By CostaMap · Published 14 June 2026 · last reviewed 14 August 2026
Researched and written by an AI editorial system, checked against primary sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.

The Palmeral of Elche is the largest palm grove in Europe — a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of more than 200,000 date palms, first laid out and irrigated in Moorish times and still watering the city today.

Region: Baix Vinalopó Province: Alicante Type: Palm grove (UNESCO) Palms: 200,000+ Listed: UNESCO, 2000

Why visit the Palmeral

Elche sits inside a forest of date palms unlike anywhere else in Europe. The Palmeral was created by the Moors, who built a system of channels to carry water from the Vinalopó and turn a dry plain into groves — an irrigation landscape so remarkable that UNESCO inscribed it as World Heritage in 2000. Shaded walking routes thread between the palms, and at its heart the Huerto del Cura garden holds the famous Palmera Imperial, a rare many-branched palm. It is a living, working grove, not a museum — dates are still harvested, and the fronds are cut for Palm Sunday across Spain.

Scale

Europe’s largest

More than 200,000 date palms make this the biggest palm grove on the continent — a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Garden

Huerto del Cura

This walled garden at the grove’s heart holds the celebrated Palmera Imperial, a rare seven-branched palm.

History

Moorish irrigation

The palms survive on a Moorish network of channels drawing water from the Vinalopó — the reason UNESCO listed it.

Walk

Shaded routes

Signposted paths wind between the palms, a cool green escape in the middle of the city.

Living grove

Dates & palm fronds

Still worked today: dates are harvested, and white palm fronds are grown here for Palm Sunday across Spain.

Combine

With the basilica

The grove wraps around Elche’s old town and the UNESCO Misteri basilica — an easy pairing.

Practical information

Getting there: central Elche, about 20 min from Alicante airport; the groves are walkable from the centre
Best time: spring and autumn for comfortable walking; the palms give welcome shade in summer
Entry: the groves and paths are free; the Huerto del Cura garden charges a small entry fee
Don’t miss: the Huerto del Cura and its Imperial Palm, then a shaded walk through the groves

Palmeral de Elche and Palmerar d’Elx

The grove is el Palmeral de Elche in Castilian and el Palmerar d’Elx in Valencian — the same UNESCO-listed plantation, and both forms appear on municipal signage. UNESCO lists it as the Palmeral of Elche. The town itself is Elche or Elx depending on which language you are reading.