Benidorm
Benidorm on the Costa Blanca offers families Blue Flag beaches, Aqualandia, Terra Mítica, and a charming Old Town. Sun, fun, and great seafood await.
0 guides · Valencia & Costa BlancaExplore →
🇪🇸Alicante
Alicante combines golden beaches, a hilltop castle, a walkable old town, and a brilliant food scene. Here is everything your family needs to know.
Your family guide
Alicante with kids: sun, castles, and seriously good food
“Climb Santa Bárbara at sunset and watch the castle shadow stretch across both the beach and old town at once—that's Alicante's trick, fitting everything into one view.”
— San & Jo
Alicante is one of those places that just works for families. You get golden beaches right next to a walkable old town, a hilltop castle that children love to explore, and a food scene that gives everyone something to talk about. With around 300 days of sunshine per year, the weather is reliably on your side too.
The city sits on Spain's Costa Blanca and has been welcoming visitors for more than 7,000 years. That history is everywhere: in the winding alleyways of El Barrio, in the Gothic arches of the Basílica de Santa María, and up on Mount Benacantil where the 9th-century Santa Bárbara Castle watches over the whole coastline. It never feels like a history lesson though. It feels alive.
What makes Alicante special for families is how easy it all is. The old town is pedestrian-friendly, the beaches are calm and close, and the local food is the kind children actually want to eat. Fideuà, gambas al ajillo, turrón straight from the market. Come hungry and stay as long as you can.
300 sunny daysper year
166m hilltop castleSanta Bárbara
Birthplace of turrónsince Arab times
Best things to do
Best things to do in Alicante
Santa Bárbara Castle
This 9th-century fortress sits 166 metres above the city on Mount Benacantil and the views from the top are genuinely jaw-dropping. Archaeological remains span from the Bronze Age to Roman times, and there is enough to explore to keep curious kids engaged. Take the lift from the beach side to save your legs for the exploring.
Take the lift up, walk down through El Barrio
1-2 hours
Playa del Postiguet
Alicante's urban beach is right next to the old town, which means you can easily combine a morning at the castle with an afternoon swim. The water is warm, the sand is golden, and the Mediterranean is calm enough for little ones. It is one of the most convenient city beaches you will find anywhere in Spain.
Arrive before 10am in July and August for the best spots
Half day
Explanada de España
This iconic palm-lined promenade along the harbour is paved with around 6.5 million wavy marble tiles and is one of the most photographed spots in the city. Stroll along it in the early evening when the locals do, stop at a bar for a café bombón, and let the kids run ahead. Art markets and live music pop up regularly.
Best at golden hour before dinner
1 hour
Mercado Central
Alicante's Central Market is a brilliant sensory experience for families. Stalls are packed with fresh produce, paella ingredients, mojama, and local salazones. Let the kids taste turrón, pick up some olives, and watch the vendors at work. It is one of the best introductions to local food culture you will find.
Go on a weekday morning when it is busiest and most atmospheric
1 hour
Day trip to Tabarca Island
A short ferry ride from the harbour brings you to Tabarca Island, a small protected island with clear water, calm beaches, and almost no cars. It is a fantastic half-day escape from the city and the snorkelling is excellent for older kids. Pack lunch or eat at one of the small restaurants on the island.
Book your ferry ticket in advance during summer
Half day
El Barrio (Barrio de Santa Cruz)
Alicante's colourful old-town neighbourhood is full of narrow alleyways, painted steps, and artisan cafés. It is compact enough to explore with younger children and interesting enough to hold the attention of teens. The bar and café scene comes alive in the evening, but it is equally charming on a quiet morning walk.
Look for the painted flower pots on the stairways near Calle Labradores
1-2 hours
MARQ Archaeological Museum
MARQ is one of the most engaging museums in the region and a genuine surprise for families who expect dry displays. The exhibitions are interactive and well-designed, covering Alicante's 7,000-year history with artefacts and hands-on sections. The Terracotta exhibition is a particular highlight worth seeking out.
Check the website for current temporary exhibitions before you visit
1.5-2 hours
Our verdict
How Alicante scores for families
Kids
A beach right next to the old town, a castle to climb, a ferry to an island, and turrón at every turn. Alicante keeps kids genuinely happy.
Food
This is where Alicante really shines. From fideuà and arroz a banda to gambas al ajillo and café bombón, the food culture here is something families talk about long after they get home.
Culture
Seven thousand years of history, a Gothic church, a Moorish castle, an excellent archaeological museum, and a colourful old town. There is real depth here if you want it.
Nature
The beach is beautiful and Tabarca Island is a treat, but if your family craves dramatic landscapes you will want to combine Alicante with day trips to places like Guadalest or the Canalobre caves.
Budget
Alicante is noticeably more affordable than Barcelona or Madrid. Tapas are cheap, the beach is free, and the castle entrance is very reasonable. Eating and drinking well here does not have to cost a fortune.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Alicante?
2
2 days
Quick visit
Castle, beach, Explanada, and a meal at the market. You will get a real taste of the city.
sweet spot
4
4 days
Sweet spot
Time to explore El Barrio properly, visit MARQ, take the ferry to Tabarca, and eat your way through the local menu without rushing.
1
1 week
Deep dive
Add day trips to Benidorm, Altea, Villajoyosa, and Guadalest. You will feel like a local by the time you leave.
Fun facts
Things to know about Alicante
6.5 million marble tiles
The Explanada de España promenade is paved with approximately 6.5 million small marble tiles laid in a wave pattern. Nobody is quite sure of the exact number, which makes it a fun challenge to try and count them.
Alicante invented turrón
The sweet nougat you find all over Spain at Christmas was born right here in Alicante, with roots going back to Arab times. The classic hard version comes from Alicante itself, while the softer variety comes from nearby Xixona just up the road.
7,000 years of history
Alicante has been continuously inhabited for more than 7,000 years. The castle on the hill has seen Bronze Age settlers, Romans, Moors, and medieval rulers all call this place home. That is a lot of stories packed into one city.
Taste Alicante
What to eat with your family in Alicante
Fideuà
Must tryNou Manolin
Think of it as paella's noodle-loving cousin. Fideuà is made with short pasta instead of rice, cooked with seafood in a rich broth until the bottom layer gets deliciously crispy. That crunchy socarrat layer is the part everyone fights over.
Gambas al ajillo
Local favouriteNou Manolin
Local shrimp sautéed in chilli-infused olive oil with lemon and parsley, served sizzling in a clay dish. It is one of the most ordered tapas in Alicante and a brilliant introduction to the local food scene for kids who like a little flavour.
Café bombón
Daily treatAny café on the Explanada de España
Espresso poured over a layer of sweetened condensed milk, served in a small glass so you can see the layers. It is sweeter than a regular coffee and absolutely beloved by locals. Kids can ask for a version with just the condensed milk and warm milk.
Arroz a banda
Must tryNou Manolin
Creamy rice cooked in a deep fish broth, often served with cuttlefish and a generous dollop of alioli. It started as a humble fishermen's meal and became one of the most celebrated dishes on the Costa Blanca. Rich, warming, and completely satisfying.
Turrón
Kids love itMercado Central
Pick up a piece of hard Alicante turrón at the Mercado Central and you are eating something with a history stretching back centuries. Crunchy, honey-sweet, and packed with whole almonds. Children often want to bring a box home.
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