Elche
A city in a palm forest, with two UNESCO listings.
Elche is a short trip inland from Alicante and very close to the airport, and it's built around the biggest palm grove in Europe. The Palmeral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Huerto del Cura garden is the best place to see it up close.
The city's mystery play, the Misteri d'Elx, performed every August, is also on UNESCO's list. Elche is a working city rather than a tourist town, which shows in the food: grill houses and local restaurants at local prices.
Elche guides
All guides →A Day Trip to Elche: Palm Forests and a UNESCO City (2026)
Twenty minutes by train from Alicante sits a city with a thousand-year-old palm forest and two UNESCO listings. Here's how to do Elche in one day, on foot.
Food & DrinkMesón El Granaíno, Elche: review of the family tavern open since 1964
An honest look at Mesón El Granaíno in Elche: what to order, what it costs, when to book, and how it compares to nearby spots.
Food & DrinkDinner in a palm garden: Hotel Huerto del Cura in Elche, reviewed
Dinner surrounded by palms at Elche's Hotel Huerto del Cura: what it's good for, and who should skip it.
Food & DrinkAsador Ilicitano in Elche: what it's actually like, and who it's for
A grill house in Elche with a 4.5 from 607 reviews. What it does well, who it's not for, and why locals say it's worth the drive.
Food & DrinkIs Restaurante La Finca in Elche worth the drive from Alicante?
La Finca holds a 4.8 from 2,121 Google reviews. What that number really tells you, and who should make the trip to Elche.
Places in Elche
8 listings
Restaurants & Cafes(6)
La Finca
Susi Díaz's Michelin-starred country house outside Elche: seasonal tasting menus and a garden.
Restaurant Mesón El Granaino
Family-run Elche tavern since 1964: busy tapas bar, olla granaína and arroz con costra
Asador Ilicitano
Traditional Elche asador for suckling pig, roast lamb and steaks, in a bodega-style dining room.
Hotel Huerto del Cura
Palm-grove hotel in Elche with modern Mediterranean dining at Els Capellans and a poolside cocktail bar
El Granero
Elche taberna since 1997: famous roscas, rice dishes and sirloin, with a daily-changing set menu.
La Tagliatella
Italian chain in L'Aljub mall, Elche: wood-oven pizza, plenty of pasta and well-liked waiting staff
