A Day Out Alicante City

Alicante is a city which has it all; a vibrant historic section with the Castle of Santa Barbara as it’s crowning glory, long fine sandy beaches, an impressive marina from where you can take the boat across to the Island of Tabarca or across the marina to the Panorama Centre, a great selection of boutiques, department stores and specialist shops, and many fiestas including the famous Hogueras or Bonfires around the end of June.

Santa Barbara Castle is well worth a visit. If you are feeling energetic, you can walk the 166m to the top through the old quarter or you can catch the lift from the street level, if it is working. However, the best way is to drive and park for free! You can explore the well preserved castle ruins at your own pace, taking in the stunning views and the tranquillity of its setting. On a clear day you’ll look out over the marina and beaches to the sea, down onto the cathedral and the old town, you’ll see the bullring and the football stadium for Hercules Alicante as well as the mountains in the distance.

Places of Interest in Alicante

• Tourist Office: more information about the museums, churches and monuments, a summary of which is after the Ideas of things to do in Alicante section. Remember that most museums are closed on a Monday and for siesta which is generally 14.00-16.00 in the winter and 14.00-17.00 in the summer.
• Tourist Bus: the bus operates from the end of March to the beginning of December on Tuesdays to Sundays. It leaves the Plaza del Mar every 60 minutes from 10.00-14.00 and 16.00-19.00. Tickets cost 10€ for adults, 7€ for pensioners and 5€ for children. Tickets are valid for the whole day and you can get on and off at any of the 10 stops. There is an audio commentary in English explaining all about what you are passing.
• Boat Trips: there are two possible boat trips from here. One to the Island of Tabarca, although it is best to take the boat from Santa Pola as the journey is shorter. The other is a little taxi boat the goes every 30 mins from one side of the marina to the other and costs 2&euro
• Beaches: Postiguet and San Juan are the most famous and the best of all the beaches within the city limits.
• Marina: chic and sophisticated, lined with cafes and restaurants.
• St. Barbara Castle: the castle is open everyday of the week and both entrance and parking is free. The lift costs 2.40€ return, but is free for under 5's and pensioners. Opening hours from 1st of April to the 30th of September for the castle are 10.00-22.00, the lift operates between 10.00 and 19.30. Opening hours from the 1st of October to the 30th of March for the castle are 10.00-20.00, the lift operates between 10.00 and 19.30.
• Shops: many boutique style shops as well as the usual collection of well known high street names including two massive El Corte Ingles department stores.
• Parks: El Palmeral Park for a bit of greenery within the city limits and La Ereta Park on the way up to the castle for stunning views over the marina.
• Alicante Hercules Football Stadium: watch Alicante’s football team play their home matches.
• Train Station: trains north to Valencia and Barcelona, inland to Madrid and south to Elche and Murcia.

Ideas of things to do in Alicante

• To get to know the city in one day we suggest visiting the bull fighting museum (free) when it opens at 10.00, then driving to the marina car park (charged for length of stay) and following our Alicante city walking route around the city to discover the old quarter, the Nativity and Hogueres Festival Museum (both free) and the tourist office. After a spot of lunch drive up to the Santa Barbara castle (free to visit and park) or take a picnic with you to eat at the castle and relax in the peace and tranquillity whilst enjoying the views out over the Mediterranean and inland towards the mountains.
• Park at the marina (charged for length of stay) and start your day with a boat trip across the marina to the far side, purchase a one-way ticket so that you can amble back along the promenade beside the marina and enjoy the boats from dry land. Head towards the El Corte Ingles Department store (near the train station) to discover the best shopping district and select somewhere to stop for lunch. You’ll finish up on the Explanada de Espana with its wavy tiles and permanent market stalls. On your way out of the city stop at the El Palmeral Park (free to visit and park) to the south of the city for a wander around its trails and to admire the man made streams and lakes.
• Park at the marina (charged for length of stay) and walk up to the castle through the old neighbourhood known as the Santa Cruz district, entering the La Ereta Park (free) and arriving at the castle (free) for a refreshing drink from the small kiosk. Then catch the tourist bus back (purchase day ticket) and hop on and off it as often as you please whilst discovering the city, or return via the escalator and end the day by a walk along the beach or a ceveza or vino and tapas over looking the marina.
• Take a look at the Alicantes Hercules website and watch one of their home games. The Spanish are very passionate about their football, like all of the European nations, so enjoy the atmosphere at the ground and then spend some time in the city.
• Visit Alicante by train from Orihuela or San Isidro , the station is beside one of the El Corte Ingles department stores right in the heart of the city.

The Tourist Office for information about the museums and other places of interest

• MARQ Provincial Archaeology Museum: displays of archaeology supported by modern audiovisual techniques.
• MUBAG Gravina Fine Arts Museum: works of art created in Alicante from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.
• Hogueras Festival Museum: all about the annual celebration bonfires of Hogueras de San Juan.
• Nativity Scene Museum: permanent exhibition of nativity scenes.
• The Bullfighting Museum: beside the bullring, exhibitions all about the bullfighters from Alicante including their ornate costumes (you can go into the actual bullring during the mornings only).
• Alicante Water Museum: located half way up the slopes of Mount Benacantil which is topped by the castle, the museum shows the history of water in the city.
• The MACA Contemporary Art Museum: important collection of 20th century art including works by Chillida, Picasso, Dalí and Miró.
• MUA Museum of Contemporary Art: located at Alicante University displays contemporary art.
• Lucentum Archaeological Site: the major archaeological remains of the Roman city of Lucentum.
• Santa Bárbara Castle: at a height of 166 meters on top of Mount Benacantil, stands one of Spain's largest mediaeval fortresses, providing great views of Alicante.
• Alicante Provincial Council: built in 1928 it houses a major art gallery.
• Town Hall: baroque 18th century building with several remarkable rooms to wander through and the Cota Cero", the reference point from which the altitude of Spain's various cities is measured in metres above sea level.
• The Santa María Basilica: is the oldest church in the city and was built upon the ruins of Alicante's largest mosque.
• The Santa Faz Monastery: built to guard a relic that was brought over from The Vatican in the 15th century which, according to popular tradition, was the fabric with which Veronica dried the bleeding face of Jesus on the Way of the Cross (5km).
• Alicante Theater: opened in 1847 it currently has capacity for an audience of 1027 people.
• Maisonnave Palace: inside the building that dates back to the 16th century is the City Archives and a display of the ruins of a late-Roman necropolis.
• The Central Market: built in 1912 it still houses the daily market Monday-Saturday 07.30-14.30.
• The Santa Cruz Hermitage: located half way up the slopes of Mount Benacantil.
• The Edificio Carbonell Building: is one of the most striking buildings in Alicante, built between 1922 and 1925 from the profits of a textile business.
• The Las Agustinas Convent: this convent was built in the 18th century for Jesuits.
• Explanada de Espana: over 6.6 million tiles of 4x4cm marble were used to create the wave pattern.

Places of Interest