10 Best Things to do in Benidorm, Besides the Beach

One of the most visited destinations by Spaniards and tourists looking for sun, wide beaches and pleasant temperatures all year round. We tell you best things to do in Benidorm, besides the beach.

Benidorm, or “the New York of the Mediterranean”, is one of the most famous cities of the Costa Blanca and emblem of the Spanish Levante. Year after year it receives a large number of tourists attracted by its blue flag beaches, gastronomy and landscapes.

It was originally a fishing port, but over time it evolved into one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain and Europe, not only for its climate and beaches, but also for its nightlife.

It has a key location between sea and mountains, which gives it a privileged climate, with mild winters and more than 300 days of sunshine a year.

In this article I tell you 10 things to do in Benidorm and its surroundings.

💯 Discover the best things to do in Costa Blance with recomendations.

1. Old Town and Mediterranean Balcony

The Old Town is what remains of the fishing village it once was. With classic cobblestone streets and white houses, you can visit the Plaza del Castell, Plaza Santa Ana or Plaza Triangular, and stroll through craft stores to take a souvenir.

In addition, in the Basque area you will find traditional tapas bars and delicious pintxos to go with a few beers.

If you want to have the best view of the city, the Balcón del Mediterráneo, or Mirador del Castillo, offers a 360º view of the beaches, the port, the islet and the skyscrapers. It is located on the rock that separates the Levante and Poniente beaches. You can reach it from the Plaza del Castell by a white staircase or by pedestrian streets from the beaches.

2. Benidorm Cross

If you are looking for a bit of adventure, you can hike to the Benidorm Cross in the Serra Gelada.

It is a low to medium difficulty hike, which takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour. It is a bit far from the center, butcan be reached by car or public transportation to the trailhead.

From the top, you get a spectacular view of the sea, the beaches and the skyline of the city. I recommend doing it early in the morning or at sunset, as the Spanish summer can be intense.

3. Poniente or Levante beaches (and more)

The best plan in summer, clearly, is to go to the beach. The two main ones are Levante and Poniente, which occupy the entire waterfront. The Levante beach is the liveliest, with people doing water sports, beach bars selling drinks and sometimes music.

The Poniente beach, on the other side, is the quiet and family option. Both beaches are public and free, with showers and umbrella rental.

Other more exotic options include:

• Mal Pas beach: a cove between the Levante and Poniente beaches, just below the Balcony of the Mediterranean. You can go down some white stairs from the viewpoint or reach it from the neighboring beaches.
• Cala Almadraba: hidden cove at the end of the Levante beach, on the edge of the Natural Park of Serra Gelada. To get there, you have to walk along the rock, which makes fewer people are encouraged and remain “hidden”.
• Cala del Tío Ximo: if you walk a little further after the Almadraba cove, you will reach this even more hidden beach, with clear waters and caves in the water. Ideal for snorkeling.

📷 If you like adrenaline, book here a jet ski ride from Levante beach.

💯 We recommend you to read our recommendations of the best coves in the Javea area.

4. Theme Parks and Aquatic Parks

If you are traveling with children, this city has an excellent offer of theme and water parks:

• Aqualandia: It is one of the largest water parks in Europe. It has extreme slides, children’s areas, wave pool and green areas.
• Terra Natura: A zoological park that recreates the ecosystem of three continents: America, Asia and Europe. It has a focus on conservation and educational activities for children and adults.
• Aqua Natura: Next to Terra Natura, it is a water park with slides, shows with sea lions and rest areas. You can buy the entrance ticket together with Terra Natura.
• Mundomar: A park of marine animals and exotic birds. There are shows, interactive activities and areas to take pictures with some of the animals.

All of these parks are on the outskirts of the city, less than 15 minutes drive from downtown. There are also buses and private services that take you directly to them. In high season it is convenient to buy tickets in advance, here is where you can buy tickets for each one:

🎢 Entrance to Aqualandia
🐯 Entrance to Terra Natura
🦭 Entrance to Aqua Natura
🐋 Entrance to Mundomar

5. Explore the surroundings of Benidorm

Beyond the fact that Benidorm has a lot to offer, it is surrounded by incredible places that you can’t miss. These are some of the key points of its surroundings:

• Guadalest: is a village nestled in the mountains, famous for its castle and its panoramic views. It can be reached in about 25 minutes by car or bus.
• Fuentes del Algar: a natural paradise with waterfalls and crystal clear water pools where you can swim. It is a protected area, ideal for hiking. It is about 20 minutes away by car or bus.
• Altea: a small coastal town with white houses, cobbled streets and the famous Church of Our Lady of Consuelo, with blue domes. It is only 15 minutes away by car and can be reached by public transport.
• Villajoyosa: only 15 minutes by car or train, is a village with a beautiful old town with colorful houses. It has a long tradition of chocolate, with a museum that can be visited and stores for tasting delicacies.
• Serra Gelada Natural Park: located to the north, in addition to the hike to the Cross, this park offers trails with breathtaking views of the sea and cliffs.

📷 Book here a guided tour of Guadalest and Fuentes del Algar.

6. Benidorm Island

From the coasts of the Levante and Poniente beaches you can see an islet called Benidorm Island. It is a small and uninhabited islet. It can be reached by boat in 20 minutes; it is a very popular excursion, so you can find many offers on the beach and in the port.

On the island there is a bar and trails to walk. It is a good place for diving or snorkeling, if you like the deep sea, as the water is crystal clear and full of caves.

7. Local markets

Although the beaches are the main attraction, the city also has large and varied markets, perfect for buying the latest souvenir and to start to know the urban rhythm of the city.

• Rincón de Loix flea market: one of the biggest and most popular. It is held on Wednesdays and Sundays in the Rincón de Loix area. Ideal for buying clothes, shoes, accessories, souvenirs and household products at good prices. It is usually very busy, especially in summer.
• Foietes flea market: located near the sports center, it operates on Wednesday mornings. It is a market more oriented to neighbors, with fruits, vegetables, sausages, plants and textile products.
• Mercadillo El Cisne: for fans of vintage, this market is installed on weekends on the way to Altea. There are antiques, second hand objects and live music.
• Les Nits del Castell: during the summer, a night market is set up in the old town, right in the area of the castle and the viewpoint. There are craft stalls, typical food and live music.

8. History in Old Town in Benidorm

From fishing port to tourist epicenter of the Spanish Levante, Benidorm has a lot of history to tell. There are several museums and historical attractions to visit, some highlights are:

• Church of San Jaime and Santa Ana: it is in the upper part of the old town, next to the viewpoint. It is an 18th century church with a blue dome that can be seen from several points of the city. Masses and religious events open to the public are often held here.
• Boca del Calvari Museum: it is located in a central pedestrian area. The museum is in the old Town Hall building and usually has temporary exhibitions on local history, seafaring life and old photographs. Admission is free.
• Casa Museo Hort de Colón: an old manor house transformed into a cultural space. It offers art exhibitions, workshops and exhibitions on the history of the city.
• Monument to the Sailors: it is in the center of the old town and pays homage to the fishing tradition of the town and to the families that lived from the sea before the tourists arrived.

9. Nightlife in Benidorm

Benidorm is known for having the most active nightlife on the Costa Blanca. There are several places to enjoy it and options for all tastes:

• On the beach: it is common for the beach bars on Levante beach to throw parties or simply play music in the evening. It is the perfect spot for weekends, at the beginning of the season.
• The Strip: is the most famous street in terms of nightlife. Calle Gerona, or“The Strip“, is the well-known English area, full of British pubs, karaoke bars, cabarets and happy hours. It is also the perfect place if you want to watch a soccer game on a giant screen, and there is usually live music in several bars.
• Clubs: the best known are KM Playa, on the beach; The Tropical House; and KM Disco, where international DJs often play. Also very popular are Café Benidorm, The Red Lion and Morgan’s Tavern, all on The Strip.
• Old town: in the Basque area you can find more classic taverns, tapas bars and pintxos, and in some of them, live music. They stay open until late, being a more relaxed option.

10. The Benidorm Palace

The Benidorm Palace is one of the most emblematic places to see shows in the city. It is a theater-cabaret that has been operating since the 80’s and is located in the Rincon de Loix area.

The Las Vegas-style dinner show includes live music, dancing, acrobatics and lights. The show changes seasonally and usually includes international performers. Tickets are purchased online or at the door, and there are options with or without dinner.

📷 Buy here your ticket to Benidorm Palace.

Where to stay in Benidorm

We leave you three options according to the budget you have for your trip to Benidorm.

• Hotel Castillo Benidorm, a few blocks from the Poniente beach. It is a luxurious option, at a good price. It stands out above all the good service, the spacious and comfortable rooms, and the quality of the breakfast.
• Hotel Fetiche Alojamiento con Encanto, located in the old town of Benidorm, is a boutique hotel noted for its good location, service and the warmth of its rooms. Prices per night usually exceed 100€.
• H10 Porto Poniente is located on the promenade of Poniente beach. It has two swimming pools overlooking the sea, spa center and gym. Rooms are bright, some with ocean views, and air-conditioned. Inside the hotel is the Tortuga restaurant and the Marea Alta rooftop bar, both with privileged views.