Tabarca Island
Historic siteTabarca is the smallest permanently inhabited island in Spain, lying a short boat ride off the coast south of Alicante — car-free and easily walked end to end.
Why visit Tabarca Island
Once the boats have come and gone, the island has the calm of a real day-trip escape. One half is a walled town founded in the eighteenth century to settle families from the Tunisian town of Tabarka, with narrow streets, a church and small boutiques and seafood restaurants. The other half is open, low and rocky, with ruins, a lighthouse and cliff paths. The waters around the island form a protected marine reserve — clear and shallow, with good snorkelling — which is the main reason to come. There are no sandy beaches to speak of, mostly clean stony coves, and a few hours is enough to walk the island and swim before the return boat.
Walk it end to end
The smallest permanently inhabited island in Spain is car-free and easily walked from one end to the other.
18th-century quarter
One half is a walled town founded in the eighteenth century to settle families from the Tunisian town of Tabarka.
Ruins & lighthouse
The other half is open, low and rocky, with ruins, a lighthouse and cliff paths.
Clear & shallow
The waters around the island form a protected marine reserve, clear and shallow, with good snorkelling.
Stony, not sandy
There are no sandy beaches to speak of, mostly clean stony coves for swimming.
By boat
A short boat ride from Alicante, with a few hours enough to walk the island and swim before the return boat.
Practical information
- Getting there: a short boat ride from Alicante (and other nearby ports); the island is car-free and walked on foot.
- What to do: explore the walled 18th-century town, walk to the lighthouse and ruins, and snorkel the protected marine reserve.
- Good to know: there are no sandy beaches, mostly clean stony coves; bring water shoes and sun protection.
- Best time to visit: late spring to early autumn for calm seas and snorkelling; a few hours is enough for the whole island.
Explore more of the Costa Blanca
Tabarca Island is one of many destinations on the CostaMap interactive map — browse beaches, villages, castles and viewpoints across the whole coast.
