Sea 18 °C

Alicante in May: Enjoy the Costa Blanca Coast

Published 5 October 2026 · HolidayWow editors · Written with AI, numbers checked against our data ·

Alicante in May is a strong choice for a sunny coastal holiday, with comfortable days, warm evenings and enough time for beaches, historic sights and relaxed meals. You can explore the city centre, visit the castle and make day trips along the Costa Blanca with a plan shaped around your preferred pace.

In May, expect average highs of 25 °C in Alicante and 13 °C at night, and the sea is 18 °C. The sun shines for about 10 hours a day, rain falls on 5 days of the month.

7 days in Alicante in May, Culture, from London Gatwick on your own

Plan a trip

Daytime highs in May: 25 °C
Sea temperature: 18 °C
Sun per day: 10 h
Flight from London Gatwick, nonstop: about 2 h 15

Why Alicante suits a May holiday

May brings a pleasant balance for sightseeing and outdoor days in Alicante. The average daytime temperature reaches 25 °C, while nights settle around 13 °C, making it comfortable to sit outside after dinner or take an evening walk through the city. May also offers good conditions for walking around the old town and enjoying the waterfront.

The month has a clear holiday rhythm. Alicante is a coastal city with a historic centre, beaches close at hand and popular day-trip destinations nearby. You can spend the morning seeing local sights, head to the beach in the afternoon and return to town for dinner without needing a packed schedule.

For a traveller planning from the UK, the distance from London Gatwick to Alicante is 885 miles. The figure helps you shape the journey, while the live plan can bring together the airport transfer, accommodation and onward travel in one view.

May compared

April is cooler, with 21 °C by day and 16 °C in the sea; June is warmer, with 29 °C by day and 22 °C in the sea.

April21°16 °C sea8 h sun
May25°18 °C sea10 h sun
June29°22 °C sea12 h sun

Climate by month
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Day °C	14	15	18	21	25	29	33	32	28	24	18	15
Night °C	5	6	8	10	13	18	21	21	18	15	9	7
Sea °C	15	14	15	16	18	22	25	26	25	22	19	16
Sun h/day	6	6	7	8	10	12	12	10	8	7	6	5
Rain days	5	4	7	7	5	3	1	3	7	7	6	5

Climate: NASA POWER 2006 to 2025, sea: NOAA OISST 1991 to 2020. Day and night are average highs and lows, sun in hours per day.

Where is it warmest in Spain in May?

The warmest place in May is in Andalusia with 28 °C, followed by Extremadura with 26 °C and Valencia with 25 °C. Alicante has 25 °C and ranks number 5.

iAlicante25 °C air, 18 °C sea

Warm days and a welcoming sea temperature

May is a good month for pairing city time with time by the water. The sea temperature is 18 °C, so swimming, paddling and relaxing on the beach can form part of a normal holiday day. Bring swimwear, a light cover-up and sandals for moving between the sand, the promenade and nearby cafés.

The sunshine average is 10 hours a day, so there is plenty of scope for outdoor plans. You might choose a beach morning, a visit to the castle area, a stroll around the old streets and a late lunch. Keep some flexibility in the day so the warmest part can be spent near the sea.

Rain can still appear during the month, with 5 rain days recorded in the climate data. A light jacket and a compact umbrella make it easy to adjust the route when the weather changes. A city base keeps indoor interests, cafés and sheltered streets close at hand.

A practical three day Alicante plan

On your first day, begin in the historic centre and walk towards the castle. Explore the old town streets, pause for a traditional Spanish meal and continue towards the waterfront. A relaxed pace gives you time to notice the details around the city rather than rushing between stops.

Spend the second day at the beach and the marina area. Bring water, snacks and sun protection, then take a short coastal walk later in the day. If you prefer a mixed day, add one city stop in the morning and keep the afternoon focused on swimming and relaxation.

Use the third day for a Costa Blanca excursion. The planner can place the route on the map, show the travel details and help you decide between a packed day or a slower itinerary. You can swap a stop, move a place to another day and let the plan checker re-order the day.

May weather in Alicante

May is a warm month in Alicante. Days reach 25 °C on average and nights 13 °C, with about 10 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on 5 days of the month, 28 mm in total.

Water temperature sits at 18 °C: think promenades, boat trips and seafood more than swimming. In the warmth ranking of the year it comes in at number 5.

How May compares in Alicante

April brings 21 °C by day and June 29 °C, so May is part of the climb towards warmer weeks. For rain the count is 7, 5 and 3 days across the three months. If you want more warmth, June delivers it; if you prefer room to breathe, May is the sweet spot.

April: 21 °C, sea 16 °C, 7 rain days, 8 h of sun
May: 25 °C, sea 18 °C, 5 rain days, 10 h of sun
June: 29 °C, sea 22 °C, 3 rain days, 12 h of sun

How to shape a May day in Alicante

Mornings suit an unhurried walk through the old streets or along the water. The warmest hours, at 25 °C, are perfect for being outside. Evenings drop to 13 °C, so plan dinner somewhere warm and keep a layer handy.

Which week of May to pick

School breaks in this month include May half-term (Whitsun) (Kent County Council), May Day long weekend (Department of Education Northern Ireland), May half-term (Spring Bank Holiday weekend) (Department of Education Northern Ireland), from the official calendars. The weeks clear of school breaks are 8 May to 14 May and 15 May to 21 May. 1 May to 7 May, 22 May to 28 May and 29 May to 31 May overlap with school holidays, so stays fill faster then.

Already started

Your trip in Alicante

25 °C by day in May
Sea 18 °C
from London Gatwick about 2 h 15

Day 1
Arrival in Alicante
Flight from London Gatwick in 2 h 15, direct. Settle in, first evening by the harbour or in the centre.
Day 2
Playa Muchavista
Beach day: the sea is around 18 °C in May.
Day 3
Urbanova Beach
Beach day: the sea is around 18 °C in May.
Day 4
Playa Urbanova
Beach day: the sea is around 18 °C in May.
Day 5
Playa De Muchavista, El Campello
Beach day: the sea is around 18 °C in May.
Day 6
Platja de Llevant
Beach day: the sea is around 18 °C in May.
Day 7
Last morning and flight home
One last coffee with a sea view, then back to London Gatwick.

Take this plan and make it yours

Look around without an account; sign in to save.

Weather in Alicante month by month

January14 °C15 °C
February15 °C14 °C
March18 °C15 °C
April21 °C16 °C
May25 °C18 °C
June29 °C22 °C
July33 °C25 °C
August32 °C26 °C
September28 °C25 °C
October24 °C22 °C
November18 °C19 °C
December15 °C16 °C

Getting there

The quickest way is from London Gatwick: you're in Alicante in about 2 h 15 on a direct flight. Direct flights leave from 8 UK airports. The nearest airport is Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC), 6 miles away.

ALCAlicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport6 miles to the destination
RMURegion of Murcia International Airport51 miles to the destination

Flight times from UK airports
From	Flight time	To	Direct flight
London Gatwick LGW	about 2 h 15	ALC	Direct
Bristol BRS	about 2 h 18	ALC	Direct
London Luton LTN	about 2 h 21	ALC	Direct
London Stansted STN	about 2 h 21	ALC	Direct
Birmingham BHX	about 2 h 25	ALC	Direct
Manchester MAN	about 2 h 32	ALC	Direct
Edinburgh EDI	about 2 h 52	ALC	Direct
Glasgow GLA	about 2 h 52	ALC	Direct
London Heathrow LHR	about 2 h 18	ALC

Flight times estimated from the distance, direct routes from OpenTravelData.

Travel advice for Spain

ETIAS coming, visa-free for now

The current advice on safety, health and entry is published in full by GOV.UK Foreign travel advice. Check it before you book and again shortly before you leave.

Checked: 1 October 2026, source: European Commission (ETIAS)

Travel advice Entry: European Commission (ETIAS)

Getting to Alicante from home

From London Heathrow, Alicante is {{dist.home:LHR}} away as the crow flies. From London Gatwick it is {{dist.home:LGW}}. From Manchester it is {{dist.home:MAN}}.

Flight times to Alicante

from London Gatwick2 h 15direct
from Bristol2 h 18direct
from London Luton2 h 21direct
from London Stansted2 h 21direct

Door to door, the plan lines up the ride to the airport, the flight with live fares and the transfer on arrival.

Flight times to Alicante

from London Gatwick2 h 15direct
from Bristol2 h 18direct
from London Luton2 h 21direct
from London Stansted2 h 21direct

Your May packing list

With 25 °C by day and 13 °C at night and 5 rain days, pack for changeable mild weather. Your plan builds this list for you and updates it when you change the dates.

Comfortable walking shoes
A warm layer for the evenings
A travel adapter for your chargers

Prices for Alicante

Every price for Alicante on this page comes live from a partner, in your currency. Open a card to see today's rate for your dates.

Choosing a base for your Costa Blanca break

Alicante city works well for a first visit because the historic centre, beaches and waterfront are easy to combine in one itinerary. Staying near the centre gives you a straightforward base for restaurants, walking and evening plans. It also suits a holiday where you want to experience the city itself rather than make daily transfers.

BeachPlaya Muchavistai

BeachUrbanova Beachi

A coastal base is useful if swimming and time by the sea are central to your trip. Choose an area that suits your preferred rhythm, with space to walk to the beach and convenient access to food and transport. The plan can place your accommodation alongside each day’s route so you can see the practical shape of the holiday.

For families and groups, a single base often makes the May holiday easier to coordinate. The planner supports relaxed, balanced and packed travel, and each group can comment or vote on the same plan. Live prices for stays and partner activities appear in the plan, making it easier to compare options as you organise.

BeachPlaya Muchavistai

BeachUrbanova Beachi

Make the most of May school holidays

May can work well for families using the UK school holiday calendar. Kent County Council lists May half-term, or Whitsun, from 29 May to 6 June 2027. Cardiff Council has the same dates, while other regions have May Day and Victoria Day long weekends. Check the dates for your area before choosing flights and accommodation.

A family holiday benefits from a plan with a mix of active days and free time. Keep one day for the beach, one for the city and one for an excursion, then leave room for a slower morning. The planner can create a month-based plan first and add dates later when your holiday dates are confirmed.

The Bank Holiday planner helps connect public holidays with leave days when you want to extend the trip. It uses official holiday information, so you can see the shape of the break in one place. A document vault keeps tickets and confirmations with the relevant plan, while a packing list supports the month and climate.

Build a flexible itinerary with HolidayWow

Describe your holiday in one sentence or by voice, including the destination, month, group and preferred pace. The planner reads the trip from your words and creates a map first layout with daily routes, stops and travel details. It can plan from your home through the airport, flight and transfer to the first stay.

The plan is editable throughout the holiday. Move a stop to another day, replace a beach visit with a historic sight or choose a lighter day when everyone needs more space. The assistant understands the selected day or stop, so changes can be made through natural requests as well as the planning controls.

HolidayWow is free to download and to plan with. You can share one link with your group, assign viewing and editing roles, add comments and split costs. Dates are optional at the start, and adding them later brings weekdays, live weather and live prices into the relevant day cards.

Alicante in May: frequently asked questions

Is Alicante a good place for a holiday in May?

Alicante is a good May destination for warm coastal days, historic sights and flexible days out. The month reaches 25 °C by day and 18 °C for the sea, while 10 hours of sunshine give you room for beaches, walks and outdoor meals. It suits couples, families and groups with different interests.

What is the sea temperature in Alicante in May?

The sea temperature in Alicante in May averages 18 °C. That supports beach days and swimming, especially during the warmer part of the afternoon. Bring a light layer for the evening and use a relaxed route so you can move easily between the water, cafés and city sights.

How many days are needed to visit Alicante?

A three day stay works well for the city centre, castle, beach and a nearby Costa Blanca excursion. Add days when you want a slower holiday, more swimming or several day trips. HolidayWow lets you set a relaxed, balanced or packed pace and edit each day as the plan develops.

Can I combine Alicante with the Costa Blanca?

Yes, and it is a natural way to shape a May holiday. Use Alicante as a base for the city, beaches and historic sights, then create day routes for surrounding destinations. The map shows each stop and leg, making it easier to balance travel with time by the pool or sea.

Can HolidayWow plan a family holiday in May?

HolidayWow can read the destination, month, group and budget from a sentence or voice request. You can share the plan with family members, let them comment and vote, and assign editing roles. The Bank Holiday planner also helps you organise public holidays and leave days for a longer break.

Everything about a holiday in Alicante

Plan your holiday in Alicante in May

Describe your trip in one sentence. When, who with and what matters to you.