Welcome to Benidorm, one of Spain’s most popular holiday destinations and the party capital of Costa Blanca. It’s a place in which you’ll feel like you’re in a completely different country! If you suddenly found yourself here without knowing where you were, you’d probably say Manhattan or Dubai, and… you wouldn’t be far away from the truth! Not without a reason Benidorm is often called “the Manhattan of Spain“. So if you’re heading to Benidorm and the beaches and parties aren’t your only interests, this post is for you. Vamos! Let us show you the best things to do in Benidorm, Spain.
Interesting fact. In the 1950s Benidorm was still a small fishing village. Since then, hundreds of skyscrapers have been built along the coast. Most of them are now used as hotels and apartments with amazing sea views. Among them is one of the tallest residential buildings in Europe, Intempo, with a height of 192 meters!
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Benidorm, Spain FAQ
Benidorm is located in the heart of Costa Blanca in the Province of Alicante in Spain. It lies close to Alicante, another popular holiday destination, and other beautiful small towns like Villajoyosa, Calpe, Altea, or Finestrat.
Benidorm is best known for being one of the most popular holiday resorts in Spain with beautiful sandy beaches, a lively old town, and a vivid nightlife. But Benidorm is also famous for being different from all other places in the country – just look at hundreds of skyscrapers!
Yes, Benidorm is worth visiting, especially if you’re looking for an exciting holiday place with many attractions for adults and kids alike. Also, thanks to its unique look it might bring a breath of fresh air to your travels.
Hard to say, it all depends on your preferences. Both places are popular holiday destinations on Costa Blanca, both well known for many attractions and vivid nightlife with all-night parties. Overall we prefer Alicante as we found it more interesting. But it’s best to visit both cities and form your own opinion.
Oh yes, without a doubt! Benidorm is well known for its vivid nightlife scene and parties lasting up to the early morning hours. It’s also a very popular spot for hen/stag parties, especially for UK folks.
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 the 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 the Benidorm beaches is a must during warm, sunny days, no matter the time of the year. Whether you’re looking for a lively atmosphere or a quiet spot to unwind, in Benidorm everyone will find a perfect stretch of sand. Here are the most popular Benidorm beaches:
Levante Beach
Levante Beach (es. Platja de Llevant) is the most famous and bustling beach in Benidorm. 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 (es. Platja de Ponent) 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.
Book now: Benidorm Parasailing Boat Trip with Costa Blanca Views
Benidorm Promenade
Benidorm Promenade 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 tall 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 many lively bars, restaurants, and shops, creating a more vibrant atmosphere.
Benidorm Old Town streets
Benidorm Old Town is located between Ponent and Llevant beaches, and it’s completely different from the modern parts of the city. There, 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: El Castell, Mediterranean Balcony, 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.
Discover: Accommodation options in Benidorm
Mediterranean Balcony & El Castell
Mediterranean Balcony (es. Balcó de la Mediterrània) without a doubt is one of the most beautiful places in Benidorm Old Town. It’s a snow-white viewing platform between Playa de Levante and Playa de Poniente. 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.
L’Aigüera Park
Located near the Benidorm Old Town, L’Aigüera Park (es. Parque de La Aigüera) is called the lung of the city. To be honest we have no idea why. To us, it doesn’t look at all like a park which we would describe as the “lungs of the city”. Although it’s still a nice place to take a walk, have a picnic, sit and relax with a book or exercise. Here you’ll also find a Roman-style auditorium and bullring (unfortunately closed).
Tossal de la Cala
Tossal de la Cala is a spectacular viewpoint located on a big rock, between Playa de Poniente and La Cala de Finestrat. It offers spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea, Benidorm skyline, and Puig Campana mountain. We recommend going there to watch a sunset, or sunrise if you’re an early bird. The road up is quite hilly and tiring but worth the effort. 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!
Also visit nearby: 10+ Things To Do In Calpe, Spain
Benidorm Island
Benidorm Island is a small piece of land “drifting” on the sea. Visiting an island 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 thing to do in Benidorm is to visit the Cross of Benidorm (es. La Creu de 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).
History Of The Cross
There is an interesting story about the cross. The original cross, a wooden one, was carried to the top in 1961 as a protest at the newly permitted bikinis on Benidorm’s beaches. You know, in the 1950s wearing a bikini was considered shocking, and back then Benidorm was just beginning to transform from a little fishing village to the tourist paradise it is today.
Women, supposedly mostly shameless foreigners, started wearing bikinis and one particular bishop wasn’t happy at all about that. He threatened to put a sign in front of the city with the words “El Infierno” (meaning hell), informing that *naughty* mayor (who agreed to all of this, because he thought it was good for city development and tourism) and the townspeople would go to Hell for allowing to wear “robes of sin”.
He didn’t do it in the end, but about two years later, people carried a huge wooden cross from the Church of San Jaime to a high point, so it could overlook the sinful city. This gesture by some of the locals was intended to show that they were still religious, as opposed to the sinful tourists who showed too much body in public. Today you can see a large metal cross, which was erected in 1975 and was made of fragments of old railway tracks.
Book now: Benidorm Authentic Segway Machine Tour
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
Also visit nearby: Things To Do In Alicante Old Town, Spain In One Day
Explore local attractions
Other things to do in Benidorm, Spain
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.
Amusement parks
Benidorm is also famous for its amusement parks. Everyone will find something exciting for themselves. You can choose from Aqualandia, Mundomar, Terra Natura, and Terra Mitica.
Benidorm Palace
Another option for nightlife lovers is Benidorm Palace as it offers a fantastic show (supposedly, because we haven’t seen it) full of colors, dancing, and singing. The show takes place every weekend. You can purchase tickets only for a show, or with dinner options. You can read more about the show and ticket prices on benidormpalace.com website.
Book now: Tickets For Show at Benidorm Palace
Fiestas Mayores Patronales de Benidorm
Las Fiestas Mayores Patronales is an annual festival that celebrates Benidorm patron saints: Virgen del Sufragio and San Jaime Apostle. The fiesta lasts for six days and always begins on the second weekend of November. If you will be in Benidorm at this time it’s worth taking a look at this yet another nightlife experience. Especially on the last day when a colorful parade takes place which ends up with fireworks.
How to get to Benidorm, Spain?
Benidorm is located about 25km from Calpe, 10km from Altea, and 45km from Alicante. 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. There’s also a tram connection from Alicante.
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 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, about 150km away. All airports offer bus/tram connections with Benidorm. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit: Rentalcars
To Benidorm by bus
You can also quite easily get to Benidorm by bus. For example, the journey from Alicante will take about 1 hour, 1h45min 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 about 1h50min, and 30min from Villajoyosa. To learn more about connections that might interest you, plan your journey, and see tram maps visit tramalacant.es website.
To Benidorm by taxi
You can also get to Benidorm by taxi. It will be the most expensive choice, but also the fastest one. For example, a trip from Alicante Airport will cost about €140-170 and €40-50 from Calpe. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Things to do in Benidorm, Spain – Summing up
Uf, that’s a lot! But now you are armed with a guide of great things to do in Benidorm. If you’re looking for an exciting place for holidays with great beaches, warm 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 steal our hearts at all. 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 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!
Book now: Costa Blanca Full-day Off Road Tour
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Benidorm?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Benidorm:
Where to sleep in Benidorm?
Aparthotel Ola Blanca
Aparthotel Ola Blanca is a modern and stylish accommodation option in Benidorm, Spain. Featuring a range of amenities including a swimming pool, gym, and rooftop terrace, it is an ideal choice for those looking for comfort and convenience during their stay.
Ambassador Playa I
Ambassador Playa II is a modern hotel located in the heart of Benidorm, just a few steps away from the Levante Beach. It offers comfortable rooms and a wide range of amenities including a rooftop pool, a gym, and a buffet restaurant.
Sonrisa Apartments
The Sonrisa Apartments in Benidorm are modern and spacious apartments that offer guests a comfortable stay in a prime location, just a short walk from the beach and a variety of local attractions. The apartments are equipped with all necessary amenities and feature a rooftop pool and terrace with stunning views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.
