Alicante - 300 Days of sunshine
Alicante is located on the south-eastern coastline of Spain, an area known as the Costa Blanca, on the Iberian Peninsula. It is one of the best places to visit in Spain, and I have recommended the 13 best things to do in Alicante to keep you busy and make the most of your visit.
Alicante is blessed with over 300 days of sunshine a year, meaning just about any time is a good time to visit. It has everything you would expect from a Spanish city; beautiful Mediterranean beaches, a rich history, delicious food, and plenty to keep you busy.
Alicante can be a sun chasing weekend city break, or alternatively, keep you entertained for a week-long holiday. The Costa Blanca region receives over 3 million visitors a year; Alicante, however, has been able to retain its Spanish identity and authentic feel.
How to travel around Alicante
The centre of Alicante is quite compact, and easily navigated on foot. When I visited, I has use of a bicycle, which was a great way to get around. The nearest beach, Playa Postiguet, is right next to the centre of town, so you can easily survive on foot or with a bike.
Parking can be a nightmare, so if you stay centrally, you have no need for a car. If you do hire a car be prepared to drive around town for a while looking for a space.
Are you looking to travel further than the Alicante region? Andalucia is a beautiful region of Spain including cities such as Seville, Granada and Malaga. If you have a time, I highly recommend a road trip to Andalucia. Read more about it by following the link.
Travelling from Alicante airport to the city centre
The nearest airport to Alicante is called Alicante-Elche Airport and it’s easy to travel to the city centre 13km away. Exit the airport on level -2, you will see taxi stands and multiple bus stops. A taxi will cost €20 to the city centre (20 mins).
Alternatively, there is an airport bus that departs every 20 minutes and makes various stops as you enter the city (€3.40, up to 45 mins). You can also rent a car from here if you plan to do so on your trip.
Best area to stay in Alicante
I would recommend staying close to the city centre, so it makes walking about very easy. Most of the best things to do in Alicante are in the centre so it makes most sense to stay here.
This negates the need for public transport or a vehicle, unless you want to go a bit further afield to explore other beaches, or nearby towns.
Accommodation is very affordable in Alicante, and I would highly recommend searching on booking.com to find the best deals. Depending on the season you go, you should find a great place centrally located for about £50 per night or less.
13 Best things to do in Alicante
1. Castillo de Santa Barbara
The Castle of Santa Barbara sits 166 metres high atop the rocky Mount Benacantil. It dates to the 9th century during Muslim domination of the area. From here you have magnificent panoramic views of the entire bay of Alicante, and it’s particularly romantic at sunset.
I highly recommend you plan to spend at least a few hours at this medieval fortress. Entry is free, and you can either walk to the top (which I did, very hard work in the midday sun, but very pleasurable).
Alternatively, you can catch an elevator to the summit from in front of Postiguet Beach. Inside the castle walls are beautifully maintained gardens, exhibitions, and a café to enjoy something to eat and drink.
I would rate this as one of the best things to do in Alicante, so make sure to add this to your Alicante itinerary.
2. Relax at Playa del Postiguet
Postiguet Beach is in the centre of the city, beneath the shadow of Santa Barbara castle, and next to the famous Esplanada de Espana (see below). The waters are perfect for swimming and the soft white sand great for some relaxation.
There are sunbeds and parasols available to rent, and numerous cafes along the promenade as well as public toilets.
3. Parc El Palmeral
Parc El Palmeral is the best park in Alicante and offers an idyllic and peaceful break from city life if you need it. I found this by accident, as it was very near to where I was staying. If I want to chill for a few hours this is my favourite thing to do in Alicante.
The park is hidden behind a tall stone wall, and you wouldn’t know it was there unless you were looking for it. This was my favourite place to go and read a book or grab a coffee (there is a little café inside the park) and enjoy the lush green fauna and waterfalls.
I highly recommend a visit here – from the city centre, its best to catch a bus, or alternatively it’s a 45 minute walk or 20 minute cycle from the city centre.
4. Esplanada de Espana
The Esplanada de Espana is the main waterfront promenade in Alicante, and I never tired of walking along the wavelike pattern of the black, red, and cream marble tiles.
Lovely palm trees provide protection from the days heat. The esplanada really comes alive at night as the market stalls open, selling locally produced crafts and food.
5. Tabarca Island
Taberca Island is a 60-minute ferry ride from Alicante port. It is a protected marine reserve and provides a great environment for snorkelling as the waters are so clear and warm.
The island is small, the centre of town is only about 5 blocks but very pleasant to walk around, eat, and have an ice-cream. There are various beaches around the island you can choose to visit.
The return ferry costs €20, and I highly recommend this as a day trip. This was one of the highlights of my trip. Ferries leave in the morning (2-3 per day and the last return ferry is 6.30pm).
In terms of day trips, this is the best activity to do in Alicante. Leave as early as possible to make a full day.
6. Local Cuisine
One of my favourite past times in Alicante is the food, it’s delicious. My personal favourite is to find a traditional tapas bar and enjoy the Spanish classic with a cold beer.
I recommend Lizarrán Alicante – Rambla, on the main street, Rambla Mendez Nunez. Each dish costs only €1.50, and the staff will walk around every few minutes with fresh dishes. If you like the look of it, take it, or wait for the next walk-by.
Another favourite place of mine is called 100 Montaditos which translates as little sandwiches. There is one on the Rambla Mendez Nunez and another located at the end of Postiguet Beach, under the unmissable Melia Alicante Hotel.
The menu consists of 100 small items you can order ranging from small baguettes, olives, nachos, and salads. Each dish costs between €1 and €3 so you can try quite a few different snacks and everything I tried was really tasty.
This is a really good budget traveller tip as you can eat very cheaply here.
7. Alicante Nightlife
You can have many great nights out in Alicante, and there are a few hotpots within town I would head to. Start in Plaza de los Luceros, which has a few lively pubs with outdoor seating areas (La Provisional and The Duke) and pints starting at €1.00 all night.
For a more authentic local experience head for the area around Calle Miguel Soler, where the narrow streets are filled with alfresco outdoor dining. You really appreciate you are in Spain here, with many small tavernas offering pizza, tapas, paella, and lots of different options.
Eating local food should be one of your main things to do in Alicante, and you are spoilt for choice.
8. Alicante Old town – Barrio de la santa cruz
The area called Barrio de la Santa Cruz is known as the old town, in the shadow of Mount Benacantil. The narrow winding streets go in all directions, up and down. You will no doubt get lost, and walk around in circles, but that’s half the fun and charm.
Enjoy slightly crumbling, whitewashed buildings, as you really feel like you’re in a small Spanish village here, unlike anywhere else in the city.
9. Playa Carabassi
If you head South from Alicante, you will come across the gorgeous Carabassi beach. The soft sand stretches as far as the eye can see. As you approach, you are welcomed by wooden boardwalks winding through fauna growing through the sand.
If you find Postiguet too busy, you will have no such problem here as there is so much space. I cycled here, but ideally you need a car, as there is no public transport to take you here. If you can make the effort though, you will be rewarded.
10. Hogueras de Alicante (Bonfires of St John)
Hogueras de Alicante is the most important festival of the year in Alicante. It is a huge celebration lasting 4 days from 20th to 24th June each year. The festival celebrates the arrival of the summer solstice, and the whole city is elevated to a whole new level of party.
Huge papier-mache satrical figures are made and paraded around the city and on the evening of the 23rd June, they are set alight to burn across the city. It is an amazing event to witness, and there is the festival atmosphere to go with it. Many roads are closed to traffic at this time and extra street food is on sale throughout the festival.
11. Walkabout Alicante Harbour
Alicante is an important port city, but it manages the commercial and non-commercial elements well, and the harbour is a hub of activity any time of day. The pier is dominated by the Casino Mediterrani and Melia Alicante hotel.
Walk on further past these to enjoy an ice-cold beverage at one of the many drinking spots whilst overlooking the hundreds of super yachts, dreaming of one day owning one yourself (or is that just me!).
12. Muelle 12 (Pier 12)
A recent new addition to the marina is Muelle 12 (Pier 12). It’s an outdoor event arena with a number of concerts each week and next to the concert area is a chill out area with a bar, live DJ and independent food vendors.
There is plenty of food stalls to choose from including, Asian, Mexican, Italian, and German cuisine. I enjoyed a burrito and a cocktail on comfy sofas sitting outside and enjoying the view to the harbour.
There are many shaded areas so its perfect to visit any time of the day. Its child friendly and it opens in the afternoon until late at night. To enter the food market is free, but you have to pay if you want to attend a concert.
13. San Juan Playa
Another beach worth visiting on a trip to Alicante is San Juan Playa north east of central Alicante. This beach is much longer than Postiguet Beach offering a scenic stretch of sand, restaurants and bars.
There’s quite a few beach volleyball areas here too if you want to be more active. You can easily catch a tram here from the centre of Alicante (line 3) to take you all the way to the beach.
If this isn’t enough beaches for you, check out a list of Top 15 Beaches in Alicante courtesy of Places of Juma.
Day trips from Alicante
The region around Alicante boasts some wonderful attractions, and if you have a car, all are within a few hours’ drive. You can also travel to some by bus or train. These are the best day trips from Alicante
Day trip to Elche
Elche is the nearest town to Alicante, just 25km away. The easiest way to get to Elche is by train, its quick and cheap, and takes you right to the centre of town. Elche is not too dissimilar from Alicante, however, it is inland, so no beaches here.
The highlight is the Palmeral (palm grove) of Elche which is a landscape of palm groves right next to the centre of town. Take some time out with a gentle stroll among the swaying palm tree branches, and huge cacti among the otherwise dry arid landscape.
Day trip to Benidorm
I am sure everyone (living in the UK at least) has heard of Benidrom, made famous by the TV show. Benidorm is a little metropolis full of high rise buildings that have been developed over the last 50 years.
Here you will find karaoke bars, more beaches and many amusement parks aimed at the many British tourists that descend in the summer months. There are many things to do in Benidorm to keep you busy for a day trip, or even a week.
If you haven’t been, it’s an experience I actually enjoyed (at least for one night). The beach front is very lively, and you can hear the music blasting out of the beach side bars.
If you want to party this is the place to be. If you want an authentic Spanish experience, maybe choose somewhere else.
Trip to Valencia
I travelled to Valencia on a coach from Alicante, and it took about 3 hours or so from the main Bus depot in town. It is worth spending 2-3 days in Valencia, it’s a beautiful city, with a bustling historic centre and old town.
You should also visit the futuristic architecture of the City of Arts and Science which is a scientific and cultural leisure complex. To read more about this beautiful city check out how to spend 3 days in Valencia at Travel Your Memories.
Day trip to Canelobre Caves
The Canelobre Caves are near the town of Busot, 26km from Alicante. It’s easiest if you have your own transport to get here (alternatively you can catch a bus to Busot then a taxi to the caves).
The drive itself is a reward, some great landscapes en-route as your altitude increase up the Sierra Cabeo D’or. The caves are full of extraordinary rock formations of stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. Entry is only €8 and well worth it.
You can also visit the town of Busot to make more of the trip.
Guadalest Valley and Algar Waterfalls
Guadalest is a small village 63km from Alicante. From the village you have amazing panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and stunning views to the turquoise reservoir below. If you have your own transport, arrive early to beat the hordes of coaches that arrive by 11am.
25 minutes away from Guadelest is the nature reserve including Algar Waterfalls. This area is so picturesque, and the cool waters are so welcoming on a hot sunny day. Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit, and some sturdy shoes as it can get slippery. There are some walking trails as well as the waterfalls, so you can enjoy a good few hours here.
Summary of Best things to do in Alicante
I hope you enjoy this list of the best things to do in Alicante. I highly recommend you consider Alicante as your next summer break. If you liked the article please leave your comments below.