Alicante Airport to Alicante City: Taxi, Bus & Transfer Prices

Alicante Airport to Alicante City

Just 12 km down the A-70, 15-20 minutes by road — and the one route on this whole airport where the €4-5 C-6 bus genuinely beats the taxi and the transfer. Here is how the options compare, and how to carry on by Renfe or TRAM once you are in town.

Book a transfer Fixed price · Driver in arrivals · Flight tracked

12 km · 15-20 min C-6 bus every 20 min Renfe & TRAM onward

Why this route is different

Every other resort on the Costa Blanca is a 40-minute-plus motorway run where a fixed-price transfer usually wins. Alicante city is close enough, and served frequently enough by public transport, that the calculation flips.

The A-70 ring road takes you from the terminal straight into the city in 15-20 minutes outside rush hour; add ten minutes if you land in the Friday evening crush. A taxi from the rank costs roughly €25-30 on the meter plus the airport supplement. A private transfer for the same run starts at about €28 per car — useful late at night or with a pile of luggage, but rarely a big saving over the taxi on a trip this short. The C-6 city bus, by contrast, leaves from directly outside arrivals every 20 minutes, costs €4-5 per person, and gets you into the centre in about half an hour. For one or two travellers with hand luggage, it is hard to beat.

Taxi, bus and transfer compared

Indicative prices for 2026 — taxi fares are metered and can vary with traffic, time of day and luggage; the bus fare is fixed; transfer prices are per vehicle, agreed when you book.

Option	Distance	Time	Price	Notes
Taxi (rank)	12 km	15-20 min	€25-30	Meter plus airport supplement; night and Sunday rates are higher
C-6 city bus	12 km	~25-30 min	€4-5	Every 20 minutes from outside arrivals; stops near Renfe station
Private transfer	12 km	15-20 min	from €28	Fixed price per car, driver waiting in arrivals, flight tracked
TRAM (onward)	from centre	varies	€1.45+	No stop at the airport — pick it up at Luceros or Mercado

On paper the taxi and the transfer are close enough that the choice comes down to convenience rather than cost: take the taxi if you want to leave the moment you land, book the transfer if you would rather have a fixed price and a name board waiting, especially on a late arrival. The bus is the odd one out — noticeably cheaper, only a little slower, and the only mode on this page where public transport wins outright.

Onward by Renfe, AVE and TRAM

Alicante city is the transport hub for the whole province, which is the other reason the bus makes sense: the C-6 passes close to Renfe Alicante Terminal, the mainline and Cercanias station just north-east of the old town. From there, Cercanias trains run inland to Elche and on towards Murcia, useful if your final stop is not Alicante itself. Long-distance and AVE high-speed services to Madrid also leave from the same station, in around two and a half hours.

There is no TRAM stop at the airport, so it only comes into play once you are already in town. The two useful interchanges are Luceros, a short walk from the Explanada and the shopping streets, and Mercado, next to the central market and closer to the port. From either you can pick up the coastal lines north towards San Juan beach, El Campello and, on the L1, all the way to Benidorm — a scenic, cheap alternative to the direct coach if you are not in a hurry.

Most visitors staying in the centre base themselves around the Explanada de España, the marina and the Casco Antiguo beneath Santa Barbara castle. All three are a short taxi hop from either station, or a stop or two on foot and by TRAM once you have made it in from the airport.

Continuing along the coast

If Alicante city is only your first stop, these guides cover the rest of the Costa Blanca from the same airport.

Alicante Airport to Benidorm

The busiest resort route: taxi, direct ALSA coach, the L1 tram and transfers compared.

Alicante Airport to Calpe

An hour north under the Peñón de Ifach, with coach and transfer options.

Alicante Airport bus guide

The C-6 to the city, every ALSA resort line, fares, frequencies and where the stops are.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way from Alicante airport to Alicante city?

The C-6 city bus, which runs from outside arrivals every 20 minutes for about €4-5 and takes roughly 25-30 minutes to the centre. It is the one route on this airport where the bus genuinely beats the taxi and the transfer on price.

How much is a taxi from Alicante airport to the city centre?

Around €25-30 on the meter for the 12 km run down the A-70, which takes 15-20 minutes depending on traffic. A private transfer for the same distance starts at about €28 for the car.

Does the C-6 bus stop at Alicante train station?

Yes, the C-6 passes close to Renfe Alicante Terminal (the mainline and Cercanias station) on its way into the centre, so it is a practical option if you are continuing by train to Elche, Murcia or on the AVE to Madrid.

Can I reach Alicante city by TRAM from the airport?

Not directly — there is no TRAM stop at the airport. Take the C-6 bus or a taxi into the centre first, then pick up the TRAM at Luceros or Mercado for the coastal lines up to San Juan, El Campello and Benidorm.

Is it worth booking a private transfer for such a short trip?

Usually not, unless you land very late at night, are travelling with a lot of luggage, or want a driver waiting with a name board. For a short, well-connected hop like this, the taxi rank or the C-6 bus is simpler and about the same price.

Where are the best hotels for the Explanada and old town?

Most visitors base themselves around the Explanada de España, the marina and the Casco Antiguo below Santa Barbara castle — all within a short taxi hop or a stop or two on the C-6 and TRAM network from the station.