Places To Visit in Benidorm: Your Essential Travel Guide

Close your eyes for a minute and pretend you are in 1956. Back then, Benidorm was but a speck on the Costa Blanca: a cluster of houses and few fishing boats bobbing in the blue bay. The then-mayor of Benidorm Pedro Zaragoza saw an opportunity. With Spanish tourism emerging, why not create Miami-style hotels, build holiday apartments and be the first beach in Spain to legalise the bikini? Benidorm today is the result of Zaragoza's vision. A vibrant, all-year-round resort where there's something for everyone and everyone is welcome. 

Is the Playa de Levante the perfect beach? This 2 km-long crescent of powdery, golden sand cradling shallow temperate water was the original reason for Benidorm’s rise to fame, well before its famous skyscrapers took shape. Whatever sort of beachgoer you are, Levante Beach delivers. Sporty types will find jet-skiing and parasailing facilities, families will appreciate bouncy water castles and banana boats and sun worshippers can hire a hammock and parasol for the day. Adjacent to one of the most famous boardwalks in Spain, the Playa de Levante is the throbbing heart of Benidorm. To appreciate its natural splendour, take an early morning walk or run along its periphery, stopping off at a café for a Spanish breakfast of café con leche and churros as the sun rises.

Head to the southern end of the Playa de Levante, make a detour around the foundations of El Castell (the town's original fort and most famous place to visit in Benidorm) and you will come to the Playa de Poniente; a less bustling alternative to the main drag of Levante Beach. Its calmer beach vibe is beautifully expressed in a curvy mosaic promenade, designed by the top Spanish architect Carlos Ferreter. It’s a popular place to stroll in the evenings while watching the sky light up in vivid pink and orange hues. You will find numerous chiringuitos (beach bars) along the way for sundowner sangria. Or head to the Tossal de la Cala, a craggy rock at the southern end of the beach, for romantic sunset canoodling.

With those clusters of high-rise hotels and apartments and wide avenues, it's easy to forget that Benidorm, like most tourist resorts in Spain, has much older beginnings. Wedged between the towers, Benidorm’s casco antiguo (Old Town) is small but mightily resilient. Its handful of narrow streets and pretty squares are lined with archetypal white-washed houses. Ground-floor tapas bars fill the pavements, as do people perched on stools with a glass of sherry. Benidorm’s oldest relic and highest point is El Castell, a fortress overlooking the sea that dates back to the 14th century. Today, it serves as the symbolic Balcony of the Mediterranean lookout point, offering endless sea views. In 2019, the castle’s foundations were uncovered and placards put in place explaining its vital role in deterring pirates.

Long dismissed as relics of package tourism, Benidorm’s retro architecture is gaining a new appreciation. From brutalism to post-modernism and Mediterranean bungalows, the town has an array of striking styles for the architecture buff looking for unique places to visit in Benidorm. The most famous landmarks include Gran Hotel Bali (C/ del Actor Luis Prendes 4) and Edificio Coblanca V residential block (C/Berlin 2), both from 1970, the height of Benidorm’s building boom. You can learn more about this undervalued side of Benidorm with a guided tour.

The mountain scenery that surrounds Benidorm is stunning, with deep gorges and majestic cliffs. The 25-km drive to the tiny mountain village of Guadalest is challenging, but once there you feel like you have stepped into another world. Carved into a hilltop (you will need to hike uphill from the car park) the views from the top are breathtaking. Perched on the highest point, the Castle of Guadalest (open daily) dates from the late 13th century. Other curious places to visit in this tranquil corner of Benidorm include a museum dedicated to antique dolls (C/La Virgin 2, closed Mondays in winter) and a salt and pepper shaker museum (Av. Alicante 2, open daily).

A cross between Disney World and a set from A Game of Thrones, Terra Mítica ticks many boxes for fun-loving families looking for places to visit in Benidorm. Located just outside Benidorm, and accessible by both train and bus, it's divided into five thematic areas inspired by ancient Mediterranean civilisations: Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia, and the Islands. It offers a mix of heart-pounding rides (prepare yourself for the Titanide), shows and exhibits that mix entertainment with ancient myths and legends, with the stunning skyline of Benidorm as a backdrop.

Partida del Moralet, 03502, Benidorm. Hours vary according to season. Day passes start at €31 and can be bought online.

If you're travelling with the family, a summer holiday In Benidorm may not be complete without a trip to a water park. Situated in the eastern periphery of Benidorm, Aqualandia, one of Europe’s largest water parks, has all the bells and whistles for a fun day out. Older kids will get a thrill plummeting down the slides, and there are more gentle areas and wave pools for toddlers. There are plenty of garden areas and palm trees for shade, and you can even bring your own food for a picnic.

C/ Sierra Helada s/n, 03503, Benidorm. Open most days from 10am. Book tickets in advance online.

Fancy a selfie with a sea lion? Or how about a powwow with a parrot? Located next to Aqualandia, Mundomar is a well-equipped and beautifully landscaped animal park that sensitively allows you to get up close to marine life and exotic birds. Two Dolphin Encounters are held daily, and, with a previous reservation, the whole family can enjoy a swim with a sea lion.

C/Sierra Gelada s/n, 03503, Benidorm.

With all those high-rises, it's easy to forget that Benidorm is surrounded by natural beauty. The Sierra Helada Natural Park is a stunning nature reserve that skirts the eastern coastline of Benidorm. It's well signposted with a variety of walking trails for all levels, unveiling rugged cliffs, local flora and breathtaking views over the Mediterranean. Most routes start at the Faro de l’Albir lighthouse, the location of the park's only car park and an information office.

Camino Viejo del, Cam. del Faro, 18, 03581, Alicante. Open from 9am daily.

After the sun goes down, people come out to play in Benidorm. For a supper show where you can dine while being entertained cabaret-style, check the schedule of Benidorm Palace, which stages flamenco shows and high-production musicals. Tapas hopping is always fun along the C/Santo Domingo in the Casco Antiguo. If you're in the mood for freshly shucked oysters, Ostreria Bi-Arritz at number 17 is one of the best places to visit in Benidorm. Or take a seat at the bar of La Cava Aragonesa (Plaza de la Constitución 2) for a memorable tapas feast. For upscale dining, La Falua (C. Santander 22) is considered one of Benidorm’s best. Looking for an inventive take on the best local produce? Malaspina restaurant at Mercure Benidorm offers a chic dining room and a leafy terrace by the pool for cocktails.

Benidorm Palace, Av. Dr. Severo Ochoa, 13, 03503 Benidorm.

If all this talk of food has whetted your appetite for more Spanish cuisine, discover more dining destinations in Alicante and further. Whether you choose to stay in Benidorm or venture beyond the Costa Blanca, you're bound to find cultural adventures, outstanding gastronomy and a warm Spanish welcome.