Things to Do Alicante: Castle, Beaches and When to Go

Alicante is a coastal city first and a holiday base second, and that balance shapes everything there is to do in Alicante. The old quarter gathers its landmarks close together: the Basilica of Saint Mary, the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari, the Convent de les Monges de la Sang and the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts are all in the centre, with the Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art a short stroll away.

If you are drawing up a list of Alicante things to see, the obvious must see is Santa Bárbara Castle, followed by the Archaeological Museum of Alicante and the second fortress, Castell de Sant Ferran. Down by the water you will find the Museo Volvo Ocean Race and the old port lighthouse, and the city's bullring stands about half a mile from the centre. It is a place where you can mix a morning of culture with an afternoon on the sand without ever needing a car.

Most visitors base themselves in Alicante itself, which puts the sights on the doorstep and the city beaches close by. Playa de Agua Amarga lies about 2 miles out, while Playa de la Albufereta and Playa de la Almadraba are around 2.5 miles away and the small Cala dels Cantalars about 3 miles. Among the places in Alicante to swim, these give you a choice between busier city sand and quieter coves.

El Campello, roughly 7.5 miles up the coast, is a smaller seaside town of around 28,000 people and a calmer alternative base. It is also home to Illeta dels Banyets, an archaeological site right by the sea and one of the more unusual answers to the question of Alicante what to visit beyond the city. Both towns have tours and activities you can browse on this page.

The Alicante temp curve is gentle and dependable. From May to October daytime highs run from 23°C up to 30°C in July and August, and July is almost bone dry, with around 3mm of rain over a single day. June and September sit at 27°C, warm enough for the beach but easier for walking up to the castle. September and October bring a few more showers, with about six rain days each.

An Alicante winter is mild by British standards: January averages 16°C by day and 8°C at night, December 18°C. March is the wettest month, with about 59mm over eight days, so pack a light layer for spring. Winter and early spring suit city sightseeing and museums rather than sunbathing, and you will share the old town with fewer visitors.

Alicante airport (ALC) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and is about nine minutes' drive from the city centre, or around 19 minutes to El Campello. Few Spanish holiday cities are this quick to reach once you land, which makes even a long weekend realistic.

Murcia airport (RMU) also has direct UK flights and is roughly 73 minutes' drive from Alicante, a useful backup when fares or times suit better. If you are touring the coast, the ferry port at Dénia is about 40 miles north and Valencia around 70 miles, and car hire makes both straightforward.

Most British travellers book Alicante as a package holiday, meaning flights, hotel and airport transfers in one booking. With the airport so close, transfers are short, and you can usually choose your board basis, from room only to half board or all inclusive. Prices tend to climb during UK school holidays, so travelling just outside them is worth considering if your dates are flexible.

On this page you can compare package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach, so anyone searching for Jet2 Alicante options can line them up against the others. You can also check hotel prices, browse tours and tickets for the castle, museums and excursions, and compare car hire for days along the coast.