Alicante - Do & See
Beaches
Alicante has a wide variety of beaches, from fine sand to rocky. Most of them are proud to hold the Blue Flag award—the European distinction for beaches that offer best quality in the waters and sands.
El Postiguet is the Alicante beach par excellence! Located in the very heart of the city, it is at the foot of the Santa Barbara Castle. It’s a long sandy beach and is close to all types of services. It is not surprising that it has been famous over Spain since the 19th century, when beach resorts began to spring up.
The San Juan beach (Playa de San Juan) is the most famous beach, not only because it is the longest, but also because of the quality and cleanliness of its waters.
Enjoy the sun and the sea, relaxing in the warm sand of one of Alicante beaches.
Castillo De Santa Bárbara
A visit to the Santa Bárbara Castle is highly recommended. Located atop Mount Benacantil, at a height of 166 meters, it is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain, with unbeatable views over the Bay of Alicante and on clear days you can see all the way to Tabarca Island.
Such is its importance that during the 20th century it was declared a Monument of Historic and Artistic Importance and a Site of Cultural Interest. Here we can also find one of the most characteristic images of the city, a rock formation resembling a man’s profile on the south western slope, known as the Moor’s Face, which is best viewed from Postiguet Beach. The Museum of the city in Santa Barbara´s Castle “MUSA”, housed in the Castle itself, was include to his cultural offer and it explains in five theme rooms the history of the city of Alicante and their inhabitants.
To descend down from the Santa Bárbara Castle take the route through Parque de La Ereta, along the mountainside. Its location and views transform it into a place of relaxation as well as a great meeting place. It also has a spectacular restaurant and a café with an exhibition hall and, on the way down to the old town quarter, you can visit the picturesque, quintessentially Spanish Santa Cruz district. Another attractive option between the castle and the Santa Cruz district is walking along the remains of the walls that surrounded the Castle, which now end in the Santa Cruz district.
Tabarca Island
A visit to Tabarca island is an absolute must for visitors. Boats from the company Kontiki depart from the marina in Alicante several times a day during the summer months, and 3 days a week during the rest of the year.
The journey takes around one hour from Alicante. The route will give you the opportunity to enjoy the coastline.
Try one of the traditional fish stews on the terrace of one of the restaurants. Also, on the island, you will find nice little bays to swim in as well as a beach offering different facilities. If you decide to stay overnight on the island, there are also little hotels peppered along it.
MARQ
The MARQ is the Archaeological Museum and is located in a renovated old hospital. Exhibits include valuable finds from the Paleolithic era found in different sites in and around Alicante. In 2004 the MARQ museum was awarded “European Museum of the Year.”
MUBAG
The Gravina Fine Arts Museum (Museo de Bellas Artes Gravina) houses the artistic collection of the Alicante County Council, from the Middle Ages up to the beginning of the 20th-century.
The museum is located in a building from the 17th-century that has been converted and adapted for this purpose.
Bonfires of Saint John Museum
This museum (Museo de Fogueres) is dedicated to the most popular “fiesta” in Alicante and shows the "ninots," or wooden statues that have been "saved" - i.e., not burned every year - in a video room showing the best of this "fiesta", photographs, costumes, etc. This museum is especially nice for families with children!
TuriBus
For those who want to have a general idea of Alicante, or for those with less time, Alicante offers a special service—the TuriBus—a bus through the city with 9 interesting stops for holidaymakers. The sights and sites are explained in Spanish, English, French, German and Italian.
The TuriBus runs every hour on the hour from 10.00-19.00 with a break from 14.00 and 16.00, every day of the week except Mondays. A one-day unlimited ticket costs €10 for adults and €5 for children and pensioners.
Old Town Quarter
Back in the old town quarter, we recommend a route that includes a visit to the San Nicholas Co-cathedral dating from the 17th-century. The cloisters, however, are from the 15th-century (Herrerian Renaissance style), and the Town Hall building is an 18th-century Baroque building. The Santa María Basilica, a gothic structure based on the mosque from the ancient town, dates from the 14th- and 16th-centuries and was completed with Baroque and Rococo finishes in the 18th-century.
MACA
Contemporary Art Museum “MACA”, housed in the city’s oldest surviving civil building. In the baroque style, it dates back to 1685 and is located next to the Santa María basilica. The museum has recently been re-opened after a year of a extension work in order to improve and enlarge its facilities in 4.700 m2, with the aim to house an important collection of 20th century art mostly comprised of works donated by Eusebio Sempere, that will become the Museum in one of the most important Contemporary Art Museums in Spain. Many different types of events will also take place in this Museum (Concerts, exhibitions…).
