Visit Alicante in 2 days

Where to Stay in Alicante

Alicante is delightfully compact, so choosing the right base is more about atmosphere and convenience than long journeys. Staying close to the historic core means you can walk to the main sights — the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari sits in the heart of the old streets, the palm-lined Paseo de la Explanada runs along the waterfront and the Teatro Principal anchors the lively central boulevard. For a two-day visit, prioritizing location lets you spend time exploring rather than commuting.

The city is organized around a few easy-to-navigate areas: the waterfront and port, the old quarter perched below the castle, and the modern commercial spine that runs inland. If you like morning sea air and an easy stroll to seafood restaurants, aim for a place near the Explanada and Postiguet beach. If you prefer cobbled lanes, whitewashed houses and a more intimate evening scene, the Old Town and the Barrio de la Santa Cruz are perfect — you’ll be steps from the Co-Cathedral and atmospheric plazas.

For theatre nights or a central launch point to museums, shops and cafés, look toward the area around the Teatro Principal and the main shopping streets. That zone keeps you within comfortable walking distance of the port and old quarter, and it feels practical for a short stay: you can drop your bags and stroll to most highlights. If you want quieter nights away from bars, the nearby modern neighborhoods just a few blocks inland tend to be calmer after dark while still being close by.

Transport in Alicante is straightforward: most visitors rely on walking, short taxi rides and a reliable local tram and bus network that connect the airport, port and city. For two days you won’t need to rent a car — public transport and taxis are efficient for any trip beyond a walkable radius. Check whether your accommodation has lift access if mobility is a concern, because many charming buildings are historic and may have stairs.

Finally, relax about choosing accommodation: prioritize a location that fits your energy — waterfront for easy mornings, old town for atmosphere, central for convenience — and look for basic comforts like air conditioning, elevator access, and clear check-in instructions. With the right area as your base, Alicante’s highlights will feel effortless to explore on a short trip.

Getting Around Alicante

Alicante is one of those delightful cities where public transport feels more like a friendly helper than a maze: compact streets, clear signage and a mix of reliable TRAM lines and EMT buses that link the historic center to the beaches and suburbs 🚇. For a visitor, the heart of the city — from the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari to the palm-lined Paseo de la Explanada and the elegant Teatro Principal — is often just a short stroll, but when you need to go further the network is straightforward, frequent and well marked in both Spanish and English.

Practical tip: buy a reusable card or a multi-ride voucher rather than paying cash for every hop. The city uses local transport operators like Renfe Cercanías for regional trains and the municipal services that accept a Bonobus-style or rechargeable card — these cut per-ride costs compared with a single ticket and save precious time at busy stops. Always validate your ticket or tap your card when boarding, and keep a paper receipt until the end of your trip. 🎫

When in doubt, open Google Maps or a transport app: they'll show live departures for buses and TRAMs, walking times and the best interchange points. If you’re standing near the port, for example, Google will suggest the short walk to Luceros — the main hub — for several tram lines, or it will point to a bus that drops you near the theatre. Save offline maps for roaming-free navigation and pin your accommodation so you can always find the quickest route back.

Budget-wise, public transport in Alicante is gentle on your wallet. A few multi-ride tickets or a day pass can slash the per-journey price, and walking when weather allows keeps costs down while letting you soak up the promenades, plazas and tapas bars. If you plan day trips to nearby towns like Elche or Benidorm, look at combined TRAM/RENFE options or regional billets for a better deal.

I remember the first evening I arrived: we dropped our bags, wandered past the glowing mosaics of the Paseo de la Explanada and then decided to see a show. Rather than taxi, we walked five minutes to the Co-Cathedral, admired the façade, then strolled along the waterfront to the Teatro Principal — it was quicker than we expected and felt wonderfully local. Still, later that week when we headed to the MARQ museum, hopping on a tram from Luceros was effortless — validated the card, enjoyed the ride, and felt like a city-native in minutes 🗺️.

What to Pack for Alicante

Two days in Alicante focused on cathedrals, churches and urban landmarks means lots of walking between plazas, gardens and historic sites—think long, slow sightseeing rather than beach time. Pack light but smart: comfort, sun protection, charged devices and a respectful layer for sacred places. These are the items I never leave home without on a short cultural trip here.

1. Comfortable walking shoes (required): I use a pair like Merrell Moab 2 or Ecco soft-soles because the old town has cobblestones and uneven steps—on one day I walked about 10 miles (16 km) exploring Santa Bárbara Castle, the cathedral and riverside promenades. Why: blisters ruin a day, good shoes keep you standing through long services, photo stops and stairs.

2. Cross-body bag with zip: I always carry a zipped cross-body (anti-theft if possible). In crowded plazas and near market stalls, you want hands-free security—on a previous trip my friend had his phone slipped from a back pocket at a busy fiesta, so I switched to a small cross-body and felt immediately calmer. Why: easy access to tickets and wallet, harder for pickpockets.

3. Weather-appropriate clothing + modest layer: Lightweight, breathable layers and a small scarf are essential. Alicante can be sunny even outside summer, and churches sometimes require covered shoulders—once I improvised with a cotton scarf for a cathedral visit. Why: keeps you comfortable during 8+ hour sightseeing days and shows respect inside religious sites.

4. Power adapter (Type C/E, 230V): Spanish sockets use Type C/E—bring a compact adapter. I forgot mine once and spent 20 minutes hunting in a hostel lobby; don’t repeat that. Why: you’ll need to charge camera batteries and phone for photos, ticket confirmations and offline maps.

5. Power bank (10,000 mAh): A 10,000 mAh power bank gives roughly 1–2 full charges for most phones; I kept mine on while out for 10+ hours taking photos in chapels and gardens and never missed a shot. Why: preserves battery for navigation, guided-audio apps and last-minute photo ops.

6. Optional—small notebook & pen or compact travel guide (optional): I like jotting down names of chapels, hymn tunes or a small sketch; on one visit I wrote down a priest’s recommendation for a quiet garden and it became a highlight. Why: paper lasts when apps die, and a pocket guide can point you to lesser-known churches off the main route.