Getting Around in Alicante

One of the things we love about Alicante is the public transportation system.

The trams and buses are clean and comfortable (although finding a seat on the tram is becoming more challenging in the summer tourist season). We can get just about anywhere in the city and beyond quite efficiently.

The tram into the city center only takes about 20 minutes and the bus ride is a bit longer but is usually less crowded. We have bought rechargeable passes, and the ride rates are quite reasonable.

And this extends to areas outside the city as well. We have taken day trips to surrounding towns using only public transportation and found it to be quite efficient and convenient. Of course, this usually means that we walk quite a bit as well, but that is something we do anyway as part of our daily routine.

Our apartment includes a parking space for a car, but we haven’t used it so far, and do not anticipate needing to buy or lease a vehicle. On the occasions where we may need one, we will rent it.

Which leads up to another topic. Our US driver’s licenses are only valid for the first six months after we entered the country. Rental agencies do check this so we will need to go through the process of getting a Spanish driver’s license.

From what we have been able to find out, we need to contact a driving school that will provide us with the training needed as well as assistance with taking the test. Our readers can look forward to a future post about this process.

Salud!