Alicante Terminal, Spain

Alicante Station is located on Avenida de Salamanca, s/n, 03005 Alicante, and it is conveniently located about 1.9 km from the city center. The main entrance faces Avenida de Salamanca, where taxis and city buses stop, and leads into the concourse with ticket offices, machines and departure boards. A taxi from the city center to the station costs around 10 euros, and the shopping streets around Avenida Maisonnave are a short walk away.

Alicante has two official names, Alicante in Spanish and Alacant in Valencian, so the station is commonly referred locally to as Alacant Terminal, and both names appear on signs and timetables. The origin of the city's name goes back to the Roman settlement of Lucentum and the Arabic name Laqant, which later became Alicante and Alacant. Whichever name you see, it refers to the same station on Avenida de Salamanca.

The train station offers a wide range of services. High-speed trains run to Madrid in about 2 hours 10 minutes, operated by Renfe AVE and Avlo, Ouigo and iryo, using platforms 1–6, while Euromed and Intercity trains run north along the coast to Valencia and Barcelona. Medium distance trains and Alvia services connect Alicante with other cities in eastern and central Spain, and Cercanías commuter trains run to Elche, Orihuela and San Vicente del Raspeig.

Regional and Cercanías trains connect Alicante with Elche, Orihuela and Murcia, and trains from Alicante connect to Murcia, Valencia and Cartagena, with some journeys to Cartagena requiring a change in Murcia. Ciudad Real, in the heart of La Mancha, can be reached with a connection via Madrid or Albacete. Check the timetable before you travel, as regional services are less frequent than high-speed trains.

Bus number 5 stops at Salamanca 7 near the station, and other city bus lines link the station with the city center, the beaches and the residential districts. Buses run from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily. Trams to Benidorm leave from Luceros station, a 6-minute walk away, on the Alicante TRAM network, which also runs along the coast toward El Campello and Dénia.

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport lies about 12 kilometers southwest of the city. The C6 airport bus costs approximately €3.85 and takes about 40 minutes to downtown, and an airport shuttle linking the airport to downtown Alicante operates 24 hours a day. Taxi rides to downtown Alicante from the airport take about 15 minutes and cost around €14; official taxi services operate at the airport and are easy to identify by their official markings, while taxis and rideshare services like Uber operate 24/7.

The main terminal of Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is designed for high traffic volumes, and the airport uses a single integrated new passenger terminal because the older terminals have been closed. Level 0 contains transport connections and the baggage reclaim hall, Level 2 houses check-in desks and access to security screening, and Level 3 includes boarding gates and duty-free shopping, while car rental desks for major companies are located on Floor 0. The airport is equipped with public Wi-Fi and charging stations, the Sala VIP Costa Blanca lounge with high-speed Wi-Fi and catering, a children's play area and an on-site pharmacy, and a multi-story General Parking P1 garage provides direct access to the terminal. Regional and long-distance buses connect the airport to major cities like Benidorm and Murcia, and private transfers and shared shuttles frequently operate to regional destinations.

Alicante's railway station was established in 1858, when the line from Madrid reached the Mediterranean, making Alicante one of the first coastal cities in Spain connected to the capital by rail. The station underwent reconstruction between 1967 and 1968, giving it much of its current form. In June 2013 the Madrid–Alicante high-speed line opened, bringing AVE trains to the city, and the later arrival of low-cost high-speed operators made Alicante Terminal one of the busiest stations on the Mediterranean coast.

You can buy Renfe tickets online, at ticket machines or at the ticket offices in the station, or through the free app from Renfe, while Ouigo and iryo tickets are sold through their own websites and free apps. Cercanías tickets are available at the machines in the concourse. To save money, compare fares between Renfe, Avlo, Ouigo and iryo, book early and travel midweek or outside holiday periods.

Step one is choosing your travel date: high-speed fares are cheapest when booked early, and trains on Friday and Sunday evenings and during summer and Easter fill up fast. Once you pay, your ticket is saved in your account and app and sent by email with a QR code. Check the operator, train time, carriage and seat before you travel, as different companies may use different platforms.

Yes, passengers on high-speed and long-distance trains pass through a quick luggage scan and ticket check before boarding, as at other major Spanish stations. Arriving 20–30 minutes early is recommended, giving you time for the security check and to reach your platform before boarding closes, usually a few minutes before departure. Cercanías commuter trains do not have security checks.

Alicante Terminal offers step-free access between the entrance, the concourse and the platforms, as well as accessible toilets. Passengers who need help boarding can book the free Adif Acerca assistance service in advance, and staff meet them at an agreed point in the station.

Yes, paid parking is available next to the station, with short-stay spaces for drop-offs and pick-ups and longer-stay parking for travelers leaving their car for a few days. Taxis also wait at the rank in front of the main entrance. During busy periods, such as summer weekends and holidays, the car park can fill up, so allow extra time.

For convenience, free WiFi is available at Alicante Terminal, and the station has various food outlets including a cafe-bar, along with vending machines, toilets and waiting areas. Note that there are no left luggage lockers inside the station, so plan ahead if you need to store bags. Ticket offices and information points can help with platforms, delays and connections, and this FAQ aims to add practical tips to the official timetables, so you can plan your journey through Alicante Terminal with confidence.

Alicante Terminal train station is located on Avenida de Salamanca, s/n, 03005 Alicante, about 1.9 km from the city center. Several hotels are within a few minutes' walk of the station, and many more are spread around Avenida Maisonnave, the old town and the seafront, about 15–20 minutes away on foot. A taxi from the station to most central hotels costs around 10 euros.

Alicante has two official names, Alicante in Spanish and Alacant in Valencian, so the train station is also known as Alacant Terminal, and both names appear on signs, tickets and timetables. Whichever name you see when booking, it refers to the same station on Avenida de Salamanca, the city's main terminal for high-speed, long-distance, regional and Cercanías trains.

For high-speed and long-distance trains, there is a ticket check and a quick luggage scan at the boarding gate before you reach platforms 1–6. Keep your ticket ready on your phone or on paper, and arrive 20–30 minutes before departure, as boarding usually closes a few minutes before the train leaves. Cercanías commuter trains do not have a ticket check at the gate, but tickets may be checked on board.