Benidorm is one of a kind city on Spain’s beautiful Costa Blanca. At first glance, you might be turned off by the massive skyscrapers that rise up over the beaches. However, there’s so much more to Benidorm than we ever could’ve expected! Here are the best things to do in Benidorm Spain on your first visit, including beaches, nightlife, and all about the lively old town.
What’s So Special About Benidorm?
The first time we passed Benidorm we were completely in shock! After all, it does have the highest density of skyscrapers in Europe for its size.
Yet, we find out that once you can see past the concrete jungle, there is so much going on in this seaside city! The beaches are the main draw to Benidorm Spain, and there are several to explore.
Many of the best things to do in Benidorm are around around the old town area, with everything from local Spanish tapa bars to British pubs, and international cuisine.
Starting in the 1970s, the coastal enclave became an extremely popular holiday destination for British tourists. That has continued to the present day, so you won’t have to look far to find a traditional English breakfast or fish n’ chips.
Plus, you’re likely paying a fraction of the cost for the same stuff in England. When you mix that with the warm Mediterranean climate, it’s easy to see why Benidorm has become a year-round vacation spot.
The exciting Benidorm nightlife also makes it a hot destination for stag (bachelor) and hen (bachelorette) parties from around Europe.
How to Get to Benidorm Spain
The British explosion makes even more sense when you think about it, as you can get direct 2.5 hour flights from Manchester, London, and other major U.K. cities to Alicante. From Alicante airport, it’s just a 45 minute drive to sparkling beaches of Benidorm.
Renting a car is a great idea for your visit to see more of the Costa Blanca. We will get more into some of our favorite coastal gems later, but know that there are so many epic towns to adventure to on a day trip.
The most helpful tool to compare rates and find deals is with DiscoverCars. If you don’t need a vehicle, you can always use the Beniconnect shuttle service to get to and from the airport.
There are 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 the party, you can even look into affordable ideas like Hostel Welcome Benidorm.
→ 10 Easy Tips For Renting a Car in Alicante Airport
11 Best Things to do in Benidorm Spain
1. Explore Benidorm Old Town
While Benidorm does cater heavily to British and international tourists, the old town has a completely different feel. Set just back from the water between Levante Beach and Poniente Beach, you can explore the winding streets and alleyways to experience another side to the city.
This is where many of the classic Spanish bars and restaurants are located. We love walking through Benidorm old town for a quick tapa or to hide out from the mid-day summer heat.
2. Views From Balcon del Mediterraneo
Just above Benidorm old town at the edge of Plaza del Castillo sits the Balcón del Mediterráneo. This scenic viewpoint sits at the top of town where an ancient castle once stood.
It may be hard to believe with how it looks today, but Benidorm was once an important fortified town. The castle was built at some point in the 14th century, and was eventually destroyed a few hundred years later in the French War.
The 18th century Church of San Jaime and Santa Anna and its glorious blue dome are also located here in the Plaza. From here, you’ll have amazing views of three different Benidorm beaches, which we will get into more soon.
3. Take the Promenade Coastal Walk
Something that immediately stood out to us about Benidorm was its beautiful boardwalk. There are actually two main promenades that run along the most famous beaches in Benidorm.
The first is Paseo Maritimo de Levante that goes the entire length of Levante Beach. This is one of the most lively areas of Benidorm and is lined with beach bars, cafes, and shops.
We much prefer the Poniente Promenade ourselves as it’s a bit more peaceful. This is where you’ll see many people getting their morning exercise or going for a nice stroll for sunset. The modern design runs in a wave-like formation along the stunning Poniente Beach.
Honestly, the long, wide walkways seem to go on forever! Despite Benidorm Spain being such a party town, the promenades are cleaned daily and well taken care of.
4. Dig Into an English Breakfast
If there’s one thing we always do when we’re in Benidorm it’s get an English breakfast! The hearty plate can be found on almost every street corner, from the pubs to the seaside restaurants.
A typical full English breakfast is made up of eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. Some versions may have black pudding or hash browns, and it’s common to see deals that include coffee and orange juice as well.
The best one we’ve had in Benidorm so far was at Caspers Eatery & Bar. They also do a great fish n’ chips here if you’re visiting later in the day.
Just know that you may not want to plan anything too strenuous after this enormous meal. Luckily, you won’t be too far from the beaches if you need to have a snooze before taking on more of the best things to do in Benidorm.
5. Have a Benidorm Beach Day
Speaking of the beaches… this is the main reason the city welcomes over 3 million tourists a year!
The months of July and August are the busiest time to visit this coastal city. Yet, like much of Costa Blanca, you can swim year round at the Benidorm beaches.
Our favorite time of year to visit is May, June, September, and October. These months are less crowded than peak summer, but still get plenty of sunshine.
One thing that is a bit of a turn off about Benidorm is the hundreds (or even thousands) of loungers that line the sand in the summertime. In some places, it’s almost like a separate sea of rental chairs where you can barely see the beach!
At least you won’t have to bring your own lounger if you’re planning to lay out all day. Be sure to read our complete guide to the best beaches in Benidorm Spain before your visit.
- Levante Beach: Benidorm’s most popular playa. Tons of music, bars, and restaurants to enjoy.
- Poniente Beach: Largest beach with over 3km of sand. More relaxed and quiet than Levante.
- Mal Pas Cove: Smaller beach just beneath Benidorm old town. Nice spot for a quick dip on a hot day.
- Tio Ximo: Cool swimming cove at the end of Levante beach. Clear water here makes it great for snorkeling.
- La Almadrava: Another pebbly cove around the corner from Cala del Tio Ximo.
6. Go For a Finestrat Hike
Just west from Benidorm old town and Poniente Beach lies another area worth discovering. Finestrat is technically a separate town, but its close proximity to the city makes it easy to visit.
It makes for a much quieter holiday if you’d rather stay here, and still enjoy the Benidorm nightlife. Finestrat is also home to one of the most amazing hikes on the entire Costa Blanca!
To be clear, there are two distinct zones to know about before your visit. Cala de Finistrat is the beach zone, and Finistrat old town is about a 15 minute drive up into the mountains.
The hike to the summit of Puig Campana is a great activity if you’d like to get out into nature. The hard route will take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours (learn more about it here), so be sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and snacks.
At the top of El Portell, you’ll be rewarded with views of Benidorm and the Mediterranean Sea. For an easier hike, you can take an alternate path called the Volta al Puig loop.
7. Snack Your Way Through Tapa Alley
Ready for some traditional Spanish food? There is one special part of Benidorm old town that’s filled with amazing tapa bars.
Also known as Zona de los Vascos, the area particularly around Calle Mayor and Santo Domingo is a great zone to eat. There is an alleyway here with bunch of tapa bars side by side, which makes it easy to hop around.
The tapas here are eye-popping, ranging from jamon iberico and croquetas to bread topped seafood treats. La Cava Aragonesa and Gaztelutxo are particularly popular for their Basque-style pintxos. It brought us back to our incredible San Sebastian Pintxos tour we had taken the previous summer in the north.
Even if you’re not super hungry, this part of Benidorm old town is an awesome area to stroll around and grab a drink. Another fun place to eat tapas is inside Mercado Municipal. This is a good mix of local goods, produce, meat, and seafood to enjoy here.
8. Experience the Benidorm Nightlife
Ready to party? You may have experienced this part of Spain before, but the Benidorm nightlife is on a whole other level!
As we mentioned, this is what brings many travelers to the city in the first place. If you’re out at night in Benidorm, be prepared to see stag and hen parties everywhere you look.
One of the most wild areas for the late night is the English square. Here is where many of the British pubs, live music, and karaoke bars are concentrated.
If you’re looking for something beyond that, there is a club zone with big nightclubs around the Levante area. We much prefer the tapa life around Benidorm old town or the quiet beach bars of Poniente ourselves. Still, know there’s something for everyone here!
9. Boat Tour to Benidorm Island
Just 20 minutes off the coast lies the rocky Isla de Benidorm. One of the most popular boat tours takes you on an escape out to sea.
The typical trip will take you along the coast and out to the island, where you can get out and explore. Benidorm island has viewpoints and even a beach bar during the summer.
With that said, the highlight of this tour will definitely be the snorkeling! There’s a surprising amount of marine life just off the shores of the city, and it makes for one of the best things to do in Benidorm when you’re not partying or tapa hopping.
If you’re not up for a full boat tour, you can even rent kayaks and go out into the harbor.
10. See a Live Show
Back to the party! One lovable aspect of the Benidorm nightlife is the live music and shows.
You’ll get it all here, from original music to English tribute bands, and full on cabaret performances. Morgan Tavern has a wild pirate theme, while Sinatra’s disco pub will also provide plenty of entertainment.
Chaplin’s Bar is another hotspot where you can see drag shows and even nightly comedy acts. Tropical Bar also draws a crowd where people will be dancing into the early morning. There’s no shortage of places to see music, whether you want a Queen cover band or country music.
On that note, we should mention this isn’t a place you want to bring young kids late at night. Some of these Benidorm establishments put on wild adults-only exotic performances at night.
11. Take a Day Trip From Benidorm
Now that you know all about the best things to do in Benidorm Spain, how about a day trip? There are endless towns to visit that are completely different vibe from the “Manhattan of the Mediterranean.”
Of course, you have the beautiful city of Alicante 45 minutes away. The real charm for us though is found in the smaller towns of the Costa Blanca.
Javea is a true gem, and somewhere we’ve spent a lot of time visiting. You can also explore the beaches of Calpe and the colorful town of Villajoyosa.
Denia and its towering castle are certainly worth the trip, or you can check out the small beach town of Moraira. This is just another reason to consider renting a car on your visit.
Is Benidorm Spain Worth Visiting?
Yes! This is truly a unique city to explore on the southeast coast of Spain. Now, we wouldn’t say Benidorm is our favorite place to go if we were taking a holiday. Instead, it might be fun to include it in a larger Costa Blanca itinerary, and just spend a couple of nights.
We should point out that Benidorm is definitely not for everyone. If you’re looking to see traditional and local Spain, you should definitely plan to go elsewhere.
For all the flack it gets as a party destination, the beaches are still very beautiful. Really, it’s a great mix of nightlife, beach days, and international flair, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Have any questions on this article or want to share more of the best things to do 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!
