Region

Costa Blanca

Base in Alicante or Benidorm; use tram or ALSA bus for day trips to Dénia, Xàbia, Altea, Calpe and Moraira.

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Key facts · Spain

Best months: Oct–May
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Euro (EUR, €)
Language: Spanish (castellano)
Plugs: C · F · 230 V
Time zone: CET (UTC+1, summer UTC+2)

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…

Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.

Costa Blanca is a 200 km stretch of white‑sand Mediterranean beaches with sunny weather and a mix of large resorts and quieter coastal towns, making it a popular beach destination.

Where to sleep

2 places in this region

AlicanteCity guide
Main city, historic castle, good rail and airport links.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Alicante →
BenidormCity guide
High‑rise skyline, beaches, nightlife; tram stop.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Benidorm →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

4 nights: Alicante 2 nights, Benidorm 2 nights; day‑trip Dénia, Xàbia, Altea, Calpe.
6 nights: Alicante 3 nights, Benidorm 3 nights; add Moraira and Montgó hike.

Peak summer (July‑August) brings high prices and crowds; consider May‑June or Sep‑Oct for better value.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Dénia	Alicante	45 min	mid‑evening	Tram L1 to Villajoyosa then change to L9; 30 min ride.
Xàbia (Jávea)	Benidorm	35 min	mid‑evening	ALSA bus or tram change at Benidorm; 20 min ride.
Altea	Benidorm	30 min	mid‑evening	ALSA bus; 15 min ride.
Calpe	Benidorm	35 min	mid‑evening	ALSA bus; 20 min ride.
Moraira	Benidorm	40 min	mid‑evening	ALSA bus; 25 min ride.

Bags between cities

Luggage forwarding between Alicante and Benidorm is available via local courier services; arrange at hotel reception.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Alicante	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	ok
Benidorm	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	ok
Spain (country-wide)	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	go	go

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Costa Blanca coastMediterranean shoreline	best	best	best	best	best	ok	hot	hot	hot	best	best	best

best: dry, mildok: workablehot: short walking windows

Costa Blanca coast: Warm 22‑28 °C (82 °F) May‑Oct; July‑Aug hottest (30 °C (86 °F)+).Warm 22‑82 °F (28 °C) May‑Oct; July‑Aug hottest (86 °F (30 °C)+).

Rainfall low; occasional thunderstorms in autumn.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Alicante Airport (ALC)	Alicante city centre	Airport bus or tram connection	~30 min door‑to‑door	Low‑cost carriers from most of Europe.
Valencia Airport (VLC)	Alicante via train	Renfe regional train	~1 h 15 min	Check AVE schedule for faster option.
Madrid or Barcelona	Alicante station	Renfe AVE high‑speed train	2 h 30 min	Book early for best fares.
A‑7 motorway	Coastal towns	Car or rental	varies	Scenic drive; parking limited in city centres.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Renfe Spain Pass

check

May be cheaper for multiple AVE trips beyond the coast; does not cover local tram or bus.

Alicante Tram Ticket

buy

Single tickets €1.35‑7.15; day pass €5‑8 for unlimited rides.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Paella de marisco	Alicante beachfront restaurants	Seafood paella common; lunch sets cheaper.
Arroz a banda	Benidorm local taverns	Rice with fish stock; often served with alioli.

Go next

Murcia

planned

A‑7 road south, ~2 h drive

Gateway to Costa Cálida.

Valencia

A‑7 north, ~2 h drive or AVE train

Cultural city, easy day trip.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 5, 30 min to 45 min
Nights suggested: 4–6 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: Jan–May, Oct–Dec

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Explore Alicante Up to Spain

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

secondaryWikivoyage: Costa Blanca, revision 5244062 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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