Public transport in Spain: how to travel comfortably along the coasts

Public transport in Spain is known for its reliability, accessibility, and excellent value for money. Spain boasts a robust network of trains, trams, metros, and regional bus lines.

Public transport on the Costa Blanca South

The Murcia/Alicante region has a train service (Cercanías Murcia-Alicante, operated by Renfe). This line connects: Murcia del Carmen, Orihuela, Callosa de Segura, Elche, and Alicante Terminal (AVE station).

From Alicante Terminal you have connections to high-speed trains (AVE) towards Madrid and other major cities.

Regional buses in the province of Alicante

In addition to the train, there are extensive interurban bus routes connecting coastal towns like Torrevieja, Guardamar, Santa Pola, La Marina, and the cities of Alicante and Elche. These routes are operated by the Generalitat Valenciana and the province. There is also a connection from Torrevieja to Murcia Airport.

There's often a direct or no-transfer bus service to the beach, shopping center, or hospital. Timetables and stops can be found on the websites of the respective bus companies and the regional government (Generalitat Valenciana).

Public transport on the Costa Blanca North

The Costa Blanca North (Benidorm, Altea, Calpe, Villajoyosa, Dénia) is known for its excellent coastal railway. The TRAM d'Alacant is the tram service operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), which connects Alicante City with the Costa Blanca North.

The official network offers several lines (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L9) with combinations of urban tram and coastal rail. In Alicante (Luceros/MARQ), the TRAM connects with other tram lines and bus services to the train station and the city center.

For those who regularly travel via Valencia in the northern Costa Blanca, Metrovalencia is relevant: Metrovalencia manages the metro and tram network in and around Valencia, including a direct connection to Valencia Airport.

Public transport in the Costa Cálida

The Costa Cálida region (San Javier, Santiago de la Ribera, Los Alcázares, Mazarrón) is rapidly modernizing its public transport.

Movibus Murcia is a new regional network with completely renovated bus routes, electric buses, and new charging infrastructure. This provides increasingly better bus connections to Murcia city and Cartagena. It also connects to Cercanías trains and regional trains to Alicante.

Public transport on the Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol (Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona) boasts a highly professionally developed public transport network. On the Costa del Sol, the Cercanías Málaga region, operated by Renfe, is the main rail link along the coast.

• Line C-1 connects Málaga-Centro Alameda via Málaga-María Zambrano (AVE station) and Málaga-Airport with coastal towns such as Torremolinos, Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel and Fuengirola.
• Line C-2 runs inland towards Álora.

The regional transport consortia of Andalusia (including the Consorcio de Transporte Metropolitano del Área de Málaga) ensure the integration between bus, metro and Cercanías.

Bus and metro network around Málaga and the western Costa del Sol

The Consorcio de Transporte Metropolitano del Área de Málaga coordinates:

• Metro lines L1 and L2 (these connect with the Cercanías train and bus lines of the consortium)
• regional bus lines to coastal towns
• one integrated public transport card: Tarjeta de Transporte

For municipalities further west, such as Marbella, Estepona and Manilva, regional and interurban buses are the main form of public transport.

Traveling to and from Costa del Sol Airport

The C-1 Cercanías line is the official direct train link between Málaga Airport and the coastal towns up to Fuengirola, with frequent daytime services

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• 1. Is public transport on the Costas reliable? Yes, the coastal regions have modern train, tram, and bus networks that operate according to regular schedules. Renfe, TRAM d'Alacant, and Cercanías are particularly known for their punctuality.
• 2. Can you reach most coastal towns without a car? Yes, from Alicante to Marbella, most towns and villages are connected by regional trains or bus lines.
• 3. Is there a direct public transport connection from the airports? Yes, Alicante Airport, Murcia Airport, and Málaga Airport have direct bus or train connections to the surrounding coastal towns.
• 4. Is public transport suitable for daily commuting? Yes, many local residents use regional trains, trams, and buses daily. Frequencies are high enough in most coastal areas to allow for reliable commuting.