Things to Do in Alicante Spain: Castles, Museums and Beaches

Most Alicante tourist attractions are packed into a small, walkable core. Santa Bárbara Castle is the headline, about half a mile from the centre, and the Castell de Sant Ferran gives you a second fortress at a similar distance. For churches, the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari and the Basilica of Saint Mary are both right in the centre, as is the Convent de les Monges de la Sang.

Museum lovers are well served. The Archaeological Museum of Alicante is the best known, while the Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art and the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts sit in the old centre. Near the port you will find the Museo Volvo Ocean Race and the old harbour lighthouse, the Antiguo faro del puerto de Alicante, plus the city bullring, the plaza de toros de Alicante.

In the city itself, things to do in Alicante city fall into two easy halves. Spend a morning on the castles and the old churches, then an afternoon between the museums and the port, where the Volvo Ocean Race museum and the old lighthouse are about half a mile apart from the centre. That covers most of the classic Alicante what to see list without needing a car.

The beaches start just beyond. Playa de Agua Amarga lies around 2 miles away, Playa de la Albufereta and Playa de la Almadraba about 2.5 miles, and the small Cala dels Cantalars around 3 miles out.

Further along the coast, El Campello is about 7.5 miles from the centre and roughly 19 minutes from the airport. Its standout is Illeta dels Banyets, an archaeological site about 8 miles from Alicante, which pairs well with an afternoon by the sea.

With children, the beaches are the simplest answer to Alicante what to do. Albufereta, Almadraba and Agua Amarga are all a short hop from the centre, and July brings 30°C heat with barely a rainy day, so plan sea time for the mornings and late afternoons.

A castle visit tends to go down well with younger travellers, and Santa Bárbara Castle and Castell de Sant Ferran are both close to the centre. The Museo Volvo Ocean Race near the port is another option for families who prefer boats to paintings. Keep the art museums and churches for shorter visits between beach sessions.

You can see tours and tickets for Alicante attractions on this page and compare them side by side, alongside hotel prices and car hire. A car is not needed in the city, but it helps if you want El Campello and the outer beaches on the same day.

Most British travellers come on a package, flying into Alicante airport, 9 minutes from the centre, or Murcia, about 73 minutes away. Package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach can be compared here. May to October is the main season; from November to April the weather is milder, with highs of 16 to 20°C, which suits a culture-focused break around the museums and churches.