Location: Alicante
Top Things to do in Alicante
10 Museums in Alicante That You Shouldn't Miss
Alicante (/ˌælɪˈkænti, -teɪ/; Spanish: [aliˈkante]), or Alacant (Valencian: [alaˈkant]), both the Spanish and Valencian being official names, is a city and port in Spain on the Costa Blanca, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 330,525, estimated as of 2016, ranking as the second-largest Valencian city. Including nearby municipalities, the Alicante conurbation had 452,462 residents. The population of the metropolitan area (including Elche and satellite towns) was 757,085 as of 2014 estimates, ranking as the eighth-largest metropolitan area of Spain.
Restaurants in Alicante
1. MARQ Museo Arqueologico de Alicante
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,003 reviews
MARQ is an archaeology museum which is dedicated to displaying its collection in a traditional way; as a collection of classified and catalogued finds. MARQ is a project faced with the challenge of being the first archaeological museum of the 21st century.
Reviewed By Photofanatic7 - Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Known as the MARQ this very modern museum displays many archeological artefacts in different, themed areas. From prehistory to contemporary there are many audio-visual and interactive displays with plenty of space to move round so that everyone can see everything. The lighting is (deliberately) dim which lends something to the atmosphere. Hang on to your little ones if you take them because I think they could easily get lost in this museum. There is an entry fee but it was only €1.50 each. Be aware that, like most museums in Spain, it's closed on Mondays.
2. Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Alicante (MACA)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 510 reviews
Set in the ancient heart of the city, opposite the monumental Basilica of Santa María, this imposing new building takes up an entire city block and encompasses the oldest civil construction in the city: the venerable Casa de La Asegurada, an outstanding example of Valencian baroque architecture built as a public wheat granary in 1685. Known as the MACA, the Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art is owned by the City Council and is one of Alicante's leading cultural venues. The construction and refurbishment project was designed by the architectural firm Sancho-Madridejos and funded by the Valencian Regional Government. It boasts a total floor space of 4680 m2 spread across four storeys and two basement levels, and features one temporary exhibition hall, four exhibition halls for the permanent collections, a library, teaching venues, an events hall, storerooms, workshops, plus quarters for security, administration and the like. The Museum's diaphanous spaces showcase its rich and varied collections of contemporary art according to highly rigorous museum programming in which conservation and education are given top priority.
Reviewed By AriHelsinki - Helsinki, Finland
This is a must in Alicante. Located partly in Alicante's oldest building. Free entrance. The highlight of the museum is the great collection of Eusebio Sempere's works. Magnificent artworks.
3. Museo de Belenes (Nativity Scene Museum)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 108 reviews
Reviewed By dancook747 - Leeds, United Kingdom
Arguably one of Alicante’s best kept secrets, it is worth taking some time to visit the Nativity museum. Tucked away in the Old Town, not far from the Basilica Santa Maria and MACA. Visited one evening, this small museum contains a breathtaking array of hundreds of carefully crafted figurines and models depicting the Nativity and various Biblical scenes. Well worth the visit to see the intricate detail of each model; some of which are crafted in a picture frame, others are larger in size. Free entry which is another major advantage.
4. Museo The Ocean Race
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 640 reviews
The Ocean Race Museum is a modern installation where visitors can enjoy a close-up view of the world's longest and toughest professional sporting event and learn about the heroes who battle the oceans in this race around the world. Take a trip through the history of the regatta and the marine world in this state-of-the-art interactive space. The only museum in the world dedicated to a race considered the Everest of Sailing.
Reviewed By Bev082 - London, United Kingdom
And yet another awesome free museum to visit in Alicante ….. The Ocean Race Museum, a modern exhibition space that opened in 2012 with the aim of sharing the rich heritage of the history of the Ocean Race (one wants to say Great!!). The exhibits within educate the visitor all about ocean currents, the wildlife the crews get to see on route, the equipment on board and the construction of these magnificent boats. You get to learn all about the technological innovation and human effort that the challenging race demands. You can enjoy first hand through the high-tech 3D simulators and interactive touch-screen panels what life is like on board, plus about marine life and ecosystems and of course of the competitors of the maritime race. Its technology lets visitors learn both about the race and the environment in which it takes place. Its an opportunity to get a close-up view of the world's longest and toughest professional sporting event and learn about the heroes who battle the oceans in this race around the world. It also presents the history of the regatta, it is the only museum in the world dedicated to the most demanding nautical challenge of our times, a race considered the Everest of Sailing. The museum aims to attract landlubbers and sailing enthusiasts alike, with its presentations about life at sea, sailing and sports. Rather than being a simple repository for artifacts (although there are a number of small items on display), the museum is an interactive institution. Housed in the museum are state-of-the art interactive installations allowing visitors to experience the wonders of the thrilling ocean race and get a glimpse of the challenges that the competitors have to face. The Ocean race is a yacht race around the world, held every three or four years since 1973. Originally named the Whitbread Round the World Race after its initiating sponsor, the British brewing company Whitbread. However in 2001 it’s name changed to become the Volvo Ocean Race after the Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo took over the sponsorship, in 2019 the name changed again, it is now known as The Ocean Race. Since 2008, Alicante has been the start Port of the race, races being held in 2011, 2014, 2017 and the next race in 2022. Although the route changes each race to accommodate various ports of call, the race typically departs from Europe in October, and in recent editions has had either 9 or 10 legs, with in-port races at many of the stopover cities. The most recent race, the 2017-2018 race started in Alicante and concluded in The Hague in the Netherlands, with stopovers in Lisbon-Portugal, Cape Town - South Africa, Melbourne -Australia, Guangzhou -China, Hong Kong, Auckland -NZ, Itajai -Brazil, Newport and Cardiff in Wales and Gothenburg -Sweden. The race takes nine months to complete with sailors battling to be the fastest around the world, facing high seas, fierce winds and the most challenging conditions. Each of the entries has a sailing crew who race day and night for more than 20 days at a time on some of the legs. To minimize the boat's weight, crews rely on freeze-dried fare for sustenance, throughout the race they are exposed and subjected to temperature variations from −5 to +40C (-23 to 104F) and will often only take one change of clothes! Since the 2008–2009 race there has also been a dedicated media crew member called the On Board Reporter (OBR), who does not contribute to the sailing of the boat, but is responsible for sending images and videos to race headquarters via satellite from the middle of the ocean. In the 2017–2018 race the number of crew ranged between 7 to10 (plus the OBR) depending on the gender ratio, with the rules providing an incentive to having women sailors on board. The Hall of Fame is pretty impressive with video screens in the museum showing footage and interviews with the heroes of ocean sailing such as Sir Peter Blake NZ, Torben Grael Brazil and Tracy Edwards UK. The museum is build on the site of the former naval station, it has two floors, the main exhibition hall, including a simulator where visitors can experience some of the sensations of ocean racing, plus a library, fill the ground floor. Upstairs is a large multipurpose space for educational workshops, temporary exhibitions and maritime conferences, along with a cafeteria with a large terrace overlooking the harbor (currently closed due to Covid restrictions). As mentioned entrance to the museum is free, taking Covid precautions once inside its mandatory to wear a mask (which it is in general everywhere here), at the entry your hands are sprayed with a sanitizer spray then you are issued a pair of rubber gloves to wear so that you can touch the buttons, panels etc and enjoy the interactive exhibits which are quite serious and not just for kids! I had so much fun playing with the various exhits learning how the boats work and perform even to getting to steer one, however i’m not quite ready yet to compete in the next 2022 race!! Located outside in front of the museum is a hull of a competition boat, the Brasil 1, that participated in the 2005-06 ocean race coming in third. The first Brazilian boat to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race. Brasil 1 is made up of parts and materials from ten different countries, NZ, Australia, US, Italy, Finland, Sweden, France, UK and Denmark, in addition to Brazil of course, where the boat was built. Prior to Covid it was possible to board the boat to see and experience the cramped living conditions of the crew …. but for now folks you’ll just have to enjoy its colourful exterior!
5. Museo de Hogueras
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 211 reviews
Reviewed By Photofanatic7 - Cheltenham, United Kingdom
I loved this museum! It should be on every visitors itinerary as it celebrates the official fiesta of Alicante, The Fogueres de Sant Joan (Bonfires of SaintJohn). It's packed full of the fantastic, colourful figures that have been saved from the bonfires that consume all the other figures that have been created for the annual fiesta. The detail and humour in these -sometimes rather naughty- figures is a real credit to the people who make them. This is an art gallery/museum with a difference. There is a similar fiesta and museum in Valencia but the Tourist Office said that Alicante's was much bigger and better! Entry is free.
6. Centro de Interpretacion Sobre Los Refugios Antiaereoos
7. Palacio El Portalet
8. Museo de Interpretacion del Granado
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
The Pomegranate Interpretation Museum is located in the facilities of Vitalgrana, where it houses its machinery and production tools. A tour through the history of Mollar de Elche pomegranate. From its introduction in Spain to the curiosities of its cultivation and the varieties that exist today.
9. MUBAG (Museu de Belles Arts Gravina)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By M9361BQrobd - Shepshed, United Kingdom
The MUBAG building itself is attractive and easy to wander through. The art it contains is mainly 19th and 20th century Spanish. Much of it is by local artists showing the area around Alicante and what people did when working and playing. The landscapes show just how much the Alicante area has been developed by industry and tourism. There are also some more classical pictures, eg, portraits by more internationally known artists, such as Goya. Particularly interesting is a temporary exhibition by Emilio Varela. The exhibition painlessly shows the development of his attractive style and how he changed his view of Alicante during his career. Also noteworthy are a series of self portraits. I like his style. All in all MUBAG is well worth visiting and there is no entry fee. Alicante is to be congratulated.
