Alicante Tourist information, Alicante Attractions & Alicante Guide, Costa Blanca, Spain
Alicante Attractions and places to visit
Santa Barbara Castle (Castillo Santa Barbara)
Alicante Santa Barbara Castle
This enormous castle located on high cliffs just behind Alicante's sea front esplanade, . Spectacular views of Alicante and the surrounding countryside can be seen from the castle ramparts.
Santa Barbara Castle Location
Situated on top of Benacantil Mountain, very near to the sea front and just East of the city centre
Access to the Castle
- A pedestrian tunnel and lift gives easy access to the castle. Located on the inland side of the dual Carriageway main road sea front buildings. Sign posted on the promenade and shown on our map
- A road winds itself up the mountain to a car park at the castle. Roads starts near Marq
- Various steep footpaths
More information, photographs & Access to Santa Barbara Castle
See Location of Santa Barbara Castle, Marq & Lift on our Alicante Map
San Nicolas Co-Cathedral (Concatedral de San Nicolás de Bari)
San Nicolas de Bari Cathedral Alicante
San Nicolas de Bari Cathedral Alicante Exterior
San Nicolas Cathedral Description
- The San Nicolas Co-Cathedral , the main church in Alicante is renaissance style building. Building was completed in 1662. Rather plain on the outside but note the outstanding interior including the baroque styled alter and the grills and wooded doors of the cloister
- The blue tiled dome called a cupula is 45 metres high
- Built
1616 to 1662 and built over a mosque - Open
Monday to Saturday: 11.30am - 12.30pm / 5.30pm - 6.30pm
San Nicolas Cathedral Location
- Located in the old town centre between the Town hall and Tourist information office
- Calle de los Labradores / Calle de Miguel Solar / Calle de San Nicolas
See Location of San Nicolas Cathedral on our Alicante Map
St. Mary's Church (Iglesia de Santa Maria)
Sant Maria Basilica Alicante
St. Mary's Church Description
- The Iglesia or Basilica de Santa Maria was built in the 13th-century replacing an ancient Arab mosque. The building is Alicante's oldest church and has a gothic interior, and baroque high altar and doorway and was on that was on the site. The church has been altered many times and now has a mix of architectural styles. Of particular note is the golden alter from the15th century and font from the 16th century
- Built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 15th century
- Open
Monday to Saturday: 10.30am - 12.00pm / 6pm -7.30pm
St. Mary's Church Location
- A few streets inland from the Tram Puerto del Mar Tram Stop on the sea front at the meeting of Calle Mayor and Calle Villavieja
See Location of St. Mary's Church on our Alicante Map
Town Hall Alicante(Ayuntamiento)
Town Hall Alicante
Town Hall Description
- Designed as a Palace by the architect Lorenzo Chapula
- The elegant Baroque town hall was completed in 1760.
- The 2 towers are 165 foot high and built over archways allowing the visitor to access the other side of the building.
- One of the towers contains a clock on the front and back faces of the tower.
- Between the 2 towers is a stone balustrade and a central shorter tower capped with a blue tiled dome set back so is not noticed if viewing from close to the building.
Town Hall Location
- Located 150 metres back from the sea front esplanade at the corner of the Eastern harbour sea wall, and the Casa Carbonell
- Address: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 1 The plaza has cafes
See Location of Town Hall on our Alicante Map
Carbonell House (Casa Carbonell) Alicante
Casa Carbonell Alicante
Casa Carbonell Description
- This outstanding building was built for the extremely rich textile magnate Enrique Carbonell from Alcoy, by the architect Juan Vidal Ramos between 1922 and 1925.
Casa Carbonell Location
- Located right on the sea front promenade, 1 Calle de l'Explanada de Espana opposite the eastern corner of the Marina.
See Location of Casa Carbonell on our Alicante Map
Alicante Promenade - the Explanada de España
Alicante Canalejas Park
Alicante Pavement Espanada
Alicante Promenade Description
- The section next to the Marina has got to be one of the best promenades any where in the world. Very wide with lines of palm and other trees, plenty of bars restaurants and cafes and occasional events.
Optical Illusion Pavement
- Look out for the pavement shown in our photograph, click photo to enlarge, and note how it is in undulating between low and higher sections. This effect is an optical illusion caused by the pattern and is in fact perfectly flat.
- Some people can experiencea kind of dizzy feeling or vertigo when walking along this pavement.
- The effect is so realistic that some people can not walk on it
Open Air Craft Market
- One section of the promenade has an area of open air market stalls selling mainly craft items
Alicante Promenade Location
- The best part of the promenade backs the full length of Alicante port / maria and eastwards for about 200 metres backing the beach that continues up to La Marina Tram Station
See Location of Alicante Promenade on our Alicante Map
The Mushroom Street
Interactive Photo of the Mushroom Street
Drag the photo Left, Right, Up, Down or Zoom. Click the up & down arrows to travel up or down the Mushroom Street.
- The Mushroom Street (Setas Street) is amazing.
- A narrow pedestrian street in the center of Alicante full of giant man made mushrooms painted in bright colours. Some are tallaround 3m & some are short & fat forming fairyland houses which kids can enter.
- It is a 130m central stretch of the longer C. San Francisco street that runs between Plaza Portal de Elche & Plaza Calvo Sotelo
- Both of these plazas are also worth a look at:
- Plaza Portal de Elche has a small central cafe with tables set out under the plazas trees.
- Plaza Calvo Sotelo. Bench seating under the trees, a small kids playground & a cafe in the corner with tables in the plaza.
- The street floor is painted in green & yellow with a couple of hopscotch patches also painted.
- What used to be a street with a rather dubious reputation has been totally transformed with a 66.000 euro make over into a tourist attraction.
- This street is well worth a visit, especially if you have young children. They will love entering the mushroom with entrances & windows , looking at the faces on the mushrooms & the giant snails on the topa using the slides & having a game of hopscotch.
- Adults will also be interested with the shops, cafes & bars.
Childrens ADVENTURE Playground
Interactive Photo of ADVENTURE Playground
Drag the photo Left, Right, Up, Down or Zoom
- Sections for younger & more channelling for older children
- Bench seating arong the playground
Plaza de Luceros
Plaza de Luceros Alicante
Cafe in Plaza de Luceros Alicante
Plaza de Luceros Description
- A large circular plaza with a roundabout at the junction of the 2 main roads. In the centre of the roundabout is a tall imposing monument with beautifully statues, sculptures and carvings consisting of 4 horses, the four seasons
- The monument is surrounded by water jet fountains
- A ring of palm trees surround the roundabout and a second larger ring around the Plaza
- An underground tram station, Luceros, along with car parking opened under the Plaza in June 2010
- Luceros Tram Station is the nearest tram stop for Alicante Railway Station
- This is a nice spot to enjoy a break at one of the pavement bar / cafe/ restaurants in the Plaza
Plaza de Luceros Location
- At the Junction of Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio, Avenida de la Estación Paseo de Soto and the Paseo General Marv
See Location of Plaza de Luceros on our Alicante Map
Alicante Old Town - Santa Cruz
- The district of Santa Cruz is the oldest quarter of Alicante
- Located on the slope of Mount Benacantil
- Featuring narrow cobbled sloping streets many will lots of steps
- With small white or brightly coloured houses with balconies decorated with flowers
- Extremely picturesque.
- The routes to Ereta park & the walk to Santa Barbara Castle pass through this district
Interactive Photo of Fuente de San Ant & Calle Pedro Sebastià
Drag the photo Left, Right, Up, Down or Zoom
El Ereta Park
El Ereta Sign
El Ereta Park Description
- The most interesting of the several paths up to the castle is through El Ereta Park
El Ereta Park Location
El Ereta Park is located on the South Western slopes of Mount Benacantil. It is located between the Santa Barbara castle and the old part of Alicante.
If you are feeling fit it is a steep uphill climb to the castle
See Location of Ereta Park on our Alicante Map
Tours from Alicante
Guadalest and Algar Springs Guided Tour from Alicante
Guadalest is the most visited town in Spain with more than 2 million visitors a year.
Click Photo for larger Image
Guardalest Fortified Entrance Tunnel Through The Cliff Face
Stairs up to Guadalest-Castle
Guadalest Warning Bell Tower
Swimming in the Algar Pools. Not possible after heavy rain
One of the Algar waterfalls. Path up the gorge on the left
Guadalest and Algar Springs Guided Tour, More Information
Provincial Council Alicante
Alicante Provincial Council
Provincia Palace Alicante
Alicante Provincial Council Description
The Alicante Provincial Council building is on a busy road, Avda. de la Estacion. It was built by Juan Ramos a famous Alicante architect in 1928. Who also built the Edificio Carbonell Building which stands at number 1 on the Explanada de España.
Once you are inside this beautiful building there is an art gallery and also 'Garden of Celebrites' which has 'monuments' honouring Alicante's celebrities.
The architecture is influenced by the Italian and Baroque neoclassical style of the Bourbon ic palaces in Madrid.
The role of the Alicante Provincial Council is to cover all the municipalities that make up the province of Alicante. The Provincial Council is formed by elected representatives from the municipal councilors. It is headed by a president.
Alicante Provincial Council Location
Address: Avda. de la Estación, 6, Alicante
See Location of Provincial Council on our Alicante Map
Our Lady of Grace Parish Church (Nuestra Senora de Gracia Alicante)
Nuestra Senora de Gracia tower
Nuestra Senora de Gracia is the centre building on the right
Our Lady of Grace Parish Church (Nuestra Senora de Gracia) Description
The church was burned down in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War 1936 - 39 and rebuilding started in 1945 and the new modern church opened in 1951
It is necessary to stand back from the building to obtain a good view of the large dome
Nuestra Senora de Gracia Location
The Front is facing the large square, Plaza de Montanyeta, and the 38 metre tall octagonal,tower at the rear is at the junction of Calle Felipe Berge & Calle Jerusalen and has an entrance to the sacristy
See Location of Nuestra Senora de Gracia on our Alicante Map
MARQ Archaeological Museum (Museo Arqueologico MARQ)
MARQ Museum
MARQ Archaeological Museum Description
The MARQ Museum is a traditional museum with items being classified and indexed.but displays it's artifacts in a modern artistic manner and also uses audi / visual displays.
There is a small entrance fee with concession prices for students, Senior citizens etc.
MARQ Archaeological Museum Location
The museum is located 200 metres North from the underground MARQ tram station, behind the Sanitarium Hospital, Casa Reposo y Sanatorio del Perpetuo Socorro
Address: Plaza del Doctor Gómez Ulla, Alicante. Telephone: 965 149 000 Website Click the Union Flag for English pages
Bus: Routes 2,6,9,20 and 23
Tram Lines 1,2,3 Tram Station Marq
See Location of MARQ Archaeological Museum on our Alicante Map
Alicante Bullring (Plaza de Toros) & Bullfighting Museum (Museo Taurino) Alicante
Alicante Bull Ring
Bullfighting Museum
Bullring (Plaza de Toros) & Bullfighting Museum Description
A permanent collection of bull fighting artifacts and memorabilia. See the beautiful suit of lights, matador capes and sword. There is also some stuffed bulls heads mounted on the walls.
Bullring (Plaza de Toros) & Bullfighting Museum Location
The museum is located next to the Alicante Bullring (Plaza de Toros, 7). The sand coloured building just in front of the bullring and left of photograph centre and church dome
See Location of Bullring & Bullfighting Museum on our Alicante Map
Nativity Museum (Museo de Belenes)
Museo de Belenes Description
Houses a world collection of figures& includes the different aspects of the birth and life of Jesus Christ,
In Spain families tend to have a nativity scene as the centre piece of there christmas decorations in place of the British tradition of a christmas tree.
Museo de Belenes Location
Located 100 metres north of the just up the road from the tree lined square to the rear of Town Hall
Address: c / San Agustín, 3, 03002, Alicante, Spain
See Location of Nativity Museum on our Alicante Map
El Palmeral Park
El Palmeral Park By yosoylamarty
El Palmeral Park Description
El Palmeral Park is beautiful and a local favourite park in Alicante. The park has trails to walk along, lakes, streams, children's playgrounds, picnic tables, a concert area, toilets, cafe bar, and a cross country cycling circuit
Near the main road the park is maintained with 100's of palm trees and much greener than the rougher scrub land with walking trails further inland
El Palmeral Park Location
600 metres south of the southern section of the port on the land ward side of the coastal road, Avenida de Elche.
See Location of El Palmeral Park on our Alicante Map
Old TowMuseo de Arte Moderno Descriptionn
Alicante Old Town
Old Town Description
The Old town lies below the eastern Santa Barbara Castle Walls
Old Town Location
See Location of Modern Old Town on our Alicante Map
Modern Art Museum (Museo de Arte Moderno)
Museo de Arte Moderno Location
See Location of Museo de Arte Moderno on our Alicante Map
The Harbour & Boat Trips
Alicante Boat Trips
Island of Tabarca (Isla Tabarca)
The Isla Tabarca is located 3 miles from Santa Pola and 11 miles from Alicante. The island declared an historic monument in 1964 The island has fortified walls, bastion and doorways and was a an island from which pirates operated in ancient times.
See Location of The Harbour & Boat Trips on our Alicante Map
Alicante Bars, Cafes & Restaurants
Alicante has a fabulous pavement cafe culture, with pavement cafe ,bars & restaurants scattered through out the city centre. Below is a small selection of photographs of these venues to wet your appetite taken in a walk around the centre.
Alicante Cafe Espanada
Alicante Cafe in shade of a large Fig Tree
Cafe in Alicante's Calle Mayo
Alicante Street Cafes
Plaza Nueva
Casa de Gadea Cafe
Alicante Town Hall Archway, Cafes are in the Plaza
Plaza Nueva Cafe
Town Hall Fountains
Cafe in Plaza de Luceros Alicante
Old Town steps
Alicante Beaches
Playa del Postiguet
Playa del Postiguet Alicante by blink+
Playa del Postiguet Description
The main town beach,can become crowded in high season and awarded with a .blue flag status. Playa del Postiguet is backed by the magnificent backdrop of the towering rock cliffs of Mount Benacantil topped with the impressive battlements of Alicante Castle, Castillo Santa Barbara
Getting to Playa del Postiguet - Walking
Walking
The beach is an easy walk from Alicante Old town, head for the eastern end of the marina on the sea front turn left and you are at the start of the beach
From Alicante Castle, use the lift and cross the the main road and you are at the beach
Playa del Postiguet Location & Transport
Trams Line 3 Map Yellow line
Tram line 3 get of at:
- La Marina Tram Station for the eastern end of the beach. Located immediately east of the Marina, Hotel Melia and the tram Stop Puerta del Mar
or - Immediately west of the tram Stop Puerta del Mar
See Location of Playa del Postiguet on our Alicante Map
Playa de la Albuferata
Playa de la Albuferata Description
Playa de la Albuferata beach is is about 200 metres long and consists of fine golden sands. The beach has lifeguards, first aid post, disabled access and parasols are available to hire.
200 metres to the east is a small marina and 100 metres inland from the marina is the archeological site of Roman ruins of the Lucentum
Playa de la Albuferata Location
Located to the north east of Alicante in Albufereta
Tram stop La Isleta on Tram Lines 1, 3 & 4. Line 1 & 3 Map
Playa de la Albuferata Location
See Location of Playa de la Albuferata on our Alicante Map
Playa de la Almadraba beach
Playa de la Almadraba Description
A nudist beach and rocky coves
Playa de la Almadraba Location
See Location of Playa de la Almadraba on our Alicante Map
Playa San Juan beach
Playa San Juan Description
A large sandy beach packed with bars and discos.
Playa San Juan Location
Playa San Juan is located on the north east side of the large Albuferata peninsular 7 kilometres north east off Alicante centre
Tram stops: Av. Benidorm, Londres, Plaza La Coruna on Line 4 Line 4 Map
See Location of Playa San Juan on our Alicante Map
Alicante Transport
Alicante & Costa Blanca Trams formerly the FGV railway
Alicante Bus Station (Estacion de Autobuses de Alicante)
Alicante Bus Station Description:
- The bus Station consists of a large building with information / ticket offices for several bus companies including Subus & Alsa.
- Virtually all connections with other Spanish cities are operated by Alsa, which runs standard and better "Supra" services
- International coaches to Alicante are provided by Eurolines, Flixbus, and Linebus, which run services from Paris, London, and other major European cities. are provided by Eurolines, Flixbus, and Linebus, which run services from Paris, London, and other major European cities.To the rear are the open air bus stands. with passenger areas covered with a flat roof supported on pillars
- There is also a cafe , and more cafes opposite the main entrance in Calle Portugal.
Alicante Bus & Coach Station Address:
Calle Portugal, 15-17. 3003 Alicante
Tel. 0034 965985003
Bus Station Location
See Location of Alicante Bus Station on our Alicante Map
Alicante Railway Station
RENFE
Alicante RENFE Train Terminal
Information & tickets
Alicante RENFE Train Station
3 Trains in
RENFE is Spain's National Rail Network with rail connections to France and the rest of Europe including the UK via the Channel Tunnel
The Euromed is a high speed train that operates between Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante.
Eurail Global Pass
Youth Pass
Seniors Pass
Passes, Rail Tickets
Alicante & Costa Blanca Trams
The former FGV railway from Alicante - Benidorm - Denia is now mainly converted to a modern tram system. With an increase in the number of lines in and around Alicante with further line additions being carried out or being planned.
La Marina Tram station
Adverts on Tram side
In depth information can be found here The Tram / Ferrocarril de la Generalitat Valenciana ( FGV )
Tram Maps
Tram Map Lines 1 Alicante - Benidorm & Line 3 Alicante Mercado - Venta Lanuza
Tram Map Line 3 Alicante Puerta del Mar r - Plaza La Coruna
Shopping in Alicante
Central Market (Mercado Central) Alicante
Alicante Central Market
Alicante Central Market Description
A distinguished art deco building built by Juan Vidal Ramos in 1911 to 1912 on the site of the old city walls. The building is rectangular in shape with a round extension, topped with a cupola in the front left corner.
The market has a wide variety of food that is popular with the local residents
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 7.30am - 2.30pm.
Alicante Central Market Location
Located at 1 Av de Alfonsso X El Sabio, 100 metres down hill from the underground Mercado Tram station
See Location of Alicante Central Market on our Alicante Map
El Corte Ingles Department Stores in Alicante
Alicante El Corte Ingles
El Corte Ingles Description
El Corte Ingles is Spain's largest chain of Department Stores that has branches through out Mainland Spain, Canary Islands and Balearic Islands
The 3 stores in Alicante are located fairly close together and each store specialises in the goods on offer as displayed next to the addresses below
El Corte Ingles Location
- Av.Maisonnave 53 - Fashion
- Av.F.Soto 1 and 3 - House & Home
- Castelar, 3 - Computer, Audio and Video
See Location of El Corte Ingles on our Alicante Map
Craft-Market on the Promenade Alicante
Alicante Open Air Market
Handbag Stall
Craft-Market Description
The market has a wide selection of stalls selling mainly craft type goods
Craft-Market Location
See Location of Craft-Market on our Alicante Map
Rambla de Mendez Nunez Alicante
Sculpture
Description of Rambla de Mendez Nunez
The Rambla de Mendez Nunez is the main shopping street in Alicante. A tourist Information office is also located in this street
and also the streets westwards to Avenida de Federica Soto
Rambla de Mendez Nunez Location
The Rambla runs from near the Mercado Tram Station to the Casa Carbonell on the sea front
See Location of Rambla de Mendez Nunez on our Alicante Map
Panoramis Shopping Centre Alicante
Panoramis Shopping Centre
Panoramis Shopping Centre Description
- A shopping centre with a wide variety of shops, bar / cafes,pubs, restaurants
- I have read that since the Cinema closed the shopping centre has declined in popularity, with some shops closing
Panoramis Shopping Centre Location
Located on the western side of the marina and overlooking it.
Address: Muelle de Poniente, 6
See Location of Panoramis Shopping Centre on our Alicante Map
Plaza Mar 2 Shopping Centre Alicante
Plaza Mar 2 Shopping Centre Description
- Is the largest Shopping Centre in Alicante
- Multi Screen Cinema
- 120 Retail Outlets including:
- Fashion
- Leisure
- Restaurants
- Massive Free Car Park for 2600 Cars
Plaza Mar 2 Shopping Centre Location
Located on Avenida Denia, 400 metres north west from Marq Tram station
See Location of Plaza Mar 2 Shopping Centre on our Alicante Map
More Shopping ideas
Mecadillo de Campoamor a market located in Campoamor near to the Bull Ring
Destinations from Alicante Train Station
Alicante is the only Costa Blanca Railway Station on the Costa Blanca. See the Tram for narrow track Costa Blanca Tram Stations.
The nearest coastal railway stations to Alicante
Gandia Costa del Azahar, 110 km (68 mi) north of Alicante then Valencia
Cartagena Costa Cálida to the south
Murcia / Alicante Cercanías Railway Lines
ThePanoramis Shopping Centre
A Coruña
Abrantes
Albacete
Alcázar de San Juan
Algeciras
Almería
Ana
Antequera - Sta.
Avila
Badajoz
Barcelona
Bardonecchia
Benicassim
Berna/Bern
Bilbao-Abando
Blois
Bobadilla
Burgos Rosa de Lima
Cáceres
Cádiz
Calatayud
Camp de Tarragona
Cartagena
Castellón /Castelló
Ciudad Real
Córdoba
Cuenca
Elda-Petrer
Entroncamento
Ferrol
Figueres
Friburgo/Fribourg
Gandía
Gijón
Ginebra/Geneve
Girona
Granada
Guadalajara
Hendaya
Huelva
Huesca
Jaén
Jerez de la Frontera
León
Limoges
Linares-Baeza
Lisboa - Oriente
Lisboa - Santa Apolonia
Lleida
Logroño
Lorca-Sutullena
Lugo
Madrid
Málaga María Zambrano
Marvao - Beira
Medina del Campo
Mérida
Milán/Milano
Miranda de Ebro
Monforte de Lemos
Montpellier
Monzón-Río Cinca
Murcia
Navalmoral de la Mata
Novara
Orleans-Les Aubrais
Oropesa/Orpesa
Ourense
Oviedo
Palencia
Pamplona/Iruña
París Austerlitz
Ponferrada
Pontevedra
Portbou
Puente Genil-Herrera
Puerto Santa María
Puertollano
Reus
Rún
Sahagún
Salamanca
San Fernando - Bahía Sur
San Sebastián/Donostia
Santander
Santiago de Compostela
Segovia
Segovia-Guiomar
Sevilla
Soria
Tarragona Camp
Tarragona
Teruel
Toledo
Tudela de Navarra
Turín/Torino
Valdepeñas
Valencia
Valladolid Campo Grande
Vigo
Villena
Vitoria/Gasteiz
Xàtiva
Zamora
Zaragoza
Zurich
Ferries From Alicante
- At the moment Ferries do not run from Alicante
- Balearia Ferries run from Denia to Ibiza, Majorca & Formentera in the Baleratic Islands
