Must SeeFree
Santa Bárbara Castle
Monte Benacantil
A huge hilltop fortress with sweeping views over the bay and the city.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
Daily, roughly 10:00–20:00 (earlier in winter)
Alicante
A sun-drenched port city with a hilltop castle and a palm-lined promenade.
Overview
Why go to Alicante
Alicante is a relaxed Mediterranean city that combines a hilltop castle, a lively old quarter and long beaches with reliable sunshine for much of the year. It is a good base for island boat trips and hill villages.
- Where
- Valencian Community, Spain
- Recommended stay
- 3–5 nights
- Best time to go
- April–June and September–October for warm days without the crowds.
- Approx. daily budget
- £50–100 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
Things to Do
See all 9 Top picks in Alicante
9 places with prices, timings and booking advice.
BeachesFree
Postiguet Beach
El Postiguet
The city’s central beach, right beneath the castle, with easy access to cafés.
- Suggested time: 3 hrs
- No booking needed
Open access; lifeguards in season
Local FavouritesFree
Explanada de España
Centro
A marble-tiled wave-patterned promenade lined with palm trees and café terraces.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
Open-air; always accessible
MarketsFree
Central Market
Centro
A century-old market hall of fish, fruit and local cheeses, with a cluster of tapas bars.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
Monday–Saturday mornings to mid-afternoon
Hidden GemsFree
Santa Cruz Quarter
Old town
Colourful, flower-hung lanes climbing the hill from the old town, full of small cafés.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
Open-air; always accessible
Day Trips~£18
Tabarca Island Boat Trip
Tabarca (ferry)
A tiny walled island with clear water, snorkelling and simple seafood restaurants.
- Suggested time: 5 hrs
- Booking recommended
Ferries daily in season; reduced in winter
Food & drink
What to eat and drink in Alicante
A few local favourites to look out for. Ask where locals go rather than following the menu with photos.
-
Arroz a banda
-
Turrón
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Coca with tomato and tuna
Day trips
Worth leaving Alicante for
Day Trips~£18
Tabarca Island Boat Trip
Tabarca (ferry)
A tiny walled island with clear water, snorkelling and simple seafood restaurants.
- Suggested time: 5 hrs
- Booking recommended
Ferries daily in season; reduced in winter
Day TripsFree
Guadalest Village
Guadalest (25 km)
A mountain village clinging to a rock above a turquoise reservoir.
- Suggested time: 5 hrs
- No booking needed
Village open daily; museums keep their own hours
Where to stay
All hotels Hotels in Alicante
Sample data. Sample hotels with indicative prices, not live rates or availability. A live hotel provider will be connected in a later version.
Sample listing
Santa Cruz Courtyard House
Old town, Alicante
A tiny guesthouse in the colourful old quarter, reached by steps and flower-lined lanes.
£65–100per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
Sample listing
Hotel Explanada Palm
Centro, Alicante
A classic seafront hotel on the palm-lined promenade, with a rooftop bar.
£90–145per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
Sample listing
Playa San Juan Resort
San Juan, Alicante
A modern beach resort with a large pool and kids’ club, a short tram ride from town.
£100–165per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
A suggested Alicante itinerary
3 nights Couple
Alicante · Highlights
Alicante in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Alicante picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Santa Bárbara Castle, Santa Cruz Quarter, MARQ Archaeological Museum
- Day 2 · Guadalest Village, Old Town Nightlife (El Barrio)
- Day 3 · Central Market, Explanada de España, Postiguet Beach
Plan Alicante your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.