AreaStays
The wave-patterned mosaic paving of the Explanada de España, Alicante's palm-lined seafront promenade

Kallerna / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Alicante

Where to Stay in Explanada, Alicante

The Explanada is Alicante's modern city center, built around the Explanada de España, the palm-lined, mosaic-paved promenade that runs along the marina from Puerta del Mar to Parque de Canalejas. It's the flattest, most straightforward part of the city to get around, with Postiguet Beach and Santa Bárbara Castle's elevator both within a few minutes' walk, and it sits right next to El Barrio's old town on the other side.

What it's actually like to stay here

Polished and easy-paced — a wide seafront promenade with cafés and shops, a working marina, and a steady flow of both locals and visitors walking, running, or just sitting out along the water. It has more of a modern city feel than El Barrio, with wider streets and taller buildings just back from the shore.

Stay here if

Best for first-time visitors and couples who want to be right on the seafront, within walking distance of both the beach and the old town, without the steep streets of El Barrio.

Stay elsewhere if

Consider El Barrio instead if a quieter, more historic old-town setting matters more to you than being directly on the promenade, or Playa de San Juan if a longer, quieter beach is the priority over city-center convenience.

Walkability
Very walkable and flat, built along the promenade and a straightforward street grid just behind it. El Barrio's old town is a 5–10 minute walk away, and Santa Bárbara Castle's elevator entrance is close by on Jovellanos Street.
Noise at night
Generally moderate. The Explanada itself and the streets nearest the marina see steady foot traffic into the evening, but it's not a late-night bar district, and quieter side streets are close by.

Best Hotels in Explanada, Alicante

Hospes Amérigo

★★★★★
  • ✨ Best luxury

Our take A former convent turned 5-star hotel that leans into its history rather than hiding it — the salvaged stonework and high ceilings do more of the work here than a typical luxury-hotel interior would.

Good for

  • Luxury travelers
  • Couples

Couples and travelers who want a full luxury stay in a genuinely historic building, right between the old town and the seafront.

Why we like it

  • Set inside a restored 19th-century convent, with original stone elements preserved throughout the modern interior
  • Sits right on the boundary between El Barrio and the Explanada, walkable to both
  • Marble bathrooms with rainfall showers, and rooms with genuinely high ceilings and large windows
  • A design-forward property from a well-regarded Spanish boutique hotel group, not a generic luxury chain build

What to know

  • Priced at the top of the market for Alicante — this is the splurge option, not the value one
Check availability on Booking.com

Hotel BH San Francisco Alicante

★★★
  • 📍 Best location

Our take About as central as Alicante gets — the Explanada, the cathedral, and Postiguet Beach are all a short walk away, and the rooms are genuinely quiet for how close it sits to everything.

Good for

  • First-time visitors
  • Couples

First-time visitors and couples who want to be within a few minutes' walk of the Explanada, the beach, and the cathedral, without paying luxury prices.

Why we like it

  • A couple of minutes' walk from the Explanada, San Nicolás Co-Cathedral, and Postiguet Beach alike
  • Sound-insulated walls, a real advantage given how central the location is
  • Laptop-compatible safes and a proper desk in every room — useful for a longer stay or working while traveling
  • A restaurant on site, plus dry cleaning and luggage storage for early arrivals or late departures

What to know

  • Rooms are compact, in keeping with a 27-room hotel on a historic pedestrian street
Check availability on Booking.com

Transportation & practical information

Puerta del Mar, at the start of the Explanada, connects to the TRAM's L1, L2, L3, and L4 lines, reaching Playa de San Juan in about 20–25 minutes and the airport bus in under 10. Alicante's main train station is about a 15-minute walk away.

Skip the rental car if you're staying near the center. El Barrio's streets are narrow and largely pedestrian, parking downtown is limited, and the TRAM already connects the center to Playa de San Juan directly. A car is only useful for day trips further up or down the Costa Blanca coast.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Explanada area within walking distance of the old town?
Yes — El Barrio is about a 5–10 minute walk away, on the other side of the marina and castle hill.
Is there a beach near the Explanada?
Yes — Postiguet Beach sits right at the end of the promenade, a few minutes' walk from most hotels in this area.

Related areas

Santa Bárbara Castle atop Mount Benacantil, overlooking Alicante's old town

H. Helmlechner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

El Barrio

Best for: First-time visitors, Couples

Playa de San Juan, Alicante's long sandy beach lined with palm trees

JPOK / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Playa de San Juan

Best for: Beach time, Families

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