Calpe has a TRAM station, but it isn’t in the town centre.
Calp station sits inland, away from the Calpe beaches, old town and main neighbourhood areas. Arriving by TRAM doesn’t mean stepping off beside Arenal-Bol with your suitcase.
The station is useful for day trips towards Altea, Benidorm, Benissa, Teulada and Dénia. Alicante is also possible, though you need to change lines in Benidorm.
I see the TRAM as a good option when avoiding parking matters more than speed. It works well for a relaxed day out, but the station location and hourly service mean a little planning is needed.
Where Calpe Tram Station Actually Is
The official station name is Calp rather than Calpe. It sits in Partida Estació, inland from the centre and close to the N-332. Search “Estació TRAM Calp” rather than Calpe.
Don’t confuse it with Calpe bus station, which is in a different part of town and considerably closer to the centre. Calp station is roughly 2.5 kilometres from central Calpe, depending on where you are.
It Isn’t Near the Beach
Walking from the station into the centre normally takes around 25 to 35 minutes, much of it downhill. The return journey climbs inland and feels noticeably harder, particularly after a long day or in summer heat. I’d only walk it when travelling light and everyone in the group is comfortable with the distance.
The station is even less convenient for La Fossa. From that side of Calpe, use a local bus or taxi instead.
Getting From the Station to Calpe
Calpe’s urban bus network connects the station with the town and beach areas, usually the cheapest practical option, though the local bus may not arrive immediately after every TRAM service. Check the current timetable before travelling rather than assuming a connection will be waiting.
A taxi is the easiest choice with luggage, young children or accommodation near La Fossa. There may not always be several taxis waiting outside the station, so keep the local taxi number to hand or arrange collection in advance. For a family sharing the fare, it can be worth paying simply to avoid starting or ending the day with a long walk.
Walking into town is possible, but not with large suitcases. Allow around half an hour for the centre and longer for the beach areas.
Which Line Calp Station Is On
Calp is on Line 9, which runs between Benidorm and Dénia. Heading south, the route runs through Olla Altea, Cap Negret, Garganes, Altea, El Albir and L’Alfàs del Pi before reaching Benidorm. Heading north, it runs through Benissa, Teulada, Gata de Gorgos and La Xara before reaching Dénia.
Although it’s officially part of the wider TRAM d’Alacant network, Line 9 feels more like a coastal railway than a city tram.
Travelling From Calpe to Alicante
Yes, but there’s no direct service. Take Line 9 from Calp to Benidorm, then change to Line 1 for Alicante. The full journey can take around an hour and a half to two hours once the change and waiting time are included.
Worth using for Alicante if you don’t have a car and aren’t in a hurry. For an airport journey, a direct coach, taxi or pre-booked transfer is normally the more sensible choice.
How Often the Tram Runs
Line 9 generally runs around once per hour, which is why missing a service matters more here than it would with a five- or ten-minute city tram. Timetables can shift because of seasonal schedules, engineering work or temporary alterations, so check the official TRAM d’Alacant website or app on the day. Turning up at least ten minutes early is worth the habit.
Approximate Journey Times From Calpe
| Destination | Approximate journey |
|---|---|
| Benissa | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Altea | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Teulada | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Gata de Gorgos | 25 to 30 minutes |
| Benidorm | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Dénia | 40 to 50 minutes |
| Alicante | Around 1.5 to 2 hours with the change |
Use these as planning estimates rather than exact timetable times.
What Tickets Cost
Ticket prices depend on the number of fare zones crossed and the type of ticket used. Line 9 covers two of the network’s fare zones, B, running from Benidorm to Olla Altea, and C, covering Calp through to Dénia, and crossing from one zone into the other costs more than a journey that stays inside a single zone.
Don’t rely on older guides claiming that returns to Altea, Benidorm and Dénia all cost the same, those journeys cover different distances and may cross different zones, and discount schemes can change the final fare too. Use the official journey planner or ticket machine to check the price for your exact destination. Tickets can normally be bought from station or onboard machines depending on the stop and service, and it’s worth keeping the ticket until the journey is complete.
What Calp Station Is Like
Calp is a small, functional station rather than a large transport terminal. Don’t expect shops, extensive waiting areas or the facilities you’d find at Alicante or Benidorm.
Worth having with you: water, sun protection, the timetable already checked, enough phone battery to arrange a bus or taxi, and your accommodation address saved. There’s little benefit in arriving very early unless you’re happy waiting at the station itself.
Luggage, Accessibility and Bicycles
The platforms have step-free access, and modern services provide spaces for passengers with reduced mobility. The harder part is travelling between the station and Calpe town. The distance and hills make walking unsuitable for some passengers even when the station itself is accessible. Arrange a bus, accessible taxi or collection when mobility is limited.
Luggage is allowed onboard, but several cases, a pushchair or children make the final connection much less comfortable. Arranging transport from the station is worth the small cost in that situation.
Bicycles are generally permitted when space allows, though restrictions may apply on busy services. A bike makes the station location easier to deal with, but the return journey is uphill, and cycling is restricted on Calpe’s promenades, so use the road network instead.
Best Day Trips From Calpe by Tram
Altea is the easiest day trip to recommend first. The journey is short, and you can walk from the station towards the seafront and old town, though the climb to the church square is steeper than the short train ride suggests.
Benidorm suits the TRAM well when you want to avoid parking or plan to stay for food and drinks, covering central Benidorm, the old town and the beaches. Theme parks and water parks need another local bus or taxi after arriving.
Dénia is worth the longer trip for the castle, marina, old town and restaurants, and its station is better placed for exploring the centre than Calp station is for exploring Calpe. Check the return time before settling into a long lunch.
Benissa and Teulada stations serve the inland towns rather than the coast. Benissa station doesn’t reach the coastal coves, and Teulada station doesn’t reach Moraira, so another bus or taxi is needed if that’s where you’re headed.
Is the Tram Better Than Driving
Sometimes. It makes sense for Altea when parking is likely to be annoying, for Benidorm when nobody wants to drive home, and for Dénia when a slower pace suits the day. Driving still wins when travelling with several people, carrying beach equipment, or heading somewhere that needs another connection after the train.
The TRAM isn’t automatically faster. Its main advantage is avoiding the drive and the search for parking.
What to Check Before Travelling
Check the current Line 9 timetable on the day, especially if travelling late or relying on a connection in Benidorm. Also worth confirming: the final useful return service, the current ticket price, the local bus connection from Calp station, whether engineering work affects the route, and taxi arrangements if arriving with luggage.
An hourly service gives you less room for error, so the return journey isn’t the place to guess.
Final Verdict
Calpe tram station is useful for day trips along the coast, but it isn’t conveniently placed for Calpe’s beaches or centre.
Use the local bus or a taxi when carrying luggage, check the current timetable, and give yourself enough time for the hourly service. Get that part right and the parking-free advantage genuinely pays off.
