Do You Need a Hire Car in Alicante? When Tram, Bus and Tours Are Enough
Updated October 17, 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer
No, if you stay in Alicante. The old town, the beaches and the castle are a city break on foot, by bus and by tram. Yes, maybe, if you want several inland stops in one day on your own timetable. For one such day, a tour is often the cheaper and easier answer — details below.
What you can do without a car
The airport is linked to the centre by the C6 bus, which runs every 20 minutes and was listed at 3.85 € for a single ticket by the city’s tourist information (check the current fare). It also stops at the main railway station and connects to the tram at Luceros, where tram line 1 runs towards Benidorm. Tabarca leaves by boat, so a car does not help there: the round trip to Tabarca costs from 25 € for 6 hours and has 5,678 reviews.
Check prices and dates for the Tabarca round trip from Alicante
What a car actually buys you
Inland, public transport gets thin. Guadalest, the Algar waterfalls, Altea and the Canelobre caves are the stops where people consider driving. Compare what the tours charge and how long they take:
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalest, Altea and Algar Waterfalls ticket | 11 hours | 39.01 € | 4.8 (3,775 reviews) | Three stops, no driving |
| Guadalest and Algar Waterfalls | 6–8 hours | 42 € | 4.7 (1,686 reviews) | Swimming at Algar |
| Canelobre Caves and Busot with transport | 3 hours | 52.25 € | 4.9 (571 reviews) | A short half day, hot or rainy weather |
Check on each booking page what the tour price covers. A hire car is priced per car and day, so it gets better value the more people share it and the more stops you add. Alone, or as a couple doing one excursion, the tour usually wins on price and effort — and nobody has to drive.
Check prices and dates for the Guadalest, Altea and Algar day trip
Who should hire one
- Families with small children: luggage, car seats and naps favour a car — but add the seat to the booking and read the conditions first.
- Stays of a week or more with two or three inland days: a car for only those days is the sensible split.
- No driving licence, or nervous on mountain roads: skip it. The tours above include the transport.
- Cruise or short-stop visitors: a car adds parking stress; a tour or the tram is simpler.
Our recommendation
Stay car-free for a city break and book one organised excursion. If you add several inland days, compare hire cars for Alicante and check excess, deposit and fuel policy before paying. If you only want one big day out, the Guadalest, Altea and Algar tour is the most-reviewed way to do it.
