Welcome to Benidorm, one of Spain’s most popular holiday destinations and the party capital of Costa Blanca. With its rising skyscrapers and modern skyline, you might think you’ve landed in Manhattan or even Dubai – and that’s exactly why Benidorm is often called “the Manhattan of Spain”. But this city is much more than nightlife and beaches. If you’re curious about what else it has to offer, keep reading – we’ll show you the best things to do in Benidorm. Vamos!
Interesting fact. Back in the 1950s, Benidorm was just a small fishing village. Since then, it has transformed into a modern city with hundreds of skyscrapers rising along the coast. Many of them are now hotels and apartments offering incredible sea views. Among the most impressive is Intempo, one of the tallest residential buildings in Europe!
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Benidorm, Spain FAQ
Benidorm is a vibrant Spanish city located in the heart of Costa Blanca in the Province of Alicante. It’s just a short distance from Alicante and other beautiful smaller towns like Villajoyosa, Calpe, Altea, or Finestrat.
Benidorm is best known for being one of the most popular holiday resorts in Spain, loved for its beautiful sandy beaches, lively old town, and vivid nightlife. What really sets it apart, though, is its skyline – with hundreds of skyscrapers, it looks unlike anywhere else in the country.
Yes, Benidorm is definitely worth visiting – especially if you’re looking for an exciting holiday destination with many attractions for both adults and kids. Also, thanks to its unique look, it might bring a breath of fresh air to your Costa Blanca itinerary.
Benidorm is a great destination for exciting holidays, unwinding weekends, and day trips from nearby towns. Thanks to its location, it’s also a great home base for longer stays and slowly discovering Costa Blanca. Without rushing you’ll be able to see Benidorm’s most popular attractions in one day but if you want to get to know Benidorm better, we recommend staying for at least 3 days.
Things to do in Benidorm, Spain
Benidorm beaches
Soaking up the sun on one of Benidorm’s beaches is one of the top things to do in Benidorm during warm, sunny days, no matter the time of year. Whether you’re after a lively atmosphere or a quiet spot to unwind, there’s a perfect stretch of sand waiting for you. Here are the most popular Benidorm beaches:
Levante Beach
Levante Beach is the most famous and bustling Benidorm beaches. It’s located right next to the most touristic and partying part of town. It’s about 2.5km long, filled with many bars, restaurants, cafes, and beach clubs. There you’ll also find amenities like showers, toilets, volleyball pitches, and lifeguards.
Cala del Mal Pas
Cala del Mal Pas is a small, hidden beach located just a few steps from the Mediterranean Balcony and Port. It offers a more peaceful, scenic setting with calm, turquoise waters.
Poniente Beach
Poniente Beach is the second most popular beach in Benidorm. It’s a less crowded, quieter, and more family-friendly beach. It features a long stretch of golden sand, calm crystal-clear waters, and nice views over the town. There you’ll also find amenities like showers, toilets, volleyball pitches, gyms, restaurants, cafes, or lifeguards.
Cala Tio Ximo
Cala Tío Ximo Beach is another Benidorm beach worth mentioning. It’s a small, 60m-long beach, located not far from Levante Beach. It’s walled by cliffs, which gives it an interesting and more private vibe. Cala Tio Ximo is great for those looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a bit of tranquility.
Benidorm Promenade
Promenade in Benidorm is a vibrant seaside walkway stretching along the town’s two main beaches, Levante and Poniente. In total, it has a length of about 6.5 kilometers (counting from Tossal de la Cala to Racó de l’Oix neighborhood). So if you’re up for a nice, long walk – it’s the ideal place.
The whole promenade offers stunning views of the Mediterranean and Benidorm skyline with hundreds of skyscrapers. The Poniente section is more peaceful with fewer restaurants and shops, and some parts of it have a unique wave-like design. The Levante part is lined with lively bars, restaurants, and shops, creating a more vibrant atmosphere. For us, strolling along Benidorm promenade was one of the favorite things to do in Benidorm during our few weeks’ stay.
Benidorm Old Town streets
Benidorm Old Town is located between Poniente and Levante beaches, and it’s completely different from the modern parts of the city. Here, you’ll find many streets filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, and small shops. It’s a fairly small area and there’s no better way to discover it than just getting lost in a maze of its streets.
In Benidorm Old Town, you’ll find points of interest like: Mediterranean Balcony with El Castell, Church of St. James and St. Anne, Plaça de Sant Jaume square with Mirador de Sant Jaume viewpoint, and Tapas Alley (located on Calle Santo Domingo).
Benidorm Tourist Office is located just a few steps from the Mediterranean Balcony, right above Llevant Beach on Plaza de Canalejas.
Mediterranean Balcony & El Castell
Mediterranean Balcony is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places to visit in Benidorm Old Town. It’s a snow-white viewing platform between Poniente and Levante beaches. The mix of blue sea and white facade gives a captivating effect. The Mediterranean Balcony offers spectacular views of the bay and the town’s skyline and visiting it should be your number one on your list of things to do in Benidorm. Entrance is free.
To get to the Mediterranean Balcony you have to walk through the El Castell, a square where Benidorm Castle once stood.
Tossal de la Cala
Tossal de la Cala is a stunning viewpoint located on a rock, between Poniente and La Cala de Finestrat beaches. It offers spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea, Benidorm skyline, and Puig Campana mountain. It’s also a fantastic spot to watch the sunset, or sunrise if you’re an early bird. The road up is a bit hilly and tiring, but the effort is well worth it. Visiting Tossal de la Cala is definitely one of the best things to do in Benidorm – don’t miss it!
Fun fact. If you’re a cat lover be sure to walk along (and to the end of the road) Passeo Tamarindos at the foot of Tossal de la Cala. We affectionately call it the ‘cat alley’. Dozens of cats are waiting!
Benidorm Island
Benidorm Island is a small piece of land “drifting” on the sea. Visiting it can be a great option for a day trip from Benidorm Old Town – to get there you need to take a boat from a port. When you arrive you can explore Benidorm Island Trail – it takes only around 10-15 minutes to reach the top. From this viewpoint, you can admire nice views over the coastline. Also, be sure to bring food for a picnic, a bathing suit, and snorkel gear, to enjoy your peaceful day away from a bustling city.
There’s an interesting legend behind Benidorm Island. We wrote about it in a Puig Campana post.
The Cross of Benidorm
Another great stop on your list of things to do in Benidorm is to visit the Cross of Benidorm. It’s located on a hill above the city, on the edge of the Sierra Helada Natural Park. On the top, you’ll find a huge metal cross and great views – you can admire the entire Benidorm, sandy beaches, mountains, and sea. You can stretch your legs and get there by foot, or by car (but only part of the route, because the rest has recently been closed for unauthorized vehicles by the city authorities).
Sierra Helada Natural Park
If you are up for a walk in nature, Sierra Helada Natural Park is a perfect place to do that. From the entrance, up to the lighthouse, you can enjoy beautiful landscapes – high cliffs, mountains, and Mediterranean Sea views are all there. The path is very easy and well maintained so almost everyone will be able to enjoy this route.
Viewpoints over Benidorm
Wanna take some iconic photos of Benidorm? For the best angles be sure to head to:
- Tossal de la Cala
- Aguiló Tower (at the edge of Villajoyosa) and streets above, like Carrer Ponent
- Cross of Benidorm
Benidorm Nightlife
Benidorm is famous for its extensive nightlife. Especially in the Levante Beach area where there are many clubs and cocktail bars to choose from. In the high season, people party up to the early morning hours. If you like going out in the evening and the nightlife is your jam, Benidorm will be a great place for you.
Explore local attractions
How to get to Benidorm, Spain?
Benidorm is located about 25km from Calpe, 10km from Altea, 45km from Alicante, and 140km from Valencia. The city is well situated along the Mediterranean coast, linked by the AP7 highway. Traveling by car, or bus from another coastal city is the most convenient way to get to the city.
Where to park in Benidorm?
There are many paid parking lots around. If you want to leave your car somewhere for free, look outside the yellow area on Google Maps. We can recommend leaving a car on Calle Jaén, a street near Levante Beach. In 2021 and 2025 we never had a problem parking there.
Airports near Benidorm
The closest airport to Benidorm is located in Alicante (55 km away). The next ones are located in Valencia and Murcia, both about 150km away. All airports offer bus/tram connections with Benidorm. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Benidorm by bus
You can quite easily get to Benidorm by bus. For example, the trip from Alicante will take about 1 hour, 1h 45minutes from Valencia, and 45 minutes from Villajoyosa. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you, visit rome2rio.com website.
To Benidorm by tram
From some places on Costa Blanca, you can also get to Benidorm by tram. For example, the trip from Alicante will take a little bit over 1 hour, and only 15 minutes from Villajoyosa. To learn more about connections that might interest you, plan your journey, and see tram maps visit tramalacant.es website.
Benidorm Travel Guide – Summing up
Now you are armed with a travel guide of amazing things to do in Benidorm. If you’re looking for an exciting place for holidays with sandy beaches, nice weather, tasty food, vivid nightlife, and a lot of attractions – Benidorm will be a perfect choice for you. One thing is sure: you’ll not be bored in this little Manhattan of Spain. We hope you’ll like it and will spend unforgettable moments in Benidorm. Enjoy!
Our opinion about Benidorm
We lived in Benidorm for 8 weeks (October & November) during our digital nomads #season1. During that time we were able to notice how the city was slowly going to sleep, emptying from crowds of holidaymakers. However, even in late November, we found it quite busy (especially during weekends) filled with many Brits. We can’t even imagine what it looks like in the warmer, holiday months like July or August!
To be frank, Benidorm didn’t really steal our hearts. It’s unique in its weird way but we just don’t feel it. But we think it’s an excellent starting point for discovering other interesting places on Costa Blanca!
Update 2025. We visited Benidorm again 3 years later, during our digital nomads #season4, and lived in the area for 4 weeks (also in low season, in January/February). We held to our opinion – still not the best place for us, still not feeling it. But we must say that we were surprised by the number of tourists again! So, so many more of them than last time! Looks like traveling in the low season has become really popular!
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Benidorm?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Benidorm:
