Planning to enjoy a weekend in Alicante this winter? Here’s a recap of my recent getaway to the area in February, with things to do in the region and my impressions of the weather and vibes in the Alicante region.

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My Ultimate Long Weekend in Alicante Itinerary

Visiting Alicante in Winter

While Alicante and the Costa Blanca are among the most famous Spanish destinations year-round, they’re also considered a great winter sun escape for travelers coming from colder parts of Europe. Since I’ve mostly visited Alicante outside of the winter season, this weekend getaway offered an interesting opportunity to see how touristy the area gets and experience the weather and vibe firsthand.

For this Alicante weekend, we stayed in Santa Pola at AJ Gran Alacant by SH Hotels. This hotel is really nice, and during the off-season, it offers amazing value for money. While staying in Santa Pola, we explored Alicante, Benidorm, and Jardin del Cura in Elche – one of Spain’s most popular gardens, which had been on my travel bucket list for ages. My initial plan was also to take a boat trip to Tabarca Island, but unfortunately, it wasn’t possible during these 3 days.

Winter Weather in Alicante

Alicante is known as a popular winter sun destination, with daytime temperatures averaging around 16-18°C (61-64°F) and nighttime temperatures around 8-10°C (46-50°F). If you’re lucky, you might even experience temperatures reaching 20°C (68°F) on particularly sunny days. January and February are considered the coldest and wettest months for the region, with an average of 6-8 rainy days per month. However, that’s still relatively low compared to many northern European destinations.

During our visit to Alicante, Santa Pola, and Benidorm in February, we didn’t encounter heavy rain, but the weather was mostly foggy with light showers. To my surprise, it was also quite windy. One of the biggest differences from other seasons was how much quieter the region was – except for Benidorm, where I was surprised to find many bars still packed during the off-season.

How to get to Alicante

You can reach Alicante by train, plane, or car. The nearest airport is Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández (check out your flights on Booking.com – I recently got tickets to Gran Canaria through them, and for some reason, it was even cheaper than booking directly with the airline).

You can easily get to Alicante’s train station from most major Spanish cities (for the best ticket deals, check out Omio). If you decide to rent a car and explore the area (I use DiscoverCars, as the largest comparison site), you can also combine your Alicante trip with a visit to Valencia (check out this post for everything to see on the road between the two) or Murcia (check out this post). You can find all my articles and itineraries on Alicante under the #Alicante hashtag.

Where to stay in Alicante

To explore the city of Alicante and the nearby towns of Santa Pola, Elche, and Benidorm, you can stay in Alicante city or choose a hotel in the surrounding area. All these places are well connected, and there’s plenty of parking (though mostly paid and underground) – except in Benidorm, where even in the off-season the parking lots were busy. Still, we managed to find parking without any problems. If you decide to stay within Alicante city, I really like Eurostars Pórtico Alicante and Casa Alberola Apartments.

Also, during my last trip to Alicante, we stayed at SH Villa Gadea in Altea and loved it. This time, I chose AJ Gran Alacant by SH Hotels. It offers great value for money in the off-season and is conveniently located near the shopping center and the popular Playa Carabassi beach. You can find more current deals on the map below.

My ultimate 3-day itinerary for Alicante (Region) in February

Winter Weekend in Alicante: Day 1

Santa Pola Lighthouse Viewpoint

The Faro de Santa Pola lighthouse is visible at night from many of the beaches in Alicante. Perched on the 138-meter-high cliffs between Alicante and the fishing port of Santa Pola, it offers breathtaking views. The Mirador del Faro de Santa Pola viewpoint features a modern 100-meter-long skywalk along the cliff edge, with stunning vistas over Tabarca Island. Since we visited in the morning during the off-season, there was only one other couple there, making it feel like one of the most romantic spots in Spain.

Santa Pola & Lunch

After visiting Mirador del Faro de Santa Pola, we made our way to the charming village of Santa Pola. Originally, I had planned to take a boat to the renowned Tabarca Island, but during the off-season, ferry services are limited – especially since the waves on the day of our visit further reduced the schedule. So, we decided to save a boat trip to Tabarca for another time.

That said, Santa Pola turned out to be the perfect spot for a delicious lunch in the Alicante region. We chose Sidrería Restaurante El Llagarin based on its fantastic reviews, and it did not disappoint. The restaurant specializes in traditional dishes from the Asturias region of Spain, known for iconic dishes like fabada and pote asturiano, which are perfect comfort foods for the colder seasons in Spain.

Huerto del Cura Garden in Elche

After an amazing lunch at Sidrería Restaurante El Llagarin, we headed to Elche. This city is known for the largest palm grove in Europe, considered one of the top otherworldly beautiful Spanish landscapes. Since I have previously visited the town of Elche (read more in this post), for this weekend in Alicante we have only planned to make a stop at Huerto del Cura Garden.

It is often called one of the coolest gardens in Spain since this place features palm trees from around the world, beautifully laid out and combined with other plants. It is known as a calm and serene oasis of greenery in the region of Alicante.

Winter Weekend in Alicante: Day 2

Jardi de L´Albarda

Jardí de L’Albarda is widely regarded as one of the most stunning stops on any road trip between Valencia and Alicante. I first discovered this beautiful garden a few years ago while taking a boat from Denia to Formentera, and since then, I’ve made it a point to revisit whenever I’m in the area. For more details and photos, check out this post on Jardí de L’Albarda.

Quique Dacosta 3-Michelin-Star Restaurant

Since we were celebrating a special birthday during our February weekend in Alicante, I knew we had to make the experience unforgettable with a memorable gastronomic experience. After doing some research, I decided to book an artistic lunch at Quique Dacosta Restaurant in Denia. This restaurant is ranked among the 50 World’s Best Restaurants (according to the Best Chefs Awards), making it a true culinary gem.

As you may know, there are only 15 3-Michelin-star restaurants in all of Spain, so dining at one feels like a truly exclusive and indulgent foodie experience. While I’ve dined at one- and two-Michelin-star restaurants before, this was my very first 3-star experience – and it did not disappoint. The restaurant itself was fantastic, with each dish feeling like a work of art. Chef Quique Dacosta is renowned for reimagining Valencian cuisine by infusing traditional Mediterranean ingredients with modern twists.

The tasting menu at Quique Dacosta Restaurant costs around 275 euros per person (and prices may rise slightly during the summer peak season), so it’s definitely a splurge. But both of us thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to experience such a prestigious 3-Michelin-star lunch during our winter weekend in Alicante.

The City of Alicante

After our artsy lunch, we headed to the city of Alicante to spend an afternoon. For the detailed Alicante itinerary, check out this post.

Alicante is a popular destination year-round, even in February, so you can make the most of your visit by joining a local foodie tour, exploring the city on a bike tour, or enjoying a Spanish cooking class.

Winter Weekend in Alicante: Day 3

L´Albir

On the last day of our Alicante trip in February, we had planned to spend the day in Benidorm. However, I stumbled upon a charming coffee&brunch spot in the nearby village of L’Albir, D’Origen Coffee, so we decided to start our day there for breakfast (a heads-up: it gets really busy on weekends after 10:30 a.m.).

Afterward, we parked at the L’Albir Lighthouse car park and set off on a lovely walk through Serra Gelada Natural Park. The trail was incredibly easy and accessible, even suitable for baby strollers, which is why it was quite popular. But the views along the way were absolutely stunning. The walk culminates at the picturesque L’Albir Lighthouse, and the whole round trip took us about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Motor Museum

After a pleasant morning walk to L’Albir Lighthouse , we decided to visit another interesting spot on the way to Benidorm, the Motor Museum (or Museo del Motor in Spanish), known for its unique collection of rare vintage cars. You can book the Motor Museum tickets here. This museum organizes family experiences and limo pick-ups.

Benidorm

Benidorm, one of the main tourist hotspots on Spain’s Costa Blanca, hardly needs an introduction. Known for having the most skyscrapers in Spain – and the third most in Europe, after London and Milan – this city is a true architectural marvel.

After exploring the city center and Balcó del Mediterrani, we enjoyed a fantastic lunch at D’Vora. The restaurant is famous for its panoramic views of the Benidorm coastline, although it was a bit too cold and windy for outdoor seating during our visit. If you’re heading there in summer, I’d definitely recommend reserving a table on the terrace for the best experience.

Next, we made our way to the Gran Hotel Bali to check out its famous Star Deck. Until 2010, this hotel was the tallest building in Europe (though that title now belongs to the Intempo skyscraper). Once inside the hotel, head to the far right until you spot the elevators, then press for the 43rd floor. There’s a small fee to access the Star Deck: 6 euros per person, or 3 euros if you’re staying at the hotel. Keep your ticket handy – it gets you a free drink at the lobby bar.

The views from the 43rd floor were absolutely stunning, especially since we visited during Golden Hour, and we were lucky enough to have the deck mostly to ourselves. You can check out more about Benidorm in this post.

While Benidorm in February was definitely quieter than during other seasons, I was pleasantly surprised to find that most restaurants and cocktail bars were still open, and there was even a bit of buzz as the night went on. If you’re looking for a social vibe and lively atmosphere, Benidorm is a great base for exploring the Alicante region in February. Plus, there are plenty of exciting day trips you can take from Benidorm, like a jeep tour to Guadalest, one of Spain’s most picturesque towns.

Personally, I prefer staying in quieter areas. That way, I can enjoy the energy and excitement when I head out, but still retreat to a peaceful spot for some downtime. However, if you’re more of a social butterfly, you might find places like Santa Pola a bit dull in February. Even Alicante felt like it was in the off-season during this winter getaway, despite having a few travelers around.

Is the Alicante region worth visiting in winter?

Overall, the Alicante region and its coast of Costa Blanca – including the city of Alicante, Santa Pola, and Benidorm – is worth visiting year-round. Personally, I enjoyed visiting in winter because the temperatures were much more comfortable, not too hot. Benidorm in February sees far fewer visitors, but most venues remain open, so if you’re luckier with the weather than we were, you could still enjoy a lovely winter sun break in Spain.

Santa Pola was fairly quiet in February, and unfortunately, we couldn’t take a boat to Tabarca Island. That said, I’m not sure it would have been as enjoyable as it is in the summer or even early autumn or late spring, when you can swim and snorkel there.

As for Alicante city, it’s also fine to visit year-round. In February, it was quieter, and having visited during other seasons, I’d say winter isn’t when the city truly shines. However, if you’re coming from colder countries or simply want to avoid the peak-season crowds, visiting in winter is definitely worth it.

My other articles about the region of Alicante:

• Mediterranean Garden Inspiration in Spain: Jardi de L´Albarda in Alicante (read it)
• Valencia to Alicante Road Trip: Top Stops On The Go (read it)
• One Week in Alicante with Kids: Our Costa Blanca Holidays (read it)
• How to Enjoy One Day in Benidorm (read it)
• One day in the city of Alicante (read it)

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