| Important Information about Barcelona to Alicante Trip | |
|---|---|
| Duration of Trip | 3 Days |
| Best Time to visit | June to October |
| Type of Trip | Road Trip |
| Total Distance | 537.9 km |
| What is Edinburgh Famous for | History, wineries and food |
The drive from Barcelona to Alicante is 5.5 hours long and can be easily completed in a day. But a day is usually not enough to explore all the great historical places, wineries, towns and beaches that are situated on the way. For a proper and meaningful traveling experience, you need at least 2 to 4 days. In this post, we are dividing the drive from Barcelona to Alicante into 3 days. By the end of the 3 days, you will have a myriad of experiences ranging from wine tasting to beach strolling, gastronomy, spa and sight-seeing.With so many stops, a car rental comes across as the most suitable way of traveling from Barcelona to Alicante. There are a lot of petrol stations on the road and most of the places we are listing have parking places on-site or at nearby places.
Day 1 Spend the first day exploring the wine road
Before you start your trip from Barcelona to Alicante, spend a day exploring Barcelona’s wine road (Carretera Del Vino). It is the very first road in the country which allows the wine lovers to explore the old wine route that lies between Penedès vineyards and Garraf beaches.
This road is about 33 km long and passes through 7 municipalities dotted with wineries, castles and various traditional architectural marvels. You can easily cover it in a rental car, but if you feel like doing it on foot or using a bicycle, that is also possible.
Start your trip from Castle of Sant Martí Sarroca
Start your trip from Castle of Sant Martí Sarroca and travel through the lovely towns before hitting the beaches of Sitges. Visit the 13 wineries and various Iberian villages as you travel through Sant Martí Sarroca, Pacs del Penedès, Vilafranca Del Penedès, Sant Miquel d’Olèrdola, Canyelles, Sant Pere de Ribes and last but not the least Sitges.
Though you need days to cover all the wineries, 2-3 can be easily covered in a day.
Stay the night in Sitges
There are a lot of options – luxury and economy, both – where you can stay the night in Sitges. Hotel Calipolis and Melia Sitges have great customer reviews.
This beautiful town where most of the FC Barcelona footballers live is known for its nightlife and numerous gastronomy experiences. Sitting amidst Mediterranean and the hills of the Garraf, this charming town is the place which most of the Barcelonians visit when they want to spend a few memorable days in luxury. If you are a night person you will get enough choices when it comes to buzzing nightclubs and bars. For dinner, we suggest Merci Sitges or MAMA’S picanteria.
Sitges film festival is also a great experience to have if you are visiting in early October. In the morning do visit its famous museums – Maricel Museum & Cau Ferrat Museum – before heading towards Le Meridien Ra.
Day 2 Spend a memorable morning & afternoon in Tarragona
The drive from Sitges to Tarragona is about 50 minutes long. In case you love spa, we suggest you visit Le Meridien Ra Hotel and Spa which is right on the way from Sitges to Tarragona. It is about 30 km from Sitges and takes approximately half an hour to reach via C-32. It is one of the best beach hotels in the whole of Europe and is a great way to pamper you while on the journey.
Spend the rest of the exploring Tarragona which has some of the finest Roman ruins in the whole country. Start your self-guided tour with the Roman amphitheater ruins aka Amfiteatre de Tarragona, followed by Tarragona Cathedral which dates back to the 1100s and Circ Romà.
After that, spent some time exploring Rambla Nova, the ancient shopping street in Tarragona which continues to be a popular shopping venue. The National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona & the Ferreres Aqueduct are other popular places you can explore before leaving for Cambrils.
Spend the evening in Cambrils
The drive from Tarragona to Cambrils can be completed in 21 minutes using the A-7 Route. A stroll down Cambrils’ most famous beach – Platja de la Llosa – is a must. And in case you are in the mood of a concert, a visit to El Parc del Pinaret is worth the time.
Or, you can directly hit its many acclaimed eating destinations which have earned Cambrils the title of the ‘gastronomic capital of Spain’. Rincón de Diego is the most loved food destination in Cambrils; it is owned by Chef Diego Campos who uses local produce and is known to serve really creative dishes.
Where to stay the night in Cambrils
These are the most highly rated accommodation options in Cambrils
- Rebels Cambrils
- Nou Espantall Bar Cambrils
- Hotel Sol Port Cambrils
- Estival Eldorado Resort
Day 3 Start your day in Orange Blossom coast
The drive from Cambrils to Orange Blossom Coast (which is a part of Castellón province) is 1.5 hours long via AP-7. Costa de Azahar (aka Orange Blossom coast) has many famous beaches just like the ones present in Spain’s famous coastal area of Del Sols, Blancas, and Bravas. On the Orange Blossom coast, the most famous beach is undoubtedly Playa del Pebret. Its crystal clear waters will refresh your soul; it remains one of the most natural beaches in the country.
It is best you visit the beach before 12 noon as after that the beach gets a bit crowded.
Utilize the afternoon exploring Gandía
The drive from Playa del Pebret and Gandía is about 2 hours long via AP-7. The city of Gandía has a lot of attractions but since we have just one afternoon, spend it exploring Palatial Gandía – the 14th century palace which was once the residence of the Royal Dukes of Gandía. Its artesonado ceilings and the mapa universal floor are its main highlight. Join one of the guided tours for a small fee; they are offered both in English and Spanish.
An Evening in Alicante is all that you need
The drive from Gandía to Alicante is approximately 1.5 hours long via AP-7. And since Alicante is most noted for its gastronomic venues, it is fitting that you visit one as you reach Alicante. Though there are many worthy eateries, Bon Amb in Xàbia is the major highlight of the region.
After having an early dinner, visit the Archaeological Museum of Alicante – it remains open from Tuesday to Saturday till 8:30 PM (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM on Sundays).
Then head towards Santa Bárbara Castle for the splendid night views of the city of Alicante. The castle remains open every day from 10:00H till 22:00H in April, May, June and September & from 10:00h till 24:00h in July and August. For other months the timing is 10:00h till 20:00h. There is an entry fee for adults; there is no entry fee for children who are below the age of 6.
Where to stay in Alicante
Daniya Alicante, Old Town Alicante B&B & Love Alicante are some of the highly rated accommodations and hotels that you may consider for your night stay in Alicante.
Have More Time?
In case you would like to add one more destination to your itinerary, there is a really beautiful place called Benissa that you will fall in love with.
The medieval town of Benissa is located 50 minutes drive via AP-7. Stroll down the town’s narrow streets flanked by houses decorated by iron window grills and floral displays.
One of the town’s main attractions is Cathedral of the Marina Alta. Casa Museo Abargues Benissa (Museum), Centro Histórico de Benissa & Platja de Cantal Roig (a beach) are some other attractions you may visit if you want to spend a few hours exploring Benissa (the most instagram-friendly destination of Spain).