The 65 km run up the coast to the old town on the hill and its seafront neighbour — taxi, ALSA coach, transfer and TRAM compared, with indicative prices and journey times.
Altea and Albir sit about 65 km north of Alicante-Elche airport, roughly 50 minutes by road on the toll-free AP-7, one exit past Benidorm.
A taxi from the rank outside arrivals runs on the meter plus the airport supplement, which on this distance typically lands the fare between €100 and €120 — more after 21:00, on Sundays or on public holidays. A pre-booked private transfer is fixed at the time of booking and starts from around €68 per vehicle for up to four passengers, which makes it the better value option for most groups on a run this length. The direct ALSA coach costs €14-16 per person and calls at both Altea and Albir, though with its stops the journey stretches to around 1 hour 10. There is no train or tram at the airport itself; the nearest TRAM L1 stop is in Benidorm, so reaching Altea by tram means bussing or taxiing there first and picking up the line north — only worth it if Benidorm is also on your itinerary.
All figures are indicative, per vehicle for the taxi and transfer, per person for the coach.
| Option | Journey time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi (rank, direct) | ~50 min | €100-120 |
| Private transfer | ~50 min | from €68 |
| ALSA coach (direct) | ~1 h 10 | €14-16 pp |
| TRAM L1 (via Benidorm) | ~1 h 30+ | bus/taxi to Benidorm + €1.85-3.90 |
The transfer's edge over the taxi grows once you account for the supplements: a car landing after a late flight, with four suitcases between two couples, can see the meter fare push past €130, while the transfer price agreed weeks earlier stays exactly what you booked. The coach is the budget option for anyone travelling light and not in a hurry, and it is the only public option that reaches Albir directly — the tram only serves the Altea side of town.
Altea itself is the hillside old town, a tight knot of whitewashed streets climbing to a small square dominated by the blue-and-white domed church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo — one of the most photographed skylines on this stretch of coast, especially at sunset when the domes catch the light over the Mediterranean. It is a walking town rather than a beach one: narrow lanes, galleries and terrace restaurants rather than sunbeds, which is why most visitors treat it as a half-day trip rather than a base for the whole week.
Albir, a couple of kilometres down the hill on the coast, is the practical base — a low-rise resort built around a long, tree-lined promenade backed by a pebble-and-sand beach, with the Sierra Helada headland closing off one end. It has the hotels, apartments and seafront restaurants that Altea's old town largely lacks, so many taxi and transfer bookings to "Altea" are really destined for Albir's hotel strip.
Because Altea and Albir sit only 10 km from Benidorm, plenty of visitors staying in either place combine the two: a night out or a shopping trip down to Benidorm's high-rises, or a quiet afternoon up in Altea's old town for anyone based in Benidorm and after a change of pace. The short hop between them costs around €15-20 by taxi or a few stops on the L1 tram.
No booking needed — walk out of arrivals and queue. Straightforward for one or two people, but the meter and supplements make it the priciest option over 65 km.
Fixed price from €68 per car, agreed before you fly, driver waiting in arrivals with your name and the flight tracked. Usually the best value for families or groups heading to Altea or Albir.
€14-16 per person to Altea and Albir, roughly every one to two hours. Cheapest option if you are travelling light and not in a rush.
No tram at the airport: take the C-6 bus or a taxi into Benidorm, then pick up L1 north to Altea. Slow with luggage, but useful if Benidorm is already part of the trip.
10 km south of Altea — taxi, ALSA coach, the L1 tram and transfers compared.
Further north under the Peñón de Ifach, about an hour from the terminal.
The C-6 to the city and every ALSA resort line, with fares, frequencies and stops.
Around €100-120 for the 65 km run, taking roughly 50 minutes on the AP-7. The fare depends on the time of day: night, Sunday and public-holiday supplements can push it towards the top of that range.
Yes, ALSA runs a direct coach from the airport to Altea and on to Albir for around €14-16 per person, roughly every one to two hours. It is slower than a taxi or transfer and drops you at a stop rather than your hotel door.
Not directly. The TRAM L1 line serves Altea and Albir from Benidorm, so you would need the C-6 bus or a taxi into Benidorm first, then pick up L1 north along the coast. It only makes sense if you are also stopping in Benidorm.
Usually, yes. Transfers on this route start from around €68 per vehicle, fixed at booking, against €100-120 on the taxi meter once airport and time-of-day supplements are added. The transfer driver also tracks your flight and waits if it is delayed.
About 10 km, a 15-20 minute taxi ride or a few stops on the L1 tram. Many visitors staying in Benidorm come up to Altea for an afternoon in the old town, and it works just as well the other way round.
Altea is the hillside old town with the blue-domed church and cobbled streets a couple of kilometres inland from the coast. Albir is its seafront neighbour, a low-rise resort built around a long pebble-and-sand promenade. Both share the same taxi and transfer prices from the airport.
About 50 minutes by taxi or transfer on the toll-free AP-7. The direct ALSA coach takes closer to 1 hour 10 with its stops, and going via Benidorm and the tram can take 1 hour 30 or more.