Is Alicante Worth Visiting in 2026? – Absolutely – It’s a Great Spot

Last updated on March 18th, 2026 at 05:41 pm

Wondering if Alicante is worth visiting? I stayed in Alicante for 5 days and 4 nights, explored its highlights, and experienced the food, transport, and sights firsthand.

Below is everything you need to know about visiting this lovely coastal spot in Spain.

🔥 Quick Summary — Should You Visit Alicante?

• Verdict: Yes – it’s a great winter sun destination
• Best for: Long weekend or midweek breaks
• Best time to visit: Winter months (avoid the summer as it is too hot!)
• Average stay: 3 or 4 days
• Ease of travel: Lots of great flight options from the UK
• Value for money: Very good

👉 Bottom line: Alicante is great for a relaxing winter sun break with a lovely beach, lots of coast to explore and plenty of great food to enjoy.

Use the map below to find accommodation that suits your budget quickly and easily 👇

Is Alicante Worth Visiting Image Showing View Across the Sea

🧭 What Makes Alicante Worth Visiting?

I loved Alicante because;
✔ The weather during our November trip was warm and mild – 20 degrees throughout
✔ It was super easy to explore the coast using the local tram line
✔ The food was great – everything from Tapas to Turkish
✔ The hotel was right beside the beach

Alicante is easy to reach from the UK, with lots of budget airline options available. It offers great value as a reliable winter sun spot.

Is Alicante Worth Visiting?

What is Alicante Like?

• Alicante is a coastal and port town located on the South Coast of Spain.
• It is in the Costa Blanca area, which refers to the coastline and it’s a popular tourist destination.
• Alicante has a population of around 350,000 people so it’s quite a busy place.
• It’s a very friendly city that is used to welcoming tourists. It feels more like a town than a city.

🚄 How to Get to Alicante from the UK

There are direct flights to Alicante from;

• Manchester
• Bristol
• Bournemouth
• London
• Newquay
• Exeter
• Glasgow
• Belfast
• Cardiff
• Liverpool
• Newcastle
• Norwich
• Birmingham
• Southampton
• Nottingham
• Durham
• Leeds
• Edinburgh
• Aberdeen

Getting From the Airport to Alicante

There is a bus service that runs from the Airport to Alicante. A single ticket costs 4 Euros 50.

Is Alicante Worth Visiting Image Showing View from Cafe Across the Beach

🗓 When Is the Best Time to Visit Alicante?

One of the main reasons people visit Alicante is the warm weather, particularly in the winter period.

There isn’t much rain.

I went in November and enjoyed pleasant daytime temperatures of around 18 degrees Celsius. Evenings were a little cooler, but it was still warm enough to sit outside (also due to the abundance of outdoor heaters!).

One of the issues that Alicante has experienced in more recent years is very hot weather in June, July and August. Uncomfortably hot. The type of weather where you can’t sit outside, unless you want to burn to a crisp.

It’s been in the high 30 degrees Celsius, at times heading past the 40 degrees Celsius range.

There have also been some periods of drought more recently too.

• Peak season: May – August – these are busiest months and the hottest temperatures
• Shoulder season: March & April, September & October – best balance of weather, prices and fewer crowds
• Off season: November, December and January – lowest prices but some things may be closed.

Here are the average day and night temperatures for the year in Alicante.

Here is the average number of days of rainfall for the year in Alicante.

Here are the average hours of sun per day for the year in Alicante.

🚇 Getting Around in Alicante

Alicante is very easy to explore on foot. The main beach, promenande and city centre area are easy to explore on foot.

For exploring a bit further afield try the Alicante tram which links the coastal communities.

It’s a great way to explore – just hop on and off along the coast anywhere that takes your fancy.

🛡️ Safety & Practical Info

I felt safe and comfortable throughout my stay. I was there with a friend so I wan’t exploring at night on my own but I would have felt happy to.

Local crime is generally pretty low/moderate.

Alicante is very popular with British tourists.

💰 Prices & Value for Money in Alicante

I found Alicante to be good value for money. Staying in November meant we got a great flight and hotel package which was under £250 for two of us staying in a 4 star hotel.

Eating out was very reasonable too. We tended to eat at snack bars/cafes during the day and enjoyed a main meal in the evening, generally with wine.

Santa Barbara Castle was free to enter – the lift up cost around 3 Euros each.

The tram costs 1 Euro 45 for a single journey but buying a multi journey card is a better value option if you plan to use it more often.

Is Alicante Worth Visiting Image Showing View Across Sea at Night Time

🏨 Where to Stay in Alicante

There is also plenty of accommodation available in Alicante with something to suit every budget.

As a girl who likes a bit of comfort when travelling I stayed at a lovely hotel right between the beach and the marina. It has changed hands now and looks even more lovely – it’s the Melia Alicante.

It overlooks the beach on one side and the marina on the other and it is within easy reach of everything.

Is Alicante Worth Visiting Image Showing View from Castle

🏆 Top Things to Do in Alicante

I enjoy exploring using the public transport whenever I can.

Here’s where I visited in Alicante and nearby.

🎨 Culture & History

• Santa Barbara Castle – this castle looks over Alicante. It is easily accessed by taking a lift from the promenade area. It was worth it just for the views. There is also a cute cafe there as well which was a nice spot to relax in.
• Alicante Tram – we took the tram and explored along the coastline. You can take the tram all the way from Alicante to Benidorm which takes around 70 minutes. The tram was very easy to use and a great way to experience a bit of local life too. I can’t actually remember the town I visited – possibly Cala D’Or.
• Alicante Activities – there are loads of great experiences available in Alicante. Everything from learning how to cook tapas, to boat trips, tuk tuk tours and so much more.

Is Alicante Worth Visiting Image Showing View from Bar Across the Marina

🍽 Food & Drink

I am a vegetarian and Southern Spain loves all things meat, especially pork. However, with a bit of searching I was able to find some good places to eat.

• Tapas – there were plenty of great tapas places available in and around the historic city centre.
• I would go back to Alicante just to visit Mish Mish. It’s a Lebanese restaurant that was fantastic. It also has an adjoining hookah bar which was quite interesting.
• There were plenty of nice coffee shops with plant milk alternatives available.
• 100 Montatidos is a great spot if you want to have something looking over the beach (we used this instead of having breakfast in the hotel)
• There are plenty of nice spots in the marina, along the promenade and through the city centre.

🌳 Outdoors & Walks

• The beach area is nice to explore and you can walk quite a way along the promenade.
• There is also a nice walk through the city centre, a pedestrian street called Mushroom Street, on account of the large fibreglass mushrooms!

💡 My Tips & Highlights

• Don’t miss: The view from the castle on a clear day – it’s lovely.
• Make sure to try: Mish Mish for a fabulous meal

Alicante FAQs

📌 Final Verdict — Is Alicante Worth Visiting?

✨ Yes! It’s a great value reliable winter sun destination that is very easy to reach no matter where you are in the UK.

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