All About Elche (Elx) –  🌴The City of Palms

Why Visit Elche?

If you’re looking for a Spanish city with a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, Elche (Elx) should be on your list. Known as The City of Palms, Elche is home to Europe’s largest palm grove and holds two UNESCO World Heritage awards 🏛️:

• The Palmeral of Elche 🌴 – over 200,000 palm trees.

• The Misteri d’Elx 🎭 – a medieval religious play performed every August.

The city is just 1 hour from Benidorm and 25 minutes from Alicante, making it an ideal day trip or weekend getaway.

📍 Where is Elche?

Elche lies in the province of Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain, surrounded by fertile countryside and close to the Mediterranean coast. It’s easily reached by car, bus, or train.

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🚶 Exploring Elche on Foot

The best way to get to know the city is with the Elche Walking Routes:

• Historic Palm Grove Route – walk through UNESCO-listed palms.

• Monumental Route – discover historic monuments, churches, and museums.

🗺️ Leaflets are available at Tourist Offices in several languages.

🚂 Elche Tourist Train

If you prefer a relaxed overview, hop on the Elche Tourist Train. This one-hour ride visits landmarks like the Municipal Park 🌳 and Palm Grove, with a stop at the Palm Museum.

📍 Meeting Point: Tourist Office, Plaça del Parc, 3, 03202 Elche
🕙 Times: Daily, every hour 10 AM–5 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Adults €3.50, Children & Pensioners €2.30 (cash only)

⚠️ Note: The Palm Museum and most other museums are closed on Mondays.

🏛️ Top Things to Do in Elche

🏰 Castle of Altamira & MAHE Archaeological Museum

The Castle of Altamira (Palacio de Altamira) is one of Elche’s most striking monuments. Built in the 15th century over the remains of earlier Moorish walls, it once served as a noble residence and later as a military fortress and prison. With its square towers and solid stone walls, the castle stands proudly next to the Vinalopó River, making it a fantastic photo stop.

Today, the castle houses the MAHE – Museo Arqueológico y de Historia de Elche. This modern museum takes you on a journey through the city’s rich past, from the Iberian period to Roman times and the Middle Ages. Highlights include Iberian pottery, mosaics, and a fascinating section on the Dama de Elche, the world-famous bust discovered nearby at La Alcudia.

👉 Entry to MAHE includes access to the castle.

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⛪ Basilica de Santa María

The Basilica de Santa María is Elche’s spiritual and cultural heart. Built in baroque style on the site of a former mosque, this 17th-century church is most famous as the stage for the Misteri d’Elx 🎭, performed here every August.

Inside, you’ll find ornate chapels, religious artwork, and a strong sense of tradition. For visitors, the highlight is climbing the 180-step bell tower 🛎️. From the top, enjoy panoramic views of the palm groves stretching to the horizon – and on clear days, the Mediterranean Sea.

👉 Tip: Entry to the tower costs around €2 per person (2023 prices). The climb is narrow, but the view is unforgettable.

🎭 Misteri d’Elx

Declared a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage by UNESCO, the Misteri d’Elx is a medieval musical play performed every August in the Basilica de Santa María. It tells the story of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is considered one of Spain’s greatest living traditions.

The celebrations finish with the Nit d’Alba fireworks 🎆, one of Spain’s loudest and most spectacular displays.

🏛️ More Historic Buildings in Elche

🏛️ Town Hall & Torre del Consell

The Elche Town Hall (Ayuntamiento de Elche) is one of the city’s most significant civic monuments. Its oldest part, the Torre del Consell, dates back to the 15th century and is considered the oldest municipal building in the southern Comunidad Valenciana. The façade combines Gothic and Renaissance features, while inside, the Plenary Hall is still used for official events.

⏰ Torre de Calendura

Nearby stands the Torre de Calendura, housing a historic clock with two wooden figures. Since 1759, Miquel Calendura has struck the hours, while Vicentet Calendureta marks the quarter hours — a charming local tradition that continues today.

🌿 Gardens & Green Spaces

Elche is defined by its palm groves and gardens, making green spaces one of the city’s greatest attractions.

🌴 Huerto del Cura Garden

The Huerto del Cura (Priest’s Garden) is Elche’s most famous garden, a beautifully designed 13,000 m² botanical space with Mediterranean, tropical, and desert plants. Its jewel is the Imperial Palm, a unique seven-branched palm nearly 200 years old, named in honour of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (“Sissi”). Citrus groves, cactus displays, and ornamental flowerbeds make this garden an enchanting retreat for visitors seeking peace and beauty.

🌳 Municipal Park (Parque Municipal)

At the heart of the city, the Municipal Park covers over 20,000 m² and is one of the most popular green areas for locals and visitors alike. Once gifted to the city in 1661, it now offers leafy pathways, ornamental fountains, and palm-lined plazas. In summer, it becomes a cultural hub, hosting concerts, open-air theatre, and traditional fiestas.

Visitors Centre: houses a detailed audio-visual presentation on the city: its history, traditions, culture, fiestas and economy.

🚦 Parque Infantil de Tráfico

Inside the Municipal Park, you’ll find the Parque Infantil de Tráfico, a miniature traffic park where children can ride bikes and pedal cars through mock roads, complete with traffic lights and signs. It’s a fun and educational space designed to teach road safety while letting kids enjoy the outdoors.

🌿 Hort del Gat

The Hort del Gat is a small, peaceful garden close to the Basilica de Santa María and the city center. It’s a great spot for a quiet break between sightseeing, often used for cultural events and exhibitions thanks to its charming location and shaded spaces.

🌴 Hort de Baix

The Hort de Baix lies just beneath the Basilica de Santa María and the Vinalopó Riverbed. Known for its event space and open-air stage, it’s frequently used for concerts and celebrations during Elche’s major festivals, including the Nit d’Alba fireworks 🎆. With its tall palms and proximity to the old town, it’s a perfect blend of nature and culture.

👉 Together, these gardens highlight why Elche is called The City of Palms and why its palm groves remain a living, breathing part of daily life. Whether you’re looking for history, relaxation, or family fun, the city’s green spaces are essential stops.

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🏺 Other Museums & Historic Sites

• Fiesta Misteri d’Elx Museum – dedicated to the Mystery Play.

• Arab Bath Museum – remains of a Moorish bathhouse.

• Casa de Belén Nativity Museum – traditional nativity displays.

• Museum of Contemporary Art – Spanish avant-garde collections.

• Pucol Agricultural Museum – rural traditions and farming tools.

• La Alcudia – archaeological site where the Dama de Elche was found.

• Palaeontological Museum – fossils and earth’s history.

• Palm Grove Museum – heritage of palm cultivation in Elche.

🍽️ Food & Gastronomy in Elche

Elche’s cuisine blends Mediterranean flavors with local traditions. Try:

• Arroz con costra 🍚 – rice baked with an egg crust.

• Dátiles (dates) 🌴 – fresh from the palm groves.

• Tarta de Elche 🍰 – almond and date cake.

• Local wines 🍷 – from the Vinalopó valley.

🛍️ Shopping in Elche

Elche is also known as the shoe capital of Spain 👞, with many outlets offering high-quality footwear at great prices.

• L’Aljub Shopping Centre – Zara, H&M, Primark, Bershka + free parking.

• Atabix Shopping Centre – smaller, local shops, cafés, and home to the Elche Ice Rink ❄️⛸️.

⛸️ Elche Ice Rink

Located inside the Atabix Centre, this is the only permanent ice rink in the province of Alicante. With 500 m² of real ice, it’s a fun year-round attraction. There’s also a large car park, making it easy to visit.

🕒 Opening Hours:

• Monday – Closed

• Tuesday & Thursday – 16:00–17:30 & 20:30–22:00

• Wednesday – 18:30–21:00

• Friday – 16:00–22:00

• Saturday – 10:30–14:00 & 16:00–23:00

• Sunday & Holidays – 10:30–14:00 & 16:00–22:00

🚗 Getting to Elche from Benidorm & Alicante

• By Car: 50 mins from Benidorm (AP-7/A-70), 25 mins from Alicante.

• By Bus: Interbus service, ~1h 15m.

• Tram to Alicante 1 hour 9 mins - Train Alicante to Elche - 29 mins

• By Taxi: ~€85–110 from Benidorm.

🌿 Day Trips Around Elche

• Pantano de Elche Reservoir – wetlands with rich birdlife 🦆.

• El Cau de Elche – open-air museum of 100+ limestone sculptures 🗿.

• Santa Pola – a nearby fishing town with sandy beaches 🏖️.

Find more places to visit in the Surrounding Area

🕐 Best Time to Visit Elche

• Spring & Autumn – pleasant for walking routes and gardens.

• August – experience the Misteri d’Elx and Nit d’Alba fireworks 🎆.

✨ Final Thoughts – All About Elche (Elx)

From the Castle of Altamira and the Basilica de Santa María, to the UNESCO-listed Palm Grove 🌴, lush gardens, unique museums, shopping, and even an ice rink ❄️, Elche (Elx) is a city that truly has it all.

Whether you’re planning a day trip from Benidorm, a short getaway from Alicante, or a longer Costa Blanca holiday, discovering all about Elche will leave you enchanted.

💬 Have you visited Elche (Elx) before? What was your favourite experience — the palm groves, the Misteri d’Elx, or perhaps climbing the Basilica tower? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we’d love to hear your stories!