What to Do in Alicante When it Rains

The Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ) houses 5 separate galleries dedicated to prehistory, Iberian culture, Roman culture and the Middle Ages. It even contains items dating back 100,000 years ago. Marrying both modern and traditional techniques in exhibiting the artefacts, you’ll come across projection effects, holograms, and recreations of Roman daily life and archaeological investigations in the galleries.

There are interactive media displays that give you a glimpse into the lives of the Alicante region’s past inhabitants. The museum is closed on Mondays, so visit any other day of the week – and maybe avoid the weekend crowd – for a better journey through local history.

A few streets away from Postiguet Beach, the Gothic Church of Santa Maria is the oldest active church in Alicante. It was built in Valencian Gothic style between the 14th and 16th centuries on the site of an Arab mosque dating back to the Moorish period.

Its facade is covered in Baroque sculptures by famous Spanish sculptor, Juan Bautista Borja. A figure of the Virgin Mary stands at the main entrance. Inside the church, you’ll see an 18th century Rococo style main altar decorated in gold. Several pieces of artwork are displayed in the church, including a stone statue of Santa Maria that dates back to the 15th century.

Mercado Central is where locals and tourists shop for groceries and sample a variety of Spanish dishes. Situated in Avenida de Alfonso X el Sabio, this 2-storey central market houses more than 200 stalls selling meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, pastries and products from the region.

Since the market first opened in 1911, most of the stalls are owned by local families who’ve been running the stalls for generations. As the workweek clashes with the opening hours of the market, most locals shop here on the weekends – some friendly customers can even recommend the best stalls and bargains. If you want to avoid long queues, you should go on a weekday. 

With 2 floors of jumping areas, Galactic Jump Trampoline Park offers gymnastics and acrobatic facilities for kids and adults. You can spend an afternoon here jumping to your heart’s content. The jumping areas are monitored by staff throughout the day to ensure your safety. There’s also a cafeteria and a terrace where you can have some food and drinks. The crowd here picks up in the afternoon on weekends, so come during the week or before 1pm on weekends if you can.

Teatro Principal de Alicante is the main theatre in Alicante. Opened in 1847, the neoclassical building is situated on Ruperto Chapi Square. A popular sightseeing spot in the city, this cosy theatre has events scheduled throughout the year, 

You can watch concerts by local bands, dance performances, musicals, and attend cultural festivals here. Check out the calendar of events on Teatro Principal de Alicante's official website before you go, as opening hours vary according to the starting time of shows.

The Gravina Museum of Fine Arts (MUBAG) occupies the 17th- and 18th-century Palacio del Conde de Lumiares in Alicante’s Old Quarter. It exhibits more than 500 pieces of art from the Middle Ages to 1920. This museum displays the work of important artists like Rodrigo de Osona, Salzillo and Vicente Lopez, who are known for their oil paintings and sculptures.

You can catch musical concerts in MUBAG's onsite auditorium. Entrance to the museum is free, but take note of the seasonal opening hours so you can make the most of your visit.