The province of Alicante is much more than just beaches: it is home to natural treasures, mountain landscapes and significant monuments. And, best of all, everything can be visited without an overnight stop, as many of them make for perfect day trips from Alicante.
In this article, we highlight some of the best ways to spend the day and discover the lesser-known corners of Alicante. Take note!
Day trips from Alicante: What to visit?
If you are travelling to Alicante and want to spend your holiday doing something other than just soaking up the sun and heading to the beach, the best thing to do is to rent a car in Alicante and plan some day trips. Here are a few that are sure to surprise you:
Guadalest and Las Fuentes del Algar
One hour from Alicante we find a natural area of great beauty: Las Fuentes del Algar. It is a small group of waterfalls and springs where you can spend a morning or a whole day. And, in case you were wondering, you can swim in some of them.
After visiting these waterfalls, we recommend a stop in Guadalest, a village that, although small, is definitely worthwhile. If you go up to the castle of Sant Josep you will have incredible views of Guadalest and its reservoir. What's more, there are other interesting tourist hotspots, such as the museum of microminiatures or the Micro-Gigantic museum.
The Pink Lagoon and the island of Tabarca
Now we move south of Alicante, specifically to Torrevieja. After an hour's drive we find a natural site that should be experienced at least once in a lifetime: the Pink Lagoon of Torrevieja.
Covering about 1,400 hectares, this lagoon owes its colour to the proliferation of a bacterium that releases this pink pigment when it comes into contact with high levels of salt. In fact, this area is also called the Salinas Rosas (Pink Salt Flats). You cannot swim here, but your photos will be spectacular.
From Torrevieja, you can round out your day by taking a ferry to the island of Tabarca. There you can stroll through its walled streets and visit the Tabarca Lighthouse. And, if you like scuba diving or snorkelling, this is the perfect place for it.
Murcia
You can reach Murcia from Alicante in approximately one hour, which makes this city another ideal destination for a day trip.
The most iconic monument in Murcia is its cathedral, which combines different styles (Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic). In fact, it has the second tallest tower in Spain after the Giralda in Seville, as Murcia Cathedral's bell tower stands 90 metres tall. What's more, the urn containing the heart of Alfonso X the Wise is located here too.
After visiting the cathedral, you can see the Episcopal Palace, the Romea Theatre, the Royal Casino of Murcia and the Santa Clara la Real Convent Museum, where you will find one of the most beautiful Arab pools in the country. And, if you go to Murcia, don't forget to try the paparajotes.
Castles of Vinalopó
The last day trip from Alicante on our list is a visit to the so-called Castles of Vinalopó. This route takes you through 11 fortresses that extend through the regions of Villena, Sax, Elda, Novelda, Bañeres, Castalla, Biar and Monóvar.
The largest and most popular is the castle of Villena, known as La Atalaya Castle. It was erected in the 12th century at the hands of the Arabs, whose iconography can be seen in the vaults of crisscrossed arches reminiscent of those of the Royal Chapel in Cordoba.
Another of the most imposing castles on this route is the Castle of Biar, which also dates back to the 12th century. In fact, one of the original vaults from that period can still be seen today, giving this enclave a high historical and cultural value. In addition, it was built so that the ground plan adapts to the terrain, so it does not have a regular shape like most fortresses.
Also, Sax Castle is another of the most photographed, as it is located on top of a steep rock, adapting to its shape and becoming a natural viewpoint. If you come to see it in spring, the sight of the castle on top of the rock surrounded by vegetation is an image that will remain etched in your mind forever more.
However, one of the advantages of any of these routes is that they can be done and enjoyed at any time of the year. By renting a car in Alicante with OK Mobility, you’ll have the freedom to explore the province at your own pace. At OK Mobility, we provide you with the rental car that best suits your needs, encouraging you to discover this area full of landscape, history, and culture.
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