Written by: Sini Hietaharju,
Travel Researcher, Yoga Teacher & Mindful Traveller
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In this guide, I tell the best Alicante tips for your Alicante vacation.
How do I know about that? Glad you asked, I have lived over 3 years in Alicante, and I still call this beautiful Spanish town my hometown.
At the end of the article, you can download Alicante Travel Guide PDF and save all my favorite spots to Google Maps.



These are the loveliest wellness hotels in Alicante Centro to have a cozy stay.
You'll have a nice room, great breakfast and city and beach nearby your accommodation in all of these three options.
7 BEST HOTELS IN ALICANTE CENTRE
If you would like to read more about best hotels to stay in Alicante based on different categories, and read detailed reviews about the best hotels in Alicante, check out the article:

Pic of me at the rooftop of Hotel Port Alicante (please note this hotel is in San Juan, 7kms from Alicante) Below linked the best hotels in Alicante centre.
Here you can find, in my opinion, the 17 best things to do in Alicante, Spain. Browse by category and choose the most resonating ones to your Alicante travel itinerary.


This historic 9th-century hilltop castle offers panoramic views over the city and beach.
You can reach it by a foot or by taking an elevator from Postiguet Beach.
Best of all, entry to the castle grounds is free.
Unusual, cool thing to do in Castillo de Santa Barbara: Book a Vine Tasting (It's only 26€)
This iconic promanade surrounded by palm trees is lovely for evening walks.
The restaurants at explanada are quite touristy though. Only restaurant I can recomment at the Explanada is the Indian New Delhi.
Mercado visit is a typical but nice activity for a daytime. It's open Monday through Saturday and is perfect for an affordable picnic or a guided food tour.
Well, obvious, but I must mention this Alicante tip. What I love most about Alicante is that you have the beach right near the city, so you can easily pop by for some sunbathing.
For drinks, I recommend walking all the way to the end of Postiguet to Chiriguito Amor Amar ,as the places closer to the centre are touristy and not so nice.
You can also book a private yoga class in English in postiguet Beach.
Local's tip: If you want a longer, bigger beach, head by tram 7kms north from Alicante to San Juan. There is a long sandy beach.

Although a bit touristy, this old town area of Alicante is a vibe.
Thw narrow streets, cute places to "tomar algo" (=to drink some, to eat some tapas) are great for an evening in Alicante.
One of my favorite cafés of Alicante is there as well: Madness Café
There is a small island in front of Alicante, where you can go for a day trip.
The island itself offers mostly relaxation, swimming and sunbathing, but it's a nice activity for a day.
I recommend purchasing tickets beforehand online, you can do it here: Buy tickets to Tabarca Island Boat Tour
It would be shame to miss the stunnign natural sights surrounding Alicante. If you are not renting a car, I recommned booking a tour to see some sights.
With this tour you can see cute village Altea, Algar Waterfalls and Guadalest lake
Especially a little bit outside of Alicante there are stunnig spots for watersports. Turquoise water and caves in the sunshine is a great activity.
It would be a shame to miss the stunning natural sights surrounding Alicante. If you are not renting a car, I recommend booking a tour to see some sights.
With this tour you can see cute village Altea, Algar Waterfalls and Guadalest lake
Did you know Alicante is the oldest wine regions in Europe?
You should definitely do a wine tour in Costa Blanca.
You can check, for example these two great tours:
Small-Group Countryside Wine Tour with 4 Tastings (rated 4.8)
If you are not that much into wine, you can stay in Alicante and enjoy a lovely evening watching sunset by Parque Ereta. It is a walking distance from centre, and you can walk there through the beautiful old town, aka Barrio de Santa Cruz.
I know this is a touristy activity, but actually it's pretty fun.
Quite recently we got TukTuks in Alicante, and if you are too lazy to walk all day, explore with a TukTuk.
This is a lovely park 5kms from the centre of Alicante, full of beautiful palm trees. Do a picnic here or simply read a book under the palm trees. There is a small kiosk in the aprk where you can buy good coffee and some snacks.


Although the roots of Flamenco are in Andalusia, there are some great flamenco shows in town to see. The rhythm, the movement and the guitar is a nice show.
Are you really on a relaxing holiday, if you don't visit a spa?
You can choose from these options:
Halo Spa - Luxurious Spa in a hotel
Zenit Spa - Lovely place for relaxation
Beer Spa - Yes you read correct, this is an unsual thing to do in Alicante.
This is a bit extraordinary activity and maybe not for everyone, but in Alicante there's a great indoor bouldering place.
It's just 15€ including shoe rental, you can find it here.
I am not much of a museum person myself, but this Museum of Illusions in Alicante is actually pretty cool place to visit. You can buy tickets directly from their website, here.
I am getting ahead of myself, as next I will list you the best restaurants in Alicante for brunch, lunch, dineer and coffee. But this cheesecase place called Las tartas de Julita is a must-try.
In this section I have listed you the best massages, pilates and yoga studios and spas in Alincante.
If you are looking for a longer relaxation, I recommend below some retreat organizers in the area whole current offerings you can check.


I always want to inspire to make the travels more mindful, relaxing and rejuvenating. That's why wellness experiences and services play an important role on this Alicante travel blog.
Coconut body club - Nice wellness treatments
Japanese Head Spa Alicante - Relaxing treatments in a nice location
Alicante Thai Massage - In my opinion, the best massage place in Alicante
Lotus Spa - Great Spa treatments in central location
Active Recovery Sports Massage Therapy
I love testing different yoga and pilates studios during travels. These are the ones you should check out in Alicante.
Please note that some of the places do classes only in Spanish, but I would say it's easy to follow along with the visual demonstrations. To join a class, best way is to reach out for the places over Instagram, or sending a mesage on Whatsapp.
BeYoga
Stylish yoga studio that offers also English classes
Good machine pilates studio
Cosmopolitan Gym & Spa
This is the gym I go to, you can buy a day pass to join group classes, gym and spa
Sinimalism Studio
Private yoga classes in English in Alicante.
Pilates studio in central location, also machine pilates

Costa Blanca in Spain is a great area to join a yoga retreat, as nearby Alicante there are all year around many fantastic retreats organised.
These are my favorite cafés in Alicante.
All are places that you can also sit in, instead of having only takeaway coffee.
Below cafeterias you can see the best brunch places.
To navigate easily to the places, grap the Google Maps Pins to Alicante.

Pic from JevoleCoffee
Madness Specialty Café
Sip and Wonder
Swallow Specialty Coffee
Martisano
Santagloria Coffee & Bakery
Espacio Elemental
Mon Sucree
Liaopastel
Tres Texturas
JevoleCoffee
Eat My Trip Specialty Coffee
Brunchit (located in San Juan)
Maldita Gloria (better one in San Juan, but there's one also in Alicante centre)
Dolci Garipier (located in San Juan)
Blueloop (located in San Juan)
Cafeteria Baker & Co (located in San Juan)
Martisano
Sip and Wonder
Madness Specialty Coffee
I have added all of these places to the Google Maps Saved Places list.

Pic of Madness Specialty Coffee Brunch
In this part, I will list you the great lunch restaurants and places to dine in Alicante.
Some of them are my personal favorites, while others are the winners in the instagram voting of big alicante account Alicante Street Style.
You can also get all of them directly to your Google Maps for easy exploring. See the link below for free download.

El Cup
Good lunch place with a daily menu, aka Menu del día
Boddhigreen
Great vegetarian restaurant
Asian Mediterranean Fusion restaurant. Remember to make a reservation.
Urban Poke
Good poke bowls in the centre
El Corte Inglés Alacant Edifici Moda
Versatile meals to choose from at the rooftop restaurant of the department store
Saona
Nice daily menu for lunch (remember to reserve a table)
These are my favourite restaurants in Alicante, or something I recommend trying during your stay here.
Not to only trust my opinion, these 13 restaurants in Alicante were voted the best on many online listings, and these results kept on repeating on social media as well.
At the end of this article, you can download all of these to Google Maps as saved places to go. This makes it easy to navigate around and see locations on Alicante map.
Casa Mia Italia
Amazing italian restaurant. Remember to reserve a table.
Spanish food, but a bit more fine
Steki Restaurante
Mediterranean with a twist of mexican and greek, located in old town Barrio.
Creative dining with affordable price
Good Quality Alicantean cuisine.
Cheragazzi
Really good italian restaurant at Rambla
Michelin-starred restaurant in Alicante centre
Good, mediterranean restaurant (located in Albufereta, you can access it by tram from Alicante)
Zagalico
Bar and restaurant with Spanish food and cocktails
Kyoto
Sushi buffet in the centre
GET ALL THE RESTAURANTS DIRECTLY TO YOUR GOOGLE MAPS
Best Restaurants in Alicante
By downloading the maps saved places, you subscribe to the monthly SlowTravelRepeat newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.
Booking - Best for hotels and accommodation in general.
Getyourguide - best for guided tours, bucketlist activities and ticket booking
Local bus and tram - You can simply buy a ticket on the bus
Omio for Trains, buses and flights within Spain
Discover cars for rental cars
How many days do I need in Alicante?
A minimum of 3 days is ideal for a slow travel experience. This gives you time to explore the castle, wander the Old Town, relax on Postiguet Beach, and take a day trip to Tabarca Island or Guadalest. If you have 5–7 days, you can explore the surrounding Costa Blanca towns like Altea, Denia, and Javea at a more relaxed pace.
What is the best time of year to visit Alicante?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the best weather – warm sunshine without the intense summer heat. Summer (June–August) is hot and busy, ideal for beach lovers but expect crowds. Winter is mild and quiet, perfect for a peaceful retreat without the tourist rush.
Is Alicante a walkable city?
Yes, very walkable. The city center is compact and pedestrian-friendly. You can easily walk between the Old Town (Barrio de Santa Cruz), the Explanada, Postiguet Beach, and the castle elevator. The flat promenade makes strolling along the waterfront a pleasure. For longer distances, the tram and bus network is excellent.
Is Alicante expensive for a holiday?
Alicante is affordable compared to Barcelona or Madrid. A budget traveler can manage with €60–80 per day, while a mid-range traveler can expect €100–150 per day. Accommodation, food, and drinks are reasonably priced, especially if you eat where the locals eat – away from the most touristy spots on the Explanada.
What is the best area to stay in Alicante?
For first-time visitors, the city center (Centro) is ideal – close to everything. For a quieter, more local feel, the Old Town (Barrio de Santa Cruz) offers charm and authenticity. For longer stays and beach lovers, San Juan (7km north) has a beautiful long sandy beach and is easily accessible by tram.
Can I visit Alicante without a car?
Absolutely. Alicante is well-connected by public transport. The tram connects the city with San Juan, Altea, and Benidorm. Buses reach further destinations. The airport is 15 minutes from the city center by bus (C6) or taxi. For day trips, guided tours are an easy option.
Is Alicante safe for solo travelers?
Yes, Alicante is very safe for solo travelers. The city is welcoming and easy to navigate. Many hotels offer single rooms, and the local culture is warm and open. As with any city, take normal precautions – especially at night – but Alicante is considered one of the safer Spanish cities.
What is the local food specialty in Alicante?
Alicante is famous for rice dishes – paella, arroz a banda, and arroz con costra are local favorites. Fresh seafood is abundant. Don't miss the local turrón (nougat) – Alicante is the birthplace of this sweet treat. For dessert, the cheesecake at Las tartas de Julita is a must-try.
What language is spoken in Alicante?
Both Spanish (Castilian) and Valencian are official languages. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Learning a few phrases like "gracias" and "buenos días" is always appreciated by locals.
Is Alicante airport easy to get to?
Very easy. Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC) is just 15–20 minutes from the city center. The C6 bus runs regularly and costs around €4. Taxis are readily available. The train also connects the airport to the city center for a more sustainable arrival.

Navigate easily to all the places I recommended in this Alicante Itinerary Guide.
I have listed all of them in Saved places on Google maps to make it easy for you.
Enjoy it for free (for now!) and bring it along to Alicante!

Want these tips accessible offline?
You can download for free the Alicante Travel guide PDF here.
Explore more mindful travel in Spain guides:
Find wellness hotels in Spain, mindful travel tips for different areas and slow travel guides to Spain.
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Hey there, I'm the Author
I'm Sini, a digital nomad and an enthusiast in slow living, mindful traveling and yoga retreats.
This is your go-to mindful corner of the internet.
I'm here to share my slow travel tips, the dreamiest places, and stories and photographs from my journeys.
I happen to be kind of a professional in this as well, as I have my Master's degree in Tourism Research, and both my master's and bachelor's theses are about wellness travel.
I want to share the hidden gem hotels, dreamiest retreats and mindful destinations, as well as some deeper journals and thoughts on what meaningful life is.
With my job as a Marketing Person for Wellness Businesses , like retreats, I have some great places to share with you on this beautiful globe.
Welcome to dive into your most meaningful journeys - join the newsletter if you want monthly slow travel inspiration.
You can read more about me here.