Road trip from Alicante by car: Altea, Calpe and Benidorm in one day
Alicante is an excellent starting point for road trips along the Costa Blanca. You can rent a car in Alicante, leave the city or Alicante Airport in the morning and see several very different places in one day: the white old town of Altea, the Peñón de Ifach rock in Calpe and the beaches of Benidorm.
This route is ideal for travellers who do not want to use the car only to drive from the airport to the hotel, but actually want to see the coast. Renting a car just so it can sit outside the apartment is technically also a form of freedom, but a rather sad one. The Costa Blanca deserves a little more imagination.
With a rental car, you choose the order of the stops, departure time, walking pace and how long to stay in each place. You can spend more time in Altea, stop by the sea in Calpe, make a short visit to Benidorm or build the day around beaches and viewpoints.
Why explore the Costa Blanca by car?
The Costa Blanca is not only Alicante and the nearest beach. Along the coast, there are towns, bays, old centres, mountain views, promenades, viewpoints and smaller places that are much easier to visit by car.
A car is especially convenient if you want to:
- visit several places in one day;
- avoid depending on public transport timetables;
- stop at viewpoints along the way;
- combine an old town, a beach and a promenade;
- travel with children, luggage or beach items;
- choose your own pace;
- return to Alicante in the evening;
- start the route directly from Alicante Airport.
A car works especially well for routes where every stop has a different atmosphere. Altea means white streets and a calm walk. Calpe means the sea, the rock and the promenade. Benidorm means skyline, beaches and urban energy. Three different moods in one day, as long as you do not turn the route into a survival sport.
One-day route from Alicante
A convenient one-day route from Alicante can look like this: Alicante → Altea → Calpe → Benidorm → Alicante. This order works well if you want to start with calmer places and finish the day in the livelier atmosphere of Benidorm.
Example route for the day:
- morning departure from Alicante or Alicante Airport;
- first stop in Altea;
- walk through Altea old town;
- drive to Calpe;
- view of Peñón de Ifach and walk by the sea;
- lunch in Calpe or Altea;
- short stop in Benidorm;
- walk along the promenade or to Balcón del Mediterráneo;
- return to Alicante in the evening.
If you travel in summer, with children or simply do not want to spend the day looking like someone betrayed by their own plan at the second roundabout, choose two main stops and one short stop. For example: Altea and Calpe, with Benidorm only for a view and a walk.
How long does it take to drive from Alicante to Altea, Calpe and Benidorm?
Driving time depends on your starting point, traffic, season, parking and chosen route. From Alicante, Benidorm is usually the closest of the three, Altea is a little farther and Calpe is slightly farther along the coast. In high season, on weekends and in the evening, the journey may take longer.
When planning the day, do not count only the pure driving time shown by the navigation app. Allow time for:
- leaving Alicante or the airport area;
- finding parking;
- walking from the parking area to the centre;
- coffee, lunch or breaks;
- photos and viewpoints;
- returning to the car;
- evening traffic;
- refuelling before returning the vehicle, if needed.
The most common mistake is trusting only the navigation time. The navigation app does not know that a child will want ice cream, an adult will need coffee, the car park will be full and someone will suddenly decide they need “just five more minutes for photos”. Technology is smart, but human chaos remains undefeated.
Why is a rental car more convenient?
A rental car gives you freedom, which is especially noticeable on coastal routes. You do not need to adjust your day to bus schedules, you can change the order of stops, stay longer where you like it or remove part of the route if the day becomes too hot.
A car is more convenient if:
- you arrive at Alicante Airport and want to start travelling immediately;
- you are not staying in central Alicante;
- you want to visit Altea, Calpe and Benidorm in one day;
- you are travelling with family;
- you are taking beach items with you;
- you plan stops along the way;
- you want to return later in the day;
- you do not want to depend on transfers.
Renting a car in Alicante is especially useful if you plan more than one day trip around the Costa Blanca: Altea, Calpe, Benidorm, Guadalest, Jávea, Dénia, Villajoyosa or other places. The car changes the holiday from “how do we get there?” to “where shall we go today?”. A small but pleasant logistical miracle.
Altea: white old town and views
Altea is one of the most beautiful towns on the Costa Blanca. Its old town sits above the coast, so a walk here combines white streets, steps, squares, cafés and views of the sea and mountains.
In Altea, it is worth seeing:
- the old town;
- white streets and steps;
- Plaza de la Iglesia;
- the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo;
- the blue domes often associated with Altea’s image;
- viewpoints;
- small shops and galleries;
- cafés and restaurants with views;
- the promenade, if you have time.
Altea works well as the first stop of the route. In the morning, the walk is more pleasant, the old town is easier to photograph and the climbs feel less dramatic. For some reason, white villages and old centres always look best from above. Apparently flat ground failed the casting.
How to walk around Altea?
The best way to visit Altea is to leave the car in a convenient parking area and walk up to the old town. It is not a good idea to drive as close as possible to every pretty street: old quarters, narrow roads, slopes and access restrictions quickly explain that the car is for the route, not for a precision manoeuvre between a wall and a tourist with a phone.
For a walk around Altea, you can plan:
- a walk up to the old town;
- a stroll through the white streets;
- a stop at the church;
- photos at viewpoints;
- coffee or a light breakfast;
- return to the car;
- drive to Calpe.
If the day is hot, do not rush. Altea has many streets where you will want to stop, look at the façades, take photos or simply stand in the shade and remember that the human body was not designed for tourist heroics under the midday sun.
Calpe: Peñón de Ifach and the promenade
Calpe is one of the most recognisable towns on the Costa Blanca thanks to the Peñón de Ifach. This large rock rises above the sea and can be seen from different parts of the town, so even a short stop in Calpe leaves a strong visual impression.
In Calpe, you can:
- see the Peñón de Ifach;
- walk along the promenade;
- stop by the beach;
- have lunch by the sea;
- take photos of the rock;
- visit the port area;
- walk a short section near the natural area, if you have time;
- choose a beach break instead of a long walk.
Calpe fits well in the middle of the route. After walking around Altea, you can stop here for lunch, walk by the sea and decide whether to continue to Benidorm or keep the day more relaxed. Knowing when not to add another stop is an underrated form of wisdom.
Do you need to climb Peñón de Ifach?
For a normal one-day route from Alicante, climbing Peñón de Ifach is not necessary. The view of the rock and a walk by the sea already give plenty of impressions, especially if you plan to visit Altea and Benidorm on the same day.
If you want to follow walking routes around Peñón de Ifach, check access rules, required time, physical difficulty, footwear, weather and availability in advance. This is no longer a quick walk “between coffee and photos”, but a separate part of the day.
For a relaxed route, it is better to choose:
- a view of the rock from the town side;
- a walk along the promenade;
- photos by the sea;
- lunch in Calpe;
- a short stop near the natural area without a long climb;
- continuation of the route.
A mountain, heat, limited time and the desire to see three towns in one day form a combination that sounds energetic only until someone starts sitting in the car in very expressive silence.
Benidorm: city, beaches and viewpoints
Benidorm is very different from Altea and Calpe. Here you will find more high-rise buildings, more urban energy, wide beaches, promenades, tourist infrastructure and people who clearly decided that a holiday should be louder.
In Benidorm, you can see:
- Levante Beach;
- Poniente Beach;
- the old town;
- Balcón del Mediterráneo;
- promenades;
- sea views;
- the city skyline;
- cafés and restaurants;
- viewpoints in and around the city.
Benidorm works well as the final stop if you want to end the day with a walk by the sea, a view from Balcón del Mediterráneo or dinner before returning to Alicante. It is not to everyone’s taste, but it is definitely not boring. And boredom, to be fair, is often worse than a controversial skyline.
What is the best order for the route?
The best order depends on what you want to see most. For a calmer day, start with Altea, continue to Calpe and make Benidorm a shorter final stop. If your main interest is beach time and city atmosphere, Benidorm can become the main stop.
Possible options:
- Classic route: Alicante → Altea → Calpe → Benidorm → Alicante.
- Relaxed route: Alicante → Altea → Calpe → Alicante.
- Beach route: Alicante → Benidorm → Calpe → Alicante.
- Photo route: Altea in the morning, Calpe during the day, Benidorm in the evening.
- Family route: Altea + Calpe without overloading the day or adding long walks.
Do not try to fit too much into one day. Three places are already enough. If you add Guadalest, Dénia, Jávea and “one small stop on the way”, it is no longer a route. It is a tourist wardrobe into which someone is trying to stuff the entire holiday.
Where to park along the route?
Parking should be planned in advance on this route. In tourist towns on the Costa Blanca, parking spaces can fill up quickly, especially in summer, on weekends and in the evening.
General tips:
- save 2-3 parking options in each town in advance;
- do not rely only on free spaces near the centre;
- choose official car parks if you have limited time;
- check signs and road markings;
- do not park on yellow lines;
- do not block garages or exits;
- keep parking tickets;
- do not leave items visible inside the car.
In Altea, it is better not to drive into the narrowest streets of the old town unless necessary. In Calpe, parking depends on whether you are going to the sea, the rock or the promenade. In Benidorm, an official car park may be more sensible than driving circles around the centre hoping for a miracle. Miracles exist, but August parking is usually not one of them.
When is the best time to go?
The best time for this route is the morning. The earlier you leave Alicante, the easier it will be to drive, park and walk without strong heat. This is especially important in summer, when the coast becomes popular with everyone at the same time. Very original behaviour from humanity.
In summer, it is worth:
- leaving in the morning;
- taking water;
- planning parking in advance;
- avoiding long walks in the midday heat;
- taking breaks in the shade;
- not leaving items visible inside the car;
- checking the return time;
- not overloading the day with stops.
Spring and autumn are especially pleasant for this route: less heat, more comfortable walks, easier parking and a better chance to see the towns without feeling that the entire coast has decided to go for a walk at the same time. In winter, the route is also possible, especially if your goal is views, walks and a calm drive without beach mode.
Is the route suitable for families?
Yes, the route from Alicante through Altea, Calpe and Benidorm can work well for families, as long as the day is not overloaded. The roads are understandable, the distances between stops are not too long, and each town offers different options: a walk, a beach, lunch, a viewpoint or a short stop.
For a family trip, consider:
- child seats;
- space for a stroller;
- boot size;
- water and sun protection;
- convenient parking;
- short walking distances;
- food breaks;
- a plan that is not too packed.
If the children are small, it is better to choose two main stops. For example, Altea in the morning and Calpe in the afternoon. Benidorm can be a short evening walk or a separate trip. Otherwise, by the end of the day someone will say “I’m tired” with the tone of an ancient prophecy.
What car should you choose?
Almost any car is suitable for a route from Alicante along the Costa Blanca, but the best choice depends on passengers, luggage, parking and plans. If you are travelling as a couple, a compact car is usually enough. For a family, a more spacious vehicle is better.
When choosing a car, consider:
- number of passengers;
- boot size;
- child seats;
- whether you need an automatic car;
- fuel consumption;
- ease of parking;
- whether you plan mountain sections;
- whether you will drive near old centres;
- rental duration;
- amount of luggage.
A very large car is not always convenient for old towns and car parks. A very small car is not always comfortable for a family with luggage. The ideal option is a car that is comfortable enough for the road, but does not turn every parking space into an exam watched by pedestrians with sadly experienced faces.
What should you take with you?
You do not need to prepare for a Costa Blanca road trip as if it were an expedition, but a few things will make the day much more comfortable.
Useful things to take:
- water;
- sunscreen;
- a hat or cap;
- comfortable shoes;
- swimwear and towels, if you plan to go to the beach;
- phone charger;
- documents and driving licence;
- rental agreement;
- cash or card for parking;
- children’s items, if travelling with children;
- light clothing in summer;
- a jacket or extra layer in winter.
Do not leave valuables visible inside the car. Even if you stop “literally for five minutes”, a bag on the seat looks like an invitation to trouble. A car is not a safe, no matter how much humanity wants to believe otherwise.
Tips before the trip
To make the route smoother, it is worth planning a few practical details in advance. This is not the most romantic part of travel, but it is usually the part that saves the day from chaos. Romance is nice, but a saved parking address in your navigation app is more useful.
Before departure:
- check the route;
- save parking options;
- check the fuel level;
- know the vehicle’s fuel type;
- allow time for traffic;
- do not plan too many stops;
- watch your speed;
- do not enter restricted zones;
- keep parking tickets;
- do not leave items visible in the car;
- check the vehicle return conditions;
- plan refuelling if you return the car the same day.
If you rent a car at Alicante Airport, allow time for vehicle collection. If you return the car before a flight, do not leave the return drive, refuelling and vehicle return until the last minute. The plane will not be moved by your story about the beautiful sunset in Benidorm. Ungrateful metal bird.
Can you drive from Malaga or Marbella?
You can also drive from Malaga or Marbella to Alicante and the Costa Blanca, but this is no longer a short one-day trip. It is better to plan it as part of a longer journey through southern Spain.
If you rent a car in Malaga, Malaga Airport or Marbella and want to drive towards Alicante, check in advance:
- distance and driving time;
- number of rental days;
- included mileage;
- vehicle return location;
- one-way rental conditions, if returning the car in another city is possible;
- fuel policy;
- coverage conditions;
- territorial restrictions;
- time for rest between longer drives.
The Malaga to Alicante route can be interesting for a larger coastal trip, but trying to do it as a “quick there and back” plan is not especially kind to yourself. Sometimes it is better to admit that the map is large, the day is short and the human back is not eternal.
What should you remember when renting a car?
Before driving from Alicante along the Costa Blanca, it is important to understand the rental conditions. The route itself is not complicated, but additional costs usually appear because of details: parking, fuel, fines, damage, late return, the wrong card for the deposit or breach of contract conditions.
Before starting the rental, check:
- which card is required for the deposit;
- which coverage package was selected;
- what is included and what is not included in the insurance;
- what mileage is included;
- which fuel policy applies;
- where and when the vehicle must be returned;
- what to do in case of a technical problem;
- how to contact the rental company;
- whether the route can be changed during the rental;
- which territories are allowed by the contract.
For trips within mainland Spain and Gibraltar, this route fits the usual permitted driving area of SOLO rent a car. Trips to other countries, islands, ferry routes or outside the permitted area must be checked in advance. Contracts, as always, are not fond of the phrase “we thought it was allowed”. They usually have a paid answer for it.
Planning to rent a car in Alicante, Malaga or Marbella?
SOLO rent a car offers car rental in Alicante, Malaga, Malaga Airport and Marbella. If you want to explore the Costa Blanca, Altea, Calpe, Benidorm or other routes in Spain, a rental car makes the trip more flexible and convenient.
We can help you choose a suitable vehicle for a coastal route, family holiday, trip from Alicante Airport, Costa Blanca journey or a longer drive between Alicante, Malaga and Marbella. When choosing a car, it is important to consider the number of passengers, luggage, child seats, transmission type, rental duration and road plans.
The Alicante - Altea - Calpe - Benidorm route clearly shows why renting a car on the Costa Blanca is useful. In one day, you can see a white old town, a rock by the sea, beaches and viewpoints without being tied to public transport schedules. The day belongs to you, not to a bus timetable. Finally, civilisation does something useful.
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