Alicante in 5 days: day-by-day itinerary

Barrio de Santa Cruz

Old town

Steep little lanes of whitewashed houses and colourful facades, with flowerpots on every corner. Climb without hurrying and in comfortable shoes: the neighbourhood scales the castle hillside and the steps show no mercy.

Basílica de Santa María

Old town

The oldest church in the city, Gothic with a Baroque doorway, stands in the square of the same name, in the heart of the old town. It is a good stop for understanding what Alicante was like before tourism.

Castillo de Santa Bárbara

Mount Benacantil

The fortress overlooks the city from the top of Mount Benacantil and offers the best views of the bay and the port. You can go up by lift or on foot along the path that starts at Postiguet; in hot weather, it is better to go up early or at sunset.

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Parque de la Ereta

Mount Benacantil

A park on the lower slopes of the castle, with paths, viewpoints and views over the old town. It is a good way to walk down from the castle at a leisurely pace and catch your breath for a while before returning to the streets.

Mercado Central

Centre

A Modernista market from the early 20th century, with stalls selling fish, fruit, cured meats and salted fish. It is a good place for a bite or to buy local products such as turrón, almonds or fruit from the huerta.

Ayuntamiento y Concatedral de San Nicolás

Old town

The Baroque town hall has a much-photographed facade on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. A few steps away is the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás de Bari, with its cloister and large dome, a cool break in the middle of your walk.

Explanada de España

Port

Alicante's best-known seafront promenade, with palm trees and an undulating mosaic floor that imitates the movement of the sea. Stroll along it slowly in the late afternoon and find a terrace facing the marina.

Playa del Postiguet

Postiguet

The city's urban beach, at the foot of the castle and a few steps from the old town. It is convenient for a quick dip or a stroll, although it gets crowded in summer; for something quieter, choose other beaches outside the centre.

Palmeral de Elche

Elche

The Elche palm grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest date palm forest in Europe. Walk through it among irrigation channels and orchards; the Huerto del Cura is the best-known garden and the easiest to visit.

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Centro histórico de Elche

Elche

In the centre, it is worth seeing the Basilica of Santa María, home of the Misteri d'Elx, and the Altamira Palace, next to the Calahorra bridge. The city is flat and small and easy to explore on foot.

Isla de Tabarca

Tabarca

A small walled island and marine reserve off the coast, reached by boat from the port of Alicante in a little under an hour. Stroll around the village, look at the walls and gates and spend some time in the crystal-clear coves.

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Snorkelling and lunch on Tabarca

Tabarca

The waters of the marine reserve are perfect for putting on a mask and watching fish. For lunch, it is common to order the caldero tabarquino, a seafood rice dish closely tied to the island; book a table if you go in high season.

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Altea y Guadalest

This is a classic Costa Blanca excursion. In the morning, take the TRAM from Luceros to Altea and stroll through its white old town up to the blue-domed church. Then the bus from Benidorm climbs to Guadalest, a mountain village with a castle and a turquoise reservoir. The whole journey can take a while, so set off early and check return times, or book an organised tour that takes care of everything in one day.

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