It’s best to start by clarifying the term. In a city with as much tourism as Alicante There isn't a single corner left that's literally a secret, and several of the sites on this list appear on official itineraries and in municipal guidebooks. The thing is, almost all of them are left off the standard route for a first visit—the one that goes from Santa Bárbara Castle to the Esplanade, passing through the Postiguet and ending in the Old Town.
That's what this guide is about. Ten places that locals know, but visitors who stay for three days usually skip, with directions on how to get there, how much time to set aside for each one, and how to visit them in sequence without crossing Alicante from one end to the other. It’s useful both for repeat visitors and for locals who still have half the city left to explore.
What do we mean by "secret location"?
There are three different categories grouped under the same label. They are the places that almost no one visits because they're far from downtown, There are those you come across in passing without knowing what they are, and there are those that require making a reservation or checking schedules, which is why they’re ruled out. None of them is a completely new discovery. They all share the same characteristic: You have to know they exist in order to reach them.
Civil War Air-Raid Shelters
Alicante was one of the most heavily bombed cities in the Republican rear, and beneath the city center lies a network of air-raid shelters built to protect the population. The City Council has restored several of them, including, notably, those from the Seneca Square and Balmis Square, and organizes guided tours along themed routes.
It’s probably the most unexpected tour of the city and one of the most memorable, because it completely changes your perspective on the downtown area you’ve just explored from the surface. You must check the visit schedule and reserve a spot, since group sizes are limited and the tours are scheduled on a seasonal basis.
Estimated time: Between one hour and an hour and a half, depending on the route.
The San Roque Neighborhood
Santa Cruz has become a regular stop and is featured in every guidebook. San Roque, its neighbor on the slopes of Benacantil, continues to attract only a fraction of those visitors, despite sharing the same layout: narrow streets, low, colorful houses, and hillsides that climb up toward the castle.
You can really feel the difference in the atmosphere. In San Roque, there’s more of a neighborhood vibe and less of a tourist trap feel, and you can stroll along without having to dodge guided tour groups. It takes a little over half an hour to walk through, and it connects nicely with the climb up to Santa Bárbara.
Estimated time: 30 to 45 minutes.
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<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>The Quijano Cemetery
In the park of the same name, in the San Antón neighborhood, stands a A 19th-century mausoleum built in memory of the engineer José de Quijano. It is a funerary monument in the middle of an urban garden, with a history that very few visitors know about and that most people in Alicante have seen a thousand times without stopping to read the inscription.
It's off the beaten path, so it requires a deliberate detour, and it works well when combined with the San Antón neighborhood and the Plaza de Toros area.
Estimated time: 20 minutes.
San Fernando Castle
Alicante has two castles, and almost everyone visits only one. The San Fernando Castle, located on Mount Tossal, was built in the early 19th century and offers a unique panoramic view of the city, with Santa Bárbara in the background and the sea beyond.
The climb is short, the area is usually quiet, and the sunset from there rivals that of any paid observation deck. Since it’s off the beaten path, you’ll often have the views practically all to yourself.
Estimated time: one hour, including the climb.
The Port's Elevated Walkway
The Port of Alicante opened an elevated walkway over the water at the Levante pier—known as the Paseo Volado—which has changed the way people view the bay. It is a recent addition, not yet widely included in tourist itineraries, and one of the best spots in the city to watch the sunset or view the Benacantil skyline from the sea.
The city has gradually incorporated it into its schedule, to the point that the fireworks contest held after the Hogueras has been moved to this location. It's just a short walk from the Explanada.
Estimated time: A 30-minute walk.
Photographer: ROBERTO MILAN
The Coves of Cabo de las Huertas
Between El Postiguet and San Juan Beach, Cabo de las Huertas features a series of small rocky coves that don’t appear on postcards. These are coves with clear water, accessible on foot from the road and lacking the amenities of urban beaches, which explains why they are much less crowded even during peak season.
It's a good idea to wear water shoes and not expect any beach bars. In return, you get something rare in a city of 350,000 people: a peaceful swim just twenty minutes from downtown.
Estimated time: Half a day if you stay, one hour if you're just passing through.
Ereta Park
This falls into the category of places you just happen to see in passing. La Ereta It winds up the slope of Benacantil in staggered terraces, with lookout points, shaded areas, and a café offering one of the best views of the city. Most visitors hurry through it on their way to the castle without stopping, even though it works perfectly well as a destination in its own right.
At sunset, with the city coming alive below, it's one of the best free things to do in Alicante.
Estimated time: 45 minutes.
The Palm Grove of Alicante
South of the city, on the way to Urbanova, the Palmeral is a large park with ponds, palm trees, and playgrounds that almost no tourists visit. It’s a space designed for local use—very family-friendly on weekends and practically empty on weekdays.
It requires a car or public transportation, which is why it's left off almost every list of things to see in Alicante.
Estimated time: a good hour.
The Monastery of La Santa Faz
About five kilometers from downtown stands the monastery that houses the relic of the Holy Face, one of the city’s most important religious landmarks and the destination of the pilgrimage that brings together thousands of Alicante residents every spring. Outside of that time of year, visitors can explore the complex at their own pace and almost in solitude.
It's the easiest short day trip from the city, and it offers insight into a part of Alicante's identity that you can't fully grasp just by walking around downtown.
Estimated time: mid-morning, including travel time.
Serra Grossa
The mountain range that separates downtown from San Juan Beach features marked trails, the remains of old quarries, and a lookout point with a view of the entire bay. It’s located within the city limits; the hike takes just over half an hour, and it remains a destination frequented almost exclusively by locals.
It's the best way to get a sense of Alicante's geography, with the sea on one side and the city on the other.
Estimated time: an hour and a half.
A One-Day Tour of the Less-Traveled Spots
Tomorrow
Start at the air-raid shelters if you've secured a spot, and continue on foot through San Roque to Parque de la Ereta. Only go up to the castle if you haven't seen it before, because the main attraction of the day is something else.
Noon
Head down to the area around the Central Market and enjoy a leisurely meal. It's the natural halfway point between the upper part of the city and the port, and it saves you from having to cross the city twice.
Afternoon
The Port and Paseo Volado, with a stroll along the pier. If the weather is nice, head toward the Postiguet and continue on to the first coves at Cabo de las Huertas.
Sunset
Head up to San Fernando Castle or the Serra Grossa lookout point to watch the sun set. Both are close to downtown, and neither is usually crowded.
If it rains
Much of this list involves outdoor activities, so it's a good idea to have a Plan B.
- Air-raid shelters, which are underground and work just as well in bad weather.
- MUBAG and the Museum of Contemporary Art, two venues in downtown that often go unnoticed compared to MARQ.
- The Bullfighting Museum, located next to the bullring, blends in with the Quijano Pantheon area.
- The Central Market—a covered market with a life of its own.
For those who live in Alicante
If you're from around here, chances are you still haven't visited three or four of these places, even though you pass by them every week. Here are a couple of ideas to fix that:
- Book your air-raid shelters in advance, because spots on the guided tours sell out quickly.
- Leave the Palmeral and the Santa Faz for a Saturday morning, since those are the ones that require travel.
- Head up to San Fernando Castle or Serra Grossa on a weekday at sunset, when they're empty.
- Use the Paseo Volado as an alternative to the Explanada when downtown is crowded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these sites free?
Most of them do. The parks, viewpoints, neighborhoods, and coves are open to the public. The air-raid shelters offer guided tours with limited capacity and conditions set by the City Council, and some museums charge an admission fee, although several offer free admission.
How many days does it take to see them all?
Two well-organized days are enough to cover almost everything. If you include the Palmeral and the Santa Faz, which are outside the city center, it’s a good idea to set aside a third day or have a car.
Can you get there without a car?
Almost all of them. The city center, the port, the upper neighborhoods, La Ereta, and Serra Grossa are all within walking distance or accessible by tram. El Palmeral and the Monastery of Santa Faz are the only two that require a private vehicle or a bus.
When is the best time of year for this route?
The mid- and low-season months, from October to May, because almost everything takes place outdoors and the heat in the summer makes the climbs more difficult. The winter light also enhances the views from the lookouts.
Eating Off the Beaten Path
The logic behind this guide also applies to dining. In the center of Alicante, you’ll find a mix of casual eateries—designed for visitors who eat there once and never return—and places that rely on repeat customers. The latter are rarely located on the busiest streets.
Bacacay It belongs to that second group. Alejandro and Laura, an Argentine-Spanish couple, opened it in 2022 together with Javier, and named it after a street in Buenos Aires where they were happy, with the idea of bringing that Argentine way of lighting a fire and welcoming guests into their home to Alicante. It’s just a few steps from the Central Market, somewhat off the main tourist trail, and It specializes in grilled meats such as vacío, entrecôte, and asado de tira, as well as homemade empanadas and Argentine wines.
If this guide has helped you break away from your usual routine, food is the final piece of that same puzzle. Check this season's hours and reserve a table when it fits into your itinerary.
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