How to get from Alicante Airport to La Manga
For many international visitors, Alicante is the most practical airport for La Manga. I normally collect a hire car there and drive south. The road is straightforward; the queue at the rental desk can be the more athletic part of the journey, so avoiding it has become one of my small travel skills.
In short: I strongly recommend a car if you plan to explore. A taxi or private transfer is simpler but expensive, and there is no direct airport bus all the way to La Manga. Public transport is possible, but it requires a connection.
Practical details checked in September 2026. Check fares and timetables again before travelling.
Four realistic options
| Option | Best for | My view |
|---|---|---|
| Hire car | Exploring La Manga and the surrounding area | The most useful option and the one I normally choose. |
| A friend collects you | Anyone lucky enough to have that friend | The simplest option, but not a service most travellers can book. |
| Taxi or private transfer | A direct journey without driving | Convenient, but agree the total price before travelling. |
| Buses with a connection | Travellers with time and light luggage | Possible, though not the gentlest first introduction to La Manga. |
The destination is the strip between two seas
I allow around an hour and a half for the drive from Alicante Airport. The exact time depends on traffic, the chosen route and how far along La Manga you are staying.
Replace this destination photograph with Ernesto’s real arrival shot from Alicante Airport.
Hiring a car: what I do
I usually compare and book through EconomyCarRentals.com. This is not an affiliate recommendation and I receive nothing from the link. It has worked reliably for me and has sometimes been three or four times cheaper than booking directly. Compare it yourself: one person’s good experience is not the constitution of the car-hire industry.
The actual supplier and collection point vary. Sometimes the desk is in the terminal; sometimes a shuttle takes you to an off-airport site. I do not automatically avoid the shuttle. In my experience those locations often have shorter queues, and I have frequently received better cars.
Before paying, read beyond the large headline price. Check fuel policy, mileage, opening hours, late-collection fees, deposit, accepted cards and the exact insurance arrangement.
The cheapest headline is not the total cost
Deposits on my bookings have usually been around €1,300–€1,800. A credit card in the main driver’s name, with enough available limit, is commonly required. Your booking conditions are the only conditions that count.
Replace this with Ernesto’s genuine photograph of the rental-car shuttle or collection process.
Insurance: the easily misunderstood part
I use a separate annual excess-reimbursement policy that costs me about €50 per year. Under my policy, eligible excess charges can be reclaimed, which has saved me hundreds compared with buying the rental desk’s cover on every trip.
That does not mean the rental company will waive the deposit. It will usually still reserve the money on your card. If something happens, you may have to pay first and claim from your insurer afterwards. Read the exclusions, permitted countries and vehicle types, and keep every document the insurer requires.
At collection, I photograph every side of the car, the wheels, glass, interior, fuel level and mileage. Five minutes with a phone camera is preferable to a long argument after coming home.
The car remains useful after the airport
Daily life around kilometre 5 is walkable, but a car makes Cabo de Palos, Cartagena, the hill paths and other trips much easier. I see it as transport for the whole stay, not just the airport transfer.
Replace this neutral arrival image with Ernesto’s car at a recognisable La Manga location.
Toll road or free route?
Navigation normally offers a quicker route using the AP-7 or a toll-free alternative. In my journeys, the quicker route has often taken about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and cost roughly €10 in tolls. The free route is often around 1 hour 40 minutes or longer.
Those are personal journey examples, not fixed fares or promised times. Tolls depend on the sections and season; traffic does the rest. I compare both routes before leaving. If the difference is ten minutes, I may save the toll. After half a day on a plane, my financial philosophy becomes noticeably less strict.
The last part of the drive explains the geography
As you approach, it becomes clear why a car is useful: La Manga is long, and interesting places are spread both along the strip and around the Mar Menor.
Use a photograph taken from a safe stopping place or a clear route map—never a photograph taken while driving.
Taxi or private transfer
I have used a taxi and personally paid around €60–€80 one way. Prices can vary greatly by date, booking method, passenger count and final address, so do not treat that figure as a current fare. Ask for a written total price before the journey.
For two people it becomes a substantial round-trip cost. For a larger group the arithmetic may be kinder, and for anyone who does not drive, convenience can reasonably outweigh the calculator.
Public transport: possible, with a connection
There is no direct bus from Alicante Airport to La Manga. The official Alicante Airport bus page lists a service to Cartagena taking about 90 minutes and stopping in several towns around the Mar Menor. From Cartagena, you need a separate service to La Manga.
Check regional connections and tickets using the Interbus booking system. Routes and frequency change by season. Leave a sensible margin for a late flight, luggage and the connection—the last bus is an expensive place to test your optimism.
With substantial luggage, sports equipment or a late arrival, a hire car or pre-booked transfer is normally much simpler.
Arrival is when the pace changes
The flight and drive make sense the next morning, when the Mediterranean is only a few steps away. From the studio, the Mar Menor is about two minutes in the other direction.
Use Ernesto’s first-evening or first-morning photograph to finish the practical journey.
My short checklist
- compare the total hire-car price, not only the first number in the search results;
- check the deposit, card type, fuel policy and late-collection terms;
- photograph the car before moving it;
- compare the toll and free routes in your navigation app;
- if travelling by bus, check both parts of the journey again a few days before departure.
For the wider travel picture, see How to get here. If La Manga itself is still unfamiliar, begin with Discover La Manga.
Transport sorted? Now check the dates
The studio is at kilometre 5 and is most comfortable for two. Check availability or see the studio before arranging flights and a car around your preferred stay.
