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Alicante

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36 hand-picked places in 10 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.

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Tips

10 places on the map

Top 10

  1. 1

    Hilltop fortress with sweeping views over the city and bay

    • Tip: Sunset
    3 tips
    • Take the free lift from Postiguet beach
    • Go at sunset for the best light
    • Wear good shoes for the ramps
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  2. 2

    Palm-lined seafront promenade with a wavy mosaic floor

    • Tip: At night
    3 tips
    • Visit in the evening when it is cooler
    • Great for a horchata or ice cream
    • Look down for the mosaic pattern
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  3. 3

    City beach right below the castle

    3 tips
    • Busy in July and August
    • Easy to combine with the castle lift
    • Chiringuitos serve paella nearby
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  4. 4

    Whitewashed old quarter of flower-filled stairways

    • Tip: Go early
    • Tip: Sunset
    2 tips
    • Wear comfortable shoes for the steps
    • Pretty at golden hour
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  5. 5

    Valencian Renaissance cathedral with a blue-domed chapel

    • Tip: Dress code
    2 tips
    • Free entry outside mass times
    • Check the cloister
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  6. 6

    Modernist covered market full of local produce

    • Tip: Go early
    2 tips
    • Try local nougat and cured fish
    • Closed on Sundays
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  7. 7

    Baroque town hall with a grand twin-tower facade

    3 tips
    • Ask about the Cota Cero marker inside
    • Best photographed from the square
    • Check opening hours for visits
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  8. 8

    Alicante oldest church, built over a former mosque

    3 tips
    • Admire the baroque facade
    • Sits at the edge of Santa Cruz
    • Combine with the MACA next door
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  9. 9

    Small walled island and marine reserve reachable by boat

    • Tip: Book ahead
    2 tips
    • Bring snorkel gear
    • Try caldero de Tabarca
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  10. 10

    Award-winning archaeology museum

    3 tips
    • Home of the Lady of Elche copy
    • Allow two hours
    • Free on some days
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Before you go: Alicante tips

Transportation

  • Ride the TRAM: Alicante's TRAM network runs along the coast to San Juan beach, El Campello and on to Benidorm and Denia.
  • Use the airport bus: the C-6 bus links Alicante-Elche airport with the city centre and is much cheaper than a taxi.
  • Get a rechargeable card: a Móbilis card works on city buses and the TRAM and cuts the cost of each ride compared to single tickets.

Security

  • Mind the Explanada crowds: pickpockets work the busy seafront promenade and the old town bars at night, so keep valuables close.
  • Do not leave bags on the sand: unattended items on Postiguet beach are a common target while you swim.
  • Beware of rosemary sellers: people handing out sprigs or flowers may then demand money; politely decline and keep walking.

Saving

  • Order the menú del día: most local restaurants serve a fixed weekday lunch menu with several courses at a good price.
  • Climb to the castle for free: walk up to Santa Bárbara Castle or use the lift from Postiguet; entry to the castle grounds is free.
  • Shop at the Mercado Central: buy fruit, cured meats and fresh bread at the central market for cheap picnics.

Weather/Clothing

  • Expect lots of sun: Alicante is one of Spain's sunniest cities; pack sunglasses, a hat and high-factor sunscreen year round.
  • Dress light in summer: July and August are hot and humid, so breathable cotton or linen and sandals work best.
  • Bring a jacket in winter: winter days are mild but evenings get cool, so a light jacket or sweater is usually enough.

Cultural

  • Eat late: lunch runs from around 2pm and dinner rarely starts before 9pm; many kitchens are quiet before then.
  • Try arroz a banda: Alicante is a rice city; order seafood rice dishes like arroz a banda or arroz negro, usually for two or more people.
  • Experience the Hogueras: in late June the Fogueres de Sant Joan festival fills the streets with giant sculptures that are burned on the final night.

Local Hacks

  • Use the castle lift: the lift tunnel opposite Postiguet beach saves a steep climb up Mount Benacantil; walk down through Barrio Santa Cruz.
  • Escape to Tabarca: boats from the port reach the small island of Tabarca, a marine reserve with clear water for snorkelling.
  • Head north for quieter sand: take the TRAM to San Juan beach, a long, wide beach that is much less crowded than Postiguet.

1-day itineraries in Alicante

Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.

Day 1 of 2

Mercado Central and around

🕘 9:30–16:45📍 5 stops

  1. 1Mercado Central
  2. 2Barrio de Santa Cruz
  3. 3Basílica de Santa María
  4. 4Castillo de Santa Bárbara
  5. 5MARQ Museo Arqueológico de Alicante
See the day →

Day 2 of 2

Ayuntamiento de Alicante and around

🕘 9:30–17:15📍 5 stops

  1. 1MUBAG Museo de Bellas Artes Gravina
  2. 2Ayuntamiento de Alicante
  3. 3Explanada de España
  4. 4Playa del Postiguet
  5. 5Museo Volvo Ocean Race
See the day →

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