One of the sunniest cities in Europe is Alicante of Spain. Between tall palm trees, blue water and yellow beaches there are so many fantastic things to do in Alicante. This city has an interesting historical background, a few curious facts and a certain lifestyle that most visitors are seeking to find.
We visited Alicante several times.
This list of the best and some unusual things to do in Alicante is the result of our long research we did with tour guides and local friends. It covers the nightlife with nightclubs in Alicante, things to do in Alicante for families with kids and even day trips.
We take you on a journey to a pink lake, the Manhattan of Spain and a tiny island for snorkeling. And of course, you can end the day by having a drink in one of many bars.
We cover:
- Best Things to do in Alicante
- Activities for families
- Nightlife in Alicante
- Where to stay
- How to get around
- all Activities in Alicante put on a map
The Best Things to do in Alicante
1. Castle St Barbara
I want to kick start this list with the most obvious thing to do in Alicante.
The Castle of Santa Barbara is the main sight in Alicante. It is the #1 thing to do, above them all – literally.
Going up here is a must.
The castle/ fortress dates back to the 9th century.
There are several ways to get up the 166mm on Mount Benacantil it is located on.
1. Walk
Walking up from the City Hall near the port takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
It is quite steep but absolutely doable. I recommend walking the way up through the neighborhood of Santa Cruz. It is a beautiful neighborhod, very local and beautiful to wander.
2. Hop On Hop Off Bus
This is by far the easiest option and most comfortable one. Just take the Hop On Hop Off bus and take the bus all the way up to the top. The bus stops in front of the entrance.
However, you still have to walk up inside the castle to get to the main platform on the top.
Find updated prices for the Turistic bus here.
3. Elevator/ lift
You can also take the elevator up and walk down. This is also a comfortable option and by far a less sweaty mission.
The elevator usually costs a few EUR, certainly worth it to save some energy. The lift is right opposite the Postiguet Beach.
4. A Guided Tour
This is the best option for everybody interested in the background story and history of the castle.
On the 2 hours guided tour you learn about the dark side of the fortress to know the darker and sinister stories about the events experienced in the Castle since the 9th century.
5. Own vehicle (car, bike, scooter)
The last option, take your own vehicle up. There are a few parking spots right next to the entrance.
If you are the absolute sports-fanatic, challenge yourself and drive your bike up here.
Stripe house – barrio Santa Cruz (Instagram)
BasĂlica Santa Maria – it was a mosque and – present during all times – most stones are from the mosk – it got burnt – the comuniĂłn bread was safe it’s god will – the miracle of the communion bread. You can see the holes of the cannon. It was used as a prison also during 1800 for people with French connections also store house for military material during the civil war.
Gravina museum of fine arts
Playa de la almadraba
El palmeral
Casa carbonell de Juan vidal
not bombed – most beautiful building in Alicante 365 windows – rich owner – building 2 the size of the palace hotel and take the sun of the hotel . It worked as the hotel does not exist anymore he kept one apartment and sold the other apartments
Cara del Moro – Calif of the castle
he lived there and had a daughter. Best present for the daughter 2 main suitors al man sor is the richer and decided to go to India and brought a present. Ali decided to go to tibi which has a lake. Wanted to construct a river to have natural water. Ali was flirting and they fell in love so one year later Almánzor brought a Lot of presents so cantara had to marry with him despite his love. Ali was destroyed and felt bad he jumped from the castle and kill himself. Cantará did also jump and calif kept himself inside the cattle and pray to ala to vanish he m cause he felt guilty for the kills. When calif died his face appeared in the mountain. There will be a time in the fuerte when it disappears due to the windy codntitions and will be the time he fill finally rest. One of the ghost on the castle calif is the oldest one . Calle Luzan one of the best places to see it. Next to the Santa Maria cathedral
Parque lo morant
Segway Alicante
Since Alicante is a bit hilly, the Segway Tour is a hip way to cruise around town, right?!
Mandala Café
I seriously love coffee and since Alicante (and Spain in General) is about taking your sweet time, here is my #1 best coffee in Alicante: Mandala Café!
This little coffee shop is handmade with love.
The little notes all over the place, the big smiles of the owners serving the guests and on top of that, the creamy coffee and the yummy pastries.
Mandala Café is a nice place to have a slow-down break, especially after climbing down the Santa Barbara Castle.
You can find it right across the Market.
Find opening times of Mandala Café here.
Good to know: It has also a very fast and reliable WiFi, a perfect coffee for digital nomads.
It is also a pet-friendly coffee shop.
Cala cántalar
Refugio antiaéreo Seneca y balmis
Museo de la universidad de alicante
Jardines peñacerrada de mutxamel
Busot mercal – mercado 2a mano
Museums: maca, musa,
Plazas: plaza Gabriel mirĂł , portal de Elche, plaza de los luceros, plaza de la santĂsima faz
Teatro de Alicante
Plaza de Toros
Conciertos domingos en : la concha de la explanada
Casco antiguo y calle castaños – ir de TARDEO –
Harbor
Ruta de la madera – Party
Hippy market in explanada
Parks: parque de canalejas , parque la Freya, El Monte benacantil, monte tossel , Serra gossa , parque el palmeralr
Tapas y montaditos por El Barrio
Postres tĂpicos: turrĂłn jijona, rollitos anis, coca boba,
Ayuntamiento – Cota O sobre el nivel del mar – one the oldest buildings as was not destroyed during civil war –
Castillo De San Fernando
Mercado central – avenida Alfonso el sabio
Teatro arniches
Comer pericans y capellán
Pasear por calle de las setas – calle San Francisco
Vino de alicante: marina alta, fondillĂłn…
Estadio José rico Pérez
Helado en el Peret explanada
Amanecer playa
Horchata en orchateria azul – CalderĂłn de la barca
Club de golf
Comer: fideuá, paella alioli o coca de atún
Playas: San Juan , calas cabo de la huerta, almadraba , la albufereta , playa del postiguet, playa saladared- urbanova, isla de Tabarca, playa aguamarga
puigcampans
Guadalest
Barranco del infierno
Tablao flamenco
Icarus status(surfista) learn from him and know your limits you cannot jump to it you will slip
Esplanada meeting point – Esplanada de España ( explanadapf freedom) red marble from Alicante blue from sea and white from sand
La cant means small mosk a mountain a la can’t –
Different walls of the city – Arabic and ….
Akra Leuka – L from That means light … and Alacant which is the last name of the city
Not lucentum cause they though it was ilĂcitis – the main city – they discovered ilicitis is Elche they play
in same division (not anymore) clue to know if was destroyed in civil war is due to the letters. Arabs were
important cause they though how to keep the water.
Trentaytantos restaurant
Licor de turrĂłn , crema de turrĂłn , mistella , orujo ( skin of the grapes)
Coca de mollitas – mohama (salty fish)
9 planes – 90 dots for planes – and 300 people killed . At 11:20 clock has been kept inside for the time of the Attack
TARDEO
Alicante is a city of lifestyle, it’s the way of life that makes Alicante stand out.
The so-called Tardeo is proof.
Friday and Saturday the locals go out and start drinking beers from 3pm. The area round Mercado Central is packed with locals enjoying their Tardeo. Afterwards, they go around the theatre and clubs which open already at 5 pm these days.
These clubs and bars are open until 3am.
If you are really up for a big night out, head down to the Passeig Esplanada d’Espanya and the area around the Icarus. This is where the Night Clubs in Alicante and pubs are open until 7am.
Now, that’s quite some nightlife in Alicante.
Soho drink in a wild garden
Day Trips from Alicante
Now we covered all those amazing things to and activites in side the city. But, there’s much to do nearby. Here is a list of great day trips from Alicante we found and tested for you.
You will be surprised what’s out there waiting for you:
Benidorm is the Manhattan of Spain
Tram by the coast
Canelobres caves
Altea
Villajoyosa
Calpe
Bocairent
60km North of Alicante, tucked away in the mountains, you find the tiny village of Bocairent. This small village is home to 4000 inhabitants, a village considered one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
The village itself is located on the top of a hill, which is really beautiful itself.
For sightseeing, there are three main things to do in Bocairent:
1. Walk around the town
The town and village itself is beautiful. Just walk around the tiny alleys, the main square, up to the church and down the hills again.
If you are lucky and on time you will catch one of the few cafés open to sit down and enjoy a few tapas.
2. Enter the Caves of the Moros
Carved into the mountains you will see many “windows” looking out the mountains. These manmade caves are hundreds of years old and its purpose, well, was never really found out.
You can climb around those connected tunnels and rooms. This is certainly only possible for the sporty and athletic among us. The holes are small and you literally have to climb.
For elder men and women this is not possible, I am afraid. Nevertheless, you can visit them from the outside and see photos and hear the story behind. It’s really interesting.
The entrance fee here is around 1.50€.
3. Visit the Bull Fighting Stadium
Today it is not used anymore for bull fights, and it is a gorgeous, clichĂ© kind of “plaza de Toros” you have in mind when visiting Spain.
It fits 4000 people and you can walk all around, see the are the bulls were kept and enter the small chapel the toreros used to pray before the bloody fight began. The entrance fee is around 1.50€.
Today the stadium is used for concerts, cinema and other small shows for the village.
Torrevieja and its Pink Lake
Located around 50km South of Alicante you find the two lakes of Torrevieja. Those so-called “pink lakes” are literally pink.
We haven’t seen anything alike before!
“Las Salinas de Torrevieja” are part of a national park and as dreamy as it sounds to have a dip here, it is actually forbidden. The human impact should be kept to a minimum, so please come here, enjoy the views and take dreamy photos, but don’t swim here.
It is actually forbidden.
Therefore, our best recommendation: Come here, take a few photos (entrance is free) and head afterwards to the beaches of Torrevieja for some sunbathing and a swim in the Mediterranean Sea.
Isla de Tabarca
About Alicante
“Parlante como los de alicante” keep moving forward as alicantinoan
Where to stay in Alicante
Solo-Travelers
Families
Couples
Romantic City Break
How to get around?
Alicante itself is very walkable. The Medina and Christian Old Town is quite small and you can walk basically everywhere.
It is quite hilly so for the non-trainer visitors like myself it can be challenging.
The Hop On Hop Off Bus is the best option to get around and see all the major sights in Alicante. It even takes you all the way up to the Castle of Santa Barbara.
Bear in mind, walking up from the neighborhood of Santa Cruz is also recommended. The neighborhood itself is so beautiful, dotted with beautiful houses with its Christian symbols, plants, people wandering around.
Starting from the City Hall it takes you around 30 minutes walking up to the Castle of Santa Barbara crossing Santa Cruz Barrio.
All Things to do put on a map
A map is always handy, right?!
I put all these cool day trips and activities in Alicante on a map. This makes it easier for you to get a full picture.
Guides to Alicante and Spain
Fan of guide books? Personally, I am big fan. I love to take notes before and while traveling.
Here are a few travel guide books for Alicante and Spain I recommend:
Over to you
Do you have any questions before you travel to Alicante?
I would be more than happy to help you out.
In fact, you would help me and all other readers by adding your questions to the comments below. This way I can see what part I missed and should point out more. Therefore, don’t be shy, say hi and drop us a comment below.
We’d love to hear from you!
Summary
Here you have it. This is your ultimate list of things to do in Alicante with families, as couples and solo-travelers.
Alicante is certainly a travel destination that’s famous for its way of life.
The tardeo, the many bars, the endless hours of sun and the delightful cuisines, Alicante has a lot to offer.
More interesting articles for you:
Safe travels,
Anna&Matt
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