There’s a satisfying moment on the way into Benidorm when the skyline appears and the sea opens up beyond it. It’s even better when somebody else is driving and you can actually look out of the window. The journey from Alicante Airport to Benidorm is easiest when you pick your coach stop before you book.
The quick answer: For most arrivals, book the direct ALSA coach from Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport to Benidorm. Search using the airport as your origin. ALSA also sells trips from Alicante city, and that’s a different place to start your holiday.
Where to catch the ALSA bus
ALSA lists its airport stop on Level 2, in the departures area. If you’ve just collected a suitcase downstairs, head up and follow the signs for buses. Check the bay and departure time on the day, especially if several coaches are waiting outside.
Book through ALSA for your travel date and keep the ticket handy on your phone. Leave a buffer after your flight for passport control and bags. When comparing a cheap fixed departure with a later or more flexible ticket, read the change conditions before you pay.
Which Benidorm stop should you choose?
Look at the exact stop offered on your departure and map it against your accommodation. ALSA lists Benidorm bus station and an Avenida Europa stop on its route information. Availability can vary by departure. Avenida Europa can be handy for the Levante side. From the bus station, check the onward walk or local connection, particularly if you’re staying down by the beach.
If you’re travelling with someone who finds hills or long walks difficult, check the route to the hotel door and ask ALSA about boarding assistance in advance. A little planning at home is much more pleasant than discovering the gradient with a suitcase in tow.
Can you take a train or tram from the airport?
The rail option starts in Alicante city. Take the C6 airport bus to Luceros, then use the TRAM d’Alacant service towards Benidorm. Check the operators’ journey planners for each leg and leave time for the connection. This can suit a stopover in Alicante or a daytime trip where you want to enjoy the coastal stretch. For a straightforward airport transfer, the direct coach saves a change.
Late arrivals and the journey back
Use your actual flight date when checking the last coach. If you arrive after it, price up a pre-booked transfer or taxi before you travel. For the return, search in the other direction and confirm your departure stop from the ticket. The place you got off is an easy thing to remember and an equally easy thing to assume.
Plan the whole transfer, including the hotel door
Before paying for the coach, compare the departure against your flight arrival and the arrival stop against your accommodation. I’d give the second check just as much attention as the first. Benidorm stretches around two bays, and a hotel with a beach in its name can still be a fair walk from the stop. If you’re staying in an apartment, ask the host for the street entrance and key collection hours.
Put the coach stop and the hotel into your map as separate pins. That makes it easier to judge whether you can walk, want a local bus or need a short taxi ride. A group with several cases might prefer a taxi for the final stretch even if the coach works perfectly for the main journey. Check ALSA’s current luggage rules if you have golf clubs, bulky bags or a pushchair.
When a coach, shuttle or taxi makes sense
Direct coach: The first option I’d check for a solo traveller or couple whose flight lines up with the timetable. The stop and scheduled departure should be clear when you book. Leave enough time to walk from arrivals to the coach bay, and find out what happens to your ticket if your flight is late.
Shared shuttle: Worth comparing if it serves your accommodation area at a useful time. Read the exact drop-off and pickup terms. Some services use designated stops, and a shuttle that serves several hotels can take longer than you expect.
Taxi or private transfer: Useful for late flights, a group splitting the fare or travellers who need a door-to-door ride. Confirm the full price, the pickup location and any needs such as child seats or wheelchair space before booking. For current airport arrangements, start with Aena’s transport information.
What to do once you reach Benidorm
Start in the old town if you want to see both bays without committing to a long walk. Make for the Balcón del Mediterráneo, the viewpoint between Levante and Poniente. The upper area gives you a sense of the coastline even if the steps down to the lower viewpoint don’t suit everyone in your group.
For a livelier first walk, head towards Levante and follow the promenade. If you’re after a more leisurely stretch, turn towards Poniente and the seafront near Parque de Elche. Pick one side for the first afternoon, stop for something to eat and leave the other for the next morning. You can build an entire short break around the waterfront and old town with very little time spent waiting for a ride.
Tourist information and the return flight
The Benidorm council’s tourist information page is the place to check local services and visitor assistance. For the journey home, confirm the boarding stop the evening before and leave enough time to reach it from your accommodation. If you have an early flight, compare the first coach with a pre-booked pickup before deciding how early to set the alarm.
One small check if you’re arriving in winter
Choose transport for the date and day of the week you land, not the first departure shown in a general search. Shorter daylight can also change how appealing a walk to the hotel looks. If you expect to arrive after reception closes, have the property’s instructions and contact details available offline. Once you’re checked in, the waterfront is an easy way to get your bearings the next morning. Save the longer walk to the other bay for when you know where you’re starting from.
Plan your journey: ALSA airport–Benidorm timetable and tickets · Aena airport bus information · TRAM d’Alacant journey planner.
Keep planning: Alicante to Benidorm tram guide.
For more itineraries, browse our car-free destination guides.
