Train from Santander to Benidorm
A good alternative for those that don´t want to fly. Enjoy the sights, read a book, watch a film, listen to music. relax and enjoy the journey by train from Santander to Benidorm.
Travel by Ferry as a foot passenger - UK to Santander
Coronavirus updates
You are required to wear a mask in most transports when you travel.
Overland travellers to Spain and those transiting are not currently required to present a PCR test or Health Control Form on entry by road or rail.
Train from Santander to Benidorm
The Alvia train runs between Santander and Alicante passing through Madrid. The trains generally stop in Villena, Albacete, Cuenca, Segovia, Valladolid, Palencia, Aguilar de Campó, Reinosa and Torrelavega.
Distance 633 km
Average speed - 78.1 km/h
Average Ticket prices between 65.00 and 105€
OR take a Train from London to Benidorm
What are Alvia trains?
Alvia is the name given to Renfe’s high-speed, long-distance trains connecting major cities in Spain. They can hit speeds of 250km/h - marginally slower than the 300km/h top-speed of AVE trains, but still very speedy!
The trains are built to run on both the high-speed rail lines and the slower, “classic” railway lines. During journeys, Alvia trains will switch between the two, this essentially means that Alvia trains can connect smaller, regional stations to the high-speed rail arteries that run between Spain’s big cities, resulting in reduced travel times for passengers.
Alvia trains come in three different models – Class 120, Class 130 and Class 730. The latter two types have distinctive, duck-billed train noses, so much so that they’ve been nicknamed patitos (ducklings) by local travellers.
Series 120 trains entered into operation in May 2006. Manufactured by CAF, 120s are comprised of 81 Preferente Class seats and 156 Turista seats, distributed across four coaches.
series 130 was manufactured by Talgo. With 63 Preferente seats and 236 Turista seats, they have 11 coaches - one of them a Cafeteria - and 2 power cars, so they can travel in both directions.
Alvia Series 730 (Hybrid) Also manufactured by Talgo, the Series 730 trains are an evolution of the Series 130. They run on a mixture of electric and diesel power, making them the most environmentally friendly Alvia model. They have 216 Turista seats, 46 Preferente seats and a Cafeteria carriage. They entered service in June 2012.
All trains offer:
- 2nd (Turista) and 1st (Preferente) class available
- air-condition, reclining seats that can be turned in direction of travel
- four seats per row in Turista, three seats per row in Preferente; all in open-plan configuration
- audio and video entertainment system
- cafeteria
- equipped for passengers with reduced mobility
- power plugs on some services
Once in Alicante catch the tram to Benidorm (Alicante Metro Tram)
Catch Line 1, journey time approx 1h 8m, every 30 minutes.
How long does the train from Alicante Terminal to Santander Estación take?
The average journey time by train between Alicante Terminal and Santander Estación is 10 hours and 15 minutes, journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays. There are normally 2 trains per day.
What's the fastest journey time between Alicante Terminal and Santander Estación by train?
The fastest journey time by train from Alicante Terminal to Santander Estación is 8 hours and 35 minutes.
How much does the train from Alicante Terminal to Santander Estación cost?
Train tickets from Alicante Terminal to Santander Estación can start from as little as €40.85 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.
How to buy Alvia tickets
Tickets tend to go on sale 62 days in advance of the travel date.
Alvia Fares explained
Renfe offers three different fares for Alvia trains: Promo, Promo+ and Flexible.
Promo
Promo tickets are the cheapest fare. They work like advance tickets in the UK – you can save up to 70% on high-speed and long-distance trains. There are a limited number of Promo fares for any given train so they will often sell out for busy routes. These tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.
Promo+
These are very similar to Promo tickets but slightly more expensive. Booking Promo+ tickets far enough in advance can earn you savings of up to 65%, and they come with more flexibility than the cheapest fare type. Should you not be able to make your train, a Promo+ ticket entitles you to a refund of 70% of the ticket value, up to 5 minutes before departure.
Flexible
As the name suggests, Flexible tickets offer the most flexibility to amend or refund your booking. Tickets are refundable for 95% of the value up to 5 minutes before departure. However, these tickets are the most expensive of the three. Flexible tickets can come in handy if there’s a chance you might miss your scheduled train.
Alvia ticket prices
The price of Alvia tickets is determined by Renfe’s dynamic pricing system, which works in a similar way to airline tickets. Tickets are cheaper the further in advance you book them. This applies to Promo (the cheapest) and Promo+ (slightly more expensive, part-refundable) fares. The price of Flexible (the most expensive) fares is fixed – this ticket type allows you to change your booking to another train at no cost.
Be flexible with your travel times
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
Electronic tickets
When you buy your ticket, you will receive an email with the purchase confirmation, your trip details and an electronic ticket in PDF format. When travelling, you will only have to show the ticket on your mobile or tablet (but you can print it at home for extra peace of mind). Tickets are valid for 4 hours from the train departure and do not require validation.
Classes of Service
1st Class - Preferente.
First Class carriages are more spacious with wider seats. You’ll receive headphones, food, drinks and daily newspapers at no additional cost, as well as a free parking service at the station of origin (except Madrid Atocha) for 24 hours and access to Club Rooms at Renfe stations.
Seats have head rest, fold-down table, foot rest, individual adjustable light and power sockets.
2nd Class - Turista
Turista is the name for Standard Class on Alvia trains. The arrangement of the seats in all the carriages is 2 + 2, with a mixture of normal and table seats. There are usually more Turista seats on an Alvia train than Preferente seats.
Second Class options will provide a comfortable and saving option for you as well. Although it has a little bit less space in general when compared to 1st clas, it´s still a viable option when you want a saving option. You will find comfort in 2nd class specially when travelling in big groups.
Second Class brings you seats with head rest, a fold-down table, foot rest and an individual reading light for your maximum
The bar has a wide selection of meals and sweet snacks available to satisfy everybody's hunger. Eat at the bar or take them back to your seat. Great meals and tasty snacks waits for you on this trip.
Disabled facilities on the train from Santander to Benidorm
All trains are equipped for passengers with reduced mobility
Children
Children under 4 years old travel free on an adult’s lap on board Alvia trains but must carry a Niño gratuito (“Free Child”) ticket. Just make sure you add them to your booking when you book. Children under 14 receive a 40% discount on a standard price ticket.
Renfe allows children between 6 and 13 years old to travel alone as long as they do it in Preferente class. This service can only be booked at the ticket offices of the stations.
Train from Santander to Benidorm
Animals
Dogs, cats, ferrets or birds weighing less than 10 kg can travel on board Alvia trains with a ticket as long as they do so in a carrier or cage that does not exceed dimensions of 60 x 35 x 35cm. Tickets cost 25% of the price of a Turista Class ticket. In Preferente, animals go for free.
If your pet weighs more than 10 kg, it cannot travel with you.
WiFi
You can connect to the Renfe WiFi network through the PlayRenfe platform. There are two access options:
- Basic: 20 MB of data and access from 1 device. It is free for passengers in Preferente Class. It costs €2 for all other passengers.
- Premium: 100 MB of data and access from 3 devices. Free for Preferente class travellers and customers of the +Renfe program. It costs €4 for all other passengers.
Bikes
On Alvia trains, bicycles will be considered hand luggage if they are disassembled and stored in a case with dimensions that do not exceed 180cm when added together.
Those that exceed this measure will be considered “special luggage” and must be disassembled, with the pedals removed and the handlebar turned 90º, and stored in a case of the following maximum dimensions: 120 x 90 x 40 cm.
Luggage
When you travel in Alvia you can take up to 3 suitcases with you. The sum of their weight must be less than 25 kg and the combined dimensions cannot exceed 290cm. Renfe considers baby carriages and instruments smaller than 30 x 120 x 38cm hand luggage.
Enjoy your journey by train from Santander to Benidorm and share your experience in comments below.
OR take a Train from London to Benidorm
N.B. You are required to wear a mask in most transports when you travel.