weren’t necessarily looking for the busiest tourist destination.

We wanted somewhere that felt a little more relaxed while still giving us plenty of things to see and do.

The weather during our stay was wonderful.

It was warm and sunny almost the entire time.

After spending so much time in colder weather, it actually felt good to be sweaty again. 😂

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Where We Stayed: Dormio Resort Costa Blanca Beach & Spa

We booked our accommodation through Booking.com and stayed at:

Dormio Resort Costa Blanca Beach & Spa
El Campello, Alicante, Spain

For us, this accommodation was easily:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5

Our apartment was on the ground floor, and one of the best parts was how close we were to the sea.

From our balcony, we could already see the beach.

A short walk from our room also brought us to the swimming pool, which quickly became one of our little one’s favorite parts of the trip.

The resort is located directly by the Mediterranean, with access to the beach and resort swimming pools.

There is something so relaxing about waking up and knowing that the beach is right outside.

We stayed for three nights, but honestly, we could have stayed much longer.

During the weekdays, the beach around the resort felt peaceful and not overly crowded. We noticed more people arriving during the weekend, but even then, we still enjoyed the atmosphere.

The staff were also friendly, which made our stay even more comfortable.

If we ever return to Alicante, this is definitely an accommodation we would consider staying at again.

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Our First Food in Spain

When we arrived, we were hungry from traveling, so one of the first things we did was eat inside the resort.

We ordered food from the tapas bar.

I have to admit, our expectations of tapas were a little different. 😅

For some reason, we imagined something more like a heavy meat meal.

What we ended up eating was much lighter and included things like burgers, fries, and finger-food-style dishes.

It wasn’t exactly what we had imagined, but at that point we were hungry enough that it didn’t matter.

We still enjoyed it.

And honestly, arriving somewhere new, sitting down together, and finally eating after a flight already feels like part of the vacation.

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Places We Visited in Alicante and Nearby

Even though our trip was short, we were able to visit several places.

Since we were traveling with our little one, we also brought her stroller.

And honestly?

That stroller saved us many times because there was a lot of walking. 😅

Here are the places we were able to visit.

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1. Castillo de Santa Bárbara

One of the most memorable places we visited was Castillo de Santa Bárbara.

The castle sits high above Alicante and gives beautiful views of the city and the sea.

The place itself felt very historical.

Walking around the castle and looking at the structures made us imagine how different life must have been many years ago.

But getting there was also part of the adventure. 😅

We parked our car quite far away, so we had to walk for some time before reaching the castle area.

Good thing our little one had her stroller.

The weather was very warm, and we were definitely sweating by the time we got there.

But after living in Finland, feeling that kind of heat somehow felt good.

Once we reached the higher areas, the views made the long walk worth it.

We could see the coastline, the city, and the beautiful blue water from above.

It was definitely one of my favorite views from the trip.

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2. Esplanada de España

We also visited the famous Esplanada de España, located near the Port of Alicante.

The promenade immediately caught my attention because of its beautiful pavement.

The small marble tiles form a wave-like pattern that makes the whole walkway look very unique.

There were palm trees, people walking around, and small shops and stalls along the area.

We enjoyed simply walking, taking pictures, and looking around.

This was also where we were able to taste some churros. 😋

Of course, when you are in Spain, you have to try churros at least once.

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3. Guadalest Valley

Another unforgettable place was Guadalest.

This was completely different from the beach areas of Alicante.

Instead of the sea, we were surrounded by mountains, a beautiful village, and views over the reservoir and valley.

The scenery looked so magical.

I especially loved seeing the blue reservoir surrounded by mountains.

Again, getting around involved a lot of walking.

Our little one actually did very well.

She walked whenever she could, and once she got tired, we put her back in the stroller.

I think that’s one of the realities of traveling with a child.

You keep adjusting along the way. 😅

Guadalest was definitely worth the trip.

It gave us another side of Spain that was completely different from beaches and city streets.

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4. El Carrer dels Bolets – Mushroom Street

We also visited El Carrer dels Bolets, also known as Calle de las Setas or Mushroom Street.

It is a colorful pedestrian street with giant mushroom decorations.

And I can easily say:

This was probably our little one’s favorite place. 😂🍄

She loved walking around the mushrooms.

She went inside some of them and even played hide-and-seek.

For adults, it might simply be a cute and colorful street.

But for a child, those giant mushrooms suddenly become a playground.

When we visited, I thought some parts could use a little cleaning and maintenance.

But honestly, our daughter did not care at all.

She was too busy enjoying herself. 😅

It became one of those simple family memories that made the trip more fun.

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5. Basilica of Santa María

We also visited the Basilica of Santa María in Alicante.

When we arrived, Mass had just finished.

There were still many people inside the church.

The moment we entered, the atmosphere immediately felt different.

It was quiet, peaceful, and sacred.

The structure itself was also beautiful and historic.

I always enjoy visiting churches when we travel.

There is something special about entering an old church and thinking about how many people have prayed there throughout the years.

It was a short visit, but it was still one of the meaningful stops during our trip.

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6. Playa de San Juan

Of course, a trip to Alicante would not be complete without spending time around the beach.

We passed by Playa de San Juan, where many locals and tourists were enjoying the warm weather.

There were people tanning under the sun.

Children were playing.

Families were relaxing together.

The whole place had that perfect summer-vacation atmosphere.

Around the area, we also found souvenir shops and stalls.

And of course, we bought our usual souvenirs.

Refrigerator magnets and keychains. 😂

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7. Authentic Seafood Paella Near Guadalest

Before traveling to Spain, there was one thing we already knew we wanted to eat:

Authentic Spanish seafood paella. 🥘

We finally had our chance near Guadalest at Xorta.

And it was fantastic.

We loved the seafood paella so much.

It was one of those meals we had already been talking about before the vacation.

So finally sitting in Spain and eating actual paella felt like completing one of our little travel goals.

We also tried a soup that had rabbit meat in it.

We normally don’t eat rabbit, so we were a little unsure at first.

But surprisingly?

The soup was delicious.

That is another thing I enjoy about traveling.

Sometimes you end up trying food you normally would never order at home.

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8. Visiting a Local Market

We also passed by a local market.

We already knew Spain had plenty of seafood, so we were excited to see what was available.

There were so many options.

And then we decided to do something practical.

Instead of eating another restaurant meal, we bought fresh seafood from the local market.

We brought everything back to our accommodation.

And we cooked it ourselves.

Honestly?

It was so yummy! 😂🦐

This became another memorable meal from the trip.

Sometimes you don’t need an expensive restaurant to enjoy local food.

Going to the market, buying fresh ingredients, and cooking them together can also become part of the travel experience.

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Traveling in Alicante With a Child

Traveling with a child definitely changes the way we plan vacations.

We couldn’t just walk endlessly without thinking about breaks.

We needed the stroller.

We needed snacks.

We needed to consider the heat.

And sometimes the schedule depended entirely on whether our little one was tired or still excited enough to continue. 😅

But Alicante worked surprisingly well for us.

There were beaches where she could play, the resort pool, colorful Mushroom Street, promenades, and many outdoor places where we didn’t need to worry too much about staying quiet.

The stroller was especially useful in Santa Bárbara Castle and Guadalest because of all the walking.

But what surprised us was how well she kept up.

Traveling as a family can sometimes be exhausting, but seeing a place through your child’s excitement makes the experience completely different.

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Four Days Wasn’t Enough

Our stay was only four days and three nights.

When we booked the trip, it sounded reasonable.

By the end?

We were already saying:

We should have stayed longer.

It means the destination gave us a reason to return.

Alicante gave us sunshine, beaches, history, mountain views, good food, family time, and a much-needed change of scenery.

It was very different from our everyday life in Finland.

And maybe that contrast was exactly why we enjoyed it so much.

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One More Beautiful Memory From Alicante

After this wonderful vacation, Alicante became connected to another very special chapter in our family’s story.

Not long after this trip, we were blessed with our second little one – which made this vacation even more special to us. 💚

So now when we look back at our Alicante photos, we don’t only remember beaches, castles, paella, and sunshine.

The trip reminds us of that particular season in our family life too.

And considering everything that followed…

I think it’s safe to say that we enjoyed that vacation 100 percent! 😂❤️

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More From Our Journey

This trip happened after Finland had already become our new home, and traveling from here has slowly become another part of our family’s story.

If you’d like to read how our journey to Finland began, you can also visit:

Moving to Finland: Why It Wasn’t Part of Our Original Plan
Read Here

How We Actually Got to Finland: Our Recruitment and Residence Permit Journey
Read Here

From Dubai to Finland: Our Adventure in Migration
Read Here

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“Travel gives us memories that somehow become part of our family’s story long after the journey ends.”

“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

• Psalm 24:1 (KJV)

Sometimes a few days away is enough to remind us how beautiful it is to experience something new together. Alicante gave us sunshine, food, laughter, long walks, and memories that became even more meaningful as our family continued to grow. 💚

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Important Note: This article is based on our personal family trip in June 2025. Accommodation, restaurant menus, entrance arrangements, prices, opening hours, and attraction information may change over time. Always check current information directly with the accommodation or attraction before traveling.

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Sources

• Alicante City & Beach – Santa Bárbara Castle – https://alicanteturismo.com/en/santa-barbara-castle/
• El Castell de Guadalest – Official Website – https://www.guadalest.es/
• Dormio Resort Costa Blanca Beach & Spa – https://www.dormio.de/resorts-hotels/dormio-resort-costa-blanca
• Guadalest – Restaurante Xorta – https://guadalest.es/download/4973/