Alicante Airport to Benidorm: Bus, Taxi, Transfer or Tram?
Bus, taxi, transfer, hire car or tram: what each one costs, how long it takes and which to pick.
Honestly, for most people it's the ALSA bus. It goes direct from Alicante airport to Benidorm in about 45 to 55 minutes, tickets start at around €8, and it runs roughly hourly from 7am until the last one at 11pm. A taxi costs around €90 to €110 and takes 45 minutes. A pre-booked private transfer usually works out at €60 to €70 a car.
Quick facts
- Distance: about 55 km up the AP-7, which has been toll-free north of Alicante since January 2020.
- ALSA bus: first 07:00, last 23:00 from the airport, from around €7.99 (October 2026).
- Bus stop: upper floor (planta 2, departures), not arrivals.
- Taxi: around €90-110 per car, plus a €4.25 airport supplement that's built into the fare.
- Transfer: from around €60-70 per car, booked ahead.
- No train or tram at the airport. The tram option means a bus into Alicante first.
Alicante airport to Benidorm: the options compared
| Option | Time | Cost (Oct 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALSA direct bus | 45-55 min | From around €7.99 per person | Solo travellers, couples, anyone landing between 7am and 10.30pm |
| Taxi from the rank | About 45 min | Around €90-110 per car | Groups of three or four, late arrivals, zero planning |
| Private transfer | About 45 min | From around €60-70 per car | Families, night flights, lots of luggage |
| Shared shuttle | An hour or more (hotel drops) | Per person, varies | Solo travellers who want a hotel drop-off |
| Hire car | About 45 min | Varies, plus fuel and parking | Touring the coast for a week |
| C-6 bus + TRAM line 1 | 2 hours or more | Around €8 | Light packers with time to kill |
Option 1: the ALSA bus, step by step
This is the one I'd tell a friend to get. It's cheap, it's direct, and it beats the taxi queue on a busy summer afternoon.
- Find the stop. This catches everyone out. At Alicante airport the buses don't leave from arrivals (floor 0). Go up to the departures level (planta 2), walk out of the terminal and cross the pavement to the bus bays opposite the check-in doors. That's straight from ALSA's airport page.
- Buy the ticket. Easiest on alsa.es or the ALSA app, so you've got a QR code on your phone. ALSA also sells at its sales points and on the bus when the service allows. Fares were from €7.99 at the time of writing.
- Luggage. One case in the hold plus a small bag is normal (the Basic fare covers 20 kg). An extra bag up to 25 kg costs from €5 per trip.
- Timings. First bus 07:00, last bus 23:00 (it reaches Avenida Europa at 23:55). In between it's roughly every hour.
- Getting off. There are two stops in Benidorm: the bus station on Calle Francisco Llorca Antón, up on the edge of town by the Benidorm Intermodal tram stop, and Avenida Europa in town. Check which is nearer your hotel before you land. From the bus station you'll probably want a taxi.
Flight delayed? ALSA lets you change a ticket that's gone past its time for free, up to 12 hours after the bus left, onto the next available service, as long as the delay came from your flight. Do it at the ALSA desk at the airport or by phone.
Option 2: a taxi from the rank
The rank is right outside arrivals on the ground floor. According to Aena, the official airport taxis are run by Radio Taxi Elche and Servitaxi Elche, and you can spot them by the green stripe down the side and Elche's coat of arms on the front doors.
To Benidorm, expect around €90 to €110 on the meter (taxisalicante.com's figure), which includes the €4.25 airport supplement. Servitaxi Elx lists €90 for a pre-booked fixed fare. Night fares after 9pm, Sundays and holidays push it higher. Split four ways it's not much more than the bus. For one person, it's a lot.
One rule: nobody legit touts for fares inside the terminal. If someone walks up offering a car, ignore them and head for the rank.
Option 3: private transfers and shared shuttles
A private transfer means a driver waiting in arrivals with your name on a board, a fixed price agreed when you book, and someone who tracks your flight if it's late. For Benidorm, prices start at around €60 to €70 a car. That's usually cheaper than the rank taxi, and it's the one I'd book with kids, car seats or a 1am landing.
Shared shuttles (Beniconnect is the best-known local name) put you in a minibus with other passengers and drop everyone at their hotels. Cheaper per head, slower, and you're at the mercy of whoever's staying furthest away. Fine if you're solo and not in a rush.
Option 4: hire a car
The hire desks are on the ground floor of the terminal. Benidorm is a straight run up the AP-7, about 45 minutes, and that stretch is toll-free. Worth it if you plan to do Altea, Guadalest or the coast villages. Not worth it if you're staying put on Levante beach, because parking in Benidorm is a faff and hotels usually charge for it.
Option 5: C-6 bus plus the TRAM
This is the scenic, budget route, and it's only worth it if you're travelling light and land in the middle of the day.
- Take the C-6 bus from the upper floor. The single fare went up to €4.70 on 24 July 2026.
- Coming from the airport, the bus calls at the bus station and Puerta del Mar, then carries on round the centre via Mercado and Luceros towards the train station. Stay on and get off at Mercado or Luceros. Aena lists both as tram connections.
- Pick up TRAM line 1 to Benidorm. It runs every 30 minutes, takes about 75 to 80 minutes, and the last one leaves Luceros at around 22:04.
Door to door you're looking at two hours or more. Our Alicante to Benidorm by tram guide covers the tram leg in detail, and the airport to Alicante city guide has the full C-6 timetable.
Landing late at night
If your flight's due in after about 10.15pm, don't bank on the 23:00 bus. Book a transfer, or accept the taxi queue. The other option is to take the C-6, which runs all night, stay in Alicante and go up to Benidorm in the morning. It's a better plan than it sounds, because Alicante is a proper city with late bars. Our Benidorm or Alicante piece helps if you're still deciding where to base yourself.
Going back to the airport
ALSA's first bus from Benidorm to the airport leaves Avenida Europa at 06:00 and the last leaves the bus station at 22:10. The run takes around 45 to 55 minutes. On a summer Saturday I'd catch one at least an hour earlier than you think you need, because the security queues at Alicante can be brutal.
Once you're in, our Benidorm area guide and the Benidorm prices rundown will help you get your bearings. Winter visitors should read what to pack for a Costa Blanca winter too.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way from Alicante airport to Benidorm?
The ALSA direct bus, from around €7.99 per person at the time of writing (October 2026). The C-6 bus plus the TRAM costs about the same but takes more than twice as long.
How long does the bus from Alicante airport to Benidorm take?
About 45 to 55 minutes. ALSA lists the airport to Benidorm service as direct, with drop-offs at Benidorm bus station and on Avenida Europa.
Where do I catch the Benidorm bus at Alicante airport?
On the upper floor (planta 2, departures), not the arrivals floor. Go up from arrivals, walk out of the departures doors and cross to the bus bays opposite the check-in doors.
How much is a taxi from Alicante airport to Benidorm?
Around €90 to €110 on the meter, per car rather than per person, and more at night, on Sundays and on public holidays. Aena says airport fares carry a €4.25 supplement.
What if I land after the last bus?
The last ALSA bus leaves the airport at 23:00. After that it's the taxi rank, a transfer you booked in advance, or the 24-hour C-6 into Alicante and a night there.
Get the bus, save the taxi money for dinner.