Alicante is a beautiful city in the southeast of Spain. The weather is surprisingly good all year round, including the weather in January, and the city is full of activities and things to do.
The weather in Alicante in January averages a minimum of 6.3°C (43.3°F) and a maximum of a whopping 17°C (62.6°F). There are 8 days of full sunshine with no clouds as it rains only an average of 3.6 days in the complete month. The other days tend to be just partly cloudy. There is an average of 5.8 hours of sunshine a day and 9h 46min of daylight in the middle of the month. The temperature very rarely goes down to 0°C (32°F) or less, with an average of 0.4 days in the month. January is the coldest month in Alicante. All this data is based on the Aemet page for Alicante (in Spanish).
So is Alicante a good place to visit in January? The answer is yes, let’s see how it compares to other cities and what to do in Alicante in January.
How does Alicante’s Weather in January Compare With Other Cities in Spain?
| City | Min Average [°C (°F)] | Max Average [°C (°F)] | Sea Temperature [°C (°F)] | Rain days | Daylight Hours | Under 0°C/32°F Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante | 6.3°C (43.3°F) | 17°C (62.6°F) | 14.6°C (58.3°F) | 3.6 | 9h 46min | 0.4 |
| Malaga | 7.4 (45.3) | 16.8 (62.2) | 16 (60.8) | 5.8 | 9h 59min | 0.1 |
| Tenerife | 15.4 (59.7) | 21 (69.8) | 20.3 (68.5) | 4.2 | 10h 34m | 0 |
| Lanzarote | 14 (57.2) | 20.7 (69.3) | – | 3.2 | 10h 32min | 0 |
| Valencia | 7.1 (44.8) | 16.4 (61.5) | 14.3 (57.7) | 4.4 | 9h 46min | 0.3 |
| Barcelona | 5.3 (41.5) | 11.1 (52) | 13.4 (56.1) | 4.8 | 9h 35min | 1.8 |
| Palma de Mallorca | 3.8 (38.8) | 15.2 (59.4) | 14.4 (58) | 5.7 | 9h 26min | 5.1 |
The Sea Temperature in January
The average water temperature in January in Alicante is 14.6°C (58.3°F). January is one of the coldest months for water temperature in Alicante.
One of the advantages of Alicante’s weather during January is the sun in the mornings. It gets up to 17°C (62.6°F) on average, so on some lucky days, it can get warmer than that (keep in mind that if you are not lucky it can also be cold). Brave people might enjoy swimming on the beaches of Alicante on those warm days but it is not warm enough for most people.
If you are just looking for sunbathing then the beaches in January are a good place to do so. The beaches are open all year round but some services such as lifeguards, toilets or sunbeds are not available in the low season.
Another good advantage about the beaches in Alicante in January is that they are not crowded, therefore you can have virtually all the beach for yourself.
What to Wear in Alicante in January?
The temperature in Alicante in January changes a lot when comparing the daytime with the nighttime. In the early morning and night, you will most probably need trousers and a warm jacket. In the daytime, brave people can wear a T-shirt and shorts when it is sunny and not windy, but it is safer to wear trousers and a T-shirt with a light jacket.
In degrees, this means the early morning and night can get cold. Expect most days something between roughly 4°C-10°C. During the daytime, you can expect temperatures around 15°C-20°C most days.
To summarise, get these different clothes for Alicante if visiting in January: Jumpers, jackets/coats, t-shirts and trousers.
Is Alicante Worth Visiting in January?
Despite being a bit cold for swimming on the beach, Alicante in January is a good time for visiting the city. Most probably the weather is going to treat you well giving you warm mornings in the surprisingly good weather in winter in Alicante.
Alicante is a pretty working Spanish city with tourism so it doesn’t empty out in winter or January. The Santa Barbara Castle, all the museums in Alicante and the nightlife (such as Latino music clubs) are open. Also, day trips to Tabarca Island are possible too.
Furthermore, it is still the festive season in the country. Christmas in Spain ends with the Three Wise Men or Three Kings celebration on the 5th-6th of January.
Traditionally in Spain, the 6th of January is the day when the children get their Christmas presents. On the night of the 5th, there is a big parade on the street where the Three Kings salute the children throwing sweets and presents at them. The parade is on the night of the 5th of January.
The Three Wise Men Tradition in Alicante
The night of the 5th to the 6th of January is the night of the “Three Wise Men” or “Reyes Magos” in Spanish. Alicante’s parade starts on the 5th of January at 7 pm on Avenida de la Estación, next to the Palacio Provincial, and goes through Plaza de los Luceros, Avenida Alfonso X el Sabio, Rambla de Méndez Núñez and calle Rafael Altamira to Plaza del Ayuntamiento (route of the 2026 parade).
Every single city across the country has big parades designed for children -and everyone else who never grew up- full of colour, music and movement. The show includes the 3 Wise Men (Reyes Magos) sitting and greeting from big floats along the parade route.
That night, the children in Spain wake up to a Christmas Tree with a lot of presents underneath. Spaniards might also give some presents on Christmas Eve.
In Alicante, The Three Wise Men arrive from the sea -a few years ago they used to arrive by helicopter-. Then they move to Plaza de Toros to greet all the children from there and start parading from Diputación.
The Three Wise Men Schedule In Alicante
At 17:00: The Wise Men arrive at Muelle 10 in Alicante’s Port.
At 18:00: The Wise Men meet and greet at Plaza de Toros.
At 19:00: Alicante’s Three Wise Men Parade starts.
Plaza de Toros Greeting Price and Fees
Entry to the greeting in Plaza de Toros is free, but in previous years it has needed a ticket, handed out in late December at the Concejalía de Fiestas (corner with Rambla). Check the City Council’s announcement in December.
Parade Price and Fees
To watch the parade is completely free. Only if you want to sit you will need to pay. The tickets for the parade are sold at cabalgatareyesalicante.es but all the seats get sold very fast right after the sales opening.
The Parade
These were the stages of the 2024 parade (since 2026 it starts on Avenida de la Estación):
Recreational Stage
Several entertainment groups parade on this stage such as ballets, Disney Pets, and the San Juan Bonfires Associations.
Biblical Stage
In this stage, some biblical Christmas scenes are represented, such as Jesus’ birth.
After the biblical scenes the 3 Wise Men Parade in this order: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar.
Commercial Stage
Some of the sponsors and other companies participate in this stage with their floats and giving presents to the children.
Parade Route
The Three Wise Men parade in Alicante starts at 7 pm.
The beginning is at Diputación, close to Luceros, and follows Alfonso X El Sabio and turns right to Rambla, then left to end at Ayuntamiento/City Hall.
What to do in Alicante in January?
The big thing in Alicante in January is that it is still Christmas. Spain has a big tradition of celebrating “The Three Wise Men” but it is not the only thing to do in Alicante in January.
Alicante is a nice Spanish working city with tourism that doesn’t stop in the low season. The links open the article with more info, when available:
Enjoy the Christmas Funfair in Rabasa
Amusement parks or funfairs are always an enjoyable experience. Alicante has a funfair that is mounted every year in Rabasa.
The Christmas funfair usually opens from early December to mid-January, every day from 17:00 until late at night. On most Sundays and bank holidays, it opens in the morning as well, from 11:30 to 14:30.
Rides cost a few euros each.
Transport to the Christmas Funfair
The Christmas funfair in Alicante is at Rabasa, close to stores such as Decathlon:
The easiest way to get there is by car. The funfair has a big dirt parking lot:
But there are also public transport buses and Tramlines stopping near Alicante’s funfair:
- TRAM line 2 from Luceros to San Vicente. Stop Ciudad Jardin. Then it is a 15-minute walk
- Bus Line 24 to San Vicente. Stop at Santa Isabel I. Then it is a 13-minute walk
- Bus line 04 to Cementerio. Stop Divina Pastora. Then it is a 15-minute walk
Join A Walking Tour for The Best Glimpse of Alicante
Tours are always a good way to understand the city’s soul in a short time. Doing a tour helps understand how to enjoy a better experience in Alicante.
Get to Know the City in a Walking Tour
Tours are always a very good way to get a sense of the soul of a city. Alicante’s tour will teach you history, culture and gastronomy.
What Else to Do in Alicante in January
Here are a few more examples of things you can do in Alicante during the first month of the year.
- Attend the 3 Wise Men parade in Alicante centre on the 5th at night
- Visit Santa Barbara Castle
- Have lunch on one of Alicante’s rooftops
- Visit the Archaeological Museum to learn about Alicante’s history
- Make a boat trip to Tabarca Island
- Enjoy the nightlife in Alicante
- Eat Tapas
- Have Churros with hot chocolate at Valor in La Explanada
- Walk on the Promenade La Explanada de España
- Enjoy walks on the beach
- Take photos of the centenary trees at Canalejas Park
The Weather In December, February and Other Months
In general, winters are dry and sunny with some episodes of rain for just a few days.
Here is an article that explains the winter weather in Alicante.