Alicante City Bike Tour: Beach, Market & Castle Views

Gothic churches, a mosaic seafront and Santa Barbara Castle from the saddle

A guided bike tour of Alicante covering the Old Town, city center, beach and marina with a professional guide, bottled water and bike rental included. The route passes the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari, St. Mary of the Sea Cathedral, the Central Market, and the Mushroom Street mosaic esplanade—a 6.6-million-piece seafront built in the 1960s. Children from age 1 are welcome; you choose a standard bike or e-bike at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Alicante city and beach bike tour

• Visit Santa Cruz Hermitage
• Pass Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas
• See St. Mary of the Sea Cathedral
• Stop at urban beach with castle view
• Ride along seafront esplanade
• Walk through Mushroom Street mosaic
• Explore historic square formerly called Correos
• Relax in park with century-old Ficus trees
• Return via marina route
• View Volvo Ocean Race monument
• Visit 19th century new city area
• See Alicante Town Hall building
• Pass historic ditch avenue
• View 19th century theatre
• Pass Central Market building

The Experience

The tour starts in the Santa Cruz Quarter, the oldest part of the city perched on the slopes above the castle. From there you pedal down through Alicante's religious heart: the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari, built in the 17th century in a spare Herrerian style, and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Sea, originally a mosque that survived bombardment and still carries its Gothic structure. These two buildings anchor the city's spiritual landscape and frame the narrow streets where the route unfolds.

The ride then opens onto the seafront. You'll cross the Mushroom Street esplanade—a 6.6-million-piece mosaic in three colors, including the regional "Alicante red" marble—and pedal past the beach where Santa Barbara Castle rises across the water with its distinctive Moorish profile. The marina follows, built for the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race, where the path runs over the water itself. Along the way you pass century-old Ficus trees offering shade and the Central Market, reconstructed after damage in the Spanish Civil War, which marks the beginning of the city's 19th-century expansion.

The tour covers the Town Hall, rebuilt in the early 18th century after the original was destroyed in 1691, and the Theatre, constructed in the mid-1800s. A professional guide in English leads the route, which takes around two and a half hours. You get bottled water included, and you choose between a standard bike or an e-bike before you book. Specialized infant seats are available if you're bringing very young children.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• bottled water.
• standard bike or e-bike rental (your choice at checkout).
• specialized infant seats available upon request.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Alicante by Bike

Is this one for you?Choose the standard bike for a steady pace through the city's layers—Old Town, seafront, market and castle views—or pick the e-bike if you want the same route without the pedal effort on the hills and longer stretches.

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Top questions

What's the Mushroom Street esplanade made of?

The Mushroom Street seafront is a mosaic of 6.6 million pieces in three colors, including a regional marble called "Alicante red" that's only found in this area. It was built in the 1960s to replace the original seafront constructed from rubble after the historic walls came down.

Can I see Santa Barbara Castle on this tour?

Yes. You view Santa Barbara Castle from the beach and along the seafront route; the castle's characteristic Moorish profile is visible across the water from the city's only urban beach.

Which churches does the bike tour pass?

The tour includes the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari, a 17th-century building in Herrerian style, and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Sea, a Gothic church that was originally a mosque before the Christian conquest and survived bombardment during the Spanish Civil War.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Children are welcome from age 1, and specialized infant seats are available. The tour lasts around two and a half hours and covers a mix of city streets, the seafront and the beach.

Do I have to use a regular bike, or can I rent an e-bike?

You choose between a standard bike or an e-bike when you book. Both are included in the tour price, along with bottled water and the professional guide.

What happened to the Central Market during the Spanish Civil War?

The Central Market was bombed during the Spanish Civil War and parts of it had to be reconstructed. It stands in the area where Alicante's expansion began in the second half of the 19th century.