Things to do in El Campello with kids: culture, hiking, and beaches

If you’re looking to discover a really cool spot on the Alicante coast, where, in addition to the beach, there are activities for kids and cultural plans, don’t miss this article about things to do in El Campello.

El Campello boasts 23 kilometers of coastline, ranging from wide sandy beaches and small coves to rugged cliffs.

It also proudly presents a new slogan: “Smile, you’re in El Campello.” And with so much Mediterranean around, it will be impossible not to smile. Especially with the privileged climate it enjoys all year round.

Where is El Campello, Alicante? – Map

El Campello is a town located just north of Alicante, only 13 km from the city center. It is easily accessible by tram from Alicante.

In El Campello, you can choose between historical sites where you’ll learn about its past, traditions, and culture, and activities for all tastes, ranging from water sports to hiking in the inland areas.

Route through the History of El Campello: The archaeological sites, the port, and the seaside promenade are a true reflection of what this coastal city and its people are today.

Voramar de les Escultures Route: A short walk through several sculptures located along the beach.

Route through the Past and Present of El Campello: This route takes you through the buildings in the inner part of the city, inland, starting from the Plaza de Canalejas, its town hall, and parks with sculptures.

1) Illeta dels Banyets

One of the main attractions in El Campello is this archaeological site, which is unique due to its location on a peninsula that almost seems ready to detach itself from the coast again (it was once separate, but in the last century, it was connected to the mainland), as well as its historical significance.

Why is it important? Thanks to the excavations carried out there, it has been confirmed that this site was inhabited more than 5,000 years ago! This means that not only the Romans lived here, but also people from the Bronze Age and later the Iberians.

There is an area known as “the Queen’s Baths,” as it is said that a Moorish queen used to bathe here. There is also a “Roman fish farm,” where today you can enjoy snorkeling.

2) Sculpture Route

This is a small coastal route that starts near the Torre de la Illeta and reaches the Playa de la Almadraba. This walk follows the coastline, and in addition to enjoying a pleasant stroll along the Mediterranean, you can:

• Admire the sculptures of artist Vicente Ferrero, including notable works like The Bather, The Torso, and The Girl Reading.
• Learn about the local environment through 6 informative panels placed by the Institute of Coastal Ecology. Further down in the article, we share details about a talk we had on Posidonia Oceanica, a vital and essential plant for the Mediterranean Sea.

3) Vigía de la Illeta Tower

This tower was completed in 1557, and its main purpose was defensive, particularly to protect against attacks from Berber pirates who used to raid the coast of what is now the Valencian Community.

What’s interesting about this tower is its shape: it’s not a typical round tower as one might expect, but as the guides explain, it has a “truncated cone” shape. At its base, the diameter is about 6 meters, while at the top, where it tapers, it is 5 meters.

Further north of El Campello, you’ll find the Torre Vigía del Barranc d’Aigües (also known as the Torre de la Lloma de Reixes), built for the same defensive purpose. It’s located in a natural area that, until 1296, marked the border between the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Aragón.

Along the coast of Murcia and Andalusia, you’ll find more of these defensive towers, which were once crucial for protecting the coastline from pirate attacks.

4) The Fish Market (Lonja del Pescado), next to the Marina

You can’t fully understand the current history of El Campello without recognizing its strong connection to the sea. That’s why it’s worth taking a stroll through the port and visiting the Lonja del Pescado.

You’ll likely notice the contrast between the sport marina, with its private boats and yachts, and the fishing area, where you’ll find traditional wooden vessels. Keep in mind that the Cofradía de Pescadores de El Campello is one of the oldest fishing brotherhoods in Spain.

At the El Campello fish market, fresh fish auctions are held for the public in the traditional manner from Monday to Friday, starting at 6 PM. Today, the official auctioneer is Vicente, who turns this simple activity of buying and selling seafood into a fascinating spectacle for travelers and tourists. For the local fishermen and residents, however, it’s just another part of their daily routine.

How does the auction work at the El Campello Fish Market?

And if you want to buy your own fresh fish? Just bring your bag from home, and here’s how it works:

The fishermen bring their products to the market before the auction starts, and it follows a descending bid system. This means the auctioneer gradually lowers the price of the trays of fish in 10-cent intervals until someone stops the auction and claims the product. Once the price is set, all trays of that particular product are sold at the same price.

It’s a unique and fun way to get fresh fish directly from the market while experiencing a traditional maritime auction!

📝 Take note! The local celebrations of Virgen del Carmen (the patron saint of sailors) are held every July 16th in the fishing district of Carrer de La Mar. The Virgin makes her procession first by boat, and then, carried on the shoulders of the fishermen, she is taken to the chapel.

5) More things to do in El Campello before diving into the sea

• Ermita de la Virgen del Carmen: This chapel was built in 1960 thanks to donations from local fishermen to house the image of the patron saint of sailors.
• Plaza de Canalejas: This is the place where El Campello began to take shape. The parish church is Santa Teresa, built in 1849, and around the square, you’ll find the Municipal Library and some of the oldest buildings in the city.

6) Seaside Promenade and Beaches: Now, time to cool off

Explore everything El Campello has to offer in its purest form by walking along the charming seaside promenade next to the Carrer La Mar beach. This historic fishing district once housed the first shipyards and still retains the charm of the past, with its fishermen’s houses nestled among restaurants and shops.

The beach has been renovated with soft sand instead of pebbles, and jetties have been installed to calm the waves of the Mediterranean.

On this beach, you’ll find the Monumento al Pescador, an impressive sculpture by Alicante artist Arcadi Blasco. This artwork features a mast or lighthouse on the beach and the bow of a boat, symbolizing its arrival on land, located just a block from the sea. Enjoy this artistic expression that tells the story of the deep connection between the El Campello community and its marine environment!

What are the beaches of El Campello?

Here is a list of the beaches in El Campello:

• Playa de Carrer La Mar: The main beach, located next to the promenade.
• Punta del Riu: A dog-friendly beach just south of Playa de Carrer La Mar. It’s a bit more rugged, with pebbles and gravel, as it’s located at the mouth of the Río Seco.
• Playa L’Almadrava: North of Illeta dels Banyets. There is also a cove of the same name. It’s quite narrow, ideal for off-season visits, especially if you’re an early riser.
• Playa de Muchavista: This beach, located 3 km to the south, connects with Playa de San Juan (which belongs to Alicante).

And further to the north, a series of stunning coves await discovery, each more beautiful than the last. Among them are Cala del Llop Marí, Cala Lanuza, Cala D’Enmig, and Cala del Morro Blanc

Importance of Posidonia in the Seabed

We had already seen this marine plant at Playa del Postiguet in Alicante, and the informational signs at the entrance explained its significance.

But during our visit to El Campello, the Institute of Coastal Ecology gave us a talk to reinforce our knowledge about the importance of Posidonia Oceanica. Here are some key points from the talk:

• It’s important to clarify that this plant is not an algae.
• Its presence indicates the good quality of the waters.
• It is a species that can only be found in the Mediterranean.
• It forms a complex habitat—a seagrass meadow—for many marine animals that live, take refuge, and feed among its leaves on the seabed.

When storms occur, many of the Posidonia leaves and balls break off and end up on the shore, forming arribazones (deposits of seaweed and plant matter). The unfortunate part is that some people want to get rid of them because they think it looks “ugly” or “dirty.” However, doing this can harm the beach, especially smaller ones with less sand.

Each local government works to find ways to “clean” the beach in a controlled manner, minimizing the impact of these arribazones or moving them to be stored and then returned to the sea during the off-season.

Water Sports of All Kinds to Enjoy in the Sea

Are you ready to dive into an exciting sea adventure? Choose your water sport to enjoy on the beaches of El Campello, whether it’s paddle surfing, surfing, kayaking, or others.

Juan has experienced the thrill of standing on a paddleboard, but this time, along with other travel bloggers, participating in what’s known as Big Paddle Surf or Big SUP. So, whether you’re a curious beginner or an expert paddle surfer, El Campello is the paradise you’ve been looking for to enjoy this and other activities.

📷 Rent a kayak here to explore the coast of El Campello. Included life jackets.

7) Things to do in the surroundings of El Campello

a) Natural Hiking Routes

One of the hiking routes promoted by the local tourist office in the surroundings of El Campello is:

• Local Trail SL-CV 93 “Puntes de Gosálvez”: This is a circular trail that stretches for 6.1 km and is of low difficulty, offering beautiful views of the sea.

We also took a very short hiking route starting from the Salesianos School, which is just a few meters from Playa Muchavista.

In addition to its historical significance for the city, this area features a spectacular pine grove with outdoor tables and seating, as well as a playground for children. If you’re traveling to El Campello with kids, it’s an ideal spot to spend the day with family and friends.

b) Other nearby towns around El Campello

Here are some cities and towns you can visit near El Campello. And to make it easy, we have an article on all of them!

• Alicante: We have a very detailed article on what to see in the provincial capital, as we spent a month there during the pandemic. Since Benjamín was young and we explored the entire city, we also have an article about things to do in Alicante with kids.
• Tabarca Island: One of the most beautiful trips we took from Alicante. A gorgeous island, very close to the coast, where you can enjoy the beach, the small village, and a lovely walk through the island’s more rugged areas.
• The Most Beautiful Villages of Alicante Province: Whether on the coast or inland, this province is home to some stunning towns. In this article, we give you an overview of all of them, which can help you plan your itinerary. Places like Altea, Villajoyosa, and Calpe on the coast, and others like Polop, Guadalest, and Biar in the mountains. These are definitely unmissable!

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Useful Information for Traveling to El Campello

Where to Eat in El Campello

Although we only spent a weekend there, we want to recommend a couple of places where we enjoyed the local cuisine in El Campello. One is located along the Paseo Marítimo, and the other is inland in Plaza de Canalejas.

• Restaurante Seis Perlas: Located on the Paseo Marítimo, this restaurant aims to showcase both tradition and innovation in its culinary offerings. With top-quality ingredients, excellent service, and a privileged location with a terrace offering wide sea views, it’s an ideal place to enjoy a meal.
• Bar Merfín La Solera: From the outside, this place may not look like much, but inside, the décor is charming. Not only the small indoor area but also the patio, which is perfect for warm spring and summer days

In addition to these two restaurants, we also visited Bar Coco Loco by the beach, where we had some cold beers and juices, and had a great time as well.

Where to Stay in El Campello

El Campello offers a great range of accommodation options, and since the town stretches along the coast, you’re unlikely to be far from the sea. If you’re not traveling with your own vehicle (or prefer to leave it parked), the whole city is well-connected by buses and trams.

So, if you’re wondering where to stay in El Campello, here are some suggestions:

• Hotel La Familia Gallo Rojo: this hotel is located in a tall building, offering stunning views from the rooms. It also has a rooftop terrace, a gym, and an outdoor pool, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy the scenery.
• Occidental Pueblo Acantilado: with the Barceló brand, this hotel is perched on a cliffside, offering a village-like atmosphere. The houses are painted in various colors, and they provide different types of accommodations tailored to guests’ interests. The complex includes a pool, a restaurant, and a summer bar. It’s located at the height of Cala d’Or, to the north of El Campello.

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