How to Get to Benidorm from Alicante Airport (and Other Routes)

There’s no airport in Benidorm. If you search “flights to Benidorm,” every result actually means Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC), which sits about 55km south along the coast. The good news: getting from ALC to Benidorm is cheap, quick, and well-served by buses that run all day. Most people overthink this. The ALSA bus costs 9-12€, takes under an hour, and drops you in the centre of town. That’s the answer for 80% of visitors. But there are other options worth knowing about, depending on where you’re staying and what kind of trip you’re planning.

Flights to Alicante – Who Flies There

Alicante is one of the best-connected airports in Spain for UK travellers (Fifth largest airport in Spain actually). Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, Wizz Air, and Vueling all run direct routes, and the list of UK departure airports covers most of the country:

If you’re booking Ryanair flights to Benidorm in 2026, you’re booking to Alicante (ALC). Flight times range from about 2 hours 25 minutes to just over 3 hours depending on where you depart.

The ALSA Bus – Best Option for Most People

The ALSA bus from Alicante airport to Benidorm is the option I’d recommend to anyone who doesn’t have a specific reason to choose something else. It’s direct, frequent, and cheap.

The bus station in Benidorm is central – walking distance to both Levante and Poniente beaches. You can buy tickets at the ALSA counter in the airport or on their website. Booking in advance isn’t strictly necessary since they run so often, but it can save a euro or two.

Private Transfer or Taxi

If you’re travelling with family, have heavy luggage, or arrive late at night, a private transfer makes sense. The maths works out better than you’d think when splitting between four people.

Pre-booked private transfers start from around 60€ for up to four passengers – compare prices on transfer comparison sites before you fly. Metered taxis from the airport rank typically run 70-80€. The journey takes about 45 minutes, same as the bus, but door-to-door rather than bus station-to-bus station.

For a couple, it’s obviously more expensive than two bus tickets. For a family of four with suitcases and tired kids, it’s a no-brainer.

Rental Car – Only If You Need It

The drive from Alicante airport to Benidorm takes about 45 minutes on the AP-7 motorway. Simple, route. But here’s where the honest advice comes in: unless you’re planning day trips to places like Guadalest, Altea, or Alicante city, a rental car in Benidorm is more hassle than it’s worth.

Benidorm has around 8,000 free white-line parking spaces, which sounds generous until you realise most are well away from the beach. The blue and green ORA zones near the seafront are metered and paid. In summer, finding any space near the beaches can eat into your holiday time in a way that feels genuinely absurd. Private car parks start from about 9.50€ per day, which adds up over a week.

Off-season? Different story. Parking is easy, roads are quiet, and having a car opens up the whole Costa Blanca.

The TRAM from Alicante City – Slow but Scenic

The TRAM Alicante Line L1 runs from Luceros station in central Alicante all the way to Benidorm Intermodal. It’s not a tram in the city-centre sense – once it leaves Alicante, it runs along the coast like a small regional train, passing through El Campello and Villajoyosa with sea views for much of the route.

The important caveat: the tram does NOT serve Alicante airport directly. You’d need to get from the airport to Alicante city centre (Luceros station) first, which adds time and another connection. This makes the tram impractical as your airport-to-Benidorm route.

Where the tram makes sense is if you’re spending time in Alicante first – perhaps a night in the city, then taking the coastal tram up to Benidorm the next day. At 3.90€ for an hour-long ride along the Mediterranean, it’s one of the better-value scenic journeys in Spain.

Coming from Valencia

Some Ryanair flights land at Valencia airport rather than Alicante. It’s less common for Benidorm-bound travellers, but it happens – particularly if you find a much cheaper flight.

ALSA runs buses from Valencia to Benidorm too: about 1 hour 45 minutes, with 22+ daily departures, costing 12-22€. That’s your best bet. The train is technically possible but takes around 4 hours with connections, making it impractical.

Driving from Valencia to Benidorm takes about 2 hours on the AP-7 – a motorway run south along the coast.

Getting Around Benidorm Once You’re There

Benidorm is compact and walkable. The seafront promenade connects Levante beach, the casco antiguo (old town), and Poniente beach in one continuous stretch. Most people staying in the centre won’t need any transport at all.

If you do need a bus – to reach the far end of Poniente, the theme parks, or outlying areas – the local bus network (Llorente Bus / Grupo Avanza) is . Urban lines 001-009 cover the city centre and beaches, running every 15-20 minutes. A single ride costs 2.00€, or 1.50€ with a multi-trip card. Tourist passes are available: 12€ for 24 hours, 24€ for 72 hours, or 48€ for a week.

Regional bus lines 010-027 connect to nearby towns like Altea, Villajoyosa, and Guadalest – useful for day trips without a car.

Which Option Should You Pick?

For most people on a standard Benidorm holiday, the ALSA bus from Alicante airport is the answer. It’s cheap, it’s frequent, it’s direct, and it drops you in the middle of town. Save your money for something more interesting than transport.

Check out the best deals and their locations from the map below. If your days aren’t fixed it can be worthwhile to see if by changing days you could find much better deals.

Frequently Asked Questions