Benidorm Travel Guide

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Benidorm © Jason Dixon

Overview: Rows of shops selling beach buckets and flip-flops line the sea front of Benidorm, the Costa Blanca's largest and liveliest resort town where hordes of tourists throng the streets 24 hours a day. Of the thousands who come to holiday here on the town's three miles (5km) of white sandy beaches each year, many have stayed and purchased apartments in the numerous blocks that now dot the skyline. Benidorm, north of Alicante, is the party capital of the Costa Blanca with an unrivalled nightlife and a daytime carnival-like beach culture. Remnants of Benidorm's historic past are now well hidden, but tucked into the Casco Antiguo section are the ruins of a castle built in the 14th century to fend off Berber pirates. Benidorm's spectacular sunsets are best viewed from the castle's 'mirador' (balcony). The place to see and be seen in the town however is the Playa de Levante, a two-mile (3km) boardwalk lined with trendy cafes and bars.
Shopping: The streets of Benidorm are lined with gift shops catering for British tourists and the supermarkets are well stocked with well-known brands. Prices in the resort are cheap, particularly alcohol and cigarettes. There is an open-air market every Wednesday and a ‘rastro’ (car boot sale) every Sunday next to the railway station. The town of Altea is worth a visit on Tuesdays for its outdoor market or simply for a leisurely stroll along the promenade, while Alicante is a good destination for shoppers in search of some more sophisticated shops.
Restaurants: The restaurants and pubs in Benidorm are not known for their imaginative menus, or names: among the most popular are the Queen Vic and St James Tavern. They serve good British food and Sunday roasts but don't expect haute cuisine. All the major fast food restaurants are here, as well as plenty of Chinese, Indian and Italian restaurants. The old harbour is the place to try out the local cuisines, here it is possible to get a taste of Spain and enjoy some tapas and local seafood. One of the best tapas bars is La Cava Aragonesa, along the front.
Nightlife: Benidorm is one of the biggest nightspots on the Med with something to suit all tastes. There are loads of bars hosting live shows, quizzes, bingo, karaoke and drag shows… and lots of English live bands playing everything from Abba to ZZ Top. Young party animals tend to congregate in 'the Square' in the New Town, at nightclubs like Cafe Benidorm and the Hippodrome. The Old Town, with its bars flanking narrow streets, is a Mecca for Gay tourists during the height of the season. The Gay bars are buzzing till about 4am. There are more clubs up towards Levante Beach, but serious clubbers of all persuasions will find their dreams come true at the huge clubs like Ku, KM, Champions (formerly Pacha), El Divino, Penelopes and Space.
Activities: Benidorm's major attractions are its spectacular beaches. The two huge sweeping crescents stretch for over three miles (5km) and are known as Levante and Poniente - Spanish for sunrise and sunset. They are kept meticulously clean and are consistently voted among the cleanest and most popular beaches in Europe. All sorts of watersports can be organised from the beaches from swimming and diving off the man-made rafts to jet skiing, banana boat rides, parasailing and scuba diving. On the outskirts of town tourists can visit the water parks or Terra Mitica, Spain's largest theme park with a terrifying roller coaster. There are also loads of options for those wishing to escape Benidorm for a day; beautiful mountainous countryside surrounds the resort and jeep safaris and cycle trips around this rugged interior are becoming increasingly popular. Alicante, 25 miles (40km) south of Benidorm, is the Costa Blanca's main city and has a number of interesting sights. Other good days out include a coach trip to the ancient mountain fortress at Guadalest, built by the Moors in 715, and the town of Altea with its delightful medieval cobbled streets and beautiful Mediterranean views, eight miles (13km) north of Benidorm.
Negatives: Benidorm is not a good choice for those wanting an authentic Spanish holiday; it's a bit like Blackpool in the sun, but for those looking for entertainment and nightlife it can't be beaten. The resort abounds with hundreds of persistent touts trying to sell tourists everything from trinkets to timeshare apartments. There are also insistent promotions staff outside the bars and restaurants, but can be worth chatting up as they sometimes offer free drinks. Benidorm caters for all ages; older visitors may think there are too many youngsters while others think there are too many OAPs!

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