Since I really enjoyed this one week in Alicante with the kids, let me share with you some of the best places from this epic family trip to Costa Blanca.

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One Week in Alicante with Kids

Is Alicante good for families?

Alicante and its Costa Blanca coast are among the best Spanish destinations for families. What I have always loved about Alicante is how it combines the charm of a traditional Mediterranean getaway (similar to what you can experience in Ibiza and Mallorca, or even the Greek Islands, Cyprus, and Malta) with an exciting range of sightseeing opportunities, traditional Spanish cuisine, and plenty of road trip options. While spending holidays on the Spanish islands certainly offers a laid-back vibe, sightseeing plans are often more limited. In contrast, in Alicante, you can easily rent a car (or sometimes even take a train or bus) to explore nearby Spanish regions, like Valencia or Murcia.

I’ve always felt that Alicante is one of the best places to enjoy Spain with kids. While the region is well-established on the tourist track, I surprisingly enjoyed our week in Alicante more than our trip to Cambrils/Catalonia and the Costa Brava Road Trip (both of which took place during the off-season and were crowded with tourists). The coastal area of Alicante is known as Costa Blanca, filled with beautiful calas (small, shell-shaped bays popular for swimming and kayaking). However, in this post, I won’t be covering the beaches of Alicante, as this time, we were more focused on sightseeing (after our relaxing weekends in Benicassim). Nevertheless, you can check out my full list of the best Spanish beaches here.

My trips to the Alicante region

Except for this week in Alicante, the rest of my numerous visits to the province were one-day stops on the road to other Spanish regions. Let me highlight here my Alicante travel history:

• 2015: had a quick stop in Calpe to see Peñon de Ifach and discover its legend
• 2016: spent a day in Alicante to catch a flight to Iceland
• 2017: enjoyed an afternoon in Benidorm on the way to Southern Spain and Algarve
• 2018: made a stop at Torrevieja (to see the otherworldly landscape of the Pink Lake) on the road to Mojacar and Almeria
• 2019: celebrated New Year´s Eve with kids in a hotel SH Villa Gadea in Altea
• 2020: made a stop at the secret vintage museum of Ibi while heading to Murcia
• 2021: visited the stunning gardens near Denia to get on a ferry to Formentera
• 2022: visited Elche
• 2024: a weekend in Santa Pola

So, when you lay it all out this way, you’ll probably understand why it took me so long to actually plan a trip to Alicante and Costa Blanca. Somehow, I ended up there at least once a year, without intending to.

Where to stay in Alicante

On this Costa Blanca holiday, I aimed to visit Alicante to explore the region itself (and it certainly won’t be my last trip). We booked a hotel in Alicante city and traveled across the province to discover new places every day. This trip to Alicante took place in June, and we were on the road with two kids (aged 3 and 4.5 years old). You can check and compare prices for the top hotels in Alicante and its surroundings using this map:

Unique experiences to book in Alicante:

• Alicante Secret Flavors Food Tour (check availability)
• Roundtrip to Tabarca Island (check availability)
• Alicante and Santa Pola Tandem Paragliding Flight (check availability)
• Alicante 3-Hour Coastal Catamaran Cruise (check availability)
• Vineyards of Alicante – Wine Tasting Tour (check availability)
• Alicante City and Beach Bike Tour (check availability)
• Canelobre Caves Tour with Transport (check availability)

The Ultimate Itinerary for One week in Alicante with kids

Day 1 – Alicante

Santa Barbara Castle

There’s no better way to start your week in Alicante than by getting a panoramic view of the city from Santa Barbara Castle. This site has always held great strategic importance due to its hilltop location. The castle was named after Prince Alfonso of Castile, who conquered it from the Arabs on St. Barbara’s Day. While this castle may not make my list of top Spanish dream castles, the views were undeniably stunning. I also loved that the entrance was free, making it an excellent stop for those visiting Spain on a budget. In addition, Santa Barbara Castle hosts many interesting events, including guided tours, indoor exhibitions, culinary experiences, and concerts.

The city of Alicante

Another popular stop in Alicante is the Explanada de España, a pedestrian walkway near the waterfront, lined with palm trees. After an enjoyable walk and lunch, we headed to the Kinepolis cinema to relax and watch an animated movie with the kids. By the way, they typically show movies in English every week, which is not very common in Spain. You can check out the full itinerary in this post.

Day 2 – Benidorm and Terra Mitica

There’s no week in Alicante without visiting Benidorm, the Spanish skyscraper capital. The city is known as one of the main tourist hubs in Spain, with 27 buildings over 100 meters tall. Well, you know how much I love avoiding crowds… But this time, we had a good reason to stop by, as it was the opening weekend of Terra Mítica. You literally can’t travel to Alicante with kids and ignore its biggest theme park (even though we usually prefer PortAventura). During this week in Alicante, we didn’t spend much time in Benidorm itself (since we had already visited a few times). What I also want to check out next time are the antiques and flea markets of Benidorm, since they are famous in Spain.

By and large, my kids enjoyed Terra Mítica. Our oldest daughter loves stories about Egypt and Greece, and Terra Mítica had rides and decorations related to both. As a result, my kids were hooked from the very first minute. However, next time we plan to visit another popular spot in Alicante with the kids – Magic Robin Hood. But for this week in Alicante, I honestly felt that visiting two theme parks would be too much (obviously for me, not for the kids).

Day 3 – Novelda, Sax, and Villena

With my well-known passion for Spanish villages and magical castles, I try to include a few in all of my road trip itineraries across Spain. This week in Alicante, I’ve set my sights on the castles of Sax and Atalaya. The first is famous for its spectacular hilltop setting, while the second is just as impressive as any of Spain’s most dreamy castles.

Novelda

Before visiting the castles, we made a quick stop in Novelda to see the unique local church, Santuari de Santa Maria Magdalena, and the small museum, Casa Museo Modernista. Both places were quite distinct. However, there was a no-picture policy inside the museum, which I couldn’t quite understand. I mean, I get the no-flash rule – anyway, many people inside the museum were still secretly taking pictures, so I couldn’t see the point of enforcing such secrecy.

Sax Castle

The Sax Castle has Islamic origins, like many other ancient buildings in the Alicante region of Spain. It was conquered by the Crown of Aragon in 1239. There isn’t much to see inside, but the views are beautiful. To visit Sax Castle, you’ll need to book one of the three daily time slots in advance.

Castle of Alataya in Villena

Another place I really enjoyed during my week in Alicante was Atalaya Castle in Villena. It is also known as the Castle of Pies Negros (meaning ‘Black Feet’) or simply Villena Castle. This site was originally a military building of Arab origin, but it was renovated and expanded in the 15th century. Atalaya Castle is also home to the Treasure of Villena, a collection of 59 pieces made of gold, silver, iron, and amber, dating back to the Bronze Age. It is the largest collection of gold tableware found in Spain and the second largest in Europe. You can visit Atalaya Castle with a guide or on your own (book here). This place is definitely one of the hidden gems of the Valencia region.

Day 4 – Elche and Rio Safari

Elche

While Elche is often overshadowed by its famous neighbors, Alicante and Benidorm, the city is home to the largest palm grove in Europe (often referred to as one of Spain’s top natural wonders). You can find more photos from my visit in this post. The origins of the Palm Grove, also known as El Palmeral, date back to the 10th century during the Arab period in Spain. You can’t miss Parque Municipal (The Town Park of Elche), which is one of the most beautiful gardens in all of Spain. After a pleasant stroll through the park, we headed to Elche’s Cathedral, the Basilica de Santa María. The views from the top were simply stunning, but, as is often the case, there were many stairs to climb. This might not be ideal for children or seniors, but everyone else should definitely visit.

Rio Safari Elche

In the afternoon, we decided to take the kids to Rio Safari Elche. Although I’m not a fan of zoos, I’m usually outnumbered, as my husband and kids always want to go. While I didn’t find Rio Safari Elche particularly impressive, my girls truly enjoyed it.

Day 5 – Villajoyosa and Altea

You can’t spend a week in Alicante without visiting Costa Blanca‘s iconic coastal towns. Both Villajoyosa and Altea are must-see destinations in the Province of Alicante.

Altea

With its charming whitewashed houses, Altea embodies the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle. This small town is locally known as the ‘Cúpula of the Mediterranean,’ due to the striking blue dome of the town’s main church. Altea becomes quite touristy during the peak summer season, making parking spots hard to find. As a result, we made it a quick morning stop before heading to Villajoyosa.

Villajoyosa

Located just a few kilometers south of the famous Benidorm, Villajoyosa is known for its beautiful sandy beach and colorful fishing houses lining the seafront. It is one of the prettiest small towns on the Costa Blanca and one of the most vibrant villages in Spain. Many consider Villajoyosa to be one of the most charming small towns in Spain, as well as a top destination for enjoying the winter sun. Fans of local food souvenirs will be pleased to know that Villajoyosa is also known as the Spanish Chocolate City, thanks to its three chocolate factories: El Valor, Chocolates Pérez, and Calvileño (the first two offer free guided tours). While exploring the town, don’t miss the La Vila Museum. If you enjoy Medieval fairs in Spain, late July is an excellent time to visit Villajoyosa, as the Moros y Cristianos festival takes place then. Additionally, Villajoyosa is a fantastic destination for kayaking tours in Spain.

Day 6 – Aitana Safari

Aitana Safari was definitely a highlight of this week in Alicante for the kids. This place offers a unique experience to go on a safari without traveling all the way to Africa. You access the park in your own car and drive around, stopping at designated areas where staff members are present (you are not allowed to leave your car otherwise). They also offer private tours for those seeking a more exclusive wildlife experience.

Aitana Safari Park is one of our current favorites with kids in Spain. Such a great place to learn and experience more about wildlife and to see some exotic animals from the comfort and safety of your own car. You can check the videos from Aitana Safari Park via TikTok and IG Stories.

Day 7 – Guadalest

Due to its unique natural setting, the small town of Guadalest rightfully deserves its place on the list of the most beautiful villages in Spain. While this charming town is popular with tourists, it offers plenty of small museums to explore in a day, including the Nativity Scene and Dollhouse Museum, the Museum of Micro-miniatures, the Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers, the Collection of Historic Vehicles, the Ethnological Museum, and the Medieval Museum. However, most visitors come to Guadalest primarily for its stunning views.

More things to do in the region of Alicante

As always, I´ll add here a few of my Alicante bucket list experiences left for future visits. I hope it will be helpful for those of you who plan to stay in the region for more than one week, or maybe want to change something in my Alicante itinerary:

• panoramic views of Benidorm: Gran Hotel Bali (43rd floor)
• one of the top hikes in Spain – Relleu Dam Walkway
• more castles in Alicante: Bañyeres, Biar, and Petrer
• cool hikes in the Alicante region: Punta de Cavall, Punta de l’Escaleta, Far de l’Albir, Torre de l’Aguiló, Font del Molí, El Forat, Font de Paetegas, Arcos de Piedra
• waterfalls Fuentes de Algar
• calas (coves or bays) in Alicante: Cala Ambolo, Cala Portixol, and Cala Moraig
• if you love Spanish Medieval Fairs and your dates overlap – at the beginning of May there´s usually an impressive fiesta Moors and Christians of Alcoy
• a day trip to explore Valencia with kids

Best Alicante Day Tours:

• Guadalest Valley and Algar Waterfalls Tour (check availability)
• Charming Villages Tour – Villajoyosa and Altea (check availability)
• Chulilla and the Hanging Bridges Day Trip (check availability)
• Cullera Old Town and Albufera Natural Park (check availability)
• Bocairent and Covetes dels Moros Day Trip (check availability)
• Xativa and Anna Guided Tour (check availability)
• Coastal Cliffs & Beaches: private full-day tour (check availability)

Planning to stay in Spain for more than one week? – You can combine your Costa Blanca holidays with my Ultimate 7-day Valencia Road Trip Itinerary and Valencia to Alicante Road Trip.

My other articles about the region of Alicante:

• One Day in Alicante: My Favorite Places in the City (read it)
• Valencia to Alicante Road Trip: Top Stops On The Go (read it)
• Mediterranean Garden Inspiration in Spain: Jardi de L´Albarda in Alicante (read it)
• How to Enjoy One Day in Benidorm (read it)
• My Fun Weekend in Alicante (Region): Visiting Santa Pola and Benidorm (read it)

Map of top things to do in Alicante

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