Alicante
Alicante is really two coastlines. North of the city, in the Marina Alta, pine-covered cliffs drop into pebble coves so clear they look retouched, with sea caves cut by centuries of stonecutters and watchtowers built against pirates. South of it, long golden beaches roll out behind protected dune systems, easy to reach and built for a full day. Between them sits Tabarca, the only inhabited island on this coast and home to Spain’s first marine reserve. These guides cover access, parking, the summer barrier systems that close several coves once they fill, and what the ground under your feet is actually made of.
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Dog Beaches in Alicante 2026: The Rules, Municipality by Municipality
Ten beaches in Alicante province are signed for dogs — published counts disagree on whether there is an eleventh — and dogs are banned from almost every other one. What the 2026 ordinances say, who enforces them, what the fines are, and the four-month winter window most guides never mention.
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The 13 Best Beaches in Alicante (2026 Ranking)
Our editorial ranking of the best beaches in Alicante: from the turquoise pebble coves of the Marina Alta to the long urban sands of the capital and the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community.
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Playa del Carabassí, Elche: The Complete Guide to This Wild Dune Beach
The dune system behind El Carabassí is among the best preserved in the province of Alicante, which is exactly why the access rules are what they are. Where to park, which path to take, and what the wind does to this beach.
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Isla de Tabarca, Alicante: The Island Behind Spain’s First Marine Reserve
No parking, no road, and no way in except the boat: Tabarca is the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community and the site of Spain’s first marine reserve. Ferry times, the diving permit most guides never mention, and what the island is like once the day trippers leave.
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Cala Cantalar, Alicante: The Complete Guide to This Quiet City Cove
A rocky cove inside the protected Cabo de las Huertas site, twenty minutes from central Alicante and reachable on the tram. Snorkelling over the shelves, the cape walk, and the quarry that gave the cove its name.
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Playa de San Juan, Alicante: The City’s Longest Beach, and Its Busiest
Most beaches in these guides are places you make a trip to. Playa de San Juan is where Alicante itself goes, all year, reached by tram in twenty minutes. What that changes about the sand, the crowds and the best time to arrive.