Getting around between Gran Alacant, Santa Pola, Alicante and the airport

Machine translation made with AI: it may contain errors. Please check the details in the official sources.

Gran Alacant is a residential area of Santa Pola, a few kilometres from the centre of the municipality. To get to Alicante, Elche or the airport, the most direct public option is the intercity bus. The timetables and prices in this guide are for winter 2026-27 and the fares in force since 27 July 2026. They change frequently: always check the operator's website (Vectalia) before you travel.

Intercity buses (operator: Vectalia)

Line 3: Santa Pola – Gran Alacant – Arenales del Sol – El Altet – Alicante

This is the main line for getting to Alicante. The stops in Gran Alacant include the shopping centre, Calle Canarias and the Carabassí beach area. Line 1 also links Santa Pola and Alicante, but it is direct and does not stop at Gran Alacant.

Weekdays: departures from Santa Pola roughly every hour, between 6:00 and 21:00, with some additional services at the half hour. From Alicante bus station there are departures between 7:00 and 22:00.
Saturdays: hourly service, roughly from 7:00 to 22:00 from Santa Pola.
Sundays and public holidays: fewer services (about eleven in each direction).
Journey time: about 50 minutes between Gran Alacant and Alicante station, according to the published timetable.
Vectalia says the times are approximate and may vary by about 10 minutes.

Line 8: Santa Pola – Airport – University of Alicante (San Vicente)

It stops at Gran Alacant, Arenales del Sol, El Altet and the airport. In the 2026-27 winter weekday timetable there are only three trips a day in each direction (from Santa Pola, at approximately 7:00, 14:00 and 20:15). There is a specific Saturday timetable. If you need to catch a flight, plan with a margin and check the timetable for the day on Vectalia.

Gran Alacant local bus (line 15)

A circular route within the development: shopping centre, Avenida Noruega, church, post office, health centre and library, Vicenta Ruso school and the Carabassí area. In the published winter weekday timetable, about nine services a day run, concentrated in the morning and afternoon. Saturday and public holiday timetables have not been confirmed: check them on Vectalia.

Santa Pola – Elche and other connections

The Town Council also lists a Santa Pola – Elche line (Vectalia) and a Santa Pola – Guardamar – Torrevieja – Pilar de la Horadada line (Avanza). Check the current timetables on Vectalia (Elche) and on the Santa Pola tourism website. Santa Pola bus station (Calle del Muelle) also has long-distance Alsa services.

Tickets and fares

Fares published by Vectalia for the period from 27/07/2026 (single ticket / 10-trip pass):

Gran Alacant – Alicante: €1.80 / €9.00.
Santa Pola – Alicante: €2.90 / €14.10.
Santa Pola – Gran Alacant – Arenales del Sol – El Altet: €1.65 / €8.10.
Gran Alacant local bus: €1.65 / €8.10.
Gran Alacant – Airport – University (line 8): €2.50 per ticket; 20-trip pass, €22.50.

The passes keep a 40% discount set by the Generalitat until 31 December 2026. For other discounts (for example, by age), check the current conditions on Vectalia.

Where to buy: this information does not appear in the sources consulted. Ask Vectalia (telephone 965 925 365, according to the Santa Pola tourism website) how tickets and passes are bought and what type of card is used. Official information: Vectalia.

Airport and Alicante city

From the airport, the urban line C-6 connects with the centre of Alicante. Alicante Town Council reported in 2023 that it ran every day, including at night (municipal notice). The current frequency and price have not been confirmed: check them on Vectalia or on the airport website (Aena).

TRAM d'Alacant and train

The TRAM d'Alacant is the Generalitat's tram (FGV) in the province. For train or TRAM travel, check the network map and timetables on FGV and Renfe. This guide does not confirm any direct rail connection with Gran Alacant; the bus is the public option described in the sources.

Taxi and VTC

The Santa Pola tourism website publishes the telephone numbers of local taxi companies and an adapted taxi for people with reduced mobility. Taxi fares are regulated: ask for an approximate quote when booking. For VTC (private hire vehicles with a driver booked through an app), check availability in the app itself.

Car

The AP-7 motorway between Alicante and Cartagena is a toll road (concession cited by the press as running until 2048). Check fares and sections before the journey on the concessionaire's website or at the DGT (Spanish traffic authority).
In summer, parking next to the beaches fills up early. Carabassí has a large car park, but access may be restricted; check the official beach page and the signs.
Rules for blue zone/ORA (regulated street parking) in Santa Pola: check them with the Town Council.

Bicycle

The Town Council suggests a Santa Pola – Gran Alacant road cycling route of about 26 km and moderate difficulty. Vectalia published a notice banning e-scooters and other personal electric vehicles on the Santa Pola – Alicante line. If you want to take a bicycle or a folding bike on board, ask Vectalia first.

Disclaimer: general information; check the details with the official source.