Alicante travel guide: top 10 sights and a 3-day itinerary from Budapest

Alicante is a sunny port city on Spain’s Costa Blanca, in the Valencian Community, known for the Santa Bárbara Castle on Mount Benacantil, the palm-lined Explanada de España promenade, a city beach right in the centre and an easy-going Mediterranean lifestyle. It is also a handy base for Tabarca Island, the palm grove of Elche and the mountain village of Guadalest. Plan three or four days to enjoy it properly.

How to get to Alicante from Budapest

Wizz Air and Ryanair both fly direct between Budapest and Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC). The flight takes a little over three hours. Frequency changes with the season, so check the current schedule before planning. Alicante and Budapest are in the same time zone.

The airport is about 10 km south west of the city. The C6 bus connects the terminal with the centre of Alicante, and taxis wait outside arrivals. If you are heading to Benidorm or other Costa Blanca resorts, direct buses also run from the airport.

Best time to visit Alicante

Alicante is one of the sunniest cities in Europe, with mild winters and hot, dry summers. Late spring and early autumn are ideal: the sea is warm enough for swimming, the days are long and the crowds are smaller. July and August are hot and busy. The biggest local festival is the Hogueras de San Juan in June, with bonfires, fireworks and giant figures, which ends on the night of San Juan.

Top 10 things to do in Alicante

• Santa Bárbara Castle: a fortress on Mount Benacantil with sweeping views over the city and the sea, reachable by lift.
• Explanada de España: the famous promenade with its wave-patterned marble tiles and palm trees.
• Postiguet beach: the sandy city beach right below the castle.
• El Barrio and Santa Cruz quarter: whitewashed houses, flower pots and steep lanes on the castle hillside.
• Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás: the city’s main church with a blue dome and a calm cloister.
• Mercado Central de Alicante: a modernist market hall full of local produce.
• MARQ Archaeological Museum: an award-winning museum of the region’s history.
• Tabarca Island: a tiny walled island and marine reserve, reachable by boat.
• Playa de San Juan: a long sandy beach north of the city, reachable by tram.
• Elche Palm Grove: a UNESCO-listed palm forest in the nearby town of Elche.

A 3-day Alicante itinerary

Day 1: castle, old town and promenade

Take the lift from Postiguet up to the Santa Bárbara Castle in the morning, enjoy the view, then walk down through the Santa Cruz quarter. Visit the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás and have lunch near the Mercado Central. Spend the evening strolling the Explanada de España and the marina.

Day 2: Tabarca Island

Catch a morning boat from the port to Tabarca. Walk around the old walled village, swim in the clear water of the marine reserve and eat caldero, the local fish and rice dish. Return in the late afternoon and relax on Postiguet beach.

Day 3: Elche or Guadalest

Choose between Elche, with its UNESCO palm grove and the Huerto del Cura garden, and Guadalest, a mountain village with a castle above a turquoise reservoir. Elche is easy by train or bus, while Guadalest is best by car or on a tour.

With a fourth day, take the TRAM to Playa de San Juan or continue up the coast to Benidorm, Altea or Villajoyosa with its colourful houses.

Getting around Alicante

The centre of Alicante is compact and walkable. The TRAM network connects the city with Playa de San Juan and the towns along the Costa Blanca, including Villajoyosa and Benidorm. City buses cover the rest. For Guadalest and the inland villages, a rental car is the easiest option.

How much does a trip to Alicante cost?

Alicante is one of the more affordable Spanish coastal cities. Direct low-cost flights keep the journey cheap, especially outside July and August. Tapas, set lunch menus and market food make eating out good value. Entry to the Santa Bárbara Castle grounds is free (the lift from Postiguet costs a few euros each way, or you can walk up), and the beaches cost nothing, so the main extras are the Tabarca boat trip and any day trips.

Where to stay in Alicante

The area around the Explanada de España and the old town is the most convenient base: you can walk to the castle lift, Postiguet beach, the port for the Tabarca boats and the best tapas bars. Around the Mercado Central and the Luceros square you are close to the TRAM and good shopping streets. For a beach holiday with city access, Playa de San Juan has many apartments and hotels and is connected to the centre by tram. If you plan several Costa Blanca day trips, a stay near a TRAM stop makes life easier.

What to eat in Alicante

Rice dishes rule in Alicante. Arroz a banda, cooked in fish stock and served with aioli, is the local classic, along with arroz con costra, a baked rice dish with an egg crust from Elche. Along the seafront, try fresh grilled fish and seafood. Turrón from nearby Jijona, a soft almond nougat, is a favourite souvenir, and helado, Spanish ice cream, is a must on the promenade. At the Mercado Central you can taste local almonds, dates from Elche and cured meats. In the evening, follow the locals for tapas in the streets around the Barrio.

Alicante is a good choice if you want an easy, relaxed trip with beach time, a bit of history and short day trips. It is also family friendly, with a city beach right in the centre and calm water on most days.

Tips for your Alicante trip

• Use the lift to go up to the castle and walk down through the Santa Cruz quarter.
• Visit Tabarca on a weekday to avoid the biggest crowds.
• Try arroz a banda and turrón, the almond nougat from nearby Jijona.
• Bring sun protection all year: Alicante gets plenty of sunshine even in winter.
• Combine the city with a day on the Costa Blanca by TRAM.

Short on time?

Alicante is best over a few relaxed days, but if you only have one day, a same-day trip from Budapest can still give you a taste of the Mediterranean. Barcelona, Naples or Malta work well with an early flight out and a late flight back. See our one-day trips from Budapest.