Weather Upgrade · right now
10° warmer
Shannon 9° CloudAlicante 19° Cloud
Jumper off, sunglasses on.
Worth the bother?
7/10 Worth a look.
“11°C warmer for 2h 35m in the air. A fair swap for a grey week.”
- 11°C warmer than Ireland’s usual 10°C
- 3 rainy days a month, against Ireland’s 12
- 6 hours of sun a day, against 2
- Short hop: 2h 35m direct
How we work this out
Worth the bother is worked out from the same facts every time: how much warmer, drier and sunnier it usually is there than in Ireland that month, how long the flight is, how good the place is, whether something’s on and, when we have enough fares for the route, whether the month is unusually dear or cheap. We use the usual weather for the month so one freak day can’t swing it. When you tell us what you’re after (snow, Christmas markets, walking and so on), the weather part asks how well the usual weather fits that, not just how warm it is. Nobody can pay to change a score, and plenty of places score low on purpose.
Shannon to Alicante, in short
The flight takes about 2h 35m.
Your options
Shannon or another airport?
Compared with Shannon: Dublin flies on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays and is about a 2h 30m drive away. Cork is about a 1h 45m drive away. Knock is about a 2h drive away. Kerry is about a 2h drive away.
Flying from Shannon
The honest airport tips
- Shannon is usually quick through security, but give yourself time on busy summer mornings.
- US flights clear US immigration at Shannon before take-off, so you land as a local. Have your passport handy and your patience ready.
- Book parking online before you go; it's cheaper than paying at the barrier.

The place
Alicante, the honest verdict“Sun, sea and a castle on the hill. Benidorm is down the road if you are feeling brave.”Scores, where to stay and what nobody tells you about AlicanteWhere to stay in Alicante
Prices for 11 Dec to 14 Dec, two adults. Click a hotel to see it on Booking.com, Expedia or Vrbo.
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The trip
Shannon to Alicante in numbers
Good for a long weekend
Christmas and St Stephen’s Day 2026: take Mon 28 to Thu 31 Dec off (4 leave days), 10 days offSeven ideasShannon to Alicante
Questions people ask
How long is the flight from Shannon to Alicante?
About 2h 35m direct, with Ryanair.
Is there a time difference between Ireland and Alicante?
1 hour ahead of Ireland.