Alicante Compass
Day Trips from Alicante.
Everything worth leaving the city for. Most within an hour's drive — plus one that's a short flight instead.
Alicante is a great city. The area around it is just as good — most people never find out.
Some of the best days we've had as a family started with a one-hour drive and no particular plan. The Costa Blanca has places that simply don't show up on the standard tourist map — most of the best day trips from Alicante are within an hour's drive of the city centre. One exception: Menorca, which isn't a drive at all, but a short seasonal flight worth knowing about.
What you'll find here is my own selection of the places I think are worth the drive. A personal must-visit list built from real visits, not a travel agency brochure. The list will keep growing.
Good travels.
Colourful townVillajoyosa 2026: Colored Houses & Chocolate Guide
30 min north · seafront parking
Villajoyosa sits 30 minutes north of Alicante with a seafront of painted fishermen's houses, a working beach, and a chocolate factory that has been running since 1890. One of those places that looks exactly like the photos — and better in person.
Read guide→
Old townAltea Old Town, Spain (2026) — What to See, Where to Walk & Local Tips
45 min north · hilltop, park at the entrance
Altea old town — white-washed streets, blue-domed church, and views over the Mediterranean that stop you mid-sentence. A day trip from Alicante worth every kilometre of the drive.
Read guide→
Beach townEl Campello, Alicante — Local Beach Guide (2026) | 20 min from Alicante
20 min north · TRAM or car
Discover El Campello, the perfect coastal escape just minutes from Alicante. Explore the 7km sandy beach, fresh seafood at the local port, and the historic Baños de la Reina. Your local guide.
Read guide→
Mountain villageGuadalest, Alicante (2026) — Castle, Reservoir & Village Guide
58 min inland · park at the village edge
Guadalest sits in the Marina Baixa mountains, about 58 minutes from Alicante via the CV-70. A hilltop castle reached through a tunnel cut into the rock, a turquoise reservoir in the valley below, and a village declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1974.
Read guide→
Island getawayMenorca from Alicante (2026) — Seasonal Flight, Ferry & When to Go
~1h05m flight · seasonal, Jun–Oct
Not a real day trip — a separate island. But Ryanair's seasonal direct flight from Alicante takes about an hour, which makes Menorca a realistic short getaway rather than a full expedition. How to actually get there, and when.
Read guide→Alicante doesn't end at the waterfront.
Keep exploring:
Best Beaches in Alicante & Costa Blanca
From hidden turquoise coves to vast golden sands — find your perfect beach on the Costa Blanca.
Explore Beaches→
Day Trips from Alicante
The Costa Blanca doesn't end at the city limits. Castles, coves, mountain towns — all within an hour.
Explore Day Trips→
Parks & Nature in Alicante
The green spaces, coastal paths, and quiet corners of Alicante that most visitors walk straight past.
See all parks & nature→
Journal
First-hand notes on living, eating, and getting around Alicante — written by someone who actually lives here.
Read the journal→Stop Guessing. Start Planning.
A small selection of tools that make Costa Blanca travel easier. Some links are affiliate — meaning I earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. I only include services I'd genuinely recommend.
Where to Stay in Alicante
Hotels, apartments, and villas across the Costa Blanca. Summer fills up fast — the good spots go first.
Book NowFlights to Alicante
Alicante Airport (ALC) connects to most major European cities year-round. Compare and lock in the best price before it moves.
Search FlightsRent a Car in Alicante
The Costa Blanca stretches 200km. A rental car is the only way to actually see it — buses don't go where the good stuff is.
Rent a CarTours & Excursions in Alicante
Day trips, boat tours, and guided excursions across the Costa Blanca — handpicked and worth your time.
Explore Tours
Hi, I'm Petro, the face behind Alicante Compass.
This guide is free and always will be. Running it takes time, fuel, and a lot of coffee — researching places that don't show up on Google Maps, verifying details that other sites get wrong, and writing guides I'd actually want to read myself. If Alicante Compass has saved you time, money, or given you one moment worth remembering — I'd be grateful for your support. Every contribution keeps me on the road and the content free for everyone.
Fuel the Compass