Looking for things to do in Elche Spain? After spending considerable time there while slow traveling in our van Persi, we’ve explored a lot of what to do in Elche.
The city has a real local feel, so we’ve found it a favorite retreat when exploring the touristy towns in Costa Blanca.
The city is home to Europe’s biggest palm grove, Roman and Moorish remains, and a strong Iberian history. Just a short day trip from Alicante, Elche truly feels like an oasis.
In this post, I’ll show you everything there is to explore in Elche after falling in love with the city.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
PIN IT FOR LATER!
Things to do in Elche Spain
Explore Huerto del Cura
Visiting Huerto del Cura is one of the must-things to do in Elche. The botanical garden is part of the palm grove that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in the year 2000, but it was declared a National Artistic Garden already in 1943.
While the rest of the palm grove is a public park and free to enter, Huerto del Cura is private and you need to buy tickets at the entry.
When I was there, it cost 6.50 Euros per person and dogs were allowed on a leash inside the garden.
Among the highlights of Huerto del Cura are the Imperial Palm with 7 arms growing out of the main palm and the replica of Dama de Elche. Besides, there are duck ponds and fountains between different species of palm trees and other plants.
Climb the clock tower of Basilica de Santa Maria
If you want to see the best views in Elche, don’t miss out on climbing the clock tower of Basilica de Santa Maria.
There’s a separate entrance for the clock tower at the end of the church with its own opening hours. On Sundays, it’s free entry, but the rest of the weeks it’s only a couple of Euros as with most of the municipal attractions in Elche.
It’s a strenuous walk to the top and the steps near the top are very narrow, but luckily, there are several stops on the way with small exhibitions, and halfway you can go out and look at the views.
The climb is totally worth it! From the top, you get the best views of Elche and I absolutely love seeing the palm grove park from above as you can see how big it is. Beyond the palm trees, you also see the beautiful mountains surrounding the city.
Visit the Torre de Calahorra y Casa Señoral
Torre de Calahorra is located right next to the basilica and includes the house museum of Casa Señoral which is really cool with its colorfully painted walls and ceilings. The manor house was in use in the 15th and 16th centuries and some of the oldest frescoes date back to the 20th century.
At the basement level, you can walk through caved rooms that bring you back to Moorish times. They also have exhibitions on the ground floor.
After exploring the museum, walk up the stairs to the top where you get a fine view of the basilica’s blue domes and Placa de Santa Maria below.
The tower was once one of two towers guarding the main entrance in the old city walls and was 25 meters tall. However, it got severely damaged in an earthquake in 1829 and the two upper floors were demolished so now it’s only 15 meters high.
Torre de Calahorra is also free on Sundays and costs a couple of Euros the rest of the week.
Hike to Elche Dam waterfall
The waterfall at Elche Dam and electricity station is one of the top tourist attractions in Elche. It’s a short hike of 15-20 minutes each way, depending on how much you stop for pictures on the way.
It’s really cool with the waterfall running down the dam and the rocks in front of it.
To get there, drive or walk to Aparcament del Pantá d’Elx where the trail follows the river, crossing it a few times before reaching the dam.
Make sure you wear good shoes for this hike even though it’s not that long, it’s uneven ground and an actual forest trail most of the way.
Go back in time at the Archaeological museum
Elche Archaeological Museum is by far one of the best things to see in Elche if you want to understand the rich history of the city.
There, you’ll find the original “Dama de Elche” statue which was found by a farmboy and no one really knows who or when she was made. The jewelry around her neck indicates that she was an important woman from the Iberian era.
But there are a lot of other artifacts and sculptures throughout the museum. I especially like the interactive screens where you can click on different items on the screen to get more information about them.
Generally, the Archaeological Museum includes a visit to the Altamira Palace, but at the time of writing, it’s closed for renovation.
Stroll through the palm grove
As mentioned above, Elche is famous for being home to Europe’s biggest palm grove. With its 140 hectares, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in the year 2000.
There are 200 000 palm trees and over 45 000 date palms which has been a major part of the local production for centuries.
In the heart of Elche, there’s a large part of the palm grove that’s used as a public park making it feel like a true oasis. No wonder Elche is recognized as the oasis of Spain.
There are several fountains, a duck pond, and statues around the park – we even found a dragon statue holding onto a palm tree, so don’t forget to look up.
The Vinalopó River runs through the palm grove and is channeled in a narrow stream. There are several cool paintings on the ground around the stream which you can see well from above, so make sure you cross one of the bridges for the views.
Visit the Arab Baths and Convent of Santa Lucia
The Arab Baths in Elche were built around the year 1150 and are located underground below the Convent of Santa Lucia.
The nuns from the cloister have moved to a convent outside the city a few years back and it has been gifted to the City Hall. Now the Arab Baths and the courtyard and garden of the convent are open to tourists.
While the Arab Baths are small, they’re among the few remaining examples of Moorish public architecture in the Valencia region. I really like them and they’re well preserved.
The entrance comes with an app that shows you how it would look like when it was in use, but other than that I didn’t find any usage of it so I didn’t really feel like it added any value to my visit.
Look for the Dama de Elche
Throughout Elche city, there are plenty of replicas of the famous Dama de Elche statue in different shapes. Once you’ve seen her once, you’ll start seeing her everywhere.
There are some great statues around. My favorite is at Placa de la Glorieta while the biggest I’ve found is outside the congress house.
Even if you go on a day trip to Elche, I’m sure you’ll see quite a few of the Dama de Elche if you just keep your eyes open.
Visit the Palm Grove Museum
It might not come as a surprise that Elche has its own Palm Grove Museum. If you’re interested to know more about the history of its origin, the irrigation system that has been used since the times of the Moors, and why it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a great museum to spend some time in.
It’s also possible to book a visit to the workshop on mornings between Tuesday and Friday where a palm worker will show you their white palm plaiting skills.
Hike Pantano de Elche
The hike around Pantano de Elche is one of my favorite things to do in Elche. The hike is an almost 10-kilometer-long loop taking you through palm groves, past waterfalls (including the Elche Dam waterfall,) and around the lake.
You’ll also come across several Roman aqueducts which is pretty cool, as well as some desert-looking landscapes. The whole hike takes about 2.5-3.5 hours depending on the stops you make.
Step inside Basilica de Santa Maria
No visit to Elche is complete without visiting the main church, Basilica de Santa Maria. The church was built on top of the former mosque after the reconquest.
However, there have been several churches in this place since then, and the current one dates back to the 17th century and is seen as a Valencian Baroque masterpiece.
The interior is also very pretty and is worth seeing. I especially liked the organ that was built in 2006, inspired by the original Baroque design.
Grab a coffee at The Sweetcase
The Sweetcase is a lovely little cafe in one of the backstreets of the basilica. We’ve been there several times by now for their fantastic coffees and vegan sweet treats.
They also make nice bagels and breakfasts if you’re looking for a bite to eat. We’ve always been treated great by the guys working there, so it’s kinda turned into a regular when it comes to coffee breaks.
Visit the Museo Paleontológico
The Museo Paleontológico is a small but exciting museum for anyone loving dinosaurs, no matter what age. It’s actually the only museum of its kind in Alicante province.
It’s really cool with replicas and remains of different dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and mammoths from the region around Elche as well as Murcia, Cuenca, and Castellón.
The different exhibitions walk you through the history and geology of the area which is super interesting.
Explore the old town
Elche Old Town is wonderful to walk around. Besides the attractions mentioned already, like the basilica, Torre de Calahorra, and the convent, you should not miss out on Placa de Baix where the Town Hall is.
I really like the buildings there and it’s a short walk to the river where you can cross the bridges back and forth to see the paintings below.
Another nice square is Placa Glorieta where you’ll also find a replica of Dama de Elche.
Grab a drink at Placa de Santa Maria
Placa de Santa Maria is the church square and a great place to grab a drink while taking in the views of the basilica.
It’s very refreshing to sit at an obvious tourist spot, but still mainly hear Spanish around you, something that makes it so much better to have a drink in front of a major landmark in Elche compared to many other cities in Spain.
Summing up what to do in Elche
Summing up, there are some incredible things to do in Elche if you only have the time to spend in this wonderful city. I love how there’s something for everyone, whether you like history, being in nature, or shopping.
With its UNESCO-listed palm grove, I’m surprised it’s not a more touristy destination, but again, for those of us who prefer exploring Spain off the beaten path, this is a fantastic oasis.
Happy travels!