Playa del Postiguet (Alicante)

Playa del Postiguet (Platja del Postiguet in Valencian) is the city-centre beach of Alicante: 900 m of fine golden sand at the foot of Santa Bárbara Castle, a few metres from the Explanada promenade. Tram lines 1–4 stop at Mercado and line 5 at Puerta del Mar, the castle lift is across the road, and the beach holds a Blue Flag for 2026. It suits a swim between sights; on hot summer weekends the sand fills completely, so come on a weekday or early if you want space.

Quick facts

• Names: Playa del Postiguet (Spanish), Platja del Postiguet (Valencian), or simply El Postiguet.
• Where: in the centre of Alicante, below Santa Bárbara Castle and next to the Explanada and the Paseo de Gómiz.
• Size: 900 m long and 50 m wide (Alicante tourist board).
• Sand: fine, golden sand with no slope; an urban, open beach with calm water.
• Awards: Blue Flag 2026; the tourist board also lists the «Q» for Quality certificate. The beach is smoke-free.
• Water quality: both EU sampling points rated Excellent for 2024, the latest season in the European Environment Agency data.
• Dogs: allowed on the sand only from 1 November to 1 March.

Access and parking

By tram: TRAM lines 1, 2, 3 and 4 stop at Mercado, and line 5 at Puerta del Mar (Alicante tourist board).

By bus: lines 2, 5, 8A, 8B, 10, 21, 21N, 22, 22N and C6 serve the beach (Alicante tourist board).

By car: the beach is on the N-332, Avenida de Denia. There are public and private car parks nearby. The city’s beach car park on the Paseo de Gómiz reopened on 22 January 2026 after sewer works (Alicante city council); OpenStreetMap marks the open-air El Postiguet car park as paid. We found no official price.

On foot: the Explanada promenade is a few metres away, and the old town is easy to reach from the beach.

What to expect

A busy town beach, not a quiet cove. Behind the sand runs the Paseo de Gómiz, with palm trees, bars and restaurants and paving laid to give a three-dimensional effect. The beach has sports areas, a children’s playground and calisthenics equipment, and a beach bar in summer (Alicante tourist board). In 2025 the former Cocó area, which used to have its own access to the sea, was joined to the beach, which gained shoreline (TodoAlicante, May 2025).

The castle lift: the lifts up to Santa Bárbara Castle start on Avenida Juan Bautista Lafora, opposite the beach. The lift costs 2.70 € (free for retired pensioners with proof), and entry to the castle itself is free (Alicante tourist board, Castillo de Santa Bárbara).

Practical details

• Facilities: foot-washes, public toilets, first aid, sunbeds and parasols, pedal boats, and restaurants and beach bars (Alicante tourist board).
• Castle lift hours: 5 September–14 November 10:00–20:00; 15 November–27 February 10:00–18:00; 28 February–16 June 10:00–20:00; 17 June–4 September 10:00–23:00. The last lift up leaves 40 minutes before closing.
• Dogs: allowed on the sand only from 1 November to 1 March. Alicante’s dog-friendly beach is Agua Amarga, north of Urbanova.
• Smoking: Postiguet is one of Alicante’s smoke-free beaches.

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

Weekdays, or outside July and August, if you want room on the sand; on a hot Saturday in July 2026 it was completely full. The castle lift stays open until 20:00 from 5 September to 14 November, so a swim can be combined with a late-afternoon visit to the castle. If you need the accessible bathing service, come between 1 July and 15 September.

Nearby alternatives

• Santa Bárbara Castle (Alicante), 0.3 km away: the castle on the hill above the beach, reached by the lift across the road.
• Madness Coffee (Alicante), 0.6 km away: a specialty coffee roastery in the old town.
• MARQ — Archaeological Museum of Alicante, 0.7 km away: the city’s archaeology museum.
• For where to stay and eat, see our Alicante town guide.

Distances are in a straight line from the beach.

FAQ

Does Postiguet beach have a Blue Flag?

Yes. El Postiguet is on Alicante city council’s list of Blue Flag beaches for 2026.

Can I take my dog to Postiguet beach?

Only from 1 November to 1 March. For the rest of the year, dogs are not allowed on the sand; Agua Amarga, north of Urbanova, is Alicante’s dog-friendly beach.

How do I get from Postiguet beach to Santa Bárbara Castle?

Take the lift on Avenida Juan Bautista Lafora, opposite the beach. It costs 2.70 €, and the last lift up leaves 40 minutes before closing time.

Is the water at Postiguet clean?

Both EU sampling points were rated Excellent for 2024, the latest season in the European Environment Agency data. After heavy rain, storm-drain run-off can close the beach to bathing, as happened in August 2019.

Sources and freshness

Checked 30 September 2026. Official: Alicante tourist board, Postiguet (size, sand, facilities, transport, dogs, accessibility) and Santa Bárbara Castle (lift hours and price); Castillo de Santa Bárbara; Alicante city council on Blue Flags 2026 and the Paseo de Gómiz car park (January 2026); European Environment Agency bathing water data (sampling points ES521M014868 and ES521M014869); COCEMFE Alicante on the accessible beaches, 2026. Press: TodoAlicante, July 2026 (accessible beaches); TodoAlicante, 11 July 2026; TodoAlicante, 2025 (Cocó); Alicante Plaza, August 2019. Location and car park: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos: Wikimedia Commons, licences as credited.