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Vacations and city trips to Alicante are incredibly popular. This Spanish city, also called Alacante, is the atmospheric capital of the Costa Blanca, the famous Mediterranean coastline of Spain. The city has its own character, and that combined with a pleasant climate and special historical heritage, makes Alicante a popular destination. Not only for many locals, but also for tourists. Because who says "no" to a destination where it is almost always above 18 degrees and where the sun shines more than 3,000 sunny hours a year? So does Alicante seem like the ideal vacation destination to you too? With our tips for the best things to do in Alicante you will make the most of your visit!
1. Climb to the top of Castillo de Santa Bárbara
Alicante's number one attraction is Castillo de Santa Bárbara. Located atop Monte Benacantil, the castle is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain. You can walk up from the center of Alicante to visit the castle, but keep in mind that this is a somewhat tough climb. Especially if you do this in the middle of a summer day. Therefore, do this preferably in the morning or towards the end of the afternoon/early evening, for example at sunset. Don't feel like hiking up? Then you can also take an elevator up from Playa del Postiguet (€2,75), hop on a shuttle bus (€1,45) or drive up by car.
Castillo de Santa Bárbara dates back to the 9th century and was originally an Arab settlement. Unfortunately, you can see very little of this. The medieval fortress is considered one of the largest in Spain and from its highest platform you have an insane panoramic view of Alicante and its surroundings.
The castle is quite large, so you can easily spend an hour here. Therefore, be sure to take your own bottle of water up there. There are cafes where you can buy this, but the prices here are considerably higher.Â
Castillo de Santa Bárbara is free to visit. During the summer months (April - September) the castle is open from 10:00 - 22:00 and during the winter months (October - March) the castle is open from 10:00 - 20:00.
2. Stroll among the palm trees on Passeig Esplanada d'Espanya
If there is one place where you can feast your eyes it is on Passeig Esplanada d'Espanya. This boulevard is full of palm trees which creates an incredibly beautiful and atmospheric picture. Walking here immediately gives that extra bit of vacation feeling, at least that is what palm trees do with us. Maybe with you too?
The promenade stretches along the port of Alicante and is about 600 meters long. The waves in the mosaic tiles represent the sea and can really only be properly admired early in the morning. This is also the best time to walk here since this is when most people are still quietly starting the day. Also, the light through the palm trees is very beautiful and the market stalls are not there yet.Â
3. Relax on the urban beach Playa del Postiguet
One of the great advantages of Alicante is that you will find both city and beach. This makes Alicante the ideal vacation destination. So while visiting Alicante, you should definitely schedule a beach day at Playa del Postiguet. This probably goes without saying, because who doesn't enjoy lying on the beach and taking a dip in the sea?
Playa del Postiguet is a 900-meter-long sandy beach beautifully located at the foot of Monte Benacantil. Adjoining the beach is a pleasant promenade where you will find some beach bars and restaurants. On the beach itself you can rent a beach bed with umbrella, but there is also plenty of space to lie on the sand. There are also toilets, cubicles to change clothes and showers available.Â
The beach is almost always crowded because many people staying in the city center flock here to the beach. Do you want something more quiet? Then La Albufereta beach is a good option.
Tip: On the promenade (on the far right between the beach and the harbor) you will find the hotspot 100 Montaditos. Here you score the tastiest sandwiches ranging from €1 to €2 each!
4. Admire the mushrooms on Calle de Las Setas
One of the attractions of Alicante is the street of mushrooms, also called Calle de Las Setas. The street is full of meters-high works of art. On each mushroom is an insect, such as a snail (see photo below). It is, in our opinion, not necessarily a highlight you must have seen in Alicante, but it is fun to walk through the street. Especially for children, of course, this is a lot of fun. And especially the mushroom houses they can go into.
By the way, this is also a street where you can find many souvenir stores, cafes and restaurants.
5. Good food and drink in Alicante is done at these hotspots
What should you really do when you are in Alicante? Well, among other things, good food and drink! Spanish cuisine is one of our favorites. Nothing is cozier than sharing tapas and bowl paella, of course while enjoying a jug of sangrÃa. But another thing we can't live without is coffee. So everywhere we go we look for the best coffee spot. In this we have succeeded this time too. So here are our favorite hotspots in Alicante:
Vino & Mas (a tapas bar in Calle de Las Setas)
Santa Gloria (blissful patisserie and brunch/lunch spot)
El Molà Pan y Café (another blissful patisserie, but also nice spot for typical Spanish breakfast)
In Bocca al Lupo (Italian)
100 Montaditos (delicious sandwiches for a bargain)
Santa fez Churreria (for churros!)
Swallow Specialty Coffee (the spot for a nice cup of coffee)
Madness Coffee (another favorite coffee spot)
6. Wander the narrow streets of Barrio de la Santa Cruz
During our walk up to Castillo de Santa Cruz, we traversed the Barrio de la Santa Cruz neighborhood. It is an old city neighborhood also known as Barrio Santa Creu. The narrow winding streets are characteristic of the neighborhood, as are the many attractive squares and beautiful authentic buildings. It is also where you will find many bars. Are you looking for a fun place to go out in Alicante? Then Barrio de la Santa Cruz is the place to be.
7. Fun tours you can do in Alicante
Are you in Alicante for an extended period and want to book a nice tour? Then we have 3 tips for you to consider!
A bicycle tour is an easy and quick way to see many of Alicante's sights in one day. Often you are out with a small group and hear fun facts and trivia about the city from a local guide.Â
We ourselves really love to go out and find the best hot spots, but fair is fair sometimes you just have to listen to a local. So, book a food tour. Let local take you around and discover the cutest little stores and taste the most delicious snacks and drinks during a food tour of Alicante.
You're on the Spanish coast, so a boat trip really shouldn't be missed. Whether it will be a boat trip along the coast of Alicante (for example, at sunset) or just a boat trip to Tabarca island, the smallest inhabited island in Spain. Both options are super fun to do in Alicante!
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Our favorite addresses in Alicante
Alicante has a cozy city center and almost everything is within walking distance, but what is a convenient place to stay? To help you get started finding the right accommodation in Alicante, we'd like to share our favorite places with you.
Meliá Alicante
A hotel that is perfectly located in the city in terms of location is Meliá Alicante, namely at the beach and at the end of Passeig Esplanada d'Espanya. So you are in no time on the beach or in the center of Alicante. Apart from that, Meliá is a super fine hotel chain where we love to stay. It is a beautiful hotel with nice and comfortable rooms. There is a pool with a sea view and a gym. What more could you want?
Apartamentos Boutique Villavieja
When staying in Alicante for more than a weekend or midweek, you might be looking for an apartment rather than a hotel. Not having to eat out every time and just prepare something easy "at home" is sometimes so nice. For this we have found a gem: Apartamentos Boutique Villavieja. The location is also ideal, close to the beach and in the historic city center.Â
How to get to Alicante?
Did you know that Alicante is one of the busiest airports in Spain? In fact, many travelers fly into Alicante to travel from here to beautiful coastal towns on the Costa Blanca, head inland or explore the Murcia region. There are an awful lot of possibilities!
 There are many direct flights to Alicante from the Netherlands. You can fly from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven with Skycanner, but be sure to check out the offerings of Vueling. Within 2.5 hours you are at Alicante airport.
Renting a car in Alicante
Besides discovering the city of Alicante, do you want to explore the surrounding area? Then we recommend you to rent a car in Alicante. You can do this either upon arrival at Alicante airport or in the city center.Â
We ourselves always book our rental cars through Sunny Cars, especially now that we are travel consultants affiliated with Personal Touch Travel. Sunny Cars has a wide range of rental cars and we also have good experiences with this Dutch organization. Important to know is that when you rent a car through Sunny Cars you always have the all-in coverage, this means that all insurances are included.Â
View Sunny Cars' extensive offer in Alicante here
Tip: You will only find a small selection of rental cars at Alicante Airport, so chances are you will have to pick up your rental car just outside the airport. This generally involves taking a shuttle bus from the airport to the location (this takes less than 10 minutes). There are several buses going back and forth, look for the one with the name of the party you rented from (e.g. Enterprise / Budget Car).Â
Going to Alicante for a longer period of time?
It is a dream for many to go abroad for a longer period of time. To make a nice trip or to work abroad for a longer period of time. Advantages of working from Alicante are that you are in a city where the temperature is almost always above 18 degrees, but also that you are in the same time zone as in the Netherlands and that there is a lot to do in the city and its surroundings.
On the website of Yobbers you will find a comprehensive overview of the vacancies available in the city of Alicante. You can work for big and well-known brands such as Odido and Menzis. Don't feel like working full time from Alicante? Part-time is also possible! It sounds like a big dream for us to work from a Spanish city, and Alicante would definitely be our preference!
Customized travel proposal for Alicante
Alicante is an incredibly nice destination for a city trip or (summer) vacation. Want more tips for your trip to Alicante? For example, what is the best route for a 2-week round trip? With a customized travel proposal we make sure you experience the hidden gems and highlights of this fine destination. We will be happy to put together the ideal itinerary for you!
Lois Weeterings
A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.
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