Costa Blanca (Valencian Community)
Alicante
This Costa Blanca gateway makes a relaxed two or three nights: base near El Barrio, take the €4.60 C-6 bus from the airport, and ride the TRAM to Benidorm and Calpe.
Best length
2-3 nights (more as a Costa Blanca base)
Airport
Alicante-Elche (ALC), ~11km southwest
Airport to centre
C-6 bus ~35 min, €4.60; taxi €25-€35 daytime
Best base
El Barrio / Explanada for old-town walks and the beach
In short
Alicante at a glance
Alicante works as a relaxed 2- or 3-night city break and as the best base for the Costa Blanca: stay near El Barrio or the Explanada, take the €4.60 C-6 bus in from the airport rather than a taxi, walk the old town and castle, and use the TRAM up the coast to Benidorm, Altea and Calpe instead of hiring a car for the day.
The short version
- Stay near El Barrio (the old town) or the Explanada for walkable evenings; both are minutes from Postiguet beach.
- Take the C-6 airport bus (€4.60, ~35 min) into the centre — it is a fraction of the €25-€35 daytime taxi.
- Santa Bárbara Castle is free to enter; only the lift up through the rock costs (about €2.70), and the walk down is the better photo.
- Use the TRAM from Luceros for Benidorm, Altea and Calpe rather than a hire car for a single coast day.
- Two or three nights covers the old town, castle, Explanada and one beach or coast day at a calmer pace than Barcelona.
Alicante is the airport most UK travellers fly into for the Costa Blanca, and that shapes how to use it. The city itself is a compact, walkable break — the Santa Bárbara fortress on its rock, the tiled lanes of El Barrio climbing below it, the marble Explanada promenade along the marina, and the Postiguet beach right in the centre. It rarely needs more than two or three nights, and it is calmer and a good deal cheaper than Barcelona for food and rooms.
The smarter move for most people is to treat Alicante as a hub rather than just a stop. The C-6 bus brings you in from the airport for €4.60, the old town and castle fill a relaxed first day, and then the TRAM from Plaza de los Luceros runs straight up the coast to Benidorm, Altea, Calpe and Dénia — which is why a hire car is optional unless you want the inland hill towns. Below, the structured planning — where to stay, the airport bus, a realistic budget in pounds, and the best months — picks up from here.
Keep a first trip focused: book the big timed sights, then leave room for neighbourhoods and food.
Top things to do in Alicante
El Barrio (old town) and the Explanada
El Barrio is Alicante's old town: whitewashed lanes, tiled steps and blue doors climbing the hill below Santa Bárbara Castle, full of tapas bars by night. It runs down to the Explanada de España, the palm-lined promenade paved with a wave of red, cream and black marble. Both are free to wander. Do it slowly across a morning and an evening — the lanes for daytime quiet and the bars after dark, the Explanada for an evening stroll. Half a day covers it comfortably.
Santa Bárbara Castle
The fortress on Mount Benacantil gives Alicante its skyline and, from the ramparts, its best views over the bay and the old town. Entry to the castle is free — you only pay if you take the lift bored through the rock from near Postiguet Beach, which costs about €2.70. The smart move is to ride up, walk the ramparts, then stroll back down through El Barrio rather than pay the lift both ways. Allow a couple of hours.
Where to stay first
The areas that make a first visit easier — not an exhaustive directory.
El Barrio (Casco Antiguo)
££ mid-rangeThe old town on the castle hill: tiled lanes, tapas bars and the most atmosphere in the city. Lively and loud at night around the bars, so ask for a quiet room, but unbeatable for walking everywhere on foot.
Best for: First-timers, couples, old-town atmosphere
Explanada / Ensanche-Diputación
££ mid-rangeThe seafront grid around the Explanada promenade, marina and Postiguet beach. Flatter and calmer than El Barrio, close to the train station and the C-6 stops, and the easiest base if you want the beach and the bus both nearby.
Best for: Beach-first stays, easy airport access, value
Around Luceros / Mercado Central
£ valueThe workaday city centre around Plaza de los Luceros, the TRAM and the C-6 stop. Less pretty than the seafront but the most practical base for day trips up the coast and slightly better value than the old town.
Best for: Costa Blanca day-trippers, transport access
San Juan beach
££ mid-rangeA long sandy beach a TRAM ride north of the centre, with resort-style hotels. Choose it only if a proper beach day matters more than the old town; you will commute in for the sights and evenings.
Best for: Beach holidays, families
Airport to city centre
| Option | Time | Cost | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-6 bus (TAM) to Luceros / Puerta del Mar | ~35 min | €4.60 single | Runs 24/7; departs arrivals level, best-value option |
| Taxi to the centre | ~15-20 min | €25-€35 daytime, €35-€50 nights/holidays | Fixed rank outside arrivals; good for late arrivals or luggage |
| Pre-booked private transfer | ~15-20 min | from about £25-£35 | Worth it for groups or onward Costa Blanca resorts |
| Hire car | ~15 min drive | from about £20-£35/day plus parking | Only if touring inland Costa Blanca, not for the city itself |
When to go
Sweet spot: May, early June, September and early October are the sweet spot: warm sea, comfortable walking weather for the castle climb, and fewer crowds than peak summer. The Hogueras de San Juan bonfire festival (20-24 June) is the city's biggest event if you want fireworks and street parties — book well ahead for it.
July and August are hot, busy and pricier, with packed beaches and resort demand spilling over from Benidorm; winter is mild and very good value but not a beach trip. Alicante's mild shoulder seasons make it one of the better value off-peak Spanish breaks from the UK.
What it costs
UK return flights to Alicante are often £30-£90 outside school holidays when booked ahead; it is one of the best-served Spanish airports from UK regional airports, so fares are usually cheaper than Barcelona. Summer and half-term push prices much higher.
Daily budget per person
Alicante is noticeably cheaper than Barcelona for food and rooms — a sit-down menu del día runs around €12-€15. The easiest waste of money is a daytime airport taxi when the C-6 bus does the same run for €4.60.
Book the essentials
Where to stay
Tours & tickets
Airport transfers
Stay connected
Trains & rail passes
Also in Spain
Alicante FAQs
How many days do you need in Alicante?
What is the cheapest way from Alicante airport to the city centre?
Is Alicante a good base for Benidorm and the Costa Blanca?
Ready to book?
Find hotels in Alicante