The popular resort of Benidorm on the Spanish coast of Costa Blanca is distinguished by a special microclimate, sunny weather without sweltering heat (average temperature in summer is 26 0C), and extensive beaches. Families with children, young people, lovers of nightlife, and elderly people come here to relax.
The main flow of tourists arrives at Alicante El Altet airport, from where the distance to Benidorm is only 57 km.
Direct flights from Moscow and back (operated by Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Vueling airlines, Iberia, Air Europa) are scheduled to take off and land from 10:30 to 24:30. Many Russian tourists choose cheaper options with transfers, and during the holiday season - charters, and flight delays sometimes occur. So life at the airport is in full swing from morning to morning, and public transport only works until 22-23 hours.
This article is about how to get from Alicante airport to Benidorm on your own. We will also tell you about possible routes in the opposite direction - from Benidorm to Alicante: to the airport or to the city center, in case someone wants to go shopping or watch a bullfight in the main arena of the Costa Blanca.
Benidorm is the tourist capital of the Costa Brava. Due to the large number of skyscrapers, it is called “Spanish New York”.
Photo: flickr.com/benidormone
Airport
It is impossible to get lost in the large Aeropuerto de Alicante-Elche - all services are located in one terminal.
The exit to the bus stops and taxi rank is from the departure area on the second level - you need to follow the “bus” signs.
You can easily find the taxi rank by looking at the signs and signs at the exit from the terminal.
Photo: flickr.com/sarajevita
Airport Express - Benidorm
Very It is convenient to get to the resort by direct bus from Alsa. The duration of the trip is 40-50 minutes, the price of a one-way ticket is 9.45 euros, a round trip ticket is 17.95 euros, children under 4 years old also need to take a ticket, but it is free.
The Alsa bus will take you from Alicante to Benidorm and back.
Photo: flickr.com/simbiosc
Modern Puliana buses with comfortable seats, air conditioning, panoramic windows, a TV, a dry closet, and spacious luggage compartments operate seven days a week. The first flight departs at 6:15, from 8 to 17 hours - hourly, and from 19 to 23 hours - every 2 hours.
In the interiors of Alsa buses, everything is done for the convenience of passengers.
Photo: flickr.com/amigamiasolotutellamase_n_a
In Benidorm, the bus station is located at the entrance to the city from the north. To get to the resort areas you will have to take buses - No. 3 to Cala de Finestrat, No. 4 and 11 to Rincon de Loix (fare - 1.5 euros). They run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every 15-20 minutes and make stops in the center. A taxi ride to the hotel will cost no more than 8-10 euros.
From the bus station to the airport, the first flight leaves at 5 a.m., the last ones at 6, 8, and 10 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., the traffic interval is 1 hour.
It is better to purchase tickets in advance - it is not always possible to buy them before the bus departure at the ticket office or from the driver, especially during the holiday season. There may be no free seats not only on the next flight, but also on subsequent flights.
In this case You can get from the airport to Benidorm with a change in Alicante- Buses and trams run more frequently from there. This is more troublesome, takes longer, but is 1-2 euros cheaper.
If you want to stay in Benidorm, you can rent a room in a hotel located next to the bus station.
Photo: flickr.com/rub3nmv
To Benidorm via Alicante
From the airport to Alicante from 6:40 to 22:20 with an interval of 20 minutes. City buses No. C6 run. The final stop Plaza Puerta Del Mar is only 25-30 minutes, the fare is 3.85 euros.
Maria Sizova:
“Within Alicante, the C-6 goes in a circle, you can get on at any stop, they are marked with steles with the inscription “BUS”. They have a board with route numbers, traffic patterns and schedules.
On the windshield of the bus there is a number and final stop; inside the bus stops are announced and shown with explanations in a ticker. For example, the bus station is Estación de autobuses, the metro station is Tren Luceros or tren Mercado.
During the day, buses stop everywhere, and in the evening - on demand.”
Tren Luceros stop at Plaza de los Luceros.
Photo: flickr.com/14506152@N03
Bus Alicante - Benidorm
From the Alicante bus station (located next to the seaport) to the bus station in Benidorm, buses run at intervals of 10-60 minutes. from 4:30 am to 1:00 am, 3-4 flights depart simultaneously in the early morning and evening.
Tickets are sold with a seat, but the chances of buying them from the driver and leaving on the next flight are much greater than on the direct Airport - Benidorm bus. The fare is 4 euros, and if you buy a ticket 7 days in advance or earlier - 3.8 euros.
From the Alicante bus station you can go to any city in the country.
Photo: flickr.com/mwanasimba
The first bus on the return route Benidorm - Alicante leaves at 2:30, the last at 23:30.
Tram, aka metro
The road to Benidorm by metro Tren-Tram (a train of 3 comfortable carriages is called a tram by Russian tourists) will take 70-75 minutes.
To transfer to the tram, you can get off at the Alfonso X El Sabio stop (nearby is the Maro-Castillo station), but it is better to go to Plaza los Luceros - it is 5-7 minutes away. from the final metro station - Luceros.
At the Alfonso X El Sabio stop you will find the Mercado Central Alicante market.
Photo: flickr.com/ricote
The red line L1 Alicante-Benidorm trains make 6 stops in Alicante and 4 in Benidorm (Disco Benidorm, railway station, Terra Mitica park and La Marina center). You can leave from 5:41 to 22:11 every 11 and 41 minutes. hours. Ticket price - 4.85 euros (4th zone), round trip - 8.25 euros, card for 10 trips - 27.2 euros.
From metro stations to the Rincon Loix area you will have to take a taxi or bus No. 1, to Cala de Finestrat there are routes No. 2 and 3, to Marina Baia - No. 8.
If you are vacationing with children, then pay attention to the beach at La Cala de Finestrat. It is sandy, with a gentle slope to the sea. The seabed here is sandy and flat.
Photo: flickr.com/edomingo
Svetlana, Kursk:
“The tram is an excellent transport - it runs on schedule, there is a lot of space for luggage, comfortable seats, but there are not many of them. We read in the reviews that you can always sit down, but we went in August and many had to stand.
In Alicante, the train goes underground, and then on the surface, it’s better to sit on the right - the whole coast is visible.”
In Alicante, the tram runs both on the surface and underground.
Photo: flickr.com/mwanasimba
Valentina:
“We went to Alicante by metro. We got off at the Mercado station and immediately found ourselves in the center, and from the Marq stop we walked on foot to the Santa Barbara Castle.
The stations are easy to find by glass elevator shafts. The doors in the carriage do not open automatically - you need to press the green button at the stop.”
Photo: flickr.com/mwanasimba
Where and how to buy tickets
It is believed that It is more profitable to purchase tickets for intercity transport on the Internet(websites of bus companies in Alicante - alsa.es, in Benidorm - llorentebus.es/es, metro website - tramalicante.es/page.php). You can get good discounts and reserve your place in advance. But a commission of 1 euro is taken from each ticket - processing fees. If you register on the Busplus website, then from the second purchase you will not have to overpay.
Each purchasing method has pros and cons:
- at ticket offices (they are only available at junction bus and metro stops) there is no commission, you can pay in cash and by bank cards, take a zero ticket for a child and buy tickets in advance at a discount;
- in the terminals (Venta de billetes/Maquina automatic) there are also no extra charges, you can buy single tickets (except for children with zero cost) and BonoBus cards for 10 and 30 trips on buses and metro, but their sale stops a few minutes before departure;
- It’s convenient to buy tickets for city transport from drivers; they will also sell tickets for intercity flights, but only if there are free seats.
Tickets for the tram can also be bought in the carriages - in special machines. If they are not there, go to the controllers, who come very often.
Travel tickets can be purchased online, at the box office or at a ticket machine.
Photo: flickr.com/mwanasimba
Taxi
With bulky luggage, strollers, and children falling asleep, you can’t rush through transfers.
A taxi ride from the airport will cost 70-80 euros. Keep in mind that the taxi driver will need to provide the exact address, and during mass holidays, when passenger traffic is especially high, you will have to stand in line.
In Benidorm, taxi ranks are marked with a sign saying “Taxi”, and there are almost always free cars. You can order a car by phone from the hotel or any bar, you will have to wait no more than 2-3 minutes.
A lot of luggage? Order a taxi.
Photo: flickr.com/micsworld
Transfer
A lifesaver at any time of the day is a private transfer. All details of the trip are specified when ordering - flight number, scheduled arrival time, hotel address, number of passengers, including children, presence of oversized luggage. Drivers know the coast like the back of their hand, choose the shortest routes, and some companies have Russian-speaking staff.
This option is not the most economical - a trip in a 4-seater car costs 60-65 euros to the west of Benidorm (Poniente and Cala de Finestrat) and 70-75 euros to the eastern region of Levante. You can choose a middle class car, a luxury car, or for companies for 5-8 people. A minibus is suitable, a trip on it is 5-10 euros more expensive, but for 1 person. it comes out to 10-15 euros.
For a small group of 5-8 people traveling, a minibus is suitable.
Photo: flickr.com/chordi
There is a lot of competition among carrier companies, which is good for passengers - everyone is trying to “keep up the brand.” The largest companies are the Spanish Costa Taxi and the international Kiwi Taxi.
If the prices are too expensive for you, you can use a shared transfer - by bus. Benidorm Shuttle Direct transports passengers all over the coast. At the airport you need to go to the indicated meeting point, the fare is 5.91, which is a little more than a euro more than the express train, but it works around the clock.
Bus transfer is the most budget option.
Photo: flickr.com/sludgeulper
Car rent
Public transport in Spain is not cheap and Sometimes it is more profitable to rent a car at the airport.
Most rental car counters are located in the arrivals area, and some offices are 1-2 km away from the terminal; free shuttles run to them from the exit from floor -2. It takes a little time, but there are no queues.
“The cost of renting a small car in the high season is 20-25 euros/day, in winter it is 2 times cheaper. I advise you to book a car in advance, the price on the spot is 30-40% higher, and the choice is small. It is profitable to rent a “heel” - Volkswagwn Caddi, Citroen Partner, Renault Kengoo. They are powerful, use fuel economically, and due to low demand they are cheaper.”
Photo: flickr.com/nielsautos
Ivan Chilikin:
“At rental offices, the employee must show the booking voucher, passport, license and bank card. All payments are by credit cards only.
We flew to the hotel in Benidorm in about 30 minutes along the AR-7 toll road - it costs 5 euros, but is shorter than the free A-7, which runs parallel. The names of toll roads always contain the letter P (peaje - to pay). There are also a lot of rentals in Benidorm, but there it’s either a siesta or a weekend. The best option is to rent a car at the airport.”
At the airport, there is sometimes a queue at the car rental office.
Veronica:
“Street paid parking is marked with blue stripes. Cost 1 min. parking - 6 cents. It's more expensive in underground parking lots.
The traffic inspectors are friendly, but the fines are substantial: driving without a seat belt, in beachwear, talking on a mobile phone while driving - 150-200 euros, parking in a protected beach area - 6,000 euros.”
Leave your car in the parking lot and go about your business.
Photo: flickr.com/currentobsession
After a long flight (minimum 5 hours), I can’t wait to get to my long-awaited vacation spot as quickly as possible.
Since it is an important transport hub in Spain, there are taxis, shuttles, buses, and fixed-route trains.
How to get from Alicante Airport to the desired point
There are at least four ways to get where you need to go:
- group or individual transfer,
- by taxi, ordering it through the service or catching it on the spot,
- by train or metro,
- by bus or minibus.
Transfer versus ordering a taxi through the app
Faster by at least 10 minutes, since the Kiwitaxi driver knows your arrival time in advance and will be waiting for you at Alicante Airport, at the specified location.
Without unnecessary fuss. You don't have to search for Wi-Fi, open the app, enter travel parameters, select a car - everything you need has already been done.
The car meets the requirements: the required number of seats and luggage, air conditioning and a child car seat, if you have ordered one.
More expensive on average by 10–20%, since Kiwitaxi transfers are carried out by licensed drivers in cars no older than seven years old, which must have undergone technical inspection.
Transfer versus taxi from Alicante Airport booked on site
Benefits of an individual transfer
Faster by at least 10 minutes: There are several official taxi services operating at Alicante Airport, but there are often queues to board, as airport staff distribute passengers into cars or tourists themselves take a long time to choose an option. There may be private traders on duty near the airport; among them you need to choose the most trustworthy one - this takes time.
No problems with the language. If you don’t know a foreign language, it won’t be easy to explain to a taxi driver where you need to go, how much you’re willing to pay, and that you won’t be able to go without a child seat.
At a predetermined price. Each taxi service in Spain operates according to its own tariff (boarding, mileage, downtime, and so on). Private drivers even determine the price by looking at the tourist and assessing how much they can charge him. The transfer costs as much as was indicated in the voucher at the time of pre-order.
Payment online. There is no need to change the currency to the local one, since you paid for the transfer in full on the website.
Disadvantage of an individual transfer
More expensive on average by 5-15%. If your destination is close to the airport, a taxi service on site will be cheaper, since Kiwitaxi operates at a single rate throughout the city.
Transfer compared to bus, minibus, metro or train
Benefits of an individual transfer
1.5–2.5 times faster. Taking into account the average waiting time for scheduled transport and transfers, getting to a hotel within the city or transport hub is on average 1.75 times longer.
Calm and comfortable. The Kiwitaxi driver will be waiting for you at the designated location at Alicante Airport and will help you with your luggage. The driver can also help you check into the hotel by acting as a translator when communicating with the administrator.
"From the gangway to the room." You will not get confused in navigation at Alicante Airport, as the driver will meet you and escort you to the car. It will take you to the specified location, and you will not have to walk from the public transport stop.
Disadvantage of an individual transfer
Up to 5 times more expensive based on two tourists. The transfer price is approximately comparable to the cost of regular transport when ordering a minibus for 6 or more passengers.
Benidorm is the tourist capital of the Costa Blanca, the city is located 60 km north of Alicante airport, with a population of 70 thousand inhabitants. It is called the Mediterranean New York, there are more skyscrapers here than in any other city in Spain. In terms of the number of skyscrapers per square meter, Benidorm is not inferior to the tallest cities in Europe. The tallest building reaches a height of 200 meters.
Benidorm is one of the most popular tourist destinations not only in Spain but throughout Europe thanks to its magnificent beaches and vibrant nightlife. In summer, the city's population increases to 400 thousand inhabitants.
During the tourist season, Benidorm does not fall asleep either day or night. Many shops and bars are open 24 hours a day. The city will appeal to lovers of nightlife.
In order to properly plan your budget when organizing a transfer from Alicante airport to Benidorm, you need to know the exact price. Therefore, all our rates are fixed, regardless of the time of day or day of the week, a transfer to Alicante Benidorm for four people will cost 60 euros.
How to get from Alicante airport to Benidorm
There are three ways to get from the airport - bus, taxi, private transfer. If the plane arrives after 23:00, the bus option is not suitable, or you will have to wait for the first bus departure at 6:15 in the morning. The taxi service at the airport operates 24 hours, the taxi fare for Benidorm transfer for four passengers starts from 75 euros.
The bus from Alicante airport to Benidorm leaves every hour from 6:15 to 23:00, travel time is 50-60 minutes, the cost of 1 ticket is 9.65 euros. The bus stop is located on the second (last) floor of the airport. In Benidorm, the first stop is at the city bus station, the second in the center, on Europa Avenue. The name of the transport company is ALSA.
Kiwitaxi works with professional transport companies, holding carriers to the same standards in different countries. This allows us to achieve predictable quality of service around the world.
The fastest way to travel from Alicante to Benidorm
The transfer is 1.5–2.5 times faster than public transport. Due to the fact that you don’t need to adjust to the schedule and don’t have to waste time on stops along the route.
Faster than a taxi on the spot by an average of 5–15 minutes, since the Kiwitaxi driver arrives at the appointed time, and you do not have to waste time searching for the right car and waiting for delivery.
A comfortable option without additional stress
The car you need will arrive. At the time of ordering on the website, you select capacity and additional parameters, for example, a child seat for the desired age.
We meet at a convenient place. At airports, drivers or Kiwitaxi greeters try to be as close to the arrivals area as possible with a sign with the client’s name on it, as far as the rules allow. In hotels we try to meet you at the reception; Alicante is no exception.
You don't need to know the language of a foreign country. Many Kiwitaxi drivers and greeters know Russian, and even more know English. As a last resort, you can communicate with a support manager who definitely knows Russian.
Serviceable cars and professional drivers. Kiwitaxi works with licensed carriers. Transfers are carried out using vehicles that have undergone maintenance and are no older than seven years. Drivers have professional licenses.
Service at an understandable price
The price is fixed at the time of order. Whatever payment option you choose, the price will not change. There may be an additional payment only if you need to travel deviating from the route or make a long stop.
Payment online. You can pay for the service by card on the website. This will allow you not to think about how to exchange money in order to take a local taxi in Alicante to Benidorm.
