Alicante Holidays: Castle, Museums and Beaches Guide
Provincia de Alicante · Valencia · Spain · 348,901 residents · on the coast
Santa Bárbara Castle
Archaeological Museum of Alicante
Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari
Basilica of Saint Mary
Alicante Museum of Contemporary ArtAlicante is a proper working city of nearly 349,000 people on the Valencian coast, and that is much of its appeal. Santa Bárbara Castle sits about a third of a mile from the centre, while the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari, the Basilica of Saint Mary and three museums all lie within a few hundred yards of one another. A short ride north, Playa de la Albufereta and Playa de la Almadraba give you sand within three miles. Summers peak at around 30°C in July and August, winters rarely dip below 8°C, and the airport is just nine minutes away by car. It works equally well for culture, a family holiday or a long weekend.
Why go
- Santa Bárbara Castle stands barely a third of a mile from the city centre.
- Alicante airport has direct UK flights and sits only about nine minutes' drive away.
- Six reliably warm months, May to October, with July almost dry at 3 mm of rain.
Top sights in Alicante
Castles, Churches, Museums and Beaches
Start with Santa Bárbara Castle, Alicante's best-known sight, about 0.3 miles from the centre. The Archaeological Museum of Alicante, around 0.7 miles out, is the city's other headline attraction and suits families as well as history lovers. Right in the heart of town, the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari and the Convent de les Monges de la Sang are both within about 100 metres, and the Basilica of Saint Mary is barely a tenth of a mile further.
Art fans can walk between the Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art and the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts, each roughly a tenth of a mile from the centre. The Museo Volvo Ocean Race lies about 0.4 miles away, the plaza de toros de Alicante, the city's bullring, about 0.6 miles, and the second fortress, Castell de Sant Ferran, about 0.7 miles.
For the coast, Playa de Agua Amarga is around 1.9 miles away, Playa de la Albufereta 2.2 miles, Playa de la Almadraba 2.7 miles and the cove of Cala dels Cantalars about 3.4 miles. Tours and tickets for Alicante can be booked directly on this page.
- 1Santa Bárbara Castle
- 2Archaeological Museum of Alicante
- 3Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari
- 4Basilica of Saint Mary
- 5Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art
- 6plaza de toros de Alicante
- 7Gravina Museum of Fine Arts
- 8Playa de la Albufereta
- 9Castell de Sant Ferran
- 10Playa de la Almadraba
- 11Playa de Agua Amarga
- 12Museo Volvo Ocean Race
Tours & tickets in Alicante
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Alicante can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Alicante
Old Centre or Beach Side
Most of Alicante's cultural sights cluster within a few hundred yards of the centre, so staying here puts the castle, the co-cathedral, the basilica and the museums on your doorstep. Expect the pace of a sizeable city rather than a resort.
If beach time matters more, look north towards Playa de la Albufereta and Playa de la Almadraba, two to three miles out, where days revolve around the sea and the centre is a short ride away. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare both areas.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Alicante and the villages around it is a hire car from Alicante (ALC), about 9 min away.
Best time to visit Alicante
When Alicante Is at Its Best
- 16°CJan33 mm
- 17°CFeb14 mm
- 19°CMar59 mm
- 20°CApr39 mm
- 23°CMay27 mm
- 27°CJun15 mm
- 30°CJul3 mm
- 30°CAug15 mm
- 27°CSept49 mm
- 24°COct43 mm
- 20°CNov29 mm
- 18°CDec22 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months run from May to October. May brings highs of around 23°C, June 27°C, and July and August peak at 30°C, with August nights staying close to 24°C. July is almost completely dry, with just 3 mm of rain on a typical single day.
March is the wettest month, with about 59 mm over eight rainy days, and September and October can bring showers too, at 49 mm and 43 mm respectively, though highs still reach 27°C and 24°C. Winter is mild for a city break, with January highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16°C | 8°C | 33 mm | 9 h |
| Feb | 17°C | 9°C | 14 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 19°C | 11°C | 59 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 20°C | 13°C | 39 mm | 11 h |
| May | 23°C | 16°C | 27 mm | 13 h |
| Jun | 27°C | 20°C | 15 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 30°C | 23°C | 3 mm | 14 h |
| Aug | 30°C | 24°C | 15 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 21°C | 49 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 24°C | 17°C | 43 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 20°C | 12°C | 29 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 18°C | 10°C | 22 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and Drives from the UK
Alicante airport (ALC) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and lies about 6 miles from the city, roughly a nine-minute drive. Murcia (RMU) also has direct UK flights and is about 52 miles away, a drive of around one hour and a quarter. Valencia (VLC), with direct UK flights as well, sits about 79 miles north, just under two hours by car.
Driving from Calais takes around 20 and a half hours at the wheel. For onward island hops, Dénia, about 48 miles away, has ferries to Ibiza, Formentera and Palma, while Valencia, about 76 miles away, serves Palma, Ibiza, Maó and Tangier Med in Morocco.
By air
- Alicante (ALC)6 miles, about 9 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Murcia (RMU)52 miles, about 1 h 13 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Valencia (VLC)79 miles, about 1 h 52 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 20 h 25 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Dénia (48 miles), Valencia (76 miles).
Alicante is good for
Around Alicante
Easy Trips Along the Coast
El Campello is the nearest neighbour, about 7 miles up the coast, with Villajoyosa around 17 miles further along. To the south, Santa Pola is about 12 miles away and Elche, a large city of some 235,000 people, about 13 miles.
Inland, the small village of Busot is about 10 miles away and tiny Relleu, home to fewer than 1,000 people, about 19 miles. Novelda, around 16 miles, and Elda, about 19 miles, round out the options for a change of scene.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Points Before You Go
July and August highs of 30°C with warm nights mean sightseeing, especially the walk up to Santa Bárbara Castle, is best done early in the day.
With the airport only nine minutes away, a short break is realistic, and you may not need car hire if you stay central, since the main sights sit within about half a mile. If you visit in March or in early autumn, pack a light layer for the occasional rainy day.
Questions people ask
How far is Alicante airport from the city centre?
Alicante airport (ALC) is about 6 miles from the city, roughly a nine-minute drive. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom, which makes Alicante one of the quickest Spanish cities to reach after landing.
What is the best month to visit Alicante?
May to October is the most pleasant period. June offers highs of 27°C with little rain, while July and August reach 30°C. For sightseeing in milder warmth, May and October, at 23°C and 24°C, are good choices.
Are there beaches near Alicante city centre?
Yes. Playa de Agua Amarga is about 1.9 miles away, Playa de la Albufereta 2.2 miles, Playa de la Almadraba 2.7 miles and the cove of Cala dels Cantalars about 3.4 miles, all suitable for families.
Is Alicante good for a family holiday?
It suits families well. The Archaeological Museum of Alicante, the Museo Volvo Ocean Race and the city's art museums are all family-friendly, and several beaches lie within a few miles, with reliably warm weather from May to October.
Can I drive to Alicante from the UK?
Yes, though it is a long journey. From Calais, the drive takes around 20 and a half hours at the wheel, so most British travellers break it over two or more days.
What day trips can I take from Alicante?
El Campello is about 7 miles away, Santa Pola about 12 miles, Elche about 13 miles and Villajoyosa about 17 miles. Inland, the villages of Busot and Relleu are about 10 and 19 miles away.