Alicante in 48 hours: the castle, old town and beach
HopTrip · Reviewed
For the first day we offer castle and old town, for the second museum and a walk by the sea. The plan leaves food and rest breaks. It does not include a trip to Benidorm or Tabarca: for a short stay this would mean giving up part of Alicante. Maps in Google Maps show the order of points, not the booked tour.
Image source and licence
Castillo de Santa Bárbara, Alicante, España, 2014-07-04, DD 54.JPG
Diego Delso
Cropped and resized by HopTrip; WebP format. This adapted photograph is shared under the same licence as the original.
Illustrative photograph, not a statement of current conditions or availability.
Day 1 morning: Santa Bárbara
Start at Castillo de Santa Bárbara. Choose how to reach it before setting out: walking up Benacantil and using the lift from Postiguet are different options. Check lift access, charges and hours; the map below shows the walk down, not the route to the lift.
Take into account the weather, water and your own condition on the exposed approach. After the tour, leave time to come down and have dinner. Do not connect the suitcase upon arrival with the first walk to the hill.
Day 1 afternoon: Santa Cruz and Explanada
Order after the castle: surroundings of Parque de la Ereta → Barrio de Santa Cruz → Town Hall → Explanada de España. Slow down in the old town and pick a place to eat. Stairs and slanted streets may require another variant for a wheelchair or person with reduced mobility.
Leave the evening for the boardwalk. If it's hot or the group is tired, skip some of the approaches and start walking at the town hall.
Day 2: MARQ and Postiguet
Choose MARQ, the archaeological museum, for the morning, then walk towards Postiguet and the harbour after a meal. Check tickets on the official museum website; the link is also in Museums and attractions below.
MARQ lists Monday as closing day. If your stay includes Monday, postpone the museum for another day or choose your own walk. Also check the shorter Sunday hours and the range of exhibitions covered by the ticket.
Free of charge and rain
The plan without tickets is based on the streets of the old town, Explanada and walking on Postiguet. Do not count automatically paid trips, elevators or museum to the free variant.
In rain, replace beach time with MARQ if it is open. If closed, plan a shorter walk when conditions improve and a longer meal break instead of promising an unavailable indoor visit.
Airport, baggage and budget
The plan assumes two full days in the city. For a late arrival, choose an evening walk; for an early return, omit the second day. Establish airport departure and luggage collection times before booking attractions.
Arriving before check-in or leaving after check-out? Ask your accommodation whether you can leave your suitcase and when it can be collected. Do not assume that every museum accepts travel luggage.
Enter flights, the actual number of nights, the nightly room price for the whole group, both transfers, food and selected tickets in the calculator. Leave unknown costs blank. Convert EUR or CZK spending to PLN at your chosen rate; do not add different currencies without conversion.
Check for updates before travelling
Information checked on 2026-10-07. Timetables, prices, opening hours and admission rules may change. Official sources are linked beside the relevant guide sections. Check them for your travel dates.
Ideas for your stay · Alicante
Museums and attractions
Tickets are purchased separately. Check availability for your travel dates with the seller or on the attraction’s official website.
- Museum
MARQ — Archaeological Museum
Explore the archaeology of the Alicante region at the MARQ museum.
Check the exhibitions covered by the ticket and booking rules.
Official website — tickets and visiting hours
Check visiting rules
Attraction costs are not included in the flight price. Before buying, check ticket inclusions, discounts and cancellation terms. Allow for flights and transfers on travel days.
Changes to dates and travellers in your plan are not automatically passed through this link. Check the date, participants and price with the partner.
