Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport (ALC) is the gateway to Spain's Costa Blanca, serving over 18 million passengers annually. Located 9 km southwest of Alicante city center, it's one of Spain's busiest airports, particularly popular with UK and Northern European holidaymakers heading to the Mediterranean coast.

The airport has a single modern terminal (Terminal NAT) that opened in March 2011, replacing the older T1 and T2 facilities. This 333,500 m2 terminal is spread across three floors:

• Floor 0: Arrivals hall, baggage claim (16 carousels)
• Floor 1: Offices and services
• Floor 2: Check-in (96 desks), departures, security, boarding gates

The departure area splits into two zones:

• B Gates: Mix of Schengen and non-Schengen flights
• C Gates: Primarily Schengen flights

Both gate areas are connected airside, so no additional security screening is needed when walking between them. The airport serves as a base for Ryanair, easyJet, Norwegian, and Vueling, with extensive connections to destinations across Europe.

Alicante Airport is located 9 km southwest of Alicante city center and serves as the main gateway to the entire Costa Blanca coast.

Typical travel times:

• Alicante city center: 20-25 minutes by taxi, 25-35 minutes by bus
• Benidorm: 45-55 minutes by bus or taxi
• Torrevieja: 35-45 minutes by bus or taxi
• Murcia: 70-90 minutes by bus

The airport is well connected by bus services, though there is no direct rail link. The C6 bus connects to Alicante city center and the TRAM network, which can take you along the Costa Blanca coast.

Taxi

Official taxis are white with a green stripe and display the Elche city crest. They queue outside the arrivals hall on Floor 0. Alicante airport taxis use fixed fares by zone rather than meters.

Destination	Day Rate	Night Rate	Time
Alicante city center	EUR 25-30	EUR 30-35	20-25 min
Benidorm	EUR 85-90	EUR 100-110	40-50 min
Torrevieja	EUR 55-65	EUR 65-75	35-45 min
Santa Pola	EUR 20-25	EUR 25-30	15-20 min
Elche	EUR 15-20	EUR 20-25	10-15 min

Surcharges:

• Airport pickup: EUR 4.25 (included in most quoted fares)
• Night rate: Applied 22:00-06:00 and weekends/holidays

Payment: Credit cards usually accepted, but carry cash as backup.

Rideshare

Uber is not reliably available in Alicante. Instead, use these alternatives:

• Cabify: Available at the airport with approximately 9 licensed drivers. Book via app for fixed-price rides.
• Free Now: Works like Uber, connects you to local taxis. Available in Alicante.
• PideTaxi: Local taxi-hailing app with estimated fares and scheduling.

Tip: Download Cabify or Free Now before arrival. Standard taxis are readily available and often more practical.

C6 Bus to Alicante City Center

The C6 bus is the main public transport link between the airport and Alicante city.

Route: Airport - RENFE Train Station - Bus Station - Plaza de los Luceros (TRAM connection) - Plaza Puerta del Mar

To Alicante city center:

1. Exit arrivals and head to Floor 2 (Departures level)
2. Find the bus stops at the end of the terminal building
3. Board the C6 bus
4. Exit at Plaza de los Luceros for TRAM connections or city center (25-35 min)

Detail	Information
Fare	EUR 4.60 (cash or card on board)
Frequency	Every 20 min (09:00-21:35), hourly at night
Operating hours	24 hours, 365 days
Journey time	25-35 minutes to city center

TRAM Connections

The C6 bus connects to Alicante's TRAM network at Luceros station, providing access to the Costa Blanca coast.

TRAM Line	Destination	Journey Time	Notes
L1	Benidorm	1h 12min	Coastal route, 21 stops
L3	El Campello	31 min	Coast tram, beaches
L4	San Juan Beach	27 min	Popular beach route
L9	Denia	Connects at Benidorm	Continue from L1

TRAM fare: EUR 1.45 single journey (buy at station machines)

Direct Buses to Costa Blanca Towns

Several bus companies operate from Floor 2 (Departures level):

ALSA to Benidorm:

• Frequency: 30+ daily departures
• Journey time: 45-55 minutes
• Fare: EUR 7.99 one-way
• First bus: 07:00, Last bus: 23:00
• Stops: Direct to Benidorm bus station

Avanza to Torrevieja:

• Frequency: Multiple daily departures
• Journey time: 45-60 minutes
• Fare: Approximately EUR 5-7

Bus stop location: Floor 2 (Departures level), at the end of the terminal building. These buses do NOT stop at the lower bus level.

Official Airport Parking (AENA)

Facility	Location	Rate
P1 General	Direct terminal access, covered	From EUR 2.50/hour
Express	In front of terminal	First 10 min free
Long Stay	3-min walk	From EUR 8/day (online)

Tips:

• Book online at aena.es for discounts up to 40%
• First 10 minutes free in Express parking for drop-off/pickup
• Free motorcycle parking near Long Stay

Off-Site Parking

Budget parking lots offer significantly lower rates with free shuttle service:

Provider	Rate	Shuttle Time
Various off-site	From EUR 3-5/day	2-7 minutes
Annual contracts	EUR 285/year	Includes transfers

Book via comparison sites like Parkos for best rates.

Alicante Airport has a good selection of dining options, mostly located airside on Floor 2.

Airside (After Security)

• Burger King: Fast food, reliable hours
• La Tagliatella: Italian pasta and pizza
• Starbucks: Coffee and snacks
• Costa Coffee: UK-style coffee chain
• Tim Hortons: Canadian coffee and donuts
• Pret a Manger: Fresh sandwiches and salads
• Subway: Made-to-order sandwiches
• Enrique Tomas Experience: Spanish ham and tapas
• Lavazza: Italian coffee
• Food Market: Multiple quick-service options

24-Hour Options

• Deli&Cia (Floor 0, Arrivals): Open 24 hours
• EAT (Floor 2, Airside): Open 24 hours
• Vending machines: Available throughout the terminal

Budget tip: 7-Eleven and WHSmith have affordable sandwiches and snacks. For authentic Spanish food, try Enrique Tomas for quality Iberian ham.

Free WiFi is available throughout Alicante Airport.

Detail	Information
Network name	Airport FreeWifi Aena
Registration	Accept terms and conditions
Time limit	Unlimited
Speed	Adequate for browsing and email

The connection is sufficient for basic internet use. For faster speeds, consider using mobile data or lounge WiFi.

SIM card options at Alicante Airport are limited. There are no dedicated mobile phone kiosks in the terminal.

Options at the Airport

• Vodafone/Movistar pickup points: Pre-order online for airport collection
• No walk-in SIM stores: Unlike larger Spanish airports

Alternatives

eSIM (recommended):

• Holafly, Airalo, or Maya Mobile
• Activate before arrival
• Plans from EUR 10-20 for tourist data

City center stores (20-30 min from airport):

• Movistar: Major Spanish carrier
• Vodafone: Good coverage
• Orange: Competitive tourist plans

Provider	Price	Data
Orange tourist SIM	EUR 15-25	10-20 GB
Movistar prepaid	From EUR 10	5-10 GB
Vodafone prepaid	From EUR 10	5-10 GB

Tip: EU residents can use home SIM cards with free roaming. Non-EU visitors should consider an eSIM for convenience or visit a city center store.

Currency

Spain uses the Euro (EUR). Card payments are widely accepted throughout the airport and Costa Blanca region.

ATM Locations

ATMs are available in multiple locations:

• Floor 0: Baggage reclaim area, arrivals hall
• Floor 2: Check-in area, boarding zone

Major Spanish banks represented include Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, and Sabadell.

Currency Exchange

Exact Change operates currency exchange at the airport:

• Boarding Zone: 05:00-22:30
• Arrivals Hall: 08:00-00:00
• Baggage Claim: 10:00-18:00

Better alternatives:

• Use ATMs with a no-fee debit card (Wise, Revolut recommended)
• Pay by card wherever possible
• Avoid airport exchange rates (typically 5-10% worse than bank rates)

Tip: If an ATM offers to convert to your home currency, decline. Your bank will give a better rate.

Duty-Free

Avolta (formerly Dufry) operates the main duty-free stores at Alicante Airport.

Main Duty-Free Shop (Floor 2, Airside):

• Hours: 04:00-00:00
• Products: Fragrances, cosmetics, alcohol, tobacco, confectionery, sunglasses
• One of the largest travel retail shops in Europe

Express Duty-Free (Near boarding gates):

• Last-minute shopping for bestsellers
• Perfumes, alcohol, tobacco, snacks

Savings: Up to 30-50% on alcohol and tobacco for non-EU travelers.

Other Shops

• WHSmith: Books, magazines, travel essentials
• Victoria's Secret: Lingerie and beauty
• Sunglass Hut: Designer sunglasses
• Desigual: Spanish fashion brand
• Rituals: Cosmetics and home fragrances

Tax-free shopping: Non-EU residents can claim VAT refunds (21% Spanish VAT) on purchases over EUR 90.01 from participating stores.

Alicante Airport has one VIP lounge available to passengers.

Sala VIP Costa Blanca

Detail	Information
Location	Floor 3, between B and C gates (airside)
Hours	04:00-23:00 daily
Access duration	Up to 4 hours before departure

Access options:

Method	Details
Priority Pass	Included with membership
Diners Club	Included with membership
Mastercard Airport Experiences	Via Mastercard program
American Express Platinum	Included
Walk-in	EUR 34.90 adults, EUR 16.05 children (6-10), free under 5
Business Class tickets	Complimentary for many airlines
British Airways Club	Complimentary access

Amenities:

• Hot and cold buffet
• Bar with alcoholic and soft drinks
• WiFi
• Newspapers and magazines
• Flight information screens
• Workstations

Note: During peak periods (mid-December to early January), access is limited to 3 hours before departure due to high demand.

Alicante Airport does not have an on-site hotel. However, several options are available nearby.

Near the Airport (5-15 min)

Hampton by Hilton Alicante Airport

• Distance: 2 km from terminal
• Rating: 4-star
• Features: Fitness center, restaurant, parking
• Price: From EUR 80/night
• Ideal for early morning flights

Hotel Areca

• Distance: 2.8 km from airport
• Features: Spa, indoor pool, restaurant
• Free airport shuttle
• Price: From EUR 70/night

AJ Gran Alacant by SH Hoteles

• Distance: 10 km (Santa Pola direction)
• Features: Seasonal pool, near beaches
• Price: From EUR 60/night

Budget Options

Hostal Pensimar (El Altet village)

• Simple accommodation near airport
• Price: From EUR 50/night
• 24-hour reception

Hostal Meseguer

• Budget option
• Price: From EUR 40/night

Alicante City Center Hotels

Staying in Alicante city (20-25 min by taxi) offers more options:

• Better restaurants and nightlife
• Beach access
• Wider price range from hostels (EUR 25) to luxury hotels (EUR 150+)

Overnight at the Airport

The terminal is not designed for overnight stays:

• No dedicated sleep pods or rest areas
• 24-hour food options available (Deli&Cia)
• Seating limited and not comfortable for sleeping
• Consider nearby hotels for layovers

Alicante and the Costa Blanca offer Mediterranean beaches, historic towns, and year-round sunshine. With over 300 sunny days per year, it's one of Europe's most popular holiday destinations.

Getting to Key Destinations

Destination	From Airport	Best Transport
Alicante city center	20-25 min	Taxi EUR 25-30, Bus EUR 4.60
Benidorm	45-55 min	Bus EUR 7.99, Taxi EUR 85-90
Torrevieja	35-45 min	Bus EUR 5-7, Taxi EUR 55-65
Calpe	60-75 min	ALSA bus via Benidorm
Denia	90-120 min	TRAM from Benidorm

Alicante City Highlights

Santa Barbara Castle

• Medieval fortress atop Mount Benacantil (166m)
• 360-degree views of the city and coast
• Free entry; lift access EUR 2.70 (free for over 65s)
• One of Spain's largest medieval fortifications

Old Town (El Barrio de Santa Cruz)

• Whitewashed houses and narrow streets
• Traditional tapas restaurants
• Vibrant nightlife scene

Explanada de Espana

• Famous promenade with 6 million marble tiles
• Palm-lined waterfront walk
• Cafes and restaurants

Postiguet Beach

• City center beach below Santa Barbara Castle
• Blue Flag beach with facilities
• Walking distance from old town

Costa Blanca Beaches

• San Juan Beach (Alicante): 6 km of golden sand, 30 min by TRAM
• Levante Beach (Benidorm): Famous resort beach, 50 min by bus
• Tabarca Island: Day trip from Alicante port, car-free island

Day Trips

• Guadalest: Mountain village, 1 hour by car, stunning valley views
• Altea: Whitewashed old town, 40 min north of Benidorm
• Villajoyosa: Colorful fishing village, 30 min from Alicante
• Elche: Palm groves (UNESCO), 15 min from airport
• Calpe: Penon de Ifach rock formation, dramatic coastal scenery

Practical Tips

• Best weather: April-October for beach, mild winters make it year-round destination
• Siesta hours: Many shops close 14:00-17:00
• Tipping: Not expected but appreciated (round up or 5-10% for good service)
• Language: Spanish (Valencian also spoken); English widely understood in tourist areas
• Water: Tap water safe but many prefer bottled
• Card payments: Widely accepted; small businesses may prefer cash

Layover Recommendations

• 3-4 hours: Quick taxi to Alicante, walk Explanada, coffee in old town
• 5-6 hours: Add Santa Barbara Castle and Postiguet Beach
• 8+ hours: Full Alicante exploration or bus to Benidorm for beach time