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Benidorm is a seaside resort on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante. It has a large Spanish population as well as a large retired British population.

Benidorm was built compact thanks to the foresight of the town's mayor, who in the 1960s saw a vision of a resort which grew upwards. Now it is slowly spreading westwards. Today Benidorm is famous for tall hotels and holiday apartment blocks, some of which are over 25 floors high. In recent years Benidorm has also seen a huge increase in the quality of accommodation, and the city now attracts not just package holiday visitors but tourists who demand 5-star hotel and spa complexes. Due to the July–August crowd of young people, many apartments will insist on a refundable deposit for certain times of the year.

Tree-lined wide avenues give a feeling of space, and there are over a thousand places to eat and drink and watch the town in full swing. The streets offer a very vibrant atmosphere day and night with something to offer visitors of any age group. There are over 41,000 hotel beds and modern tourist apartments. The biggest assets are the 4 km of Blue Flag safe sandy beaches which draw people from all over Spain in the summer months and from all over Europe 365 days of the year. Benidorm is an ideal sun destination both in summer and winter due to the mild climate where day time temperatures rarely fall below 18°C.

Tourist Info Benidorm Centro, Plaza Canalejas, 1 (Centro Municipal el Torrejó, +34 965 851 311. M-F 09:00-21:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00.
- Tourist Info Benidorm Europa, Av de Europa, s/n, +34 965 860 095. M-F 10:30-17:30, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00.

Tourist Info Benidorm Centro, Plaza Canalejas, 1 (Centro Municipal el Torrejó, +34 965 851 311. M-F 09:00-21:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00.

Tourist Info Benidorm Europa, Av de Europa, s/n, +34 965 860 095. M-F 10:30-17:30, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00.

Tourist Info Benidorm Centro, Plaza Canalejas, 1 (Centro Municipal el Torrejó, +34 965 851 311. M-F 09:00-21:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00.

Tourist Info Benidorm Europa, Av de Europa, s/n, +34 965 860 095. M-F 10:30-17:30, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00.

Punta Calfani Intempo As a purpose-built beach resort, everything is geared toward fun and enjoyment; there is therefore not much to see for those looking for culture. The surrounding towns and villages, which are less than 20 minutes drive by car or 30 minutes by bus are well worth exploring for anyone looking for 'real Spain'. In Benidorm the old town does still retain some of the quaint past, from when the town was a small village. Head for the old town church, where you will find the most interesting part of the town.

Punta Calfani. The rocky outcrop separates the Benidorm coast into beaches, Platja de Peniente and Platja de Levante, each of them 2.5 km long. Once the site of a defensive structure against pirates, today it is a favourite scenic viewpoint.
Església de Sant Jaume i Santa Anna, Plaça de Sant Jaume, 1 (old town, +34 965 854 024. Built between 1740 and 1780, the church houses the effigy of Mare de Déu del Sofratge (Virgen del Sufragio – 'Virgin of the Suffrage'), the patron saint of Benidorm.
Parc de l'Aigüera. This elongated park was established in 1990. The Plaça de Bous. (Plaza de Toros) is in the northern part.
Intempo. At 192m, the tallest building in Benidorm, and the tallest in Spain outside of Madrid, was designed by the Alicante Pérez-Guerras architecture firm. Construction has been riddled with problems, and completed in 2014.

Punta Calfani. The rocky outcrop separates the Benidorm coast into beaches, Platja de Peniente and Platja de Levante, each of them 2.5 km long. Once the site of a defensive structure against pirates, today it is a favourite scenic viewpoint.

Església de Sant Jaume i Santa Anna, Plaça de Sant Jaume, 1 (old town, +34 965 854 024. Built between 1740 and 1780, the church houses the effigy of Mare de Déu del Sofratge (Virgen del Sufragio – 'Virgin of the Suffrage'), the patron saint of Benidorm.

Parc de l'Aigüera. This elongated park was established in 1990. The Plaça de Bous. (Plaza de Toros) is in the northern part.

Intempo. At 192m, the tallest building in Benidorm, and the tallest in Spain outside of Madrid, was designed by the Alicante Pérez-Guerras architecture firm. Construction has been riddled with problems, and completed in 2014.

As a large resort, Benidorm offers a huge number of different activities for holidaymakers, both in town and in the nearby area.

Blanket trips are free tours to nearby resorts, towns and markets. Unlike timeshare sales, there is no hard sell and if you do not want to buy anything, that is fine. The downside is that by time you have sat through two demos and had something to eat, you arrive at a place at 12:30 or later as the shops are shutting and leave two hours later as they are opening again, or you get there when a market is mostly over.

Platja de Llevant In total there are 4 km of safe, sandy beach in Benidorm, including two spectacular Blue Flag beaches.

Platja de Llevant. A 2 km-long Blue Flag Beach.
Platja de Ponent. A more sedate Blue Flag beach preferred by locals and families. In 2009 a €13 million promenade was opened, which included a boardwalk at beach level and easier access for wheelchair users.
Platja del Mal Pas.
Cala de l'Almadrava.
Cala del Ti Ximo.
Cala de Finestrat. A Blue Flag beach in nearby Finestrat.

Platja de Llevant. A 2 km-long Blue Flag Beach.

Platja de Ponent. A more sedate Blue Flag beach preferred by locals and families. In 2009 a €13 million promenade was opened, which included a boardwalk at beach level and easier access for wheelchair users.

Platja del Mal Pas.

Cala de l'Almadrava.

Cala del Ti Ximo.

Cala de Finestrat. A Blue Flag beach in nearby Finestrat.

Terra Mítica

Aqualandia, Carrer Serra Gelada, s/n (Rincón de Loix, +34 965 860 100. Family water park.
Benidorm Palace, Av Dr Severo Ochoa, 13, +34 965 851 660. Shows: Tu Th-Sa dinner+show 20:30, show+drink 21:30, show 22:00-00:30; ticket office: M 10:00-20:00, T-Sa 10:00-22:00. A Las Vegas-style cabaret and dinner show with seating for more than 2,000 people. €32 (show), €52-62 (show+menu).
Mundomar Benidorm, Carrer Serra Gelada, s/n. Animal and sealife park. €31 (adults), €25 (seniors/children), €19 (disabled).
Terra Mítica, Partida del Moralet, s/n, +324 902 020 220. Hrs vary by season, see website for details. Among the largest and most-visited theme parks in all of Spain, it can be crowded in the holiday season. €39 (adults), €28 (seniors/children 4-12), €20 (disabled).
Terra Natura, Foia del Verdader, 1, +34 966 072 770. Open daily; hrs vary by season, see website for details. Wildlife and water park. €30 (adults), €24 (seniors/children 4-12).

Aqualandia, Carrer Serra Gelada, s/n (Rincón de Loix, +34 965 860 100. Family water park.

Benidorm Palace, Av Dr Severo Ochoa, 13, +34 965 851 660. Shows: Tu Th-Sa dinner+show 20:30, show+drink 21:30, show 22:00-00:30; ticket office: M 10:00-20:00, T-Sa 10:00-22:00. A Las Vegas-style cabaret and dinner show with seating for more than 2,000 people. €32 (show), €52-62 (show+menu).

Mundomar Benidorm, Carrer Serra Gelada, s/n. Animal and sealife park. €31 (adults), €25 (seniors/children), €19 (disabled).

Terra Mítica, Partida del Moralet, s/n, +324 902 020 220. Hrs vary by season, see website for details. Among the largest and most-visited theme parks in all of Spain, it can be crowded in the holiday season. €39 (adults), €28 (seniors/children 4-12), €20 (disabled).

Terra Natura, Foia del Verdader, 1, +34 966 072 770. Open daily; hrs vary by season, see website for details. Wildlife and water park. €30 (adults), €24 (seniors/children 4-12).

Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada and the Albir lighthouse La Creu Benidorm For those who enjoy walking there are many interesting places to walk if you take a local bus to the outlying villages such as Finestrast, Villa Joyosa and Albir, or Calp.

Another good walk is from the beach at La Cala. Use the number 2 bus from Benidorm, which goes to the out of town shopping malls. Here you can take an uphill walk to an old watchtower, which was once used as a look-out post for pirates and smugglers. There is a picnic site at the top. A good footpath, with benches every now and then to sit and rest. You can continue walking along the coast, through an olive grove for a few miles to Villajoyosa and return to Benidorm by tram.

Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada. The mountain park offers a couple of historic sites and two excellent hiking trails. The Ruta Roja (trail information in Spanish) is an easy walk to the lighthouse at Albir, accessible by the number 10 bus. The walk is about 3 km in length and you do not have to be super fit. You also pass ochre mines on the way.The Ruta Amarilla (trail information in Spanish) is a more strenuous but superb cliff-top walk.
- Torre de les Caletes. A ruined 16th-century defensive tower.
- Tossal de la Cala. An Iberian settlement dating from the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE, later occupied by the Romans. The site can be accessed from the southern end of Poniente Beach.
- La Creu Benidorm, Carrer Taywan. Placed by a Catholic mission in 1961 as part of an effort to redeem the city from its sinful reputation. In the succeeding years it has become less of an evangelical and more of a tourist icon. Some great views of the area can be had from this point, and several hiking trails begin here.

Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada. The mountain park offers a couple of historic sites and two excellent hiking trails. The Ruta Roja (trail information in Spanish) is an easy walk to the lighthouse at Albir, accessible by the number 10 bus. The walk is about 3 km in length and you do not have to be super fit. You also pass ochre mines on the way.The Ruta Amarilla (trail information in Spanish) is a more strenuous but superb cliff-top walk.

Torre de les Caletes. A ruined 16th-century defensive tower.
Tossal de la Cala. An Iberian settlement dating from the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE, later occupied by the Romans. The site can be accessed from the southern end of Poniente Beach.
La Creu Benidorm, Carrer Taywan. Placed by a Catholic mission in 1961 as part of an effort to redeem the city from its sinful reputation. In the succeeding years it has become less of an evangelical and more of a tourist icon. Some great views of the area can be had from this point, and several hiking trails begin here.

Torre de les Caletes. A ruined 16th-century defensive tower.
Tossal de la Cala. An Iberian settlement dating from the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE, later occupied by the Romans. The site can be accessed from the southern end of Poniente Beach.
La Creu Benidorm, Carrer Taywan. Placed by a Catholic mission in 1961 as part of an effort to redeem the city from its sinful reputation. In the succeeding years it has become less of an evangelical and more of a tourist icon. Some great views of the area can be had from this point, and several hiking trails begin here.

Torre de les Caletes. A ruined 16th-century defensive tower.
Tossal de la Cala. An Iberian settlement dating from the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE, later occupied by the Romans. The site can be accessed from the southern end of Poniente Beach.
La Creu Benidorm, Carrer Taywan. Placed by a Catholic mission in 1961 as part of an effort to redeem the city from its sinful reputation. In the succeeding years it has become less of an evangelical and more of a tourist icon. Some great views of the area can be had from this point, and several hiking trails begin here.

Torre de les Caletes. A ruined 16th-century defensive tower.
Tossal de la Cala. An Iberian settlement dating from the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE, later occupied by the Romans. The site can be accessed from the southern end of Poniente Beach.
La Creu Benidorm, Carrer Taywan. Placed by a Catholic mission in 1961 as part of an effort to redeem the city from its sinful reputation. In the succeeding years it has become less of an evangelical and more of a tourist icon. Some great views of the area can be had from this point, and several hiking trails begin here.

There are boat trips to the Isla de Benidorm. wildlife sanctuary and to Calp. You can also take a trip to Tabarca, a small but inhabited island off Alicante.

Mercat Municipal An abundance of cheap leather and shoes are on offer all year. Also look out for artisans markets which take place throughout the year during fiesta times and in July and August. At these you can buy local cheeses and produce plus jewelry, pottery and paintings. Most visitors from outside of Spain also take advantage of the cheap alcohol and cigarettes. Note that tobacco prices are set by the government in Spain so buy at any of the tobacco shops – there's no need to shop around. There are a number of bazaars around which sell products from €1 and up, and have a wide selection of essentials, knickknacks, food and other things at that price.

Mercat Municipal, Carrer del Mercat, 1, +34 965 855 500. M-Sa 09:00-20:00. The municipal market is a good place for local produce, fish, and meat. There is also a Mercadona supermarket in the building.

Rastro El Cisne, Ctra N332 (NW of town, take bus 10. Sa and Su. A large market for second-hand items and antiques.
Mercadillo Pueblo, Avda de l'Admirall Bernat de Sarrià. Su and W mornings. A semi-weekly street market for various goods, with a few vendors of local produce. Also has a few food and drink stands. Parking can be a problem so it's best to arrive early.
Mercadet de Foietes, Avda Ciudad Deportiva. W mornings. A weekly street market for all sorts of goods. Here too it's best to arrive before 10:00 if you want to find a space to park your car.

Rastro El Cisne, Ctra N332 (NW of town, take bus 10. Sa and Su. A large market for second-hand items and antiques.

Mercadillo Pueblo, Avda de l'Admirall Bernat de Sarrià. Su and W mornings. A semi-weekly street market for various goods, with a few vendors of local produce. Also has a few food and drink stands. Parking can be a problem so it's best to arrive early.

Mercadet de Foietes, Avda Ciudad Deportiva. W mornings. A weekly street market for all sorts of goods. Here too it's best to arrive before 10:00 if you want to find a space to park your car.

Mercat Municipal, Carrer del Mercat, 1, +34 965 855 500. M-Sa 09:00-20:00. The municipal market is a good place for local produce, fish, and meat. There is also a Mercadona supermarket in the building.

Tapas bar in Calle Santo Domingo, aka 'Tapas Alley', in the old town There are over a thousand places to eat. The best area for restaurants and tapas bars is in the old town, where you will find of course Spanish cuisine and also English, French, Algerian and Dutch food. It is best to search the old town if you want some real quality local food such as jamón and excellent local wines from the Jalón valley.

In the Levante area the food is typical tourist fare with many English café-bars offering home-style food to English visitors. There are also many Chinese restaurants from a fairly large Chinese community who also have shops with items from China. Breakfast is a favourite of many with an large fried breakfast starting at €2.

Ristorante Topo Gigio, Av Mediterráneo, 9, +34 965 857 168. Daily 12:00-24:00. A popular Italian restaurant and pizzeria with a large outdoor terrace.
La Tapería, C/ Santo Domingo, 6 (old town, +34 618 131 873. Daily 12:00-24:00. Serves pinchos and raciones, meat, and fish. Set menu €16.

Ristorante Topo Gigio, Av Mediterráneo, 9, +34 965 857 168. Daily 12:00-24:00. A popular Italian restaurant and pizzeria with a large outdoor terrace.

La Tapería, C/ Santo Domingo, 6 (old town, +34 618 131 873. Daily 12:00-24:00. Serves pinchos and raciones, meat, and fish. Set menu €16.

Restaurante La Falua, C/ Santander, 22, +34 965 853 105. Daily 13:30-17:00 20:30-24:00. Mediterranean cuisine. Tasting menu €28-50.

Restaurante La Falua, C/ Santander, 22, +34 965 853 105. Daily 13:30-17:00 20:30-24:00. Mediterranean cuisine. Tasting menu €28-50.

There are 800 bars selling alcohol and as such the competition is huge, with happy hours, two-for-one, etc. – whatever your tipple you will find it in Benidorm. Many small bars offer bottled beer at €1 and themed bars are in abundance. You will find British pubs, Dutch bars and Irish bars plus the many Spanish cafetería-bars which offer local Spanish favourites. Football is shown on large TV screens at many of them. A number of bars have live acts and other entertainment including karaoke.

One feature over the last few years on travel forums is pick-pocketing and even some cases of mugging in Benidorm. When someone asked about "Muggers Alley", two different locations were given. Be careful in crowds, notably the Sunday-Wednesday market which has general things which you can buy as cheap elsewhere and the Sunday bootsale market which has older things and collectibles. Valuables should not be left in (empty) cars or apartments. Lock all doors and windows when leaving your apartment. Most rooms will come with a safe.

Despite these warnings visitors should remember that at peak times Benidorm hosts up to 200,000 people, therefore the true crime numbers are actually quite small. Sadly crimes are talked about around the many bars and tend to be exaggerated somewhat. In reality Benidorm is as safe as any other busy tourist resort where the majority of petty crime takes place late at night and usually involves alcohol fueled crimes. The police have a very visible presence, in cars.

There are a number of internet cafés, some coin-fed. Free Wi-Fi is available at many pubs and restaurants.

Guadalest If you hire a car you will be able to discover that the entire region is a hive of small villages and picturesque mountains. The following nearby towns are especially worth a visit:

Altea is a quiet up-market town with much more Spanish culture and a stunning well-preserved old town, as well as a weekly outdoor market.
Guadalest is a village worth visiting, as many of the houses here are over 400 years old and there are spectacular mountain views.
Wine lovers should head toward Calp (a 30-minute drive) and take the signs for Jalón, where you will find the wine-growing region and almond groves.
A recommended driving route to see the 'real Spain' is to head toward Finestrat, just 9 km from Benidorm, and drive from there into the mountains where you will find a different world.
The Algar waterfalls near Polop are a lovely place to escape the hustle and bustle of busy Benidorm.
For a great day out, the city of Valencia is a must, which you can reach by express coach in 90 minutes from Benidorm.

[[Altea]] is a quiet up-market town with much more Spanish culture and a stunning well-preserved old town, as well as a weekly outdoor market.

Guadalest is a village worth visiting, as many of the houses here are over 400 years old and there are spectacular mountain views.

Wine lovers should head toward [[Calp]] (a 30-minute drive) and take the signs for Jalón, where you will find the wine-growing region and almond groves.

A recommended driving route to see the 'real Spain' is to head toward Finestrat, just 9 km from Benidorm, and drive from there into the mountains where you will find a different world.

The Algar waterfalls near Polop are a lovely place to escape the hustle and bustle of busy Benidorm.

For a great day out, the city of [[Valencia]] is a must, which you can reach by express coach in 90 minutes from Benidorm.