Here’s a list of the 15 best things to do in Benidorm (Spain), along with famous landmarks, museums, and other points of interest.
Benidorm is one of the most popular tourist destinations on Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante together with nearby Torrevieja and Calpe. Every year, millions of visitors come here to enjoy the sun and healthy climate that has become famous worldwide.
In this article, I’m sharing some of the best places to visit in Benidorm as well as interesting facts and attractions that shouldn’t be missed while visiting the city.
Terra Mítica
Terra Mítica is a fantastic theme park located in Benidorm. Divided into five zones (Egypt, Greece, Roma, Iberia, and Mediterranean Islands), the park is apt for all ages and includes an onsite hotel.
Opened in 2000, the park includes themed attractions, from roller coasters to boat drops and flying simulators. The park holds 25 rides in all. It is open every day from June to September and selected days in April/May and October/November.
Photo: Winston Springwater / Shutterstock.com
Balcón del Mediterráneo
This iconic lookout point sits between the beaches of Poniente and Levante. The name dates back to 1863, when the first President of the Spanish Republic, Emilio Castelar, visited and called it the Balcony of the Mediterranean.
Nothing more than a pentagon-shaped peninsula, it sits at the end of Rambla Nova, 40 meters up from the ocean. You get a wonderful view from the balcony, and it’s a popular point for locals on their strolls. Touching the balustrades is said to bring good luck.
Photo: Duncan Cuthbertson / Shutterstock.com
Sierra Helada
Sierra Helada is, in one word, breathtaking. Its 400-meter cliffs rise over the Mediterranean, creating quite a scene. Stretching out over 5,600 hectares, there is plenty to explore among its coves, plant life, and wildlife.
You can hike across the Serra Gelada in about four hours, a beautiful natural setting for a day spent under the sun and shade of the trees.
Poniente Beach
The Poniente Beach is the less crowded of Benidorm’s famous beaches. As Benidorm’s largest beach, it has an area of about 3.5 kilometers and an average width of 75 meters, meaning there is space for everyone.
You’ll find tourists, families, and locals together on this beach, enjoying all the facilities on offer, from transportation to showers to restaurants and water sports.
The beach even includes platforms on the water, trampolines, and beach volleyball. The sand is warm and golden, the water cool and blue, and the whole thing backed by Benidorm’s famous line of tall resorts.
Stroll through Casco Antiguo
Benidorm’s Casco Antiguo is a beautiful spot that has managed to retain a bit of the authentic feel of the city before it became a tourist magnet. The white houses and beautiful blue-domed church sit on cobblestone streets, filled with shops and cafes.
Take a stroll through the Casco Antiguo, which is beautiful by day or night, being sure to visit Plaza Canalejas, the church, Plaza Castelar, the Cañones, and the rest of the city’s monuments.
Aqualandia
Aqualandia water park sits next door to the equally popular Mundomar, a marine animal park. This paradise of water features loads of attractions, all of which are filled with water sourced from the sea.
Aqualandia is one of the largest water parks in Europe, featuring loads of slides, playgrounds, pools, and spots to relax. Open for 30 years, it is also one of Benidorm’s most popular attractions.
Playa de Levante
Levante Beach is one of the most famous in all of Europe and accordingly crowded. Benidorm’s most popular beach, it is two kilometers long, stretching between Punta Pinet and Punta Canfali.
Despite its busy nature, it is a beautiful spot to sunbathe. The esplanade along the beach is full-on movement, all the time, busy with restaurants, bars, and tourists.
La Cruz de Benidorm
The Cross of Benidorm is a popular viewpoint located at the top of the Sierra Helada, standing tall at 438 meters above sea level. The hike from town is pleasant, although you must pack your own water and snacks as there are no services at the top.
You also have the option of driving almost to the top and scaling only the steps to get to the monument. The Cross was installed in 1962, although the original was made of wood and carried up in a procession of villagers, a response to the initial wave of tourism that hit the town.
The current metal cross was erected in 1975 and has since become a symbol of Christianity in the town.
Iglesia de San Jaime y Santa Ana
The Church of Saint James and Saint Anne is the most important church in Benidorm. Dating back to the 18th century, the Neoclassical façade is gorgeous, whitewashed with mustard-colored accents.
Located in the upper part of the Casco Antiguo, it was renovated in 1912, the last time that great works were carried out. In this church, the people of Benidorm celebrate the most important festivals of the city, including Semana Santa, the fiestas patronales, and the day of San Jaime and Santa Ana.
Low Festival
The Low Festival is a rock, indie, and electronica festival held in Benidorm every year in summer. The festival takes place on grounds located 45 kilometers outside of the city.
The lineup is international, featuring huge global acts like Bastille, ultra-famous Spanish indie groups like Vetusta Morla, and an assortment of lesser-known groups and DJs.
You can buy a one or three-day ticket, which allows entrance to all of the festival’s stages, or spring for a VIP pass that allows you to skip the lines, access special sections to watch the concerts, and access the VIP food stands. There is also a VIP Pool Ticket, which includes all of the above plus access to an Olympic pool.
Villajoyosa
At 20 minutes from Benidorm, Villajoyosa makes a perfect day trip. Best-known for the rainbow of houses that line the beach, Villajoyosa is much more relaxed than Benidorm proper.
The best day to visit is Thursday, when there is an open-air market next to the tram stop. Shop everything from produce to clothes and artisan crafts. The town is also the site of one of the most famous chocolate factories in Spain.
The Valor chocolate factory offers guided visits, fun for families and children. The ancient defense towers are also worth a visit, as they mark the past of this oft-attacked village.
Eat tapas at Tapas Alley
Tapas Alley is famous in Benidorm as a spot to pop in and out of bars and enjoy the tapas tasting experience. Starting at the Plaza de la Constitution and running along with Santo Domingo, Tapas Alley features more restaurants than you will be able to taste in one go.
The trick is to have one tapa and one drink in each establishment. Some of the best ones are La Cava Aragonesa, the Aurrera bars, and Braseria, where they’re serving some of the best Spanish food in town.
Try some water sports
Benidorm’s coastal location and mild air and water temperatures make it a perfect place to vacation, but also to practice water sports. You may imagine adventure and danger when you think of water sports, but Benidorm offers just about everything, for all ages.
Pile onto an inflatable banana boat with your family; parasail from the sky down into a deck on the bay; speed along on a jet ski; snorkel; or take a guided kayak tour. There is something for everyone.
Benidorm Island
Sailing out to Benidorm Island is a popular boat trip in the area. An easy glide from the old town, or from Levante Beach in the summer, it is a natural reserve and home to many species of birds and flora.
You can find European storm petrels, peregrine falcons, and Sardinian warblers, just to name a few. It sits about two miles off the mainland.
Hike to Puig Campana
Puig Campana is the second-highest peak in Valencia, standing at 1,410 meters. Its topography makes it even more spectacular—the steep walls create an impossibly craggy face.
The mountain is great for both hiking and rock climbing. The name means “hill of the bell” and local legend says that a giant kicked the mountain and caused a gap in the ridge, and the piece that tumbled down became the island L’Illa Benidorm.
The circuit to walk Puig Campana takes you up to 884 meters and begins at the Moli fountain in Finestrat. It takes about three hours.
Interesting Facts about Benidorm
- There are more than 300 skyscrapers in Benidorm, which has given rise to the nickname “Little Manhattan”.
- Millions of visitors come to Benidorm for sun and entertainment every year.
- Benidorm has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain since 1925.
- The majority of the tourists are British, but also Scandinavian and German.
- Benidorm is a culturally diverse city with a high number of residents from other countries. Only around 65% of the locals are Spanish.
Want recommendations on things to do in Benidorm, Spain? Leave a comment below!