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
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Daily, roughly 10:00–20:00 (earlier in winter)
Alicante
A sun-drenched port city with a hilltop castle and a palm-lined promenade.
Plan your Alicante trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
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.
What does Alicante cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£45–65a day
- Mid-range traveller£90–130a day
- Luxury traveller£180+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 9 Top picks in Alicante
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
- Suits: Families · Beach lovers
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
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; always accessible
Shopping & 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
- Suits: Food lovers
Monday–Saturday mornings to mid-afternoon
Hidden Gems
See all 3 Beyond the checklist
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
- Suits: Couples
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
- Suits: Beach lovers
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
- Suits: Couples
Village open daily; museums keep their own hours
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Alicante
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Mid-Range Hotel
Example listingHotel Explanada Palm
Centro, Alicante
Excellent valueValue score 84 out of 100
Rated 8.7/10, about 10% below typical 4★ prices in Alicante, in a central location.
From £90 per night · check current availability
Best Budget ChoiceBest Location
Example listingSanta Cruz Courtyard House
Old town, Alicante
Very good valueValue score 76 out of 100
Rated 8.8/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Alicante, in a central location.
From £65 per night · check current availability
Example listing
Playa San Juan Resort
San Juan, Alicante
Good valueValue score 65 out of 100
Rated 8.2/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Alicante, right by the beach.
From £100 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
Food guide Where to eat
-
Arroz a banda
-
Turrón
-
Coca with tomato and tuna
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.