- Transfers from Alicante airport take about 45 minutes by road
- Levante beach is lively; Poniente is calmer and better for families
- The Old Town sits between the two beaches and has the best tapas
- Aqualandia, Terra Mítica and Mundomar are all close by
- Airports
- Alicante (ALC), about 45 minutes away
- Best time to go
- May-June and September-October; popular all year
- Type
- City
Benidorm is the Costa Blanca's biggest and best-known resort, a skyline of tower blocks behind two golden, gently shelving beaches. Love it or laugh at it, it delivers exactly what many UK holidaymakers want: guaranteed sunshine, good-value hotels and all-inclusive deals, entertainment every night and attractions for every age. Away from the busiest streets, it also has a charming old town on a headland and some lovely coastal walks.
Flights to Alicante take about 2h20 from London and leave from almost every UK airport. Spain is one hour ahead of the UK, plugs are European two-pin and traffic drives on the right. For the rest of the country, see our Spain guide.
Where to stay
- Levante – the busier beach, lined with bars and restaurants. Best for groups, couples who like nightlife and anyone wanting to be in the thick of it.
- Rincón de Loix – the northern end of Levante, popular with British visitors, with English bars, cabaret shows and the late-night "strip" around Calle Gerona. Lively and loud in summer.
- Old Town (Casco Antiguo) – the headland between the beaches, with narrow streets, tapas bars on Calle Santo Domingo and the Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint. Good for couples.
- Poniente – a longer, quieter beach with a modern promenade, newer high-rise hotels and a more Spanish crowd. The best choice for families.
- La Cala de Finestrat and Sierra Helada – calmer edges of town; La Cala has its own sandy cove and is popular with families and older couples.
If you want peace and quiet, check that your hotel is not right above the Rincón de Loix bar streets. A five-minute walk makes a big difference to noise at night.
Things to do
- The beaches – Levante and Poniente both hold Blue Flag status in most years, with lifeguards, sunbeds and calm water in summer.
- Balcón del Mediterráneo – the white viewpoint at the tip of the Old Town, best at sunset.
- Aqualandia – a large water park near Rincón de Loix, with rides for small children and serious thrill-seekers.
- Terra Mítica – a theme park based on ancient Mediterranean civilisations, open roughly spring to autumn.
- Mundomar and Terra Natura – a marine and animal park and a zoo-style park, good for younger children.
- Benidorm Island – a boat trip from the harbour to a small island, with glass-bottomed boats for spotting fish.
- Sierra Helada – a coastal natural park with cliff-top walks above Levante and towards Albir.
- Guadalest and the Algar Waterfalls – easy half-day trips inland by coach tour or hire car.
Best time to visit
| Season | Weather | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| March-May | 19-24 °C | Value deals, walking |
| June-August | 29-32 °C | Families, beaches, nightlife |
| September-October | 25-29 °C | Warm sea, festivals |
| November-February | 16-18 °C | Winter sun, long stays |
Benidorm's main fiestas take place around the second week of November, and Benidorm Pride is usually in early September. School holidays are the most expensive time.
Getting there
Alicante airport (ALC) is about 60 km south, around 45 minutes by private or shared transfer, longer at peak times with multiple hotel drops. Direct buses from the airport take about an hour, and taxis are plentiful outside arrivals. Valencia airport is about 1h45 by car.
Getting around
Benidorm is flat along the seafront and easy on foot; the walk between the two beaches via the Old Town takes about 30 minutes. Local buses run along both beaches, and the TRAM d'Alacant links Benidorm with Alicante (about 1h10), Albir, Altea and Calpe. You do not need a car unless you plan several inland trips.
Benidorm is one of Spain's cheaper resorts. Many visitors spend around €40–80 a day per person beyond accommodation, and all-inclusive packages can keep costs predictable for families.
Top attractions in Benidorm
LandmarkAlhambra
A hilltop palace-fortress of carved stucco, tiled courtyards and water gardens, the Alhambra is the high point of…
LandmarkPark Güell
Gaudí's hillside park of mosaic benches, gingerbread-style lodges and a famous dragon, with sweeping views over…
MuseumPrado Museum
One of the world's great art museums, the Prado holds Spain's royal collection, from Velázquez's Las Meninas to Goya's…
LandmarkReal Alcázar
A dazzling Mudéjar palace and gardens in the heart of Seville, still used by the Spanish royal family and famous as the…
LandmarkSagrada Família
Gaudí's unfinished basilica, with its forest-like nave and glowing stained glass, is Barcelona's must-book sight.
NatureSerra de Tramuntana
A UNESCO-listed mountain range of stone villages, olive terraces and hairpin roads along Mallorca's north-west coast.
Benidorm on the map
Frequently asked questions
Is Benidorm good for families?
Yes. Poniente and La Cala are the calmer family areas, the beaches are shallow and sandy, and there are several theme and water parks within 15 minutes.
Is Benidorm good for couples?
It can be. Stay in the Old Town or Poniente, eat tapas rather than full English breakfasts, and use the tram to explore Altea and Calpe on the Costa Blanca.
How far is Benidorm from Alicante?
About 45 minutes by road from the airport, and about an hour by bus or tram from Alicante city centre.
Is Benidorm busy in winter?
It stays open all year and is popular with long-stay winter visitors, so many hotels, bars and shows keep running. It is mild rather than hot, around 16–18 °C.
Written by
Emma City breaks & deals editor
Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.
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