25 Things To Do in Benidorm

Beaches and the Sea

1. Levante Beach

If Benidorm has a postcard, this is it. Its golden sand curves from the Old Town to Rincón de Loix, backed by a promenade of bars, cafés and beachfront hotels. Come early, when the cleaners have raked the sand and the swimmers have the bay to themselves, or late, when the skyline lights up behind you.

Our Levante Beach guide covers every stretch, from the busy middle to the quieter end towards the Sierra Helada.

Levante Palms

2. Poniente Beach

On the other side of the Old Town, Poniente is longer, wider and noticeably calmer. Blue-flagged since 1987, it suits long walks along the curving promenade and lazy days with more room to spread out. The sunsets here, with the Intempo tower in silhouette, are some of the best on the coast.

Read our Poniente Beach guide for where to eat and where to set up for the day.

Our favourite beach, Poniente

3. The Coves: Mal Pas, Almadraba and Tío Ximo

Tucked between the two big beaches, Mal Pas is a small, sheltered beach below the Old Town headland, ideal when the wind picks up elsewhere. Further along the Sierra Helada are the rocky coves of Almadraba and Tío Ximo, where the water is clear enough for snorkelling.

Bring swimming shoes for the coves, as the rocks are hard on bare feet.

4. The Boat to Benidorm Island

The island you see from every beach is closer than it looks: the boat from the port takes around half an hour. It’s a protected nature reserve, so expect a simple café, a short path to the top and seabirds rather than souvenir shops. Some boats have underwater viewing windows, so you see the fish on the way out.

From roughly February to June the gulls are nesting, and paths near the nests can close.

Benidorm Boat Tripping

5. A Boat Trip Along the Coast

For the best view of Benidorm, see it from the sea. Boats run from the port up the coast past the cliffs of the Sierra Helada to Altea and Calpe, a journey of about an hour to Calpe. Go one way and come back on the bus or tram if you’d rather explore on foot.

Boats run more often in summer, so check the day’s sailings at the ticket kiosks by the port before you plan around one.

Arrive at Calpe Marina

Old Town and Views

6. Wander the Old Town

This is where Benidorm began, a fishing village on a rocky headland between the two beaches. Today its narrow streets hold Spanish bars, British pubs, little shops and the blue-domed church of San Jaime y Santa Ana at the top. Get lost in it for an afternoon, then stay for the evening, when the squares fill up.

Our Old Town guide covers where to eat, drink and stay.

Lazy days losing yourself in the Old Town

7. The Balcón del Mediterráneo

At the tip of the Old Town, this white balustraded viewpoint juts out over the sea with Levante on one side and Poniente on the other. It’s the classic Benidorm photograph, and it costs nothing. Go at sunset, when the light turns gold and the skyline starts to glow.

Head up to the Old Town headland for the best photo op

8. Tapas Alley

Calle Santo Domingo and the covered walkway leading to it from Plaza de la Constitución are wall-to-wall tapas bars. It all started in 1980, when La Cava Aragonesa began serving a glass of cava with a canapé. Point at what looks good on the counter, order a caña and move on to the next bar.

Our Tapas Alley guide tells you what to order and when to go.

A favourite tapas bar, Tabernita del Sur

9. Walk Up to the Cross

The white cross at the southern tip of the Sierra Helada has looked down on Benidorm since 1961. The climb from Rincón de Loix is steep but short, and the reward is the whole bay laid out below you, from the island to the Old Town. Go early in summer, carry water and wear proper shoes.

Follow our step-by-step route to the Cross.

The views from La Cruz are unbeatable

10. Walk the Sierra Helada

Beyond the Cross, the Sierra Helada Natural Park runs along the coast towards Albir, with sheer cliffs dropping into the sea. The paths are rough in places, but even an hour up here feels a world away from the beach below. It’s one of the best things to do in Benidorm when you want a day with no crowds at all.

Sierra Helada or ‘Frozen Mountain’

11. Take the Sightseeing Bus

Two open-top routes start in Rincón de Loix, outside The Grand National. Bus 30 loops through the town and along Poniente to La Cala de Finestrat, while Bus 31 heads up the coast to Albir and Altea. It’s the easiest way to get your bearings on your first day.

Read our Benidorm sightseeing tour guide for the routes, stops and tickets.

La Cala de Finestrat roundabout

Theme Parks

12. Terra Mítica

Benidorm’s big theme park is built around the ancient Mediterranean, with areas themed on Egypt, Greece, Rome and Iberia. There are proper white-knuckle rides for thrill-seekers and gentler ones for younger children, plus shows through the day. Allow a full day, and check the opening calendar first, because the park closes over the winter.

See our Terra Mítica guide.

Just outside of Benidorm ©Terra Mítica

13. Aqualandia

Benidorm’s best-known water park sits at the foot of the Sierra Helada, a short walk from Rincón de Loix. Its slides range from gentle family rides to near-vertical drops, with pools and lazy rivers in between. It opens for the warmer months only.

See our Aqualandia guide.

Slide Heaven at Aqualandia

14. Mundomar

Next door to Aqualandia, Mundomar is a marine and animal park with dolphins, sea lions, parrots and much more. It’s smaller and calmer than the big parks, which makes it a good half-day with younger children.

See our Mundomar guide.

Mundomar’s Dolphin Show

15. Terra Natura and Aqua Natura

These two sister parks sit side by side next to Terra Mítica. Terra Natura is a zoo where the animals are grouped by continent, and Aqua Natura is a water park, open from spring to autumn and closed in winter. A combined ticket lets you do both.

See our Terra Natura guide.

Aqua Natura, Benidorm’s other water park

16. Cable Ski Benidorm

Wakeboarding and waterskiing without a boat: a cable pulls you round a lake, so beginners can have a go as easily as old hands. It’s a brilliant afternoon for teenagers and anyone who fancies something different from the beach.

See our Cable Ski Benidorm guide.

Operating in Benidorm for over 50 years

Our Do page compares the parks and shows at a glance.

Nights Out

17. Show Bars and Tribute Acts

Nowhere does a night of live entertainment quite like Benidorm. Every evening the show bars put on tribute acts, drag queens, comedians and cabaret, often with no entry charge as long as you’re buying drinks. Some acts have been playing here for years and draw crowds every time they’re on.

Our Show Calendar lists who’s on where, night by night.

The home of Simon Patrick, Elvis Tribute artist

18. Benidorm Palace

For a bigger night out, Benidorm Palace is the resort’s grand dinner-and-cabaret show, with dancers, live music, costumes and spectacle on a full theatre stage. Book a table for the dinner show, or go for the show and drinks if you’ve already eaten.

See our Benidorm Palace guide.

Opened in 1977, there’s a good chance your Nan had a night out here

19. The Strip and the British Bars

The Strip is the beating heart of Benidorm’s nightlife, a run of bars, karaoke and late-night venues in the New Town where the party keeps going into the small hours. If you’d rather a quieter pint, the Old Town has British bars of its own, and plenty of locals’ bars in between.

First Stop of the Night on the famous Strip

Find your favourites in our Top 25 New Town bars, our favourite British bars in the Old Town and Benidorm bars we love.

Markets and Shopping

20. The Outdoor Market

Every Wednesday and Sunday morning, the Outdoor Market sets up next to Hotel Pueblo with hundreds of stalls selling clothes, bags, leather, souvenirs and things you never knew you needed. Get there early, before the heat and the crowds, and have some euros in small notes ready.

Every Wednesday and Sunday for the Outdoor Market

See our Outdoor Market guide.

21. The Indoor Market

Opposite Hotel Nereo, the Indoor Market is where to buy fresh fruit, cheese and ham the way the locals do. It’s a good place to pick up picnic food for the beach, or jamón and olive oil to take home.

Scones, clotted cream, and jam – yes please.

See our Indoor Market guide.

22. Ale-Hop

You’ll spot the life-size cow outside before you spot the shop. Ale-Hop is Spain’s quirky gift store, packed with gadgets, stationery, toys and novelty bits, and it’s become a favourite with British visitors looking for a present to take home.

Counting Cows in Benidorm

Read the Ale-Hop story.

Fiestas and Events

23. Join a Fiesta

Benidorm’s calendar is full of reasons to plan a trip around a date. In November the town celebrates its patron saints with the Fiestas, a week of processions, music and fireworks, and on the Thursday after, the whole resort dresses up for Fancy Dress Day. Pride week fills the streets with colour, and Cheltenham week brings racing fans out in force.

Pride Week, one of the great fiestas during the year

Read our Fancy Dress Day guide, our Benidorm Pride Week guide and Cheltenham Week in Benidorm, and check our Events page for what’s coming up.

Beyond Benidorm

24. Guadalest

Perched on a crag in the mountains behind Benidorm, Guadalest is one of the most visited villages on the Costa Blanca, and one look explains why. Walk through the tunnel in the rock into the old village, climb to the castle and look down on the turquoise reservoir far below. Go early or late to miss the coach tours.

Our Guadalest Valley guide covers the village and the valley beyond it.

A quick lie down after walking up to the castle

25. Altea and Villajoyosa

Two very different towns, both easy to reach on the tram. Altea, to the north, climbs a hill of whitewashed streets to a blue-domed church, with galleries and restaurants all the way up. Villajoyosa, to the south, has rows of brightly painted houses along the seafront and a chocolate-making history you can taste at the Valor museum.

Read our insider guide to Altea and our One Day in Villajoyosa guide.

There’s plenty more to see once you leave the resort: our 8 best day trips from Benidorm is the place to start. And for everything else you need to know before you go, see our Benidorm A–Z guide.