What to do in Alicante: beaches, Tabarca, castles, museums and trails

Machine translation made with AI: it may contain errors. Please check the details in the official sources.

Alicante has a beach right in the city centre, two castles with views, an inhabited island off the coast and hills close at hand. This guide covers Alicante and its immediate surroundings (San Vicente del Raspeig, Sant Joan d'Alacant, El Campello and Mutxamel) and summarises what the official tourism websites publish. Services, opening hours and prices change with the season: check the up-to-date details on the official websites linked here before you go.

Beaches and coves

Alicante city

Postiguet: the city-centre beach, at the foot of Santa Bárbara Castle and next to the Explanada. About 900 m of calm water, with sports areas and children's play areas. It is accessible: in summer (1 July to 15 September) there is bathing assistance at access 13.
San Juan: about 2.9 km, from El Campello to Cabo de la Huerta. It has beach volleyball, outdoor fitness equipment and areas for windsurfing and paddle surfing. Bathing assistance in summer at access 10.
Albufereta: small (about 400 m) with calm water, between the Serra Grossa and the Tossal de Manises archaeological site.
Almadraba: about 750 m, with no waves or crowds, children's play areas and good sunsets.
Coves of Cabo de las Huertas: Cala de la Palmera (next to the lighthouse), Cala Cantalar and Cala de los Judíos. Rocky seabeds suitable for snorkelling and a naturist area. Cala Cantalar has a plant micro-reserve.

El Campello

Muchavista: more than three kilometres of fine sand. It is accessible, has lifeguards in season, and people practise SUP, kayaking, kitesurfing, windsurfing and volleyball.
Carrer la Mar: the main beach, in the old fishermen's quarter. About 2 km, with a shallow shoreline that is good for children, and an accessible section.

This guide does not state flags or water quality for the season: check the up-to-date information at https://alicanteturismo.com/mejores-playas/ and with El Campello Town Council.

Tabarca Island

It is the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community: about 1,800 m long and 400 m at its widest point. Its waters are a Marine Reserve because of their quality and biodiversity. Charles III had it fortified in the 18th century to house Genoese fishermen, and its walls are a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural).

Getting there: boats leave from the port of Alicante, a trip of roughly one hour; frequency depends on the season. Most people go for the day. The routes are listed at https://alicanteturismo.com/isla-de-tabarca/.

On the island, the Museo Nueva Tabarca is free and opens Wednesday to Sunday. For snorkelling, the tourist office recommends taking a buoy, not going in when there are waves or currents, not touching or feeding the animals and not taking anything from the seabed.

Castles and old town

Santa Bárbara Castle

It stands on the summit of Mount Benacantil, at 166 m, and is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain. Entry is free.

Lift: on Avenida Juan Bautista Lafora, opposite the Postiguet. It costs €2.70 per trip.
Shuttle minibus: leaves from Plaza Puerta del Mar every 40 minutes, for €1.45 per trip.
On foot: through the old town and the Parque de la Ereta. Parking is not allowed at the site.
Opening hours: from 5 September to 14 November, 10:00 to 20:00; from 15 November to 27 February, 10:00 to 18:00. Last entry 40 minutes before closing. Closed on 24, 25 and 31 December, 1 and 6 January and 24 June.

San Fernando Castle

It is on Monte Tossal. It was built in the 19th century, during the Peninsular War, and never saw combat. It has views over the city and Santa Bárbara Castle.

Explanada and Santa Cruz quarter

The Explanada has more than six million marble tiles that imitate waves. The Santa Cruz quarter, on the slope of the Benacantil, has narrow streets, whitewashed houses and flowerpots, with its own viewpoint. Near the sea, Parque El Palmeral has more than 7,000 palm trees and a lake with boats.

Museums

MARQ (Archaeological Museum): from Prehistory to the Contemporary Age. General admission €5 (Sundays and public holidays €3); free for children under 8, among others. Closed on Mondays.
MUBAG (Fine Arts): in the Palacio Gravina, with 19th-century art.
MACA (Contemporary Art): born from the donation of Eusebio Sempere, with works by Picasso, Dalí, Miró and Chillida.
Museo de Fogueres: the history of the Hogueras festival and the ninots indultats (figures spared from the fire).
Museo de Aguas: next to the Pozos de Garrigós, 19th-century cisterns, with an interactive space about the water cycle.

Opening hours on each museum's page: https://alicanteturismo.com/museos/.

Illeta dels Banyets (El Campello)

A former promontory about 9 km from Alicante with remains from the Bronze Age, an Iberian settlement and a Roman villa with baths. Its "banyets" are pools carved into the rock, probably Roman fish tanks. The MARQ organises guided tours and offers a combined ticket with the museum and the Lucentum archaeological site. Days and times at https://www.marqalicante.com/es/organiza-tu-visita-4964/.

Hiking and huerta

Trails suggested by Alicante Tourism:

Serra Grossa: 5.24 km, about 2 h 30 min, easy. It starts next to the Goteta TRAM stop. It is a forest park of more than 80 hectares facing the sea, with viewpoints.
Cabo de las Huertas: 4.35 km, about 2 h 30 min, easy. It starts in the Albufereta, passes a Roman fish tank and follows the coves to the lighthouse.
Torres de la Huerta: 12.2 km, about 4 h, easy and almost flat. It links 16th- and 17th-century defensive towers. It can be done on foot or by bike, in full or in sections.

In Mutxamel, the huerta (traditional farmland) can be explored on trails along the Río Seco and its weirs of Mutxamel and Sant Joan. The Les Fontetes interpretation centre explains traditional irrigation. Routes at https://turisme.mutxamel.org/turismo-activo/.

Dogs on the beach

In Alicante, dogs are not allowed on the sand of beaches and coves, except from 1 November to 1 March.

Dog beach: Agua Amarga, north of Urbanova, with a fenced dog toilet area.
Rules: maximum two dogs per adult (one if it is potentially dangerous); dogs must be registered, microchipped and have an up-to-date pet passport; droppings must be picked up immediately. Aggressive dogs, females in heat, sick dogs and puppies under 4 months are not allowed.

For El Campello, check the current rules with the town council.

Family leisure

The tourist office suggests going up to the castle by lift, the Water and Hogueras museums, the beach play areas and the boat to Tabarca. It also offers the digital gymkhana "Alicante entre Dos Castillos": an app that takes you to 11 points on foot. More ideas at https://alicanteturismo.com/alicante-con-ninos/.

Notice: general information; check the details with the official source.