Alicante is 165km south of Valencia and 1 hour 30 minutes away by AVE. It adds a different texture to a Valencia-based trip: a coastal city with a strong beach culture, a castle on a rock above the old town, and a tapas scene that stays independent of the tourist trail.

Why This Combination Works

Valencia is a major city with significant culture, food, and architecture. Alicante is smaller, more relaxed, and primarily a pleasure city. Together they cover both ends of the eastern Spanish coast and give you a change of tempo without requiring a long journey.

Three to four days in Valencia, one to two nights in Alicante. One night is enough to get the Postiguet beach, the castle walk, and a proper evening in the Barrio. Two nights lets you explore further, including the Tabarca Island day trip if the weather is good.

Getting Between the Cities

AVE trains run from Valencia Joaquín Sorolla to Alicante several times daily. Journey time is approximately 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 35 minutes. Tickets cost around €15 to €35 each way when booked in advance through Renfe. The tram (Line 2) runs between Alicante's centre and the northern beach areas if you want to explore beyond the city.

Which City to Visit First

Start in Valencia. It is the larger, richer city and warrants more time. Alicante is the natural final stop before flying home if you are using either city's airport for your return.

What Each City Adds to the Trip

Valencia

The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is one of the most dramatic architectural complexes in Europe. The Mercado Central is extraordinary in scale and produce quality. The old town, particularly the Carmen neighbourhood, has strong street art and bar culture. And Valencia is the home of paella: eat it here and be specific about ordering the real thing (rice, chicken, rabbit, green beans, no seafood), cooked in a wood-fired pan. Budget a proper lunchtime sitting for it.

Alicante

The Castillo de Santa Bárbara sits on a 166-metre rock directly above the city and is free to enter. The lift inside the rock costs around €3 and takes you most of the way up; the view from the top covers the bay and the city in full. The Postiguet beach is immediately below the castle and is a perfectly functional city beach. The Barrio neighbourhood behind the Explanada promenade has the better bars and restaurants: look for establishments without English-language menus outside. The Explanada de España itself, lined with mosaic tiles and palm trees, is the evening paseo route and worth a walk around sunset.