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<h2>Alicante | Alacant</h2>
Capital of the Alicante community and part of the Valencian Community. Alicante is a port city on the Costa Blanca home to just over 300,000 people and the heart of a a metropolitan area of 750,000, making it Spain's eighth largest.
With settlments stretching back to prehistoric times, the Greeks and Phoenicians established trading ports here before being conquered by the Cartheginians and the Romans. It was occupied by the Moors until the late 13th Century. In the Spanish Civil War it was the last Republican loyalist city to be occupied by Franco.
In the 1980's, Alicante's port went into industrial decline however in recent years it has cemented itself as a top destination for tourist cruises. In fact the city has become known as a top tourist destination with visitors attracted to the city for it's beautiful beaches and pleasant climate.
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<h2>Gay Scene</h2>
Although nearby Benidorm has more to offer in terms of gay venues, there are still a good selection of establishments catering to gay customers in Alicante. Here you will find <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/alicante-gay-bars">bars</a>, <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/alicante-gay-saunas">saunas</a> and <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/alicante-gay-cruise-clubs">a cruise club</a>, with most venues close to the sea front. In July there is an annual Pride Festival.
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<h2>Getting to Alicante</h2>
By plane
Alicante&ndash;Elche Airport (ALC)&nbsp;is the fifth busiest airport in Spain and is about 9km south west of Alicante. it is mostly connected to destinations in Europe by budget and charter airlines with some services to North Africa. Flag carriers offer connections to European hubs.
Bus line C6 leaves every 20 minutes between 6am and 11pm and takes you into the city centre in around 20 minutes. Tickets cost&nbsp;&euro;3.85 one way and can be purchased from the driver.
Taxis can be easily caught at arrivals however in high season you may queue for a while if you haven't pre-ordered or arranged travel beforehand. Journeys will cost around&nbsp;&euro;20-25 and will take around 10-15 minutes to get you to the centre. Car hire is available at the terminal.
By boat
Alicante is a popular destination for cruises and you may arrive in the city by cruise ship. It is 15 minutes walk from the port to the city but there is also a free shuttle bus. There are also scheduled ferry services to the Balearic Islands as well as ferries to Algeria.
By train
Alicante is well connected to destinations in the region but a number of direct trains run to Madrid (3 hours) and Barcelona (5 hours) everyday. From the major cities you can connect to the European rail network and travel further afield.
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<h2>Getting around Alicante</h2>
On foot
If you are staying in the Old Town, you will find that most of the main sights are on your doorstep so getting around on foot is pretty much a no-brainer. You will only need to take public transport if you need to travel further afield or in bad weather.
By bus
Bus run from around 6:30am-11pm with some limited night bus services available. Single journeys start at&nbsp;&euro;1.25 and can be purchased from the driver. A recharchable card with 10 journeys costs&nbsp;&euro;7.25 (+ &euro;2 for the card) and can be purchased at the TAM office near the central market.
By tram
Mostly a commuter service, this is a useful way of travelling if you're staying further afield or for day trips along the Costa Blanca. Singles start at &euro;1.35 for one zone with returns costing&nbsp;&euro;2.30. You can purchase tickets from the machines at the stations.
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<h2>Where to Stay in Alicante</h2>
Alicante has an excellent choice of hotels to suit all budgets. The best hotel offers in Alicante can be found on our <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/gay-alicante-hotels">Gay Alicante Hotels page</a>.
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<h2>Things to See &amp; Do</h2>
Castle of Santa Barbara - one of the largest medieval fortifications in Spain. This imposing castle was built in the 9th Century by the Moors. From the top of the hill are amazing views of Alicante (don't worry, there's an elevator!).
Beaches&nbsp;- naturally one of Alicante's main draws is it's glorious sandy beaches.&nbsp;Postiguet Beach is in the city centre but a short trip away is the 7km stretch of sand that is San Juan beach.
Tabarca&nbsp;- a short ferry ride takes you to an island trapped in another era! Tabarca is like a living, breathing time capsule and wildlife sanctuary. Bring cash as there are no ATMs on the island.
Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ) - with artefacts from the stone age onwards, the archaeological museum offers a multi-media history lesson of Alicante and the surrounding area.
Central Market - to get a feel for life as a local of Alicante head to the central food market. Here you will find a wide range of fresh food including seafood plucked fresh from the sea. You will also find a flower market out the backc.
Asegurada Museum of Modern Art&nbsp;(MACA)&nbsp;- a free museum with a surprisingly good collection. Expect to see works by Picasso, Miro and Braque as well as other local artists.
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<h2>When to Visit</h2>
Unsurprisingly, summers are exceptionally pleasant here, so Alicante is a tourist magnet in the summer months. Winters are relatively mild with an average January temperature of 12&deg;C. To avoid the crowds and enjoy pleasant weather, aim to arrive in late spring or early fall.
Like many Spanish cities, Alicante hosts many festivals and events all year. These include the Carnival just before Lent, with masked parades and open-air concerts.&nbsp;Las Hogueras de San Juan is the city's main festival in June and sees specially made monuments burned and fireworks let off.
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<h2>Money</h2>
Spain is a Euro area country. Cash dispensers are widely available. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Hotels, banks and some local businesses also operate foreign exchange desks.

Gay Alicante · City Guide

Planning a trip to Alicante? Then our gay Alicante city guide is for you

The ability for same-sex couples to legally adopt a child.

Actually the criminal code in Spain is under review in order to increase the age of consent.  

The difference between legal age of consent for homosexual sex and heterosexual sex.

* \"From\" date taken from earliest recorded specific legislation on the matter. MSM is not contemplated as a criterion for exclusion. 
 
Information regarding blood donation by MSM during the Franco dictatorship is unknown, but was probably outlawed along with the practice of homosexuality. No specific legal texts from that historical time period address the issue.

The ability for MSMs (men who have sex with men) to donate blood or tissue for organ transplants. A deferral period refers to a waiting time before a man can donate after having sex.

In Spain, there are no laws restricting to discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

Censorship or prohibition of discussing, promoting, or teaching LGBTQ+ topics in media, schools, and in the general public.

On December 22, 2022, the Spanish Congress approves a "Trans Law" 
 
If the law is approved, this point marks that reports or evidence will no longer be needed for a person to make an official registration change of their gender identity. According to the General Directorate of Sexual Diversity and Rights, this can be done "through a system of double appearance, without medical or judicial protection."

Legal recognition of sex reassignment by permitting a change of legal gender on an individual's birth certificate.

Changing your legal gender does not require surgery, however, it does require proof of some form of medical treatment for a period of two years.

Trans law prohibits conversion therapy intended to change sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Legal status of conducting sexual orientation changing therapy ("ex-gay" therapy)

Only in Madrid and Valencia. Nationwide Pending.

Art. 22.4 criminal code. In the current penal code is considered an aggravating.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Spanish law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, and "any other personal or social condition or circumstance.” in employment and provision of goods and services. A comprehensive anti-discrimination bill, called the Zerolo Law, was passed by the Cortes Generales on 30 June 2022.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in employment, including hiring, promotion, termination, harassment, etc.

Ley Orgánica núm. 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, del Código Penal.

Medical and psychological support designed to help individuals transition to the gender they identify with, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and surgeries.

In 1979 Adolfo Suárez Government reversed the previous prohibitions on same sex activity. The 1970 Law on Danger and Social Rehabilitation remained active until 1995 but was unenforced after Spain adopted democracy.

Consensual sexual activity between individuals of the same sex.

The Vagrants and Common Delinquents Law (Ley de Vagos y Maleantes) was modified under the regime of Francisco Franco to prohibit homosexual acts, with a penalty of imprisonment. In 1970 the Law on Danger and Social Rehabilitation (Ley Sobre Peligrosidad y Rehabilitación Social) was introduced that further enforced the prohibition and specified a prison term of up to 5 years.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity when applying for housing or discrimination by landlords / property owners.

With the approval of the Trans Law on February 16, 2023, it was established that intersex minors should not receive unnecessary medical interventions, except in cases where medical advice requires otherwise in order to protect the health of the individual.

Medical interventions performed on intersex infants to alter their genital appearance to conform to typical male or female standards, often without the informed consent of the child who is too young to participate in the decision-making process.

In July of 2005, Spain became the third country in the world to legalize gay marriage, following the Netherlands and Belgium. The law, which was passed by the Spanish parliament and signed into law by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, also allows same-sex couples to adopt children.

Marriage and marriage recognition between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity.

The Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (Urban Leasing Law) was passed in 1994, allowing registered cohabitation for same-sex couples which granted some of the rights previously reserved for married couples.

As of 2009, the courts also ruled that transgender individuals are also permitted to serve in the military.

The ability for homosexuals to serve in the military and be open about their sexuality.

Law 4/2023 modifies article 49 of Law 20/2011 of the Civil Registry to provide that, in the event that the birth report 
indicates the intersex condition of the person born, the parents, by common agreement, may request that the mention of sex appear blank for a maximum period of one year. After the maximum period of one year, the mention of the. Sex will be mandatory and registration will have to be requested by the parents. There is no third sex option available in national documents.

Legal recognition of non-binary, genderqueer, or third gender identities.

Spain does not recognise non-binary gender identities. Proposed legislation that would have provided recognition was rejected in 2021.

Spain

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