The University of Alicante (UA) is in San Vicente del Raspeig, a university town 8 km from central Alicante. Every year around 25,000 students look for a room near the campus. The key question is: walk to campus or live in central Alicante with fast TRAM? Both options have advantages. This guide helps you decide based on your priorities, budget and lifestyle.
1. The UA campus: the basics
Main faculties: Sciences, Arts, Economics, Education, Law, Engineering (Polytechnic), Health Sciences, Social Work, Fine Arts.
Services on campus:
- University canteen with full menus for €5-6.
- Main library with 5 floors, open until 21:00.
- Sports centre with pool, gym, paddle and tennis courts.
- 24h study room (zone D).
- ESN office for Erasmus students.
- Free university medical service.
Getting to campus from other areas:
- Walking from central San Vicente: 10-20 minutes.
- TRAM L4 from central Alicante: ~15 minutes (Mercado or Luceros stations).
- By car/motorbike: large free parking.
- Bike: good bike lane from San Vicente, less good from central Alicante.
- By car/motorbike: large free parking.
- TRAM L4 from central Alicante: ~15 minutes (Mercado or Luceros stations).
- Walking from central San Vicente: 10-20 minutes.
- Free university medical service.
- ESN office for Erasmus students.
- 24h study room (zone D).
- Sports centre with pool, gym, paddle and tennis courts.
- Main library with 5 floors, open until 21:00.
2. The 3 areas to live near UA
- Price: €290-380/month single room in shared flat.
- Distance to campus: 10-20 minutes walking.
- Vibe: 100% student. Bars with student menus, copy shops, bike everywhere.
- Pros: cheapest, you live "next to" campus, everyone is a student.
- Cons: quiet nights, little nightlife, far from the beach.
Area 2: Vistahermosa (the "in-between" area)
- Price: €320-420/month.
- Distance to campus: 15-20 minutes by TRAM or 25 by bike.
- Vibe: urban-residential, Calle Ancha de Castelar as the main street. Close to the Mercado Central.
- Pros: well connected to campus and city, supermarkets, gyms.
- Cons: nothing stands out as young-attractive, sits between the two more interesting options.
Area 3: Central Alicante (Mercado / Carolinas Bajas / Plaza de España)
- Price: €350-480/month.
- Distance to campus: TRAM L4 ~15 minutes direct, every 15 min.
- Vibe: nightlife, beach nearby, 100% urban life.
- Pros: more nightlife, better for Erasmus who want to enjoy Alicante in full, easy beach access.
- Cons: more expensive, you need the TRAM every day.
- Pros: more nightlife, better for Erasmus who want to enjoy Alicante in full, easy beach access.
- Vibe: nightlife, beach nearby, 100% urban life.
- Distance to campus: TRAM L4 ~15 minutes direct, every 15 min.
- Cons: nothing stands out as young-attractive, sits between the two more interesting options.
- Pros: well connected to campus and city, supermarkets, gyms.
- Vibe: urban-residential, Calle Ancha de Castelar as the main street. Close to the Mercado Central.
- Distance to campus: 15-20 minutes by TRAM or 25 by bike.
- Cons: quiet nights, little nightlife, far from the beach.
- Pros: cheapest, you live "next to" campus, everyone is a student.
- Vibe: 100% student. Bars with student menus, copy shops, bike everywhere.
3. Transport to campus in detail
This is the "star" connection. Every 15 minutes during the academic year. Mercado → UA in ~15 minutes. Luceros → UA in ~18 minutes.
- Price: single trip ~€1.40. With the TAM/TRAM youth pass (under 31) it's around €35/month with unlimited trips — clearly the most cost-effective option.
- Last service: until ~23:30 Monday to Saturday. Later, the N4 night bus runs.
TAM bus lines 24 and 28
Connect Alicante and UA by road. Slower than TRAM (~30 minutes) but useful for areas not covered by TRAM.
Bike
- From San Vicente: 15-25 minutes on a good bike lane.
- From central Alicante: 40-50 minutes, hilly. Not practical unless you really enjoy cycling.
- Alabici (municipal bike share) exists in central Alicante.
Car or motorbike
The campus has huge free parking. If you have a car, living in central Alicante and driving to campus is viable (~15 minutes without traffic).
- Alabici (municipal bike share) exists in central Alicante.
- From central Alicante: 40-50 minutes, hilly. Not practical unless you really enjoy cycling.
4. What to look for in a room near UA
Fast and stable WiFi — essential for online classes, online exams and group projects. Ask for real speed (Mbps) and whether it's fibre. <50 Mbps is not enough with more than 2 flatmates.
Study area in the flat — beyond your bedroom. A large table in the living room or a decent desk in your room. If there's only a sofa and a low table, you'll suffer during exam season.
Properly equipped kitchen — induction/electric hob, microwave, oven, large fridge, washing machine. Pots, pans and dishes should be complete and decent quality.
Heating or air conditioning — Alicante is not Madrid but in January/February it's 8-12°C at night. Without heating it's cold. In September and June, AC is very welcome.
Minimal noise insulation — ask what's around. A room above a bar or on a noisy street will ruin your exam season.
Flatmates: ask about their profile. National or international students, ages, schedules, smokers? A bad mix is the number one source of problems in shared flats.
Clear contract — duration, included bills, deposit conditions. Without a contract, do NOT proceed.
5. If you study at UMH or EASD
Main campus in Elche (25 km from Alicante). Other campuses in Alicante (Salesas), Sant Joan d'Alacant (Medicine and Health) and Orihuela.
- If your campus is Elche: living in Elche is the logical choice. Similar prices to San Vicente del Raspeig (€280-380/month).
- If your campus is Sant Joan (Medicine): living in central Alicante or San Juan beach is most practical. There's a direct TAM bus from the centre to campus.
- If your campus is Salesas (Alicante): any central Alicante area works.
Higher Art and Design School (EASD)
In central Alicante (Calle Doctor Sapena). Most practical: live in the centre or in Carolinas Bajas. Living in San Vicente del Raspeig makes no sense.
Intensive Spanish academies
Almost all are in central Alicante (Proyecto Español, Don Quijote, ENFOREX, etc.). Live near your academy in the centre.
- If your campus is Salesas (Alicante): any central Alicante area works.
6. Living in San Vicente vs central Alicante
Live in San Vicente del Raspeig if...
- Your priority is saving money.
- You want to walk to campus without depending on transport.
- You like a quieter rhythm focused on studying.
- You go out 1-2 nights a week and don't need the beach daily.
- You're on intensive programmes (master's, dual degree) with long schedules.
Live in central Alicante if...
- You want to enjoy Alicante in full: beach, nightlife, bars, food.
- You're on Erasmus for 1 or 2 semesters and you came to "live" the experience.
- Taking the TRAM every day doesn't bother you.
- You study at a non-UA campus (UMH Salesas, EASD, academies).
- You organise schedules well and don't have 8:00 classes every day.
Key point: TRAM L4 works really well. Living in the centre and taking 15 minutes to campus is not a real problem. The big difference is price (~€100/month more) and lifestyle (pure student vs urban).
- You organise schedules well and don't have 8:00 classes every day.
- You study at a non-UA campus (UMH Salesas, EASD, academies).
- Taking the TRAM every day doesn't bother you.
- You're on Erasmus for 1 or 2 semesters and you came to "live" the experience.
- You want to enjoy Alicante in full: beach, nightlife, bars, food.
- You're on intensive programmes (master's, dual degree) with long schedules.
- You go out 1-2 nights a week and don't need the beach daily.
- You like a quieter rhythm focused on studying.
- You want to walk to campus without depending on transport.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a room near the University of Alicante cost?
- In San Vicente del Raspeig (10-20 min walking to campus) between €290 and €380/month for a single room in a shared flat. In central Alicante with TRAM to campus, between €350 and €480/month. Prices without bills included.
- How do I get from central Alicante to the University of Alicante?
- TRAM line L4. Departs every 15 minutes from Mercado or Luceros. Journey time around 15-18 minutes. With the TAM/TRAM youth pass (under 31) you get unlimited trips for ~€35/month.
- Is it better to live in San Vicente del Raspeig or central Alicante as a university student?
- San Vicente is cheaper and within walking distance of campus, ideal if you prioritise studying and saving. Central Alicante has more nightlife, beach and urban life, ideal for Erasmus students who want to live the experience. TRAM L4 makes living in the centre and studying at UA perfectly viable.
- What should a good university student room have?
- Fast WiFi (fibre, >50 Mbps), study area (decent desk in your room or large table in living room), properly equipped kitchen, heating/AC, minimal noise insulation, clear written contract, and flatmates with a compatible profile. The advertised price should clearly state which bills are included.
- Is there night transport from the centre to UA?
- TRAM L4 runs until around 23:30. After that, the N4 night bus runs with longer intervals. If you usually stay out late, expect to take a taxi/Uber some nights (€15-20).
- Is the bike useful to get to UA?
- From San Vicente del Raspeig yes, there's a good bike lane (15-25 min). From central Alicante less practical (40-50 min, hilly). Central Alicante has Alabici (municipal bike share), useful to move around the city but not for getting to campus.
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