Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Alicante?

Q: Is one day enough time in Alicante?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the vibrant city of Alicante, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the museums and landmarks, the cuisine, the beaches, and the historic old town. And you'll want even more time to just relax at the beach, too. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around two to four days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Alicante?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Alicante, Spain? Most people spend two to four days in Alicante during their visit. After all, the vibrant city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, taste delicious cuisine, swim at the beach, and learn about the history of the town.

Alicante is a seaside port city that is on Spain's Costa Blanca. It has a charming old town with colorful houses and charming streets. The city also has a lot of energy, beautiful views, and nearby sandy beaches.

Do you have one or two days to visit Alicante? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Alicante?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the vibrant city of Alicante, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the museums and landmarks, the cuisine, the beaches, and the historic old town. And you'll want even more time to just relax at the beach, too. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around two to four days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Alicante

Don't miss the Castillo de Santa Bárbara during your trip to Alicante, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. It's by the sea, so you'll find plenty of seafood. Rice is the main staple for many dishes in town. This is also a vegetable growing region, so many recipes incorporate fresh vegetables. Popular dishes include arroz a banda, arroz con costra, and olleta alicantina.

A few tour suggestions include:

Alicante Wine Tasting and Tapas for Foodies ($148)
Alicante Food and Tapas Tour with a Local Guide ($32)
Alicante Wine Tour with Wine Tasting ($75)

The public transit in Alicante is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There's a comprehensive bus system through the city and region.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Alicante?

As a small city, Alicante offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors. So with a weekend, you'll probably feel rushed to tour the famous sights and museums, taste delicious cuisine, swim at the beach, and learn about the history of the town. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the vibrant city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to four days to enjoy the beach and other sights. If you have a weekend or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're here.

Alicante, Valencia, Spain

How to spend 2 days in Alicante

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Alicante will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Alicante, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. This port city has a number of cultural and historical sights that are worth checking out. Castillo de Santa Bárbara, Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Alicante, and Basilica de Santa María are among the most well known.

A few tour suggestions include:

Alicante Highlights Private Tour with Castle ($76)
Alicante through its museums with an aperitivo ($93)
Private Tour of Vinalopó Castles and Wine Tasting ($82)

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. For the city's best nightlife, head to El Barrio Antiguo, which is the old district. This is where you'll find the highest concentration of bars and clubs, many of them having live music.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Alicante, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.