Day Trips from Alicante: Places To Go & What To See

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Looking to get out of Alicante for a day and see the other towns that the Costa Blanca has to offer? You’re in the right place! I’ve put together this guide to show you the best spots for a brilliant day out from Alicante.

The Costa Blanca has so much more to offer than just Alicante city, with amazing towns, natural wonders, and fantastic beaches all within an hour or so of driving. Whether you’ve hired a car or plan to use public transport, there are plenty of options for a fantastic day trip which I’ve listed below. You can visit all of these with a car – I’ve also added public transport times.

Benidorm

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 45 minutes
• 🚊Public transport: 45 minutes by Alicante tram

Only 45 minutes by car or train from Alicante, Benidorm offers a completely different vibe. It’s famous for its lively atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and loads of attractions.

What to do in Benidorm:

• Visit Terra Natura Zoo to see over 1500 animals (buy tickets here)
• Spend the day at Aqualandia water park (buy tickets here)
• Ride rollercoasters at Terra Mitica (buy tickets here)
• Relax on the gorgeous Playa de Levante or Playa de Poniente
• Experience the famous nightlife scene at Benidorm English Square
• Take in the views from the Cross of Benidorm
• Visit the charming old town for some amazing tapas in Benidorm Tapas Alley

For a full guide on what to do in Benidorm, check out my complete Benidorm guide.

Tabarca Island

• Travel time from Alicante port: 45 minutes to 1 hour by boat
• Boat services: Regular departures from Alicante port (buy return tickets here)

For something totally different, take a boat trip to Tabarca Island. Boats leave regularly from Alicante port, and the journey takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

What’s great about Tabarca:

• It’s the only inhabited island in the Valencia region
• Crystal clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling
• A car-free environment with a laid-back atmosphere
• Fantastic fresh seafood restaurants
• Interesting history as a former pirate hideout

The island is quite small, so you can easily walk around it in a couple of hours. I’d recommend bringing good walking shoes, sun protection, and water, especially in summer.

Santa Pola

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 20 minutes
• 🚌Public transport: 30 minutes by bus

Just a short drive south of Alicante, Santa Pola offers a mix of great beaches, a working fishing port, and interesting natural areas.

What makes Santa Pola a great day out:

• Beautiful fine sand beaches like Playa Lisa and Playa Levante
• The interesting salt flats where you might spot flamingos and other birds
• The 16th-century castle housing two museums
• Fresh seafood at the port restaurants
• The bustling Saturday market

The salt flats of Santa Pola are part of a nature reserve and make for a wonderful walk – bring binoculars if you’re into bird watching!

Altea

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 50 minutes
• 🚊Public transport: 1 hour 15 minutes by Alicante tram

Located about 50 minutes from Alicante by car or tram, Altea is one of the prettiest towns on the Costa Blanca. Its white-washed old town sits on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean.

What makes Altea special:

• The beautiful white-washed old town with cobbled streets
• The stunning Altea church (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo)
• Lovely beaches with crystal clear water
• Fantastic restaurants, many with sea views
• Great shopping in local craft shops and boutiques

The best way to enjoy Altea is simply wandering through the narrow streets of the old town, stopping for coffee or a meal at one of the many restaurants with terraces overlooking the sea.

Guadalest

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Guadalest Tour from Alicante: 11 hours, visiting Guadalest + Algar Waterfalls + Altea (buy tickets here)

About 1 hour and 15 minutes from Alicante by car, the mountain village of Guadalest is well worth the journey. Perched on a pinnacle of rock, this tiny village offers some of the most impressive views in the region.

What to see in Guadalest:

• The castle and its stunning viewpoint over the valley and reservoir
• Several quirky museums, including the Micro-Miniatures Museum
• The turquoise Guadalest reservoir
• Pretty streets with local craft shops
• Cosy cafés with fantastic views

The drive to Guadalest is an attraction in itself, taking you through gorgeous mountain scenery. I’d recommend going early to avoid the crowds, especially in summer.

Canelobre Caves (Cuevas del Canelobre)

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 30 minutes
• Caves Tour from Alicante: 2.5 hours, visiting Caves + Busot town (buy tickets here)

Just 30 minutes from Alicante by car, in the town of Busot, you’ll find the magnificent Canelobre Caves. These are some of the most impressive caves in Spain!

What makes the caves so brilliant:

• Massive cavern with a ceiling height of 70 metres
• Spectacular stalactites and stalagmites
• Cool temperatures (perfect for hot summer days)
• Guided tours available in multiple languages
• Fantastic lighting that shows off the natural formations

The main cavern is so huge it’s occasionally used for concerts due to its amazing acoustics. Tickets cost around €7 for adults, and the tour takes about 45 minutes.

Elche (Elx)

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 30 minutes
• 🚆Public transport: 25 minutes by train

Only 30 minutes from Alicante by car or train, Elche is famous for having the largest palm grove in Europe – with over 200,000 palm trees! It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.

What to do in Elche:

• Visit Elche Palmeral (palm groves) and its gardens
• See the Basilica of Santa Maria
• Visit the Huerto del Cura botanical garden
• Check out the archaeological museum
• Enjoy the riverside park

Elche has a very different feel to the coastal towns, offering a glimpse into a more traditional Spanish city.

Villajoyosa

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 30 minutes
• 🚊Public transport: 45 minutes by tram

Just 30 minutes north of Alicante by car (or a bit longer by tram), Villajoyosa is an absolute must-visit. The town is known for its rows of colourful houses along the seafront that once helped fishermen spot their homes from the sea!

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What I love about Villajoyosa:

• The stunning colourful houses along the waterfront
• The Valor Chocolate Museum (with free tastings!)
• Beautiful Villajoyosa beaches like Platja de Villajoyosa and Cala de les Puntes del Moro
• Amazing seafood restaurants by the port
• A more relaxed atmosphere than Benidorm or Alicante

If you’re a chocolate fan, make sure to book a tour at the Valor Chocolate Museum – they run English tours at 10am and 4pm, but book ahead as spaces are limited!

Calpe

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 1 hour
• 🚊Public transport: 1 hour 40 minutes by tram

Calpe is immediately recognisable by the enormous Peñón de Ifach, a massive limestone rock that rises 332 metres straight out of the sea.

What to do in Calpe:

• Hike up the Peñón de Ifach for amazing views (book in advance during summer)
• Relax on one of the lovely sandy Calpe beaches
• Visit the ancient Roman ruins of Baños de la Reina
• See flamingos at the Calpe salt flats
• Try the fresh seafood at the restaurants near the fishing port

The hike up the Peñón isn’t for the faint-hearted – the final section includes a tunnel through the rock and can be quite steep, but the views from the top are absolutely worth it!

Jávea (Xàbia)

• 🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 1 hour 15 minutes
• 🚌 Public transport: 1 hours 30 mins by Alsa bus

With its stunning coves, crystal-clear waters, and relaxed vibe, Jávea is a favourite spot for both Spanish and international visitors.

Why I love Jávea:

• The beautiful Arenal Beach with its soft sand and shallow waters
• The stunning coves like Cala Granadella and Cala Portichol
• The historic Javea old town with its Gothic church and local market
• Incredible views from the Cape San Antonio lighthouse
• Great restaurants serving both local and international cuisine

Don’t miss the sunset views from the Cabo de San Antonio – on clear days you can even see Ibiza on the horizon!

Anna Waterfalls and Chella Waterfall

🚗 Driving time from Alicante: 1 hour 30 minutes
🎯 Guided tour available: 5-hour trekking experience from €130 per person (book here)

There is a daytrip tour from Alicante to the Anna Waterfalls and Chella waterfall. This is one for the more active travellers who want to see some of the most stunning natural spots in the Valencia region.

The tour takes you to visit three incredible waterfalls in Anna, plus the impressive Salto de Chella waterfall in the medieval town of Chella. You’ll get to walk through this historic town and visit an observation deck with the best views of the waterfall.

Book your tour here:

You’ll be doing a lot of walking over 5 hours, so you need to be confident about your fitness level. The tour includes a local guide and hotel pickup, but you’ll need to bring your own food and drinks. The tour isn’t suitable for children under 10, anyone over 70, or wheelchair users due to the challenging terrain. Make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes, plenty of water, and some snacks for the journey.

You can only book this tour up to 2 days before your desired date, so don’t leave it too late if you’re interested!

Getting around

• By car: Hiring a car gives you the most flexibility for day trips. Most destinations have good parking facilities, though this can be limited in summer.
• By train/tram: The TRAM Alicante serves many coastal towns including Benidorm, Villajoyosa, and Altea. Trains to Elche run regularly from Alicante.
• By bus: ALSA runs bus services to many towns in the region.
• Organised tours: If you don’t want to drive or use public transport, there are plenty of day tours available from Alicante.

My top tips for day trips from Alicante

• Start early to make the most of your day, especially in summer when it gets very hot by midday
• Always check the last return time if using public transport
• Bring sun cream, water, and a hat in summer – the Spanish sun is strong!
• Many shops close for siesta between 2pm and 5pm, so plan accordingly
• Try the local specialities in each place – each town has its own culinary traditions

There you have it – my guide to the best day trips from Alicante! Each of these places offers something unique, and they’re all close enough to easily visit in a day. Which one will you try first?