Elche

City · Valencian Community, 🇪🇸 Spain

Elche is a city in the province of Alicante, in the southeast of Spain. It is known for its palm grove, one of the largest in Europe, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Elche is also a major center of Spanish shoe making.

The city has a compact old center, a Baroque basilica and beaches about 12 km to the south. It suits a half day or one day of sights, and it is an easy trip from Alicante.

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When to visit

Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with warm, sunny days. Summer is very hot, and winter is mild and mostly dry.

The Mystery Play of Elche (Misteri d'Elx), a medieval religious drama sung in Valencian, is performed on 14 and 15 August. It is a UNESCO listed tradition.

Best time to visit: February, March, April, May, June, October, November

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Good

16° (feels like 12°) · extremes 3°–21°
7° at night
5 rainy days
15 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in February

Great

17° (feels like 13°) · extremes 2°–23°
7° at night
4 rainy days
14 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in March

Great

20° (feels like 16°) · extremes 5°–26°
9° at night
6 rainy days
16 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Great

22° (feels like 19°) · extremes 8°–28°
12° at night
6 rainy days
15 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in May

Great

26° (feels like 24°) · extremes 11°–32°
15° at night
5 rainy days
18 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in June

Great

31° (feels like 30°) · extremes 16°–36°
19° at night
3 rainy days
22 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in July

Fair

34° · extremes 19°–38°
22° at night
1 rainy day
26 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Light breeze
UV index 9 · very high

Up to 11 days above 35°

Typical weather in August

Poor

34° (feels like 35°) · extremes 20°–38°
23° at night
3 rainy days
22 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
UV index 8 · very high

Up to 11 days above 35°

Typical weather in September

Good

30° · extremes 16°–35°
20° at night
7 rainy days
16 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Light breeze
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in October

Great

26° (feels like 25°) · extremes 12°–30°
16° at night
7 rainy days
14 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Great

20° (feels like 17°) · extremes 6°–25°
11° at night
6 rainy days
13 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in December

Good

17° (feels like 13°) · extremes 4°–22°
8° at night
6 rainy days
12 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 2 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Palmerar d'Elx is a large grove of date palms with irrigation channels. Parts of it are open as gardens, and the palms shade many streets in the center.
The Hort del Cura is a garden in the palm grove, known for a very old palm with many branches.
The Basílica de Santa María is the main church, with a Baroque façade and a large blue dome.
La Calahorra is a medieval fortified tower beside the river.
The Palau d'Altamira is a medieval palace with Moorish features in the old center.
La Alcudia is an archaeological site on the edge of the city, where the famous Lady of Elche sculpture was found in 1897. The original is now in a museum in Madrid.

Featured Lists

Angel L. Valero / CC BY-SA 2.0

Elche Essentials

Explore Elche’s diverse landscape, ranging from the 17th-century masonry dam of the Pantano de Elche to the sandy shores of Playa del Saladar. This selection highlights the city's architectural heritage, such as the modernist Torre del Gall, and its natural spaces, including the Tabayá viewpoint and birdwatching sites. Local commerce is represented through the traditional markets of Plaza de Madrid and San José, while the Río Safari provides wildlife encounters within the region's characteristic palm groves.

9 places

What to experience

Walk through the palm grove in the morning, before the heat builds.
Visit in August for the Mystery Play, which takes place in the Basílica de Santa María.

Tours & Activities

Elche — Map

Day trips

Alicante (about 25 km, 20 minutes by train or car): the provincial capital, with a castle and a long beach.
Orihuela (about 25 km, 30 minutes by car): a historic town with churches and a university.
Torrevieja (about 40 km, 40 minutes by car): a seaside resort with salt lakes.
Benidorm (about 60 km, 1 hour by car): a large beach resort.

Where to explore

Other places nearby:

Provincial capital: Alicante.
Coast: Torrevieja and Benidorm.
Big city: Valencia.

Getting there

By air: Alicante-Elche airport (ALC) is about 10 km from the center and is the main airport for the area. Buses and taxis link it with Elche.
By train: Trains stop at Elche-Parque and Elche-Carrús stations. Book on Renfe.
By bus: Buses link Elche with Alicante, Murcia and the coast.

Getting around

On foot: The old center and the palm grove are compact and flat.
Cycling: The city is flat, and cycling is easy.

Driving

Is a car worth it?: Not for the center. A car helps for the beaches and nearby towns.
Parking: Use a car park near the center.
Restrictions: The old center has limited access for cars.

Food & drink

Elche is known for arroz con costra (rice baked in a pan with a crust of egg on top) and for its dates. Fresh vegetables, rice dishes and seafood from the nearby coast are common.

Most restaurants and tapas bars are in the center and around the palm grove.

Breakfast

Churros Churros con ChocolateFried dough sticks served with a thick, dark hot chocolate for dipping — a classic Spanish breakfast or late-night snack.

Lunch

Paella ValencianaA saffron-scented rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan. The traditional Valencian version uses chicken, rabbit, and green beans — best eaten at midday.

GazpachoA cold, blended soup of raw tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, originally from Andalusia. Served as a drink or a starter, especially in summer.

Dinner

Pulpo a la GallegaBoiled octopus sliced onto a wooden board and dressed with olive oil, coarse salt, and smoked paprika — a signature dish of Galicia.

Snacks & street food

Jamón IbéricoDry-cured ham from acorn-fed Iberian pigs, sliced paper-thin and eaten on its own or with bread. The finest grade, jamón ibérico de bellota, is one of Spain's most prized products.

Tortilla EspañolaA thick potato and egg omelette, served warm or at room temperature, found in virtually every bar in Spain. Often eaten as a tapa or a quick meal.

Patatas BravasFried potato chunks served with a spicy tomato sauce or aioli — one of the most common tapas across the country.

PintxosSmall snacks anchored to slices of bread with a toothpick, the Basque Country's answer to tapas. Found in bar counters across San Sebastián and Bilbao, often with elaborate toppings.

CroquetasCrispy breaded cylinders with a creamy béchamel filling, typically made with jamón, bacalà (salt cod), or mushrooms.

Drinks

Rioja Wine Vino de RiojaSpain's best-known wine region produces full-bodied reds from Tempranillo grapes, aged in oak. The crianza, reserva, and gran reserva labels indicate increasing age and complexity.

Safety & health

Elche is a safe city. Summer heat is strong, so avoid the middle of the day, carry water and wear sun protection.

History

Elche has been settled since ancient times. The Iberians lived at La Alcudia, and the Romans later built a colony there. The Moors planted the palm groves and built the irrigation channels.

The city grew in the Middle Ages, and the shoe industry became its main business in the 19th and 20th centuries.