Alicante is a well-organised city for travellers, with a compact centre, an efficient tram network, and enough English spoken in tourist areas that you’ll rarely struggle. But local knowledge saves time and money. Here are the practical Alicante travel tips and answers to the most common questions first-time visitors ask, from airport transfers to tipping customs to safety on the beach.
Alicante Travel Tips: Airport and Arrival
Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC) sits 9km southwest of the city centre in the municipality of Elche. It handled over 15 million passengers in 2024 and is one of Spain’s busiest airports, served by Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Norwegian, and major flag carriers. The airport has a single terminal. The fastest transfer to the city centre is the C-6 airport bus operated by Vectalia, departing every 20 minutes from the arrivals level (look for the blue C-6 signs). The journey takes 20-25 minutes to the city centre with stops at Plaza de los Luceros, the Explanada, and the main train station. A single ticket costs €3.85 (pay the driver in cash or use a contactless card for trips under €20). Taxis from the airport rank cost €20-25 to the Old Town area, €25-30 to Playa de San Juan, and take 15-25 minutes depending on traffic. Uber and Cabify operate in Alicante and are usually €2-4 cheaper than official taxis. Check out our Alicante weather by month for more details. Car rentals are available from all major companies (Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt) in the arrivals hall, with desks open 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Alicante Travel Tips: Getting Around the City
The city centre is flat and walkable. You can cover the Explanada, El Barrio, the marina, and Playa del Postiguet in a morning on foot. For longer journeys, the TRAM Metropolitano light rail system (Line L4) connects the city centre to Playa de San Juan (15 minutes, €1.45), El Campello (25 minutes), Benidorm (70 minutes, €3.50), and Denia (2.5 hours). The main city-centre station is Mercado, linked to the underground Luceros station. Trams run every 15-30 minutes from roughly 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Buy tickets from platform machines (cash and card accepted). Urban buses operated by Vectalia cover areas the tram doesn’t reach. A single ticket costs €1.45. The Bono 10 (10-trip card) costs €9.30 for city buses and includes free transfers within 60 minutes. The tourist card (Alicante Tourist Card) at €13 for 24 hours or €18 for 48 hours includes unlimited city transport and free entry to some museums; buy it at the airport tourism office or the Explanada tourist info kiosk. Taxis within the city centre cost €5-8 per trip. Check out our best time to visit Alicante for more details. For late-night returns from Playa de San Juan when trams stop, a taxi costs €15-18.
Alicante Travel Tips: Money, Tipping, and Costs
Spain uses the euro (EUR). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, even for small purchases like a €2 coffee, though some small bars in the Old Town and market stalls are cash-only. ATMs are plentiful along the Explanada, Rambla de Mendez Nunez, and Avenida de Alfonso X El Sabio. Avoid Euronet ATMs (blue and yellow), which charge €3.50-5.00 per withdrawal. Use bank ATMs from CaixaBank, BBVA, or Santander instead. Tipping is not expected in Spain. For good service in restaurants, locals leave the small change (redondeo) or up to 5% for a full meal. Rounding up a €18.50 bill to €20 is standard. You don’t tip for drinks at a bar, and taxi drivers don’t expect tips. A daily budget for Alicante: €70-90 per person for a comfortable mid-range experience (three-star hotel €60-80, menu del dia lunch €10-12, tapas dinner €15-20, museum entries and a few drinks), €35-50 for a budget trip (hostel €20-30, bocadillo lunch €4-5, menu del dia dinner €10-12, stick to free sights). Tap water is safe to drink throughout Alicante, though it has a slightly mineral taste from the local limestone geology. Check out our things to do in Alicante for more details. Most locals drink bottled water (€0.50-1.00 for 1.5 litres at supermarkets).
Alicante Travel Tips: Safety and Practicalities
Alicante is a safe city with low violent crime rates. The main risk is opportunistic theft in crowded areas, particularly pickpocketing on the Explanada during summer evenings and bag snatching from beach towels if valuables are left unattended. Keep phones and wallets in front pockets or zipped bags. Avoid the area around the main train station (Avenida de Salamanca) late at night, not because it’s dangerous but because the street-level bars attract a rougher crowd after midnight. The police emergency number is 112. Pharmacies (farmacias) are marked with a green cross and display the nearest 24-hour pharmacy (farmacia de guardia) on their window or door. For minor medical issues, the Centro de Salud Alicante Centro on Calle Padre Mariana is the nearest public health centre for EU citizens with an EHIC/GHIC card. Spain’s healthcare system treats EU citizens with a valid EHIC card for free or at reduced cost. Non-EU visitors need travel insurance. Most pharmacists in the city centre speak enough English to help with common ailments. Check out our Alicante events and festivals for more details. Sunscreen, antihistamines, and basic painkillers are available over the counter.
Alicante Travel Tips: Eating and Drinking
Spanish meal times run later than in most countries. Lunch (comida) is the main meal, served from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Look for menu del dia (set lunch menu): three courses including bread, a drink, and dessert or coffee, typically €10-14 in the Centro and €12-16 in the Old Town. Dinner (cena) is lighter and later, starting at 8:30 PM and running until 11:00 PM. Ordering dinner before 8:30 PM marks you as a tourist; kitchens in traditional restaurants often don’t open until then. For the best tapas value, follow the Calle de las Setas to Calle Mayor circuit in El Barrio. Bars display their tapas on the counter. The local wines are from the Alicante DO: reds based on Monastrell grapes (earthy, full-bodied, €2.50-4.00 per glass) and whites from Moscatel (sweet, aromatic, €2.00-3.50). Alicante’s most famous food product is turron, an almond-based nougat produced in the nearby town of Jijona. Hard turron (turron de Alicante) contains whole almonds in honey and egg white; soft turron (turron de Jijona) is ground to a paste. Check out our best neighborhoods in Alicante for more details. Buy it at Turrones Picó in the Mercado Central (€4-6 for a 200g bar) rather than the souvenir shops on the Explanada, where the same bar costs €8-10.
Suggested Hotels in Alicante
Hospes Amerigo
Five-star luxury in a converted 19th-century convent with rooftop pool and spa, located in the heart of the Old Town. Best for couples and luxury travellers. Check out our where to stay in Alicante for more details. Check rates and availability
Eurostars Lucentum
Modern four-star on the edge of the Old Town, a 3-minute walk from the Mercado Central. Best for travellers who want a central base with modern amenities. Check rates and availability
ibis budget Alicante
Reliable budget chain with free parking, located between the airport and city centre with good bus connections. Best for travellers with a car who prioritise price. Check rates and availability
