Whether you are looking for a lively city break, a sunny beach holiday or a mix of both, Alicante offers the perfect escape for a short break. Nestled along Spain’s stunning Costa Blanca region, Alicante has mild climate all year round, making it an ideal getaway no matter when you choose to visit.
I spent a few days in Alicante and did a couple day trips to nearby towns on my two-week long Spain road trip. I have compiled together a detailed guide of best things to do including options for day trips. For detailed guides on all Spanish cities visited on this trip, please click here.
Best Way to reach Alicante?
You can reach Alicante by air, train, or road.
By plane – Alicante has its own small airport. Numerous low-cost airlines offer flights to Alicante from major European cities. You can also find flights to Alicante from Madrid and Barcelona.
If you are coming from outside Europe or smaller European cities, then flying into Valencia airport is your safest best. From Valencia, you can reach Alicante in 2 hours by train or car.
By train – A direct train from Valencia will take you to Alicante in 2 hours. From Calp, it takes a little under 2 hours. And from Benidorm, the train takes 45 minutes.
By car – Like us, if you are visiting Alicante along with other towns in Costa Blanca region, then renting a car gives you the most flexibility. We drove from Granada and it took us around 3.5 hours to reach. And from Alicante, we drove to Denia and then Valencia and spent a couple days there.
Where to Stay
Try staying in the city center so as to optimize your time in the city. We stayed at AC Hotel Alicante, and it was just 15-20 minutes walk to most areas of interest.
Best Way to Get Around the City
If you are staying in the centre, then you can get around on foot to most places of interest. Most of the main sights are close to each other. We love walking and exploring so we walked to all the places in the city. You will also find plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops in the centre, so pretty much everything is right on your doorstep.
You can also use the buses/ trams to go around. If you plan on using public transport a few times, then it may be worth getting a Bono 10 card. Currently, it costs €5.40 and includes 10 journeys. Click here for more information on fares and zones.
How many days required?
Alicante is small and you can see most of the city in a day. But if you want to do day trips to nearby towns, then you can easily spend 3-4 days.
Things to Do/ Places to See
La Explanada de España
La Explanada de España is one of the most iconic spots in the city. Chances are that if you Google Alicante, this is the first image you will see !
The walkway is paved with colorful marble tiles arranged in a distinct 3D-effect wave pattern that mimics the waves of the sea. It is lined with palm trees along the entire stretch of boulevard and runs parallel to the harbor. You will also find numerous bars and restaurants and the whole area is lively no matter the time of the day!
Also, as you are walking around, don’t forget to look up because some of the buildings here are beautiful too.
Castillo de Santa Bárbara
The Castillo de Santa Bárbara (Santa Barbara Castle) is situated on top of Mount Benacantil. It is located 167 meters above sea level and provides stunning 360º views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.
Santa Bárbara Castle dates back to the 9th century, although much of what you see today was built or rebuilt over later centuries. There is not much to see inside the castle itself, but the main reason for visiting is the view. From the top, you can see right across Alicante, the marina, the beaches and the mountains.
Entrance to the castle is FREE. Try to visit during sunset for those stunning golden hour views.
Since it is located at a height, be prepared for an uphill climb. The walk takes around 25 minutes from La Explanada de España. Feeling tired and don’t want to walk? Then you can take the lift to the top. It is right across the road from Posiguet Beach in Avenida Juan Bautista Lafora and costs €2.7.
El Barrio de Santa Cruz
Barrio de Santa Cruz, nestled at the foot of Benacantil Hill is arguably the prettiest neighbourhood in Alicante. It is primarily a residential area and is a maze of narrow streets, colourful houses, little balconies, and endless flower pots. You will be walking a lot of stairs so wear comfortable shoes.
This cute and colorful neighborhood is the oldest part of the city. You will feel as though you’ve stepped back in time as you climb this neighborhood’s narrow streets. Keep your cameras ready since you will be snapping away every few minutes 😉
The prettiest spot here is this blue flower-pot house located on Calle San Rafael. Don’t forget to leave a tip as they spend a lot of money and time keeping it pretty.
Apart from this flower pot blue house, there are some more cute and colorful corners. The best way to explore this area is by simply wandering around and enjoying the pretty corners.
As you are walking around, you will notice some lookout areas, where you can get amazing views of the city and the beach.
And you can see the Santa Bárbara Castle looming above.
If you are planning to walk to Santa Bárbara Castle, then walk via Barrio de Santa Cruz. The entire walk will be scenic since you will be walking through colorful houses, flower-filled lanes and city views.
Mercado Central de Alicante
Constructed in 1912, the Central Market of Alicante spans two levels and has nearly 300 vendors. Here you will find fish, vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, eggs, cheeses, cured Ibérico hams, etc. And even tapas bars and cafes.
Most of the restaurants in the city buy their produce here daily, and of course, locals come here to stock up, so it is the perfect place to get a real feel for daily life in Alicante.
Sadly, this place is open for limited hours (7am – 2.30pm and 3 pm on Saturdays). By the time we settled in our hotel and set out to explore the city, it had already closed for the day so we missed visiting it🙁
Take a stroll on Mushroom Street
Want to feel like a kid? Take a stroll on Alicante’s Mushroom Street (officially named Calle San Francisco).
This quirky pedestrian street is filled with giant mushroom sculptures topped with cute little bugs. This street was reformed in 2013 as a project to bring more people into the area and support local businesses. It has clearly worked since it is now one of the most memorable streets in Alicante!
For an ice cream break, check out Cuccitini Gelato located just 5 minute walk from this street.
Basilica of Santa Maria
The Basilica of Santa Maria is the oldest active church in Alicante, Spain. It was built in Valencian Gothic style between the 14th and 16th centuries over the remains of a mosque.
In addition to visiting this one from inside, you can walk up to the clock tower. The views aren’t that great to be honest but worth checking out if you have the time.
Postiguet Beach
The most famous beach in the city is Postiguet Beach located within a walking distance from the city center. And with the backdrop of the castle, it makes for that postcard perfect beach!
We were there in September end and the beach was still warm enough for swimming. 
You can find sunbeds, umbrellas and a few bars lining up the beach.
Marina
Steps away from the beach is Alicante’s Marina. A beautiful harbour with a relaxed atmosphere and great views all around.
There are lots of restaurants lined along the harbor, great for people-watching and soaking up the views! There is even a casino here for those interested in trying their luck at gambling😉
Check out the Plazas
Plaza de la Luceros is known for its beautiful plaza centerpiece. This square also serves as a roundabout on this busy intersection. The square and its surrounding perimeter are lined up with cafes, tapas bars, and shops.
The second one worth visiting is the Plaza de Gabriel Miro. It is a beautiful, shady park with benches and a center fountain. Perfect for chilling and resting in between your city strolls. There are a couple of bars and restaurants here as well.
Just a few steps away you will also find another one – Plaza Portal de Elche. Right in the middle is a kiosk serving cocktail and coffee, and a few restaurants lining up the square.
Parq El Palmeral (El Palmeral Park)
This is a scenic seaside recreational park in Alicante featuring thousands of palm trees, artificial lakes, walking trails, waterfalls, and family-friendly play areas.
This park is slightly far though – around 10–15 minutes by car or 25–30 minutes by public transport from the city center.
Sadly, we did not have the time to visit this one.
Day Trips from Alicante
Guadalest
About an hour’s drive from Alicante is the stunning village of Guadalest. Compared to the seaside towns of Costa Blanca, this one is very unique and a must visit if you have the time!
Guadalest is a medieval mountain village in Alicante, Spain, famous for its cliffside fortresses and turquoise reservoir. It is one of the least populated villages in Spain with only 300 people living here permanently. But of course, during the day, the old town is filled with tourists!
This town is worth it for the views alone! Given that Guadalest is located atop a hill, you are guaranteed some exceptional views! But there is a fair bit of uphill and downhill climb involved here, so ensure you wear comfortable shoes.
If you are driving to Guadalest, there is a huge parking lot right at the entrance of the town. As you park your car and make your way to the town, you will see lots of quaint little stores and a few cafes. As you continue, you will walk next to the cliffs with some amazing views. Ahead you will find stairs leading to the entrance of the historic center.
Walk up the stairs and enter through the arch (or tunnel, known as The Portal of Sant Josep). This is one of the coolest photo spots in Guadalest. From the outside, it looks like a regular entrance, but you actually see the rock carving better once you look back from the inside. So, once you walk through it, don’t forget to turn around.
Once you cross this portal, you can walk around narrow, cobbled streets, stone houses, and peek into the little stores. Plaza de San Gregorio is the main square in this village.
From the edge of the square, you get panoramic views over the iconic the bright blue reservoir !
Once you’ve taken in the main square, keep walking west along the cliffside until you reach Mirador des de la Muralla, the westernmost viewpoint in old Guadalest.
There is a lovely cafe in the town center offering fantastic views – check out Evana Deco & Lounge where you can grab a bite and drinks after you are done exploring the town.
One of the main things to do in Guadalest is visiting the Castle. There is not much to the castle itself, but it is the views over the town and mountains that make it so special.
Another thing to do in Guadalest is checking out some very interesting museums! This town is home to several small but unique museums:
- Museu Microgegant and Microminiatures – As the name suggests, these showcase microscopic creations of Spanish artist Manuel Ussà.
- Museu de la Tortura – It features a collection of over 70 devices and instruments of medieval torture, interrogation, and capital punishment used by the Holy Inquisition across Spain and Europe. Exhibits include historical apparatuses, chains, cages, and even devices used for capital punishment in Spain up until 1975.
Have more time on hand? Then check out Fonts d’Algar (another 30 minutes away) to visit natural waterfalls and limestone swimming pools. You can even go hiking in the surrounding mountain areas.
Guadalest is small and easy to explore, which makes it perfect for a day trip from Alicante. We spent around 1.5-2 hours but of course, if you plan to visit all museums, then set aside 3-4 hours.
Altea
Altea is 30-minutes’ drive from Guadalest and 1 hour from Alicante. Take one step in this town, and you will immediately be transported to Greece!
Altea’s Old Town is perched on a hilltop and flanked by the beautiful Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo. With its beautiful, blue dome it totally resembles the domes of Santorini! Don’t you agree?
One of the best ways to enjoy Altea is by simply getting lost in the small, cobbledstone, pedestrian streets of the old town. The old town is full of picture-perfect corners, shops, restaurants and bars.
Since this town is located atop a hill, you are guaranteed beautiful views!
Altea has a beautiful coast with a long promenade flanked by cafes and restaurants. The beach here is beautiful with crystal clear blue water – but it is a pebble beach. If you are looking for sandy beaches, then drive a little further to the town of Calpe.
You can walk to the beach from the old town but be prepared for a long uphill climb on your way back.
While Altea is a popular holiday destination, it is still less touristy than other Costa Blanca towns. This gives it a more laid-back feel than other destinations nearby.
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa, in Spanish, or la Vila Joiosa, in Valencian means the “Joyful Town”. It is a coastal town located right between Valenica and Altea.
This town is famous for its vibrant, brightly painted buildings in shades of shades of red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and pink. Just like Venice’s Burano island, local fishermen traditionally painted their homes in bright colors so they could easily recognize their houses straight from the sea.
Tabarca Island
Tabarca is a scenic Mediterranean islet off the coast of Alicante. It is the smallest permanent island in the country.
You can go on a boat tour to Tabaraca Island from Alicante. The crystal clear waters of this island make it a top spot for snorkeling and diving.
You can check out more information here. You can also sign up for half day tours on GetyourGuide and/ or Viator.
*All prices as of September 2026