Alicante Travel Guide: Best Things To Do in Alicante 2026

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Flight Overview

Travel Time: Flights from London to Alicante take around 2.5 to 3 hours on average. Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC) is the main international hub located about 15 minutes from the city centre.

Average Flight Cost: You can find round trip flights for as little as £40-£100, especially with budget airlines like Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2. Prices fluctuate seasonally, so booking early or being flexible with dates helps secure the best deals.

Airports with Direct Flights: London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh all offer direct routes.

Best Time to Visit Alicante

The best times to visit Alicante are April-June and September-November. During these months the weather is warm, the skies are blue and you can explore comfortably without the intense summer heat or crowds.

Summer (July-August) brings long sunny days perfect for the beach, but expect temperatures around 30°C and busy tourist spots. Winter (December-February) is mild with temps around 16-20°C which is perfect for sightseeing without the crowds. I visited in November and every day was 21°C with blue skies which was absolute perfection for exploring and cafe hopping.

How Long to Stay in Alicante

Alicante is one of those cities that can easily fill your weekend or a whole week. If you’re short on time 3 days is ideal for exploring the highlights from the castle to the beaches and old town.

If you want to take it slow, explore nearby villages or enjoy day trips like Tabarca Island or Guadalest, then 5-6 days gives you the perfect balance of city, coast and countryside. Alicante is compact and walkable which makes it easy to explore without feeling rushed.

How to Get Around Alicante

Alicante is compact and walkable, making it easy to explore on foot especially around the marina and old town.

• Tram: The TRAM Metropolitano connects Alicante to nearby towns like San Juan, Benidorm and Altea. It’s clean, affordable and scenic especially along the coast.
• Bus: Local buses are reliable and cover most areas of the city, including Parc El Palmeral and the airport.
• Taxi or Bolt: Convenient for short trips, especially if you’re staying outside the centre.
• Car Rental: I’d highly recommended hiring a car if you plan on exploring the Costa Blanca and roads are well maintained and easy to navigate. Having a car makes it so much easier to get between places like Alicante, Altea and Calpe and gives you the flexibility to explore at your own pace rather than relying on public transport. The roads are well maintained and easy to navigate, even if you’re not used to driving abroad. I always use DiscoverCars to compare prices and find the best option before I go, which saves both time and money.

Where to Stay in Alicante

Central Alicante – Best for First Time Visitors

Staying in the city centre puts you close to everything from the beaches, the castle, restaurants and nightlife. It’s the perfect base if you’re visiting for the first time and want to explore on foot. You’ll find a mix of boutique hotels, apartments and seaside resorts all within walking distance of major attractions.

Why stay here:

• Walking distance to Santa Bárbara Castle, marina and beaches
• Great restaurant and shopping scene
• Easy access to public transport

Best Hotels in Alicante

Best Things to do in Alicante

1. Santa Bárbara Castle

You can spot Santa Bárbara Castle from almost anywhere in Alicante as it sits proudly above the city on Mount Benacantil, like a watchful guardian over the coast. The first time I visited I couldn’t believe how perfectly it frames the sea below. I’d recommend visiting near sunset as the whole skyline glows in shades of gold and rose.

The castle was built back in the 9th century and has seen centuries of battles, sieges and quiet evenings like this. You can hike up (it takes about 30 minutes if you’re feeling energetic) or take the elevator right by Postiguet Beach for €2.70. Either way the view from the top makes the climb worth it. Entry is free and if you’re lucky you might even catch a local art exhibition inside one of the old stone halls.

2. Passeig Esplanada d’Espanya

This mosaic tiled promenade is one of Alicante’s most iconic spots which made me feel like I was more in LA and not Spain. You can’t miss the row of palm trees which offer the perfect shade during the summer. Make sure you come here in the early evening where you can see musicians play Spanish guitar, and the scent of roasted almonds drifts through the air. I grabbed an ice cream from one of the nearby cafes and just people watched.

3. Santa Cruz Quarter

Tucked just beneath the castle lies Barri Vell Santa Creu, Alicante’s most photogenic neighbourhood. You’ll see everything from narrow cobblestone lanes, whitewashed homes painted with splashes of cobalt blue and mustard yellow and flower pots spilling over with bougainvillea.

I wandered here one afternoon with no plan  just following the scent of home cooked paella wafting through open windows. As the sun began to set the light turned golden and the castle above lit up like something out of a fairytale. If you only explore one area of Alicante on foot, make sure it’s this one

4. Parc El Palmeral

Just a short drive from the city centre you’ll find Parc El Palmeral which feels like a hidden oasis. The first thing you notice is how green everything is from the towering palm tree, and winding paths that lead you past little bridges and cascading waterfalls. There’s even a small lake where you can rent a pedal boat and drift lazily across the water. It’s completely free to visit but it feels like you’ve paid for a few hours of calmness.

5. Tabarca Island

Just an hour by ferry from Alicante you’ll find Tabarca, which is he city’s best kept secret and one of those places that feels like it exists in a different rhythm from the mainland. The island has a history as colourful as its streets, as it was once a hideout for pirates though today it’s all charm and calm.

The village itself is a maze of narrow alleys lined with whitewashed houses, dotted with bougainvillea and little squares where locals linger over coffee. I caught the morning ferry which cost £20 for a return ticket, and spent the first hour wandering the streets, absorbing the quiet hum of island life. The island is small and half a day is more than enough to explore it all.

6. Mushroom Street (El Carrer dels Bolets)

Yes you read that right, a WHOLE STREET dedicated to giant mushrooms! It’s playful, a little surreal and honestly makes you smile just walking through. The oversized mushroom sculptures tower above and the street is lined with cafes and boutiques selling everything from handmade jewellery to pastries. It’s especially fun if you’re travelling with kids, but even as an adult there’s something delightfully whimsical about it. Alicante doesn’t take itself too seriously and this street definitely proves it.

7. Day Trip to Guadalest & Algar Springs

If you’re craving a change of scenery, this day trip into the mountains is unbeatable. The drive itself is part of the adventure with the road that winds through olive trees and small hills, and everywhere you look the hills seem to go on forever under a clear, blue sky.

Guadalest is straight out of a storybook! It’s a a tiny village located high above a turquoise reservoir, with cobbled streets, ancient stone houses and tiny shops selling local crafts. After exploring, Algar Springs offers the opposite kind of magic which is a series of lush, natural pools fed by waterfalls where the water is crisp, clear and irresistibly inviting. I booked my tour with Viator (which includes transportation) and prices start from £40 per person. 

8. Canelobre Caves

About half an hour from the city, the Canelobre Caves are like stepping into a hidden cathedral carved by nature. The moment you enter you’re surrounded by gigantic stalactites and stalagmites, some stretching like organ pipes toward the ceiling, others twisting into shapes that seem almost alive.

The guided tour (which starts from £48 including transport from Alicante) is surprisingly gripping, explaining the formation of the caves and the geological history in a way that keeps you completely absorbed. Temperatures stay cool all year, making it a welcome escape from Alicante’s summer heat.

9. Alicante Food & Tapas Tour

To truly know Alicante, you need to taste it. A tapas tour is the perfect way to do just that by hopping from one tiny bar to another, sampling plates of paella alicantina, delicate jamón ibérico and sweet turrón made from local almonds.

Our guide shared stories of the city’s Moorish history and its deep connection to the sea, all while handing over small bites that felt like miniature masterpieces. Most tours start around £25 per person, and believe me you’ll leave full both in stomach and in experience. Walking from bar to bar, watching chefs plate their dishes and smelling the spices in the air felt like being let in on a delicious secret.

10. Day Trip to Villajoyosa & Altea

If you have an extra day, a trip to the nearby villages of Villajoyosa and Altea is a perfect escape from the city. Villajoyosa is a feast for the eyes as its old town is lined with pastel colored houses that look like someone painted them just for Instagram. I wandered along the seaside promenade, watching fishermen unload their catch while the sun glinted off the Mediterranean. Don’t miss the Valor Chocolate Museum, where the sweet scent of chocolate makes it almost impossible not to indulge in a tasting or two.

In the afternoon I headed to Altea which had more of a quieter feel to it. The streets are narrow and twist their way up the hill, with white houses and bright blue domes on either side. At the top you’ll see the Church of Our Lady of Consolation rise above everything, and the viewpoint gives you wide stunning views of the coastline below.

I booked a tour with Viator to experience both these villages and prices start from £62 per person.

Where to Eat in Alicante

I hope this guide including best things to do in Alicante has made planning your trip easier and hopefully you’ve been able to add a couple of spots to your list that you never knew about!