With so many unique activities and things to do, Alicante is one of the best cities to travel to in Spain! Alicante’s must-see attractions will make your Spanish vacation absolutely unforgettable.
Snorkeling, hiking, sightseeing, kayaking… Whether you’re just stopping over on a cruise or staying for your whole vacation, there’s something for everyone on this list of things to do in Alicante.
There are so many incredible places to visit—by day two, you’ll be wishing you could extend your trip and stay forever!
15 Things To Do in Alicante, Spain
If you’re visiting for the first time, these are the 15 best things to do in Alicante. There’s something for everyone on this Alicante sightseeing guide:
#1 Hike the Santa Barbara Castle
You can’t miss the stunning Santa Barbara Castle—it’s smack-dab in the middle of Alicante’s city center! This impressive castle is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain. Follow one of the many routes to the top (or take the elevator) and get an incredible 360-degree view of the ocean, the city, and the surrounding hills.
📍 Where? Directly in Alicante’s city center
⏱️ How long? 1-2 hours
💸 How much does it cost? FREE! (Or €2.70 if you take the elevator.)
☝🏼 Pro tip: Go in the morning to beat the crowds and the heat.
#2 Snorkel at Tabarca Island
My all-time favorite place to snorkel in Spain is Tabarca Island—an adorable ex-pirate island just off the coast of Alicante. Here, you can see tons of fish and marine creatures, cliff jump, enjoy the beach, and explore the island. This is a day trip you definitely don’t want to miss!
📍 Where? 1 hour from Alicante and 25 minutes from Santa Pola by boat
⏱️ How long? Half- or full-day trip
💸 How much does it cost? Round-trip boat tickets cost $10 per person from Santa Pola, and $28 per person from Alicante. Buy them ahead of time to save money!
☝🏼 Pro tip: I recommend taking the ferry from Santa Pola (just 20 minutes from Alicante by car or taxi) to save money and maximize your time.
#3 Visit the Guadalest Castle
Guadalest is a tiny little town in the mountains with a beautiful castle and breathtaking views. The castle is carved into the sharp grey mountains, and from the top, you can see a stunning turquoise lake below. This is one of my favorite day trips in Alicante!
📍 Where? 1 hour from Alicante by car
⏱️ How long? 3-4 hours
💸 How much does it cost? €4-6 euro entrance fee (depending on the time of year you visit) + €2 euro parking fee
☝🏼 Pro tip: For the best views, go inside the Museo Municipal “Casa Orduña”, pay the entrance fee, and head to the top of the castle.
#4 Swim at the Algar Waterfall
You’ll love this hidden waterfall just outside of Alicante. While most of Alicante’s landscape is dry and desert-like, this nook is green and bursting with life. The turquoise waterfall flows year-round. It’s a great spot to enjoy nature, swim, and walk around.
📍 Where? 1 hour from Alicante by car.
⏱️ How long? 3-4 hours
💸 How much does it cost? €6-8 euro entrance fee (depending on the time of year.)
☝🏼 Pro tip: If it has rained recently, the water will be brown and murky, not turquoise like the photos. Ask me how I know 😔
This full-day tour takes you to Guadalest, the Algar Waterfalls, and Altea—all in one day! My sisters and I had so much fun exploring Alicante’s Costa Blanca on this tour. It’s the best way to see this beautiful part of Spain and maximize your travel time!
#5 Snorkel and Explore Cala Moraig
This is the most stunning beach on the entire Costa Blanca—it’s a little far from Alicante, but if you rented a car, it’s well worth the trip! Here, you can explore sea caves, snorkel, cliff jump, and rent paddleboards. It’s the perfect beach day trip!
📍 Where? 1.5-2 hours from Alicante by car
⏱️ How long? Full day trip
💸 How much does it cost? €15 parking fee.
☝🏼 Pro tip: Visit in June or September to avoid the crowds and still get fantastic weather.
#6 Kayak into Sea Caves in Jávea
This is one of my favorite activities of all time and what I recommend to everyone who visits Alicante: a kayak tour! From the water, you’ll see the beautiful Costa Blanca coastline with new eyes. Plus, you’ll also be able to snorkel and cliff jump on some of these tours!
📍 Where? 1.5-2 hours from Alicante by car
⏱️ How long? Full-day trip
💸 How much does it cost? Around €50 per person
☝🏼 Pro tip: I’ve done both the Cova dels Orguens and the Cala Tango Kayak Tour, and both were absolutely stunning!
#7 Enjoy Alicante’s Best Beaches
Alicante has some of the best beaches in Spain! For a castle backdrop, go to Playa Postiguet. For a small, local beach perfect for early mornings, try Platja de l’Albufereta. But my favorite Alicante beaches—by far—are Playa San Juan and Playa de Mutxavista—here, you’ll have lots of space to stretch out, play in the shallow, warm water, and walk along the beach.
📍 Where? 20 min from Alicante’s city center by car
⏱️ How long? 2-3 hours
💸 How much does it cost? FREE!
☝🏼 Pro tip: Go in the morning to find parking in these busy beach areas.
#8 Hike the Calpe Rock
If you like hiking, you’ll love this stunning coastal hike. At times, it’s more like rock climbing, but it’s beautiful and memorable nonetheless! You’ll get incredible panoramic views of the coast and feel like a champion when you reach the summit.
📍 Where? 1 hour from Alicante by car
⏱️ How long? 3-5 hours
💸 How much does it cost? FREE!
☝🏼 Pro tip: Make a reservation online (it’s free) before you hike the Calpe Rock. All the info here.
#9 Visit Villajoyosa Beach
This is your picturesque European beach—yellow, pink, and blue buildings line the beach behind the mounds of yellow sand, and the waves crash gently onto the shore. Villajoyosa beach is stunning, and it’s just a short drive from Alicante’s city center!
📍 Where? 45 minutes from Alicante by car
⏱️ How long? 2-3 hours
💸 How much does it cost? FREE!
☝🏼 Pro tip: This is a good place to park, but it fills up fast.
#10 Visit Altea: The Greece of Spain
White, square buildings with bright pink flowers cover a coastal hill—and in the center, a blue-tile-covered domed church. No, it’s not Greece, it’s Spain (though this unique city is often called the Greece of Spain)! Altea is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon, wander the adorable streets, and enjoy an helado (ice cream).
📍 Where? 1 hour from Alicante
⏱️ How long? 2-4 hours
💸 How much does it cost? FREE!
☝🏼 Pro tip: In my humble opinion, the beaches in Altea aren’t worth your time. Drive a little further to Cala Moraig or stop in Villajoyosa for better beaches.
#11 Have a Picnic at El Palmeral Park
Madrid has Parque Retiro, and Alicante has El Palmeral! This coastal park is filled with palm trees, green areas, a turquoise lagoon, and a gushing waterfall. It’s even got soccer fields and play areas for the kiddos! Enjoy a relaxing picnic here or just walk around and explore.
📍 Where? 30-minute walk from Alicante’s city center
⏱️ How long? 1-2 hours
💸 How much does it cost? FREE!
☝🏼 Pro tip: There are plenty of parking options at El Palmeral as well.
#12 Walk Along the Mushroom Street
This street has a name—it’s Calle San Francisco—but with a dozen towering, colorful, whimsical mushrooms (with funny faces!) that cover the street, why would you not call it the Calle de Las Setas (Mushroom Street)? This is the gotta-see-it photo op in Alicante.
📍 Where? Directly in Alicante’s city center
⏱️ How long? 30 minutes
💸 How much does it cost? FREE!
☝🏼 Pro tip: Go in the morning to beat the crowds and the heat.
#13 Walk Above a Canyon Gorge at Pasarela de Relleu
If you like adventure, you’ll love this hike on wooden planks drilled into the rocky walls of the canyon. You’ll even step onto glass platforms where you can see almost 200 feet down (60 meters) to the winding river below. It’s also an enjoyable nature walk from the town of Relleu to the start of the canyon gorge.
📍 Where? 1 hour from Alicante by car.
⏱️ How long? 3-4 hours
💸 How much does it cost? €3.50 per person. (Or, try this guided tour option from Alicante)
☝🏼 Pro tip: The Pasarela de Relleu is open from 9am to 6:30pm.
#14 Take Pictures at the Explanada & Barrio de Santa Cruz
Alicante is photogenic. These two spots (along with the Mushroom Street!) are your I-Went-To-Alicante Starter Pack. First, the Explanada: grab your sunglasses and strut your stuff along this wavy, blue-maroon-and-cream tiled walkway. Next, Barrio de Santa Cruz. Here, the castle is your backdrop and colorful flowerpots are your co-stars. Make sure to stop at La Casa de Las Macetas Azules, the Pink Street, and the Mirador.
📍 Where? Directly in Alicante’s city center
⏱️ How long? 30 minutes
💸 How much does it cost? FREE!
☝🏼 Pro tip: Do this the same day you visit the castle; the narrow streets of Barrio Santa Cruz will take you up to the Santa Barbara Castle.
#15 Do a Bike Tour of Alicante
Learn about Alicante’s history, culture, and local life on a bike tour. (I love bike tours and think they’re one of the best things to do on your first day of a trip!) This tour takes you all around the city center and beaches
📍 Where? Directly in Alicante’s city center
⏱️ How long? 2.5 hours
💸 How much does it cost? About $40 per person with this tour.
☝🏼 Pro tip: Wear sunscreen! The sun in Alicante is really strong, so make sure you’re protected.
Traveling to Alicante? Check out my Ultimate 1 Week Guide to Spain’s Costa Blanca for help planning your trip.
Plan Your Trip to Alicante
Whether you’re coming for the snorkeling, the beach, the castle, or even paragliding, there’s something for everyone in Alicante. There’s so much to do, enjoy, and experience in this beautiful Mediterranean paradise.
So if you’re thinking about visiting Alicante, do it! And if you’re traveling to Alicante soon, make sure you book your tours ahead of time so you can plan the best trip possible.
And whatever you do, don’t forget to plan the most important part—where you’ll eat!
Alicante has incredible restaurants and great eats you’ll love. Whether you’re looking to try traditional Spanish dishes or a little bit of everything, you can make every bite 100% worth the trip with my foodie guides: