Day 1: Settle into Beachfront Bliss
Day one always sets the tone, doesn't it? You land at Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC), grab a cab or that easy ALSA bus (about 20 minutes, €3-5), and check into your beachfront base. I swear by Hotel Melia Alicante on Plaza del Portal de Hierro, 1—right on the Explanada, steps from the sea. Rooms from €150/night in peak 2026 season, with balconies screaming "relax." Open 24/7, obviously, but their rooftop pool hums from 10am-8pm. This place isn't some sterile chain; it's got that lived-in Spanish charm—faded blue tiles, hammocks swaying in the breeze, and a breakfast spread of fresh churros and ensaïmada that had me moaning at 8am last visit. The infinity pool overlooks Playa del Postiguet, where waves lap lazily, and staff remember your coffee order by day three. Pro tip from a guy who's spilled more café con leche here than I care to admit: Book a sea-view suite for those evenings when the castle lights flicker on like fireflies. It's 500+ feet from the promenade, yet worlds away from chaos—perfect for couples easing into Alicante beaches relaxation week itinerary vibes. Unpack, shower off the flight grime, and wander down to Postiguet Beach itself (Playa del Postiguet, Alicante, open 24/7, free entry). Fine sand underfoot, water so clear you spot sardines darting. I plopped my towel Day 1-style, slathered on factor 50, and dozed to the rhythm of gentle breakers. Locals jog by, vendors hawk fresh coconut water (€2), and across the bay, Santa Bárbara Castle looms like a benevolent giant. Rent a pedalo for €15/hour if the mood strikes—pedal slow, chat nonsense, watch ferries chug to Tabarca. Dinner? Stroll the Explanada de España (that mosaic promenade, endless), snag paella at Nou Manolín (Calle Vilaplana, 17; open Mon-Sat 1:30-4pm, 8:30pm-midnight; closed Sun). Their arroz a banda—rice with fish broth—is transcendent, garlicky and smoky, €22/plate. Portions feed two easily. We lingered three hours, wine flowing, people-watching the evening paseo. Back at the hotel, crash early; tomorrow's for deeper dives.
Day 2: Wander the Old Town's Hidden Charms
Day two dawned hazy, the kind of Mediterranean mist that promises perfection. Coffee on the balcony, then meander into El Barrio, Alicante's old town heart. No map needed—follow the narrow alleys uphill from the Postiguet end of the Explanada. First stop: Mercado Central de Alicante (Av. Alfonso X El Sabio, 10; open Mon-Sat 9am-2pm, closed Sun). This iron-laced 1920s beauty bursts with sensory overload: piles of ruby tomatoes, glistening olives in brine, jamón legs swinging like pendulums. I haggled for a wedge of queso manchego (€15/kg) and plump figs, chatting with vendors who've been slinging since Franco's days. Devour on a bench outside, juice dripping chin-ward—pure hedonism. From there, snake to Basílica de Santa Faz (Avenida de Aguilera, s/n; open daily 9am-1pm, 4-7pm; free). A 13th-century pilgrimage site with a sliver of the Virgin's robe, it's serene amid olive groves. Climb the 553 steps if you're feeling virtuous (I bailed halfway, cursing my beach bod), rewarded by panoramas of the bay glittering like shattered glass.
Climb to Serenity
Lunch at a tasca nearby—Dársena (Paseo de la Explanada, 8; open daily noon-11pm)—for gambas al ajillo, shrimp sizzling in olive oil and chili, €16. Garlic breath be damned; it's flirt fuel for couples. Afternoon? Siesta back at the hotel, then sunset chupitos (shots) at the beach bars. Humor me: I once challenged a local to a limoncello race—lost spectacularly, won a friend. Evening escalates to La Taberna del Gourmet (Calle San Isidro, 30; open Tue-Sat 1-4pm, 8pm-midnight), where chef Quique Dacosta's pop-up magic happens. Think molecular tapas: faux tortilla spheres bursting with potato essence. €50 tasting menu, worth every euro. Stroll home under streetlamps, arms linked, the sea whispering goodnight.
Day 3: Golden Sands at Playa de San Juan
By day three, you're hooked on this Alicante beaches relaxation week itinerary rhythm. Head north to Playa de San Juan (10km out, bus C6 from Plaza de Luceros, €1.45, 20 mins). This 7km stretch is golden—wide, pine-fringed, with chiringuitos (beach shacks) slinging mojitos. Base at Club de Regatas (Paseo Marítimo Neptuno, 15; open daily 10am-7pm in summer). Umbrellas €10/day, loungers extra. I spent hours body-surfing gentle waves, salt crusting my skin, laughing as kids built epic sandcastles. For families, it's gold—shallow waters, playgrounds nearby.
Beachside Bites
Lunch at chiringuito ElX (Playa de San Juan; open 10am-late): calçots (grilled onions) with romesco sauce, charred and smoky, €12. Nap under umbrellas, then bike rental (€5/hour) along the promenade to El Campello. Spot dolphins if lucky— I did once, squealing like a tourist. Back in town, aperitivo at Villa Marco (Puerto de Alicante; open daily noon-midnight), overlooking yachts. Their gin-tonics arrive botanically bedecked, €8. Dinner light: Mercado's leftovers or ceviche at a pop-up stall. Opinions? San Juan trumps Postiguet for space; it's where Alicante locals escape the cruise crowds.
Day 4: Escape to Tabarca Island
Midweek magic hits day four: Tabarca Island, the ultimate hidden gems Alicante relaxed getaway. Ferry from Muelle de Poniente (15km offshore, €26 round-trip via Naviera Armadores; departs 9:30am, 11am, returns 5pm/6:30pm; 45-min ride). Tiny, car-free idyll—whitewashed houses, turquoise cove. Dock, claim a sunbed at Cala Tabarca (€10), snorkel amid parrotfish (rent gear €5). Sensory blast: seaweed tang, bougainvillea perfume, church bells tolling. Lunch at Mesón de Tabarca (Calle del Mar; open ferry hours): fresh calamari fritters, pulpo a la gallega—octopus tender as butter, €18. Wander the walls (built 1760 against pirates—romantic tale for couples), peek into the marine reserve. I found a secluded rock, journaled for hours, waves crashing like applause. Return ferry golden hour, sip Estrella Galicia on deck. Evening: Flamenco at Peña El Arenal (Calle Capità Gregori, 25; shows Thu-Sat 10pm, €20 incl drink)—raw passion, claps echoing. Crash content.
Day 5: Postcard Views in Guadalest
Day five eases into culture without sweat. Bus to Guadalest (45 mins, €2.50), that postcard village atop a rock. Entry to castle €4 (open daily 10am-8pm summer). Narrow cobblestoned streets, geranium pots overflowing, views plunging to turquoise reservoirs. I got lost in the Ethnological Museum (housed in a 17thC house, artifacts from Moors), chuckling at ancient irons and lace looms. Café stop: Casa Cusí (Plaza de la Iglesia; open daily), for almond tortas (€3) and herbal teas brewed from valley herbs—bitter-sweet perfection. Families adore the duck-feeding pond; couples, the kiss-spots. Back by 4pm, beach recharge at Postiguet. Dinner: Home-cooked feel at Metre Cuadrat (Avenida Maisonnave, 14; open daily 1:30-4pm, 8:30pm-12am), €25pp—suckling pig crackling crisp, melt-in-mouth.
Day 6: Castle Heights and Tapas Trails
Day six whispers family friendly chill week Alicante vibes. Morning at Santa Bárbara Castle (Camí del Castell, s/n; open daily 10am-8pm summer, €3). Cable car up (€2.70), or hike the shady paths. Inside: dungeons chill-inducing, ramparts wind-whipped, 1000-year history unfolding. I picnicked prosciutto rolls up top, kites dotting skies. Afternoon: Arena de Alicante (Avenida Dr. Gadea, 1; if bullfights—rare now, check 2026 schedule), or skip for Santa Faz procession trails. Evening tapas crawl: Start Bodeguita de Miguel (Calle San Francisco, 8; open noon-late), patatas bravas fiery as hell (€6), end at La Taberna del Chino (Calle Belardo, 4)—insane montaditos, €2 each.
Day 7: Savor and Say Goodbye
Day seven: Savor the last. Revisit San Juan for final swims, shop Mercado for saffron souvenirs. Lunch farewell paella at Socarrat (Playa San Juan, Km 4; open daily), saffron-scented rice hugging the pan's crust—€20pp. Taxi to airport, heart full. This perfect beach focused Alicante itinerary? It's not rushed; it's reborn daily in your rhythm. Alicante 2026 calls—answer slow.
