MARQ — Archaeological Museum of Alicante

The MARQ (Museo Arqueológico de Alicante, Museu Arqueològic d’Alacant) is Alicante’s archaeology museum, in a former hospital by the MARQ-Castillo tram stop, about 500 m from Santa Bárbara castle. General entry is €6, or €3 on Sundays and holidays, and it is closed on Mondays. Until 2 May 2027 the temporary show is El oro y el universo, gold from Colombia. Skip it on a Monday, when it is closed.

Quick facts

• Building: the former Hospital San Juan de Dios (1926–1929), home of the museum since 2000.
• Award: European Museum of the Year in 2004 (Wikipedia, es).
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–19:00, Sundays and holidays 10:00–14:00, closed on Mondays (winter timetable, MARQ).
• Tickets: €6, €3 on Sundays and holidays; reduced €3; free for under-8s. A combined €8 ticket adds Lucentum, La Illeta and the Torre de Almudaina for 30 days.
• Address: Plaza Dr. Gómez Ulla s/n, 03013 Alicante.

Access and parking

By tram: the MARQ-Castillo stop on the TRAM d’Alacant network is a short walk from the entrance (TRAM d’Alacant).

By bus: OpenStreetMap shows city bus stops called MARQ-Gómez Ulla and MARQ-I. Prieto beside the museum.

By car: the entrance to the Hermanos López Osaba car park is about 70 m from the pin on OpenStreetMap. We found no price for it from an official source.

By air: Alicante–Elche airport is about 11 km away in a straight line.

What to expect

The visit starts with the landscape and monuments of the province of Alicante and then runs through rooms on Prehistory, the Iberians, Roman culture, the Middle Ages and the modern and contemporary periods. Three themed rooms, on field, urban and underwater archaeology, use sets, film and interactive displays to show how archaeologists work (MARQ, permanent exhibition).

Wikipedia (es) puts the collection at more than 81,000 pieces. The museum first opened in 1932 in the provincial council’s palace in the centre, and moved here in 2000. The building has been a protected monument since 1962.

El oro y el universo (to 2 May 2027): 291 archaeological objects, about 157 of them gold, lent with the Museo del Oro of Colombia’s central bank and the University of Cambridge, plus work by Indigenous communities today (MARQ, plan your visit). The MARQ says it passed 46,600 visits in its first three months. Entry to the temporary rooms is priced for each exhibition.

Lucentum: the MARQ also runs the Tossal de Manises in La Albufereta, 3.5 km from the modern centre: the site of the Roman city of Lucentum, the ancient Alicante. A wall of about 600 m still encloses some 25,000 m² of the town, with a forum, baths and streets (MARQ, Lucentum).

Practical details

• Guided tours of El oro y el universo: in Spanish several times a day, in Valencian on weekends at 12:00, in French on Saturdays at 11:00 and in English on Saturdays at 15:30 and Sundays at 11:00. Book them with your ticket.
• Lucentum: €3 (€1.50 on Sundays and holidays), in cash, Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–14:00 and 15:30–17:30, Sundays 10:00–14:00, closed on Mondays. Bring water, a hat and comfortable shoes, the MARQ advises.
• Rules: no animals except assistance dogs, no phone calls in the rooms.
• Contact: 965 149 000 (Tuesday to Saturday 9:00–19:00).

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

Sunday mornings are the cheapest time, at half the general price, but the museum closes at 14:00. On weekdays it is open until 19:00, which makes it a good afternoon visit. For a day of archaeology, the €8 combined ticket covers the museum and Lucentum, and you have 30 days to use it.

Nearby alternatives

• Alicante travel guide: the city, its old town and its beaches.
• Santa Bárbara Castle, about 500 m away: the castle above the city.
• Playa del Postiguet, about 700 m away: the city beach.
• San Vicente del Raspeig travel guide, about 6 km away: the next town inland.
• Torre de la Illeta in El Campello, about 12 km away.
• For the whole coast, see our Costa Blanca guide.
• Sunset Camper Área, about 6.7 km away: the nearest campsite you can book through Campcation (affiliate link).

Distances are in a straight line from the pin.

FAQ

How much does the MARQ cost?

General entry is €6, or €3 on Sundays and holidays and for reduced tickets. Under-8s go free, and the €8 combined ticket includes three sites as well.

Is the MARQ open on Mondays?

No. It opens Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–19:00 and on Sundays and holidays 10:00–14:00.

How do you get to the MARQ by tram?

Get off at MARQ-Castillo, about 190 m from the museum.

Why did the MARQ win European Museum of the Year?

The European Museum Forum gave it the award in 2004, a prize for new museums that bring advances and innovation.

Sources and freshness

Checked 3 October 2026. Official: the MARQ on planning a visit, tickets, the permanent exhibition, Lucentum, visitor numbers and accessibility; FGV on the tram network. History and award: Wikipedia (es). Airport: OurAirports. Location and distances: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos: Wikimedia Commons, licences as credited.