11 Places in Alicante You Must Not Miss

This list of the best places to see in Alicante will help you make the most of this provincial capital in the Valencia region, perfect for a few days of vacation with family or friends.

Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and flanked by the Benacantil Mountain, Alicante is a popular holiday destination thanks to its pleasant climate most of the year, long sandy beaches with golden sand, centuries-old historical and cultural heritage, a wide range of entertainment, and fantastic cuisine based on rice, seafood, and fresh fish – all of which will delight any traveler.

To see Alicante’s main attractions, a single day may be enough, but if you want to enjoy Costa Blanca’s beaches, go hiking in the beautiful natural surroundings, or visit the charming towns and villages in the area, you can easily spend a whole week here without getting bored.

Based on our own experience from a road trip around the Valencia region – and considering that Alicante is one of the most popular cities in Spain right now – we have compiled this list of 11 must-see places in Alicante. Let’s begin!

1. Plaza de Luceros

Once you’ve parked the car in one of the central parking lots, one of the best things to do in Alicante is to start your tour at Plaza de Luceros, the city’s most emblematic square.

This open square with an impressive fountain in the center is the starting point for the popular Hogueras de San Juan festival, held between June 20th and 24th. The festival begins with loud mascletàs in this square and ends with nit de la cremà, where the so-called ninots (papier-mâché figures) are burned.
From the square, you can stroll down Avenida Doctor Gadea past the “Casa de las Brujas” palace – a modernist architectural work – and continue on to Parque de Canalejas and Explanada de España.

2. Explanada de España, One of the Places to See in Alicante

Explanada de España, a little over 500 meters long promenade along the harbor, is another must-visit place in Alicante for both locals and tourists.
This short pedestrian street, lined with rows of palm trees, is especially known for its distinctive wave-patterned mosaic flooring made up of over 6 million small tiles in three colors (red alicante, cream marble, and black marquina).

As you walk along the Explanada, you can enjoy street musicians, small craft stalls, and historic buildings such as the beautiful white Casa Carbonell, until you reach the most popular area by the harbor.

3. Puerto de Alicante

In a protected bay that shields the coast from the harshest winds, you’ll find one of the region’s oldest ports – another place you should visit in Alicante, even if you only have one day.
This old port, dating back to Carthaginian times, houses both small fishing boats and pleasure crafts and is also one of the city’s gathering points when it comes to entertainment.
It’s worth taking a walk along the cozy harbor promenade both in the morning and at sunset to admire the impressive pleasure boats. Then you can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, for example, Noray Café Bar.

Among the increasingly popular activities in the harbor, you can book a sailing trip, go on a kayaking tour at Cabo de las Huertas, or try paddleboarding at San Juan Beach, one of the best beaches in Alicante.

4. Alicante City Hall

A tour around Alicante’s old town (Barrio de Santa Cruz) usually starts at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where the impressive baroque city hall stands. It is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Alicante.
The city hall, also known as Palacio municipal de Alicante and built in the 18th century, is distinguished by its monumental facade flanked by two towers and an interior with beautiful halls such as the Salón de Alcaldes, Salón de Plenos, the small chapel Capilla del Oratorio, and especially the Salón Azul, a splendid hall arranged to receive Queen Isabel.

To learn more about the city’s history and see it all, it is recommended to book a free tour and an evening tour with mysteries and legends, both considered the best in Alicante.

5. Cathedral San Nicolás

Just meters from the city hall square, you’ll find the Concatedral de San Nicolás, built on the remains of a former mosque and considered Alicante’s most important religious building.
The current building, constructed between 1616 and 1662 in Renaissance-Herrerian style, features a 15th-century monastery in Gothic Valencian style.

Although the church’s exterior appears quite subdued, the interior is beautiful with a slender dome, the baroque Capilla de la Comunión, the gates to the cloister, and Capilla de San Nicolás, the city’s patron saint.

Visiting Hours: Every day from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

6. Barrio de Santa Cruz

Another of the best experiences in Alicante is a walk through the streets of the popular Barrio de Santa Cruz, located on the slope of Benacantil Mountain and filled with whitewashed low houses.
By walking up Calle Labradores, which is packed with bars and restaurants for tapas and drinks, you can explore this bohemian neighborhood. From here, you can continue down towards Basílica de Santa María – a church in a mix of Gothic and Baroque style – and end your tour on the lively Calle Mayor.

In this part of the city, you’ll also find several of Alicante’s most recommended restaurants, such as Las Brasas de San Miguel, La Crispeta, and El Gosto del Gourmet, which are ideal for taking a lunch or dinner break to try some of the area’s specialties like rice dishes.

Note that regardless of the time of year you visit, the neighborhood is worth exploring, but the first week of May is particularly special. Here, Cruces de Mayo are held, where the streets are adorned with colorful crosses and flower decorations.

7. Central Market

Mercado Central, located in a two-part modernist building from 1911, is one of the most visited places in Alicante among locals.

Inside, you’ll find a wealth of stalls filled with high-quality fresh produce such as fish, seafood, salted fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables from the Mediterranean and nearby agricultural areas. To dive deep into gastronomy, this paella course is recommended, where you first shop at the market and then learn to prepare a delicious Alicante paella.
The area around Plaza del Mercado and Calle Castaños is also popular for the so-called “tardeo”: starting with a beer on one of the terraces, having dinner at places like Damasol or Chico calla, and then continuing with partying and colors at nearby bars and pubs.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

8. Museums to Visit in Alicante

Among the best museums in Alicante are especially these four:

Museo Arqueológico Provincial (MARQ): One of Spain’s best archaeological museums, where you can follow the city’s history from the Paleolithic era to modern culture.
Museo de Fogueres: Here you can experience the history behind Alicante’s most popular festival, Fogueres de Sant Joan, and see the “indultados ninots” (paper figures saved from the fire).
Las Cigarreras: A cultural center housed in an old tobacco factory, offering original architecture.
Museo de Bellas Artes Gravina (MUBAG): Located in the palace of Count Lumiares and dedicated to Alicante painting and sculpture.

9. Santa Bárbara Castle

Watching the sunset from Castillo de Santa Bárbara, located atop Monte Benacantil 167 meters above sea level, is one of the best experiences in Alicante.

This medieval fortress dates back to the late 9th century during the Muslim occupation. It was reconquered by Alfonso of Castile on the feast day of Santa Bárbara, giving the castle its name.
Inside the castle, you’ll discover three areas from different periods – from Arabic remains to the buildings renovated by King Felipe II in 1580, and finally the part from the 18th century, which is less interesting. However, you can enjoy a stunning view of the city and Alicante Bay.
As a small curiosity, the mountain and castle are also called “la cara del moro” (the Moor’s face), as seen from Playa del Postiguet, resembling a profile of a face in the rock.
You can reach the castle via an elevator drilled into the cliff opposite Postiguet Beach, or on foot or by car.
For a better insight into the site’s history, it is recommended to join a free tour.

Opening Hours: Every day from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM from October to March; the rest of the year, it closes at 10:00 PM.

10. Postiguet Beach – One of the Best Things to Do in Alicante

One of the best experiences in Alicante is taking a refreshing dip at Playa del Postiguet, located at the foot of Castillo de Santa Bárbara and right next to the harbor.
This 600-meter-long beach with fine golden sand and calm waters fills with people in the summer, as it offers all necessary facilities like kiosks and beach bars, as well as opportunities for various water sports activities.
If you visit the city at the end of June, you also have the best view of the annual international fireworks competition from this beach. The fireworks are launched after the Hogueras de San Juan, Alicante’s biggest festival.

Other more tranquil beaches in Alicante, though a bit further from the center, include Playa de San Juan, Cala Cantalar, and Playa de la Albufereta.

11. Tabarca Island

To complete this list of places to see in Alicante, it’s obvious to take a boat to Isla de Tabarca, the only inhabited island in the Valencia region.

With a length of 1,800 meters and a maximum width of 450 meters, the island’s population ranges from about 55 in the winter to over 4,000 daily visitors in the high season. Tourists enjoy the crystal-clear bathing conditions, snorkeling in the clean water, and the famous caldero de arroz (rice dish with fish), served at several recommended restaurants, including Gloria.
Before jumping into the water, you should take a walk around the island and see the old fortified town, Torre de San José, and the lighthouse – some of the island’s main attractions.
To get to the island, you can take a boat that departs daily from Alicante’s harbor and arrives in under an hour.
Another good option is to book a catamaran tour from the harbor. If you prefer to travel on your own, you can buy a ticket for the ferry.

Excursions from Alicante

If you have more time, you can take one or multi-day excursions and explore some of the many wonderful places in the Alicante province, such as Guadalest, Fuentes del Algar, Altea, Elche, and Villajoyosa.

If you only have a single day, we recommend visiting Fuentes del Algar in the morning – an area with lagoons, waterfalls, small pools, and natural swimming areas where you can take a cooling dip – and then Guadalest in the afternoon. If you don’t have a car, you can book a guided tour.

Another great option is to drive to the picturesque coastal town of Altea, about 45 minutes from Alicante, considered one of Spain’s most beautiful villages. After admiring the photogenic, whitewashed houses with flower-adorned balconies, you can continue to Villajoyosa, a traditional fishing village famous for its colorful houses. You can learn more about the history of these two towns by booking a guided tour.

Just a half-hour drive from Alicante are Elche and Santa Pola, two other gems in the Valencia region. You can visit them on your own by following this [list of places to see in Elche] (originally a Spanish reference) or book an excursion. If you prefer partying and colors, you can continue to Benidorm, one of Spain’s most popular holiday cities, about 45 minutes from Alicante.

Accommodation in Alicante

We can recommend the following accommodations in Alicante, all of which have a good location and an excellent price-quality ratio:

Occidental Alicante
Eurostars Centrum Alicante
Hostal Ventura Premium

If you want a hotel with sea views and a swimming pool, more suitable for a relaxing vacation, we suggest Meliá Alicante, located between the harbor and Playa del Postiguet.

If you’re planning a romantic weekend getaway, you can take a closer look at this list of charming hotels in Alicante.

Safe travels and enjoy Alicante!