Alicante

Sun, sea and Spanish soul

Alicante sits on Spain’s southeastern coast with a long sandy shoreline and historic old town streets. The city has a busy port where fishing boats share space with cruise ships. Local markets sell fresh seafood, citrus fruits and handmade crafts. Beaches stretch for miles along the Mediterranean Sea, offering swimming and sunbathing spots. Inland, hills provide walking paths with views of orange groves and distant mountains. The mix of coastal life and inland scenery makes Alicante a practical stop for travelers seeking both relaxation and culture in one place.

Add to list Map view

City in Spain

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.8

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	8

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and tourist spots, especially near the beach and in the old town. Most menus and signage are bilingual. A few Spanish phrases are always appreciated.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Alicante Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Great for sunny beaches and relaxed city life. Swim along the Mediterranean coast, walk harbor promenades, visit hilltop castles and enjoy tapas bars.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Sea

Walkable

Beaches

Spotless

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

❤️ 9

Couples

Spain – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payment is widely accepted in Spain, particularly in urban areas and tourist destinations. Credit and debit cards are commonly used, and mobile payment options are available in many establishments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not mandatory in Spain but appreciated for good service. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% is customary. Taxi drivers and hotel staff may also be tipped, though it is less common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is restricted in some regions, particularly in tourist-heavy cities. Local laws may vary.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned indoors in public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas.

La Tomatina (August)	A famous tomato-throwing festival, expect large crowds in Buñol.
Semana Santa (March/April)	Religious parades and events make this a busy time in major cities.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive celebrations, with tourist areas becoming busier.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Cabify, Bolt, Uber
Other:	Spain is known for its diverse culture, stunning architecture, and vibrant festivals. Public transport is reliable and efficient, making it easy to explore.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Alicante, Spain

☀️

Jan

☀️

Feb

☀️

Mar

☀️

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

🔥

Jul

🔥

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	May - Sep.
Shoulder season:	March - April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Hogueras de San Juan: bonfires and fireworks, 20 to 24 June

Heavy autumn rain (gota fría), mostly September to November, can cause local flooding

Don't miss

🏰 Climb up to Santa Bárbara Castle for stunning sea views
🌴 Stroll along the Explanada de España lined with palm trees
🏖️ Swim and sunbathe at Playa del Postiguet
🏺 Visit the MARQ Archaeological Museum to explore local history
🍤 Enjoy seafood paella and sangria at a beachfront restaurant
🌅 Admire sunset colors from the Mount Benacantil viewpoint

You've been here?

Why travel to Alicante?

Alicante is perfect for anyone who loves a blend of beach time, history and Spanish culture. The city’s heart beats in its old town, Barrio de Santa Cruz, where whitewashed houses and colorful flowers climb the hillside to the stunning Santa Bárbara Castle – one of Spain’s best for panoramic views. Down by the sea, the Explanada de España is a mosaic promenade lined with palms, ideal for a sunset stroll. Foodies will love the Mercado Central for fresh local produce and art lovers will find surprises in the city’s museums. Downsides? Summer can be scorching and the city gets busy during holidays. Some areas are steep and require a bit of uphill walking and pickpocketing can happen in crowded spots or on the beach, so keep an eye on your belongings. Still, Alicante’s relaxed vibe, sunshine and mix of old and new make it a favorite on the Costa Blanca.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Benidorm
Sunny beaches stretch along this Mediterranean resort town, offering wide promenades, vibrant nightlife and family‑friendly attractions. The skyline features modern towers beside historic streets, while nearby parks provide green retreats from the bustling coast for all visitors.
2 Calpe
This Mediterranean coastal town offers stunning beaches, historic fortifications and vibrant nightlife. Visitors can explore charming old streets, enjoy fresh seafood at local restaurants or relax on golden sands while taking in breathtaking sea views from nearby cliffs.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Castell de Santa Bàrbara
2 Basílica de Santa María
3 Ermita de Santa Cruz
4 Ajuntament d'Elx
5 Cocatedral de Sant Nicolau de Bari
6 Casa Carbonell
7 Explanada de España

🎡Places for activities

1 DinoPark
2 Municipal Archaeological Museum Camilo Visedo Moltó
3 The Code Escape Room
4 Club de Golf Alicante
5 Plaza de Toros
6 The Ocean Race Museo

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Platja de Sant Gabriel
2 Marina
3 Parc lo Morant
4 Parc el Palmeral / Parque el Palmeral
5 El Postiguet Beach
6 Col·legi d'Educació Infantil i Primària Monte Benacantil

🛍️Shopping

1 Mercado Central
2 El Corte Inglés

🎈Events

Hogueras de San Juan (June)
Alicante Carnival
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Alicante Summer Festival
Tabarca Island Festivities
Medieval Market (October)
Christmas Markets
Alicante Jazz Festival
Three Kings Parade (January)
Moors and Christians Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Ride the castle lift; the uphill walk is steep.
Stroll Explanada de España in the evening; it’s cooler and lively with locals.
For swimming, compare Postiguet (central) with San Juan (roomier, less crowded).
Take the ferry to Tabarca for snorkelling in clear waters; go early for quieter lanes.

How to travel to Alicante

Alicante-Elche Airport is just 20 minutes from the city, with frequent buses and taxis to the center. High-speed trains and buses connect Alicante to Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. Ferries run to Tabarca Island and other Mediterranean ports. The main train and bus stations are central and well connected.

Access summary

From Alicante–Elche Airport (ALC): C6 bus or taxi about 15–30 min.
From Madrid: high-speed AVE train to Alicante usually about 2–2.5 hours.
From Valencia: regional or fast trains to Alicante roughly 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Alicante

Alicante offers everything from boutique hotels in the old town to beachfront resorts, modern apartments and budget hostels. Most accommodations are near the beach or city center, making it easy to explore on foot. Book early for summer and festivals, as rooms fill quickly. Some old town hotels are up steep streets-check accessibility if needed.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Meliá Alicante

8.6

Eurostars Lucentum Hotel

8.6

Hotel Alicante Gran Sol Affiliated by Meliá

8.2

Hotel Daniya Alicante

Four Points by Sheraton Costa Blanca Resort

Hospes Amérigo, Alicante, a Member of Design Hotels™

9.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Alicante

Alicante’s center is compact and walkable, with most sights close together. Local buses connect the city to beaches, neighborhoods and the ferry port. Taxis and rideshares are easy to find and cycling is popular along the waterfront. The tram connects Alicante to nearby coastal towns. Parking is limited in the old town, so use public transport or park outside the center if driving. The elevator to Santa Bárbara Castle saves a steep climb on hot days.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-28 %

Daily expenses in Alicante are around 28% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£46	£96	£243
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£36	£75
🍝 Food per day	£25	£53	£141
🚕 Transportation per day	£6	£8	£27

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£20
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£12.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£8
☕ Cappuccino	£1.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.90

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£7
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£50
🤧 Cold medication	£4.10
💇 Basic haircut	£11

Safety information overview

General safety

Alicante is very safe, with low violent crime. Petty theft and pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas, markets or on beaches — keep valuables secure. Some old town streets are steep and can be slippery after rain.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with clinics and pharmacies throughout the city. Tap water is safe to drink. Sunburn and dehydration are the main risks — bring sunscreen and stay hydrated. Bring any needed medications, especially for allergies or chronic conditions.

Accessibility

Most main attractions, hotels and public transport are accessible, but some old town streets are steep or cobbled. The city is flat overall and easy to navigate, but check ahead for specific needs.

Tap water

Tap water is safe, clean and widely available. Public fountains are found in parks and along promenades — refill your bottle as you explore.