Free walking tours in Alicante and what to see

Must-sees

Santa Bárbara Castle crowns Mount Benacantil and offers the best view of the city and the bay. You can go up by lift from Postiguet beach or on foot. Below it is the Santa Cruz quarter, with white houses, steps and flowerpots. Close by are the basilica of Santa María and the co-cathedral of San Nicolás.

The Explanada de España, with its wavy mosaic paving and palm trees, is the city’s signature promenade. Carry on towards the port and Postiguet to see the sea. In the centre, visit the Central Market and the MACA contemporary art museum. The MARQ, the archaeological museum, is a little out of the way but worth the trip.

Free tours and guided visits

There are free tours every day through the historic centre, and you tip what you like. They cover the old town, the Santa Cruz quarter, the main churches and the Explanada, and explain the city’s history and its festivals, such as the Hogueras de San Juan bonfires. It’s a good way to get your bearings on the first day.

Among the paid visits, a guided tour of the castle helps you understand its defensive role. The classic trip is by boat to Tabarca island, with clear water for swimming. It’s also easy to go to Elche to see its Palm Grove, a World Heritage Site, or to Guadalest, inland.

How long to spend

Two days let you see the main sights: one for the castle, Santa Cruz and the old town, and another for the Explanada, the market and a museum. If you add a third day, spend it on Tabarca or Elche. In summer, leave time for the beach, as Postiguet is right in the centre.

Where to stay

The centre, between the Explanada and the Rambla, is the most comfortable area for seeing the city on foot, with plenty of restaurants nearby. If you’d rather be by the sea, the Postiguet area combines beach and old town. For longer stays and a wide beach, San Juan beach is quieter and linked to the centre by tram.