Alicante is a city known for its incredible beaches and ancient archaeology, but there’s a lot more to explore in the city while you visit. The city is teeming with a relaxed vibe and a fun-in-the-sun approach by the locals, coupled with some of the most tantalising cuisines, whitewashed houses, medieval fortresses, a modern tram network and age-old churches and museums.
Things to do in Alicante
Read on to check out some of the best things to do in Alicante, a city worthy of exploration.
1. Tabarca | Picturesque town
You’ll find Tabarca just off the Alicante coast, you can get to it by jumping on the daily boat running from the Alicante harbour to Tabarca. Tabarca’s waters have been deemed a Mediterranean Marine Reserve, and the island is all but untouched, home to a plethora of whitewashed homes and a must-visit historical church; it’s an ideal city break from places like Barcelona. ‘
Despite there being a shop and restaurant on the island, it’s best to pack a picnic, especially during the high season when the prices on Tabarca skyrocket. The incredible beauty of the flora and fauna coupled with the scenic coastal path leading up from the beach offers an ideal chance to meander along and find the perfect picnic spot in the blazing sun.
2. Beaches | One of the best things to do in Alicante
With a wide array of Blue Flag beaches along the Costa Blanca coast, going on a few excursions to Alicante beaches and other nearby shores is an ideal way to spend a few days of your holiday. The city is very reminiscent of Salou in this way.
One of the most popular choices is Saladar Beach, which is almost 2 miles worth of golden sand to the south of Alicante; it offers guests a ton of space to enjoy themselves. The spotless bay of Playa de la Albufereta, along the northern outskirts of Alicante, is another top choice and used to be the harbour for the Lucentum Roman settlement.
Both of these beaches offer a prime opportunity to enjoy this spotless coastline, frolic in the waves and soak up the sun.
3. Alicante Tram | A favourite ride
The coastline of Costa Blanca is spectacular, and one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of it is on the Alicante Tram, worth taking just for the views in my opinion. You’ll make your way right up the coastal path and through the hills, on occasion passing through the little villages and towns. San Juan and Altea are two of the stops along the way worth looking out for. San Juan offers a breathtaking expanse of clear blue sea and golden sandy beach just a short distance away from the centre of Alicante.
Altea is much further along but well worth the trip, thanks to the Islamic-influenced architecture in the beautiful Spanish town. As a photographer, this small town is an absolute dream.
4. Castle of Santa Barbara | One of the many famous castles
The Castle of Santa Barbara stands as a large looming figure over the city and once stood as a medieval Arab fortress atop the Benacantil Mountain. Fragments date as far back as Moorish times, and the most recent renovation was during the 1500s, the golden age of Spain.
The ideal time to walk the path up to the top is during the morning, before the sun reaches its peak and blazes down. If you don’t make it early enough, head to Postiguet Beach and grab the lift that runs from just behind it. From the top, you’ll have panoramic views of the Mediterranean ocean, the mountainous countryside and Alicante itself.
5. Playa del Postiguet | One of the best Alicante attractions
Playa del Postiguet, otherwise known as Postiguet Beach, is one of the most celebrated beaches in Alicante and offers a long stretch of white sandy shore with glistening waters, running the whole way from Alicante to San Juan. The shores are so peaceful and absorbing that you’ll quickly forget you’re in the midst of a bustling Spanish city. During high season, this beach is usually packed with tourists and locals alike, but it’s still well worth a visit. Thanks to its popularity, the nearby areas are also home to some of the best Alicante restaurants.
6. Local restaurants | Explore culinary hotspots
Alicante has slowly made a name for itself as one of the places to go in Spain for a truly authentic gastronomic experience. Just north of Alicante, near Valencia, is where paella originated, while the city itself is teeming with Mediterranean influences that seep their way into tapas dishes, upscale restaurants and ritzy little eateries.
Manero is one of the most sought-after tapas restaurants in the city and offers guests a collection of vintage wines coupled with locally caught seafood and classic tapas dishes. Terre is another of the top choices, located along the tree-lined Esplanada; the restaurant offers an open-plan kitchen, so guests can see their food being cooked. It serves a selection of traditional Alicante food as well as foie gras, caviar and oysters.
7. El Barrio | Alicante Old Town
Alicante Old Town, otherwise known as El Barrio, is the heart of Alicante; it comes with long-standing historical significance and is widely considered to be the most people part of the city to wander around during the day. Spanish apartments line the winding cobblestone streets, and you’ll find a wide selection of restaurants serving top-tier tapas and drinks, with most of the restaurants having daily specials that include free food with certain drinks or vice versa.
Alicante Old Town is also home to some of the top attractions in the city, including things like the Twin Towers, Iglesias de Santa Maria (St Mary’s Church) and the San Nicholas Cathedral. During the evenings, El Barrio comes alive with locals and tourists alike flocking to the various bars, cafes and discos to party the night away.
8. La Explanada de Espana | The hard-to-miss walkway
La Explanada de Espana is the main and most beautiful promenade in Alicante, built way back in 1867 by Jose Guardiola Pico; it’s made up of more than 6 million red, black and cream tiles mirroring the Mediterranean rolling waves. The early evening is the best time to take a walk down the promenade and explore the market stalls selling everything from bags to handmade jewellery to rugs, purses and more. There are also a host of bars, restaurants and cafes worth checking out, especially for some Spanish churros!
9. Basilica of Santa Maria | St Mary’s Church
The Basilica of Santa Maria is considered by most locals and visitors to be the most beautiful church in the city and is located a short walk away from Postiguet Beach, at the foot of the mountain. As is the case with so many Spanish churches, Santa Maria was built over a Moorish mosque back in the 13th century, when the land was reclaimed.
The Basilica of Santa Maria was built between the 14th and 16th centuries in the Valencian Gothic style and is currently the oldest active church in the city. The Twin Towers, attached to the church, is a big drawing factor for many, and it’s hard to imagine that they’re built centuries apart when they look so similar.
10. Elche Palmeral | Ancient artificial oasis
Elche Palmeral is about 20 minutes west of Alicante and is one of the largest palm groves on the continent, planted in the early middle ages by the first Muslims to settle there. The majority of the 200,000 trees in the oasis are Phoenix dactylifera (date palm), which aren’t native to Spain and only exist there now because they were introduced by the Moorish settlers. The best way to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site is to walk the circular Ruta del Palmeral path, which starts and ends at Huerto de San Placido. The Palmeras is an incredible example of the agricultural practices of Arabs on the continent dating back as far as the 5th century B.C.
11. The Marina of Alicante | Puerto Deportivo
Puerto Deportivo, or the Alicante Marina, is one of the best places in the city to visit to watch a variety of boats and yachts coming into and leaving the marina. The waterfront offers visitors an array of restaurants and shops to grab a bite or buy something while watching the happenings in the marina. You’ll also find numerous sea tours departing from one of the many moors. When the night starts creeping in, the pubs and bars start to come alive and offer an ideal end to a day spent in Alicante.
Make sure you take your time while at the marina so you don’t disregard the views and you take it all in.
12. Las Hogueras de San Juan | St John’s Eve
If you’re anywhere in Spain on the 23rd of June, you’re bound to come across bonfires in celebration of St. John’s Eve, but there are scarcely any cities that do it as big and bold as the people of Alicante. It started way back in 1928, when instead of just burning old furniture for San Juan, the city decided to turn the evening into its very own fiesta, which lasts until the 24th and takes four days rather than just one. If you’ve ever seen the Las Fallas in Valencia, you’ll notice a few striking similarities. At the final event, called the Crema, specially designed cardboard sculptures are set ablaze and firefighters wait in the wings to keep the raging flames at bay
13. Visit Mercado Central | Self-caterers dream
Spain is well known for its food and clothing markets and Alicante is no different. When it comes to self catering, head out to Alfonso el Sabio and visit the Mercado Central Market, essentially a food cathedral where you’ll find any kind of produce your heart desires.
There’s an enormous variety of meat and fish stalls and never-ending inspiration for the budding chefs among you. A particular highlight in any of these markets is the seafood stalls, where local fishermen bring the food they caught the very same day; you’ll find all of the lobster, crab and squid you could need. Of course, you’ll also find a wide range of fruits and vegetables, including local specialties.
14. Contemporary Art Museum | Rotating display of 20th-century artists
The Alicante Contemporary Art Museum is a descendant of the old Museum of La Asegurada and opened its doors back in 2011. There are only three permanent collections, including the Juana Frances Collection, which was donated in 1990 by the artist when she died; the Eusebio Sempere Collection, which the City Council acquired in 1997; and the 20th-century Art Collection, featuring works by Salvador Dali, Juan Gris, Miro and Julio Gonzalez. There are more than 800 pieces in the collection, and because it is too large to display them all at a single time, the collections are rotated throughout the year.
Alicante FAQs
Now that we’ve run through a list of the things to see and do while in Alicante, let’s answer a few of the most frequently asked questions, so you can decide for yourself if it’s the place for you.
Is Alicante worth visiting?
Alicante is a city worth visiting. It may not be as popular on travellers’ bucket lists as cities like Barcelona, but Alicante has a history to rival some of the longest in Spain and offers an array of unique things to do and see in the city. You could spend months just exploring the Alicante beaches or just exploring the cuisine. History buffs will have a field day in Alicante, with a history that dates back thousands of years and includes Iberian tribes, Greeks, Romans, Arabic Muslims and Christians.
What is Alicante best known for?
Alicante is, without a doubt, best known for its span of white sandy beaches stretching for miles and miles along the Costa Blanca coastline. There are close to 250 km (155 miles) worth of coastline in the region, and the sandy shores are a big drawing factor for most visitors. The lively nightlife and decadent restaurants are other parts of what bring people to Alicante. The mix of traditional Spanish food with the Mediterranean influence makes for some superb gastronomy.
What is there to do in Alicante?
Regardless of what you’re interested in, Alicante is sure to have it for you. If you’re a history fan, you can spend days exploring old Moorish settlements and architectural wonders across the city. If you’re a keen golfer, there are some of the best courses located in and around the city.
There is an endless coastline to explore and a plethora of Instagram-worthy images to capture. You could eat yourself into a coma at any of the traditional restaurants in the city, or you can spend your days soaking up the sun and playing watersports. Learn how to sail a yacht or take a trip out to a remote island surrounded by protected waters. The possibilities are endless in Alicante.
What day is market day in Alicante?
Alicante is home to several markets that happen on different days and with different themes. The Babel Street Market offers bicycles, LPs, books and more amid over 500 stalls and happens every Thursday and Saturday between 08:00 and 14:00. The Santa Pola Street Market has over 400 stalls and serves mostly food products but also has other things like jewellery and clothing. It’s open from 08:00 to 14:00 every Monday and Saturday.
If you’re out and about on a Sunday, there are a variety of Sunday markets worth checking out, including the El Cisne Flea Market, one of the most popular markets in the city; it offers a range of antiques and relics and is surrounded by bars and restaurants. It’s open Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 08:00 and 14:00. Elche Generalist Market is open on Sundays between 09:00 and 14:00 and offers over 160 stalls, all selling second-hand goods and trinkets.
Meanwhile, the Villajoyosa Medieval Market takes place on the last Sunday in April and offers visitors specialised costume jewellery and leather accessories, as well as silver, gold and precious-stone jewellery, pottery, hand-crafted soap and miniatures, among so many other things.
