Local guide · VamosAlicante

Alicante with kids — a local family guide

Updated July 2026

Alicante is one of Spain's easiest cities for families: real urban beach, safe streets, a castle you reach by elevator, a boat to a tiny island, and restaurants that welcome children at any hour. Here's exactly what works.

Postiguet con servicios familiares
Postiguet has lifeguards and family services · © Alicante Turismo
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Best things to do in Alicante with kids

  • Santa Bárbara castle via the free elevator from Postiguet — 200 m tunnel, exciting for kids, huge fortress to explore up top.
  • Playa del Postiguet — city beach with lifeguards, shallow water, playground on the paseo.
  • Boat to Tabarca island — 45-min crossing, tiny walled village, snorkelling coves.
  • Central Market — sensory overload of colours and smells, kid-friendly stalls upstairs.
  • MARQ museum — interactive archaeology, hands-on for older kids.
  • El Palmeral park — huge lake, ducks, waterfalls, big playground, free.
  • Ereta park — panoramic terraces halfway up the castle hill, gentle walk.
Playa de San Juan
Playa de San Juan — long, shallow, family-friendly · © Alicante Turismo

Best beaches for families

  • Playa de Muchavista (El Campello) — 3 km of gentle sand, TRAM L1/L3 to Muchavista, lifeguards May–Sept.
  • Playa de San Juan — long sandy beach, plenty of chiringuitos, TRAM L3/L4.
  • Postiguet — quickest option, right in the city.
  • Cala Cantalar — small cove for older kids who like snorkelling.
Murallas del Castillo de Santa Bárbara
Castle walk with elevator from Postiguet · © Alicante Turismo

Day trips with kids

  • Terra Mítica (Benidorm) — Spain's biggest theme park after PortAventura.
  • Aqualandia + Mundomar (Benidorm) — waterpark + sea-life, June–September.
  • Chocolate factory Valor (Villajoyosa) — 40 min TRAM, small museum, tastings.
  • Elche palm grove — Huerto del Cura garden with a peacock and turtles.
  • Guadalest — castle village with a toy museum and micro-miniatures.
Barco a Tabarca
Boat to Tabarca — a hit with kids · © Alicante Turismo

Practical family tips

  • Under-4s free on the TRAM. 4–11 half-price.
  • Nappies, formula and baby food available in all Mercadona and Consum supermarkets — same brands as home.
  • Most restaurants have a highchair. Ask for "una trona".
  • Playgrounds are everywhere — Postiguet paseo, El Palmeral, Plaza Séneca.
  • Pharmacies (green cross) are the fastest option for a fever or minor issues, no appointment.

Frequently asked questions

›Is Alicante good for families with kids?

Excellent — safe, walkable, urban beach, castle, boat trips, and family-friendly restaurants everywhere. Prams are fine on the tram and Explanada.

›Best beach in Alicante with kids?

Playa de Muchavista or Playa de San Juan — long, sandy, shallow, lifeguarded in season, tram L1/L3 from Luceros. Postiguet works for a quick city dip.

›Can you take a pram to Santa Bárbara castle?

Yes via the free elevator from Postiguet beach (Cova de la Talla entrance). The road up by car is steep and long. Inside the castle there are ramps but also stairs — you can see most of it with a pram.

›Best theme parks near Alicante?

Terra Mítica (Benidorm, 45 min by car), Aqualandia water park (Benidorm, summer only), Terra Natura wildlife park. All doable as a day trip.

›Is Alicante good for a family in December?

Yes — Christmas markets, lights, mild weather, and the Kings' parade on 5 January is a magical night for children.

›Where to eat with kids in Alicante?

Set-menu restaurants (menú del día) always have a kids' portion. Pizzerias in the Old Town, Rice bars for arroz, or Central Market ground floor stalls for informal food.

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Written by locals in Alicante. Verify opening hours and schedules before you go.