Alicante: what to see in 1 day

The Castle of Santa Barbara is the stop to begin from, which dominates the city from the top of a hill overlooking the sea: it is best to climb in the early morning hours, before the heat makes itself felt, using the elevator that departs near the Postiguet beach instead of tackling the steeper footpath. From the bastions the view spans across the city, the port and the coast, and the visit across the different levels of the fortress generally takes about two hours.

Coming down from the castle you naturally reach the old town, the Santa Cruz neighborhood, with its low houses with colored facades, the narrow alleys climbing the hill and small squares where you often find yourself stopping without a precise destination. Slightly further down you find the basilica of Santa Maria and the concathedral of San Nicola, both visitable in a brief stop as part of the same walk.

At midday the route descends toward the Explanada de España, the pedestrian waterfront paved with the famous wave design in marble, which connects the old town to the port: it is the natural place to stop for lunch, among the places overlooking the walkway and the coming and going of boats in the marina.

In the afternoon a choice opens up that is not worth combining in the same day: on one hand remaining in the city and dedicating the hottest hours to the Postiguet beach, right next to the center, which allows you to end the day with a swim without having to travel; on the other hand embarking for the island of Tabarca, the only inhabited island in the Valencian archipelago, which offers clear waters and a small historic village but requires most of the afternoon by itself between the crossing and the time on the island. Those seeking relaxation will probably prefer to stay in the city, those willing to give up some free time in exchange for a different atmosphere can choose the boat trip.

Movement between castle, old town, Explanada and beach is comfortably done on foot, given that distances are limited; only the possible excursion to Tabarca requires boarding from one of the port docks, with regular departures in the warmer months.

Alicante's most characteristic profile is traversed in sequence in just a few hours, from the castle that looms over it to the seafront that opens it to the sea, without having to sacrifice anything thanks to the contained distances between the different zones. The only sacrifice concerns perhaps the day trips, starting with Tabarca, which remain more suited to those with more time.

For those with only a few hours, it remains nonetheless a route capable of delivering both the historic soul and the beach soul of the city, in a balance that other coastal destinations do not offer with the same ease.