The most beautiful getaways near Alicante
One can enjoy many different plans in the second most populous city of the Valencian Community, like visiting the castle that crowns the city: Castillo de Santa Bárbara. However, there are also lovely getaways near Alicante for those who want to make the most of the trip or just live in the area. This includes visiting beautiful corners of the Costa Brava or mountain villages with spectacular views, among other things.
Peñón de Ifach in Calpe. | Shutterstock
Calpe is one of the most popular spots near Alicante, and it can be reached in only 50 minutes by car. The outcrop known as Peñón de Ifach is definitely a must-see there, and it features all the postcards of Calpe. There is a nice hiking route that climbs up the limestone mountain after crossing it through a tunnel.
It is also worth visiting the old town of Calpe, where the streets of Puchalt and Gabriel Miró, the square of La Villa, the Torreón de la Peça, the walls and the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves stand out. Lastly, we suggest visiting Salinas de Calpe, a salt lake where salt used to be produced.
Altea. | Shutterstock
Only at a distance of 45 by car from Alicante, Altea is one of the most beautiful corners near the city. There we can find lovely whitewashed houses with blue tiles that make it such a special place. Some of the most interesting places to visit in Altea include the church of La Virgen del Consuelo, the square of La Iglesia and the lookout of Cronistas.
Other places in Altea travellers like to photograph include the street of San Miguel, Portal Vell and its lookout, Portal Nou, and Casa Cervantes. Besides, the visit can conclude by walking down the promenade or enjoying the beaches of Roda and Cap Blanc.
The harbour of Denia. | Shutterstock
Only an hour’s ride separates Denia from the capital of Alicante, which makes it the perfect place to spend the day. If you are ever around, you cannot miss the street of Marqués de Campo, the Toy Museum (“Museo del Juguete”), the Lonja del Pescado and the harbour.
The travellers should also visit the Barrio de Pescadores, the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the Ethnological Museum (“Museo Etnológico”), the castle of Denia and Loreto Street. Likewise, its surroundings invite us to the rocky coves of Les Rotes, the natural park of Montgó, and the pedanías of La Xara and Jesús Pobre.
Elche. | Shutterstock
The city of Elche, which lies 27 minutes from Alicante, stands out for displaying different architectural styles from different time periods. Its most visited monuments include the basilica of Santa María de Elche, the palace of Altamira and the Palm Grove of Elche.
The botanical garden of Huerto del Cura and the Museo Arqueológico y de Historia de Elche attract many travellers, as well as the square of Las Chimeneas. Only 8 kilometres away, we can find the island of Tabarca, which is an Asset of Cultural Interest (“Bien de Interés Cultural”), a historic-artistic monument, a special protection area and a Mediterranean marine reserve.
Jávea. | Shutterstock
85 kilometres away from the city, Jávea is an essential getaway near Alicante. Some of the most interesting places to visit there include the city hall, the church/fortress of San Bartolomé, the Mercado de Abastos and the hermitage of Santo Cristo del Calvario, which exhibits a signature blue-tiled dome.
If you still have time left to spend in Jávea, we suggest visiting the hermitage of Santa Lucía and the Riurau d’Arnauda. The latter is a building with arcades where they used to store raisins at night or during rainy days to avoid interrupting the dehydration process. Apart from that, it is also worth visiting the medieval walls of Jávea, the convent of the Agustinas Descalzas, Ca Lambert and the museum called Museo Arqueológico y Etnográfico Soler Blasco.
Guadalest. | Shutterstock
This is probably one of the most beautiful towns in Spain. Guadalest lies only an hour’s ride away from Alicante, and it is surrounded by mountains, in the comarca of Marina Baja, where one can get spectacular views. Some of the most interesting spots there are Casa Orduña, the castle of San José, the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and a prison from the 12th century.
Guadalest stands out for its remarkable number of museums too. Among them, it is worth mentioning the ethnographic museum, the museum of medieval torture, the one concerning historical vehicles, the saltshaker museum, the nativity scene museum…
Moraira. | Shutterstock
Back to the coast, Moraira is a lovely Mediterranean town. Moreover, it is only 13 kilometres away from Calpe, so both places can be visited on the same day.
One of the main tourist attractions of Moraira could be its beautiful coves, such as Cap Blanc, La Galera, Cala l’Andragó, Cala del Portixolet and the cove of Llebeig. Regarding architectural beauty, there is the castle of Moraira, its harbour, the old town and the tower of Cap d’Or.
Santuario de Santa María Magdalena, also known as the “little Sagrada Familia”. | Shutterstock
To end with, only half an hour away from the city, the traveller shall find Novelda, one of the most charming getaways near Alicante. Its signature monument is the Santuario de Santa María Magdalena, only three kilometres from the town, which reminds us of the Sagrada Familia of Barcelona. Other tourist attractions in Novelda include the Casa-Museo Modernista, the building of Casal Fester, the church of San Pedro, the town hall of Novelda and its casino.
