Should You Rent a Car in Alicante? Pros and Cons

Europe > 🇪🇸 Spain > Alicante

Should You Hire a Car in Alicante? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Alicante (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Alicante - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by AI, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.

✅ Car Score	7
🚫 No Car Score	6
🚗 Should you rent a car?

(0= absolutely not; 10 = rental car or heavy dependence on taxis absolutely essential)

🌞Alicante offers the perfect blend of beach life, historic charm, tapas culture, and year-round sunshine. However, it’s also the gateway to the wider Costa Blanca—home to dramatic mountains, colourful fishing towns, and hidden coves. So the big question is…

Do you actually need a car in Alicante?
In short: Not if you’re staying in the city—but yes if you want to explore beyond it.

Let’s look at both options so you can choose what truly suits your trip.

🚶 No Car Needed – Ideal for Alicante City Breaks

If you’re staying in Alicante itself, the good news is that you won’t need a car at all. The city is compact, easy to get around, and designed for relaxing, not driving.

Why Going Car-Free Works So Well

Firstly, the tram and bus network is excellent, making it easy to get around without any stress.
Secondly, almost everything you’ll want to see—such as Alicante’s marina, Postiguet Beach, the Explanada promenade, and Santa Bárbara Castle—is within walking distance.
Additionally, the airport is well-connected by public transport, so you don’t need a car just to reach your hotel.
Finally, coastal trams run to popular spots like Benidorm, Altea, and Calpe, meaning you can enjoy day trips completely car-free.

🚫 When No Car is the Best Option:

Travel Style	Car Needed?
City sightseeing	❌ No
Beach + old town stay	❌ No
Benidorm by tram	❌ No
Short weekend break	❌ No

✔ If you’re here for sunshine, food, shopping, and sea views—there’s no need to rent a car.

🚗 Car Recommended – If You Want to Explore More of the Costa Blanca

However, if your idea of a perfect holiday includes discovering secluded beaches, scenic mountain roads, and charming inland villages, a car becomes extremely useful.

Why Renting a Car Enhances Your Trip

To begin with, many of the region’s most beautiful spots simply aren’t reachable by tram or bus.
Furthermore, having your own vehicle gives you total flexibility with your schedule—you can stop at viewpoints, take detours, and explore freely.
On top of that, rural restaurants, wineries, and traditional towns like Guadalest or Villajoyosa are far easier to visit by car.

✅ When a Car is Definitely Worth It:

Travel Goal	Car Needed?
Hidden coves & scenic drives	✅ Yes
Mountain towns & viewpoints	✅ Yes
Multi-stop Costa Blanca adventure	✅ Yes
Staying outside central Alicante	✅ Yes

✔ If you want to turn your trip into a regional adventure, a car unlocks a whole new side of Alicante.

🧭 Quick Decision Summary

Your Plan	Recommendation
Alicante city only	🚫 No car
Benidorm, Altea, Calpe by tram	🚫 No car
Exploring beaches + villages	✅ Car useful
Mountain drives & vineyards	✅ Car recommended
Villa stay or rural accommodation	✅ Car essential

🎯 Final Verdict

If you’re staying within Alicante city and sticking to main tourist areas – you’ll be perfectly happy without a car.
If you want to experience the real Costa Blanca—the cliffs, coves, villages, and viewpoints—then renting a car will dramatically improve your trip.

So the choice is simple:

Relax and go car-free if you want an easy city break.
Get a car if you’re here to explore, discover, and roam further afield.

Should You Hire a Car in Alicante — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder