Over the years, Benidorm has become one of the most popular beach towns on the Costa Blanca. While the towering skyscrapers may turn some travelers off, we were blown away by how beautiful the Benidorm beaches are! Here are the best beaches in Benidorm Spain to see on your first visit, from the long stretching sands of Poniente to secret swimming coves. After reading this article, we think you might be surprised by the diverse coastline of the city.
Planning Your Benidorm Beach Vacation
How to Get There: Alicante Airport is 45 minutes away from Benidorm with direct flight connections from all over Europe. Check the best prices on flights using the Skyscanner tool.
Car Rental: Benidorm is small enough where you can walk practically anywhere. Yet, without a vehicle, you’ll be missing some great outdoor activities nearby!
We always use DiscoverCars to compare rates and companies in Spain. Renting a car at Alicante Airport will also allow you to get to so many beautiful beach towns nearby (more on that later).
Tours: There are some fantastic tours to take in Benidorm, especially if you want to get out on the water. Two of our absolute favorites are kayaking in the bay and the boat trip to Benidorm Island that can be seen from the best beaches in Benidorm off the coast.
Where to Stay: There is a wide range of accommodations in Benidorm for every budget. This includes luxury resorts like Hotel Boutique Villa Venecia and Gastrohotel Boutique RH Canfali to cheaper options such as Posidonia Aparthotel. If you’re up for a party, you can even look into affordable ideas like Hostel Welcome Benidorm.
About the Best Beaches in Benidorm Spain
Benidorm has been known as a big party town for years now, and there’s no doubt that’s true! It’s a popular destination for stag and hen parties, or just holiday vacationers looking to let loose.
The quick, 2.5 hour flights from major cities in England makes it an easy choice for Brits that need some sun and relaxation. When you first get to the Benidorm beaches, you’ll see that tenfold with British pubs and restaurants everywhere you look.
The Benidorm beach bars are packed from May through September. When the sun goes down, the nightlife explodes with live music, adults-only shows, and fun tribute bands.
It does have a wild party reputation, but don’t let that distract you from the real draw to the area! From our very first visit, we were shocked how truly beautiful the beaches in Benidorm are.
The busiest sections are covered in beach rental chairs, which isn’t so easy on the eyes. Yet, there is still plenty of wide open sand and hidden coves to enjoy.
When to Visit the Benidorm Beaches
The months of July and August are peak season as with much of the Mediterranean coastline. This is when travelers from all over Europe flock to the best beaches in Benidorm. It also coincides with the summer Spanish holidays, which means schools are closed.
Keep in mind, this is also when the temperatures heat up! It’s normal in August to get over 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) in the mid-afternoon.
For this reason, our favorite time of year to visit is just outside of these peak months. May and June are very pleasant, with fewer crowds and comfortable temperatures.
The tourism starts to dwindle down as it goes into September and the water stays warm through October. This is also when you’ll find great prices on hotels along the Benidorm beaches.
5 Best Beaches in Benidorm Spain
One thing we love about the Benidorm beaches is that you can walk to all of them. There is a beautiful promenade that runs the entire coastline that’s kept very clean and maintained.
To make things simple, we’ve put our Benidorm beach guide in order from west to east. This way you can plan to see all of them, even if you’re just visiting on a day trip.
1. Poniente Beach
Welcome to the largest Benidorm beach! With over 3 km of sand, Poniente is a beautiful place to sunbath and swim on holiday.
As you’ll see soon, it’s also a bit more relaxed than the craziness of Levante down the road. The promenade itself is stunning with a wave-like architectural design.
It’s common to see people exercising here in the early morning, but the real treat comes at night. Poniente Beach is famous for its sunsets and attracts families and an older (and quieter) crowd for the golden hour.
2. Mal Pas Beach
Up next on our Benidorm beaches list is a small cove tucked just beneath the old town. This is the perfect spot for both a quick dip on a hot day, or where you can spend hours soaking in the sea.
It’s located right next to the Balcon del Mediterraneo, giving it a hidden vibe as opposed to the long stretch of beaches on both sides. You might even miss it if you don’t know where to look!
Know that Mal Pas will fill up quickly during the peak summer months. Be sure to spend some time exploring old town, as it’s filled with tapa bars and traditional Spanish food that you won’t find everywhere in this international city.
3. Levante Beach
Who’s ready to party?? Levante is the spot to go when you’re ready for some excitement. This is where you’ll find endless Benidorm beach bars, live music, and seaside restaurants to enjoy.
In the summertime, the soft, golden sand is completely covered in beach loungers and rental chair for as far as the eyes can see. Both this and the massive skyscrapers that sit behind it could be a turn off depending on your travel style. However, the iconic beach is still beloved by tourists year after year.
For those looking to partake in water sports, you’ll find every kind of beach toy imaginable on Levante. From jet skis to parasailing to wakeboarding and kayaking, you can get it all here.
4. Cala del Tio Ximo
Let’s move onto some of the more quiet and scenic beaches in Benidorm Spain. If you walk about 20 minutes past the end of Levante, you’ll arrive at a gorgeous swimming cove.
Unlike the long sandy Benidorm beaches we’ve already discussed, Tio Ximo is made up of sand and pebbles. The crystal clear water here makes it great place for snorkeling and other water adventures.
The cliffs that surround Cala del Tio Ximo also create a stunning environment. This is definitely worth the walk if you’re looking to escape the crowds!
5. Cala Almadrava
Just around the corner from Cala del Tio Ximo lies another pebbly cove to explore. This feels even further from the towering skyscrapers of Benidorm, which makes it an appealing escape on a busy summer day.
We loved that fact that are no beach loungers for rent either here. This is one of the best beaches in Benidorm for snorkeling in a more natural setting.
Benidorm Beaches Tip: There is little to no parking at Cala Almadrava and Cala del Tio Ximo. The short hike can get quite steep from Levante, so wear proper shoes if you’re making the trip.
Bonus Benidorm Beach
Up for one more incredible beach? Although Finestrat is not technically part of Benidorm, it’s so close it almost feels like a part of the city.
We stayed here on one of our recent trips to the area and really loved it! La Cala de Finestrat is a sandy bay with plenty of restaurants and cafes along the boardwalk. This is actually on the other side of Poniente beach and only around 20 minutes away on foot.
Don’t miss out on Finestrat’s old town for an authentic Spanish village experience. As you could imagine, this feels like a completely different world than Benidorm despite being so close.
Finestrat is also home to one of the best hikes on the Costa Blanca called Puig Campana. Nature lovers will want to add this to their itinerary for epic views of the beaches in Benidorm and Alicante mountains.
More Amazing Beaches on the Costa Blanca
After you’ve seen the best beaches in Benidorm, know that there is so much more to discover! Costa Blanca is home to so many stunning beach towns and gems within an hour of the city.
This is yet another reason to rent a car for your Spain vacation. We’ve spent a lot of time in this area, and have had the opportunity to visit (and even live) in some of them. Below we’ve linked some helpful articles about our favorite towns on the Costa Blanca.
- Javea
- Denia
- Calpe
- Villajoyosa
- Altea
- Moraira
Have any questions on this article or want to share more about the best beaches in Benidorm Spain? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
