Benidorm is the
largest
holiday
resort
on the Costa
Blanca and one of the most popular in the region of Valencia and the province of Alicante.
The 6km of sandy beaches have always been the main attraction of this resort. It
hasn't
always
been
like
that
though.
It was
once a
sleepy little
fishing
village
-
before
the
package holiday
boom
of the
1970's. A little of the old town remains. Benidorm
is now
a mass
of
high
rise
hotels
and
apartments
and a
major
centre
for the
package
holiday
industry. The skyline has been likened to Manhattan. Benidorm holidays usually start at Alicante Airport with flights from all major airports in the UK and Europe.
General impressions of Benidorm
Benidorm council
have for a long time, been in
the
process
of
cleaning
up the
image
of
Benidorm
and
trying
to rid
it of
the
lager-lout
reputation
it
once
had.
The
council
now
provide
such
things
as
free
jazz
and
classical
concerts.
Families
from
all
over
Europe
flock
to
Benidorm
in the
summer
and in
the
winter,
the
hotels
and
apartments
fill with
pensioners,
enjoying
the
mild climate
of
the
winter
months. The seafront in Benidorm has a modern look and is very clean. The streets are clean, with the exception of some of the smaller back streets in the old town which were quite scruffy and dirty.
Benidorm has received renewed interest partly due to the ITV hit series 'Benidorm' which is largely filmed at the Sol Pelicanos Hotel. The hotel is open to the public and located on C/Gerona, 300m from Levante Beach. Benidorm is and will always be a busy, family resort, reasonably safe and a pleasant place, whatever time of year.
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Love it or hate it, Benidorm is as popular today as it ever was and fun holidays are almost guaranteed, along with the agreeable Costa Blanca climate.
The promotion of Benidorm is an industry in itself and even the Spanish love to holiday here.
The beaches of Benidorm
Benidorm
has
two
crescent
shaped
beaches
with
golden
sand
that
is
always
well
cared
for
and
clean. The Poniente and Levante beaches are known to be the best in the area and are safe for families.
This
makes
it an
ideal
family
holiday
resort.
Poniente beach is the largest beach in Benidorm but both are equally nice and clean.
Levante beach is equally as popular and well cared for. Both beaches have seafront apartments, cafes and restaurants. Some of the apartment blocks are looking rather tired and tatty.
The beaches in Benidorm have all been awarded the Blue Flag for their cleanliness and facilities. The paseo is long and wide and perfect for long walks, wheelchair access and jogging. Pictured right is the seafront on the Poniente side with its unusual, sculptured wall and golden sand.
The two beaches are divided by a headland and a small port where boat trips can be had.
Poniente beach
Levante beach
There's also a third beach, the Playa del Mar Pas. It's a very tiny cove next to the port and is sheltered from winds by the rock face.
Finding your way around Benidorm
The Placa del Castell
The two main beaches are divided by the headland where the castle once stood. A fort
stood
here
until 1812
when
the
British
and
Spanish
troops
blew
it up
whilst
expelling
the
French.
Here you will find the Placa del Castell with a beautiful balony and viewpoint. From here you can see the expanse of both sides of Benidorm. As you look out to sea, behind you is the church and a couple of monuments.
In the Placa del Castell area there are some fine cannons that used to stand in the fort, along with a monument to those lost at sea.
There are often musicians performing in the plaza and it's quite common for people to be dancing to the music. There's a fine restaurant with all day sun on the terrace.
Old Benidorm
The old town of Benidorm is a maze of narrow streets with quirky corners and little plazas. Some of the streets are quite steep. You will find lots of shops here and hundreds of places to eat and drink. Some streets are more pleasant than others.
The streets on the Levante side of Benidorm are arranged in a checkerboard style and are relatively easy to navigate. It's here that you will find the largest concentration of hotels.
Benidorm council have done a good job with the refurbishment of the main streets and many of the roundabouts and streets are decorated with unusual bronzes.
Shopping in Benidorm
The
shopping
areas
are
typical
touristy
shops
offering
all
manner
of
goods. The biggest concentration of shops in Benidorm are located in the old town area although almost every street in Benidorm has a few shops. You don't have to walk far to find a local supermarket or gift shops. Market days are Tuesday and Sunday. On Sunday, the car boot (rastro) at la Nucia is huge.
Bargain clothing and gifts are to be found everywhere. Shop around for the best prices.
There are lots of pharmacies in Benidorm as well as private clinics. There is always at least one pharmacy open at any time as they work on a rota system. Details of the rota can be collected from the tourist office.
What to see in Benidorm
Benidorm is busy day and night. There are thousands of bars that have entertainment at any time. At night, Benidorm truly comes alive. There are nightclubs, discos, bingo halls, casinos and live shows. Some of the larger shows such as Benidorm Palace and the Benidorm Circus can be booked with your hotel or tour opperator. There are also regular concerts in the outdoor theatre in Benidorm. During the day if you don't want the beach then you have water parks, zoos, nature parks and the large Terra Mitica theme park. For more active persuits, there are boat trips along the coast and to the Island of Tabarca, water sports, go-karting, horse riding and much more.
Pictured left is the small but active port from where boat trips set off.
The sailing club in Benidorm have sailing lessons for all ages and abilities.
There are scuba diving schools in Benidorm as the local waters are of excellent quality.
What to do and see in Benidorm
There is little history to see in Benidorm. Much of it has been replaced by hotels and apartments. There are however, some fine examples of modern architecture that show how tastes have changed over the decades. The apartment block (left) is most unusual, with its circular windows.
The streets in Benidorm are never dull..... there's always something to see and every street is different. The resort is well developed with theme parks, showbars and much more.
Theme parks in Benidorm include:
TerraNatura - A very large animal park - More info here
Aqua Natura - Water fun park
Terra Mitica - Theme park for the whole family
Video of Terra Natura
Eating and drinking in Benidorm
You will find some fine examples of typical Spanish restaurants in Benidorm if you know where to look. You will also find restaurants serving an international menu. However, there's no hiding the fact that much of Benidorm is dominated by English bars and cafes.
It's not everyone's cup of tea but they certainly satisfy a thriving demand and they are all great value. The €1 pint is commonplace and giant burgers can be had for as little as €2.
Fiestas in Benidorm
January:
The 5th see the Reyes Magos (Three Kings) parade and celebrations.
March: On the 16th the Virgin of the Suffrage is marked, followed by the Fallas on the 16th-19th.
April: Holy Week, along with the rest of Spain.
May: The Cross Festival is popular on the 1st.
June: The Corpus Cristi Procession is follwed by the Hogueras de San Juan on the 24th.
July: On the 6th and 7th Saint Fermin is celebrated andCarmen is marked on the 16th. The patron saint of Benidorm, Saint James is honoured on the 25th.
August: All summer there are concerts in Aiguera Park and the Rincon de Loix is celebrated at the end of the month.
September: Asturias Days are 7th and 8th and the Wine Harvest festival follows shortly afterwards.
October: one of the largest festivals in Benidorm is the Moors and Christians on the first weekend. Valencia Day on the 9th is celebrated all over the region and the Rosary Festival is held from the 9th-12th.
Around the Benidorm area
Located
just
north
of
Benidorm
is Calpe,
a
resort
worthy
of a
visit.
Further
north
is Denia which
is
again
very
much a
family
resort.
A
quiet
little
town
that
was
once
the
centre
of the
region's
raisin
growing
industry.
Although
tourism
has
taken
over,
raisins
are
still
grown
here
and
remain
to be
a
local
delicacy.
The
main
avenue
in
Denia
is the
Plaza
de la
Constitucion
where
you
can
sit
and
watch
the
world
go by.
Here
you
will
find a
wonderful
17th
century
church.
The
area
around
Denia
has been
voted
the
third
healthiest
place
to
live
by the
World
Health
Organisation. Another
quaint
little
town
north
of
Benidorm
is Altea where
careful
development
and
planning
has
maintained
the
tranquil
atmosphere
and
character.
There
are no
high-rise
hotels
here
and
for
the
energetic
there
are
257
steps
up to
the
old
town
from
which
a
wonderful
view
can be
had. Villajoyosa is just a short drive away and is a superb Valencian fishing port.
Video of
Waterfalls of Algar
Near Benidorm
The Waterfalls of Algarare just a short drive from Benidorm. A great day out for the whole family. See full details here. 1km from the waterfalls are the Botanical Gardens. The Cactus D'Algar Jardi Botanic complex was opened in 1996 and is set in 50,000M2 of land. There are thousands of plants within beautiful walks.
Guadalest
Guadalest is a wonderful town that sits high in the mountains, just 25km from Benidorm. It makes an excellent day out and several companies offer coach tours there. Read about Guadalest here.
Just a short walk from Benidorm and you can climb the steep hill to get wonderful panoramic views of Benidorm and some tiny, unspoilt coves.
Train station Benidorm (RENFE), Avda Salamanca - 965 851 895
Alicante airport information - 966 919 400
Town Hall Benidorm, Plaza de SS MM reyes de Espana - 965 850 268
Post office Benidorm, Avda de L'Aiguera, 5 - 965 853 434
Tourist Information Office, Benidorm - 965 851 311
There are 4 tourist offices in Benidorm:
Plaza del Torrejo - 965 851 311
C/Gerona Conde de Ramador - 966 805 914
Avda Europa - 965 860 095
Paseo Tolls, Estacion de Autobuses - 966 831 648
Satellite services in Benidorm
Astra Beam Satellites - Tel Mike Welsh 966 866 881
Vehicle services in Benidorm
Fast Fit Tyres (mobile fitting) - Tel 663 995 393
Electricians in Benidorm
Adept Electrical SL - Dan - Tel 663 858 273
Emergency locksmiths in Benidorm
Safeguard English locksmith - Tel 965 888 681 / 626 891 453
Benidorm taxi services
Taxis to Benidorm from Alicante airport cost on average 60 euros. Most taxis work on a fixed price but this can vary depending on time of day and luggage quantities.
Benidorm tourist bus
There are open-top buses that tour Benidorm and are great value. Hop on and off at various points as many times as you like. There's also a guided tour of Benidorm on an old tram.
Local buses in Benidorm
The local bus service is excellent with regular services all over town. Bus companies include Ubesa (965 850 151), Enatcar (965 867 962) and Bilmanbus (965 861 558).
Benidorm by cycle
The town has a cycle hire system with various parks all over town. You can pay by credit card or on your mobile.
Trains in Benidorm
The train station (Estacion de tren) is located in Estacion Street. Tel 965 851 695.
Entertainment in Benidorm
In
Benidorm
you
can
entertain
yourself
on the
beaches,
sample
go-karting,
ten-pin
bowling
or
take
in two
theme
parks,
the
water
features
at
Aqualand
or
watch
a
dolphin
show. Whatever type of entertainment you want in Benidorm, you will find it. Below are a few of the most popular venues and activities.
Nightlife in Benidorm
Benidorm
has a
youthful
and
pulsating
nightlife
with
many
discos
and
nightclubs,
endless
bars
and
fine
restaurants.
Here
you
can
party
till
dawn.
Theme parks in Benidorm
Benidorm is the location for the Terra Mitica theme park with a world of legends, Terra Natura with more than 250 animal species and Mundomar with stunning dolphin shows.
Casa del Fester (Social centre)
La Viga St, 3
Benidorm
966 801 601
Jose llorca Llinares
Goya St,
Benidorm
965 867 071
Public Library
3, SS MM Los reyes Plaza,
Benidorm
965 855 098
Colci Cinema
19-21 Limones St,
Benidorm
965 865 060
Colci Rincon Cinema
La Marina Finestrat
966 831 195
Mundomar - Animal theme park close to Levante beach - Full details here
Benidorm Palaca - Spectacular shows with dinner - Full details here
Molino Benidorm - Spectacular dance shows
Benidorm Circus - Daily circus shows
Terra Mitica - Large theme park
Waterfalls of Algar - Beautiful bathing spot and waterfalls. Feature here
Horse riding in Benidorm - 5 minutes from Benidorm. Tel 678 983 119
Scuba Diving in Benidorm - Buceo Benidorm is open all year round and offers dives and courses. Their office is located on C/Lepanto. Tel 965 104 736. www.nisosbenidorm.com
Boat trips to Tabarca Island - Tel 965 850 052
Boat trips along the coast - (Benidorm - Calpe) - Tel 965 850 052
Fishing at sea - Saturdays at 9am. Charter Nautica - Tel 965 850 633
Whatever type or size of hotel you want in Benidorm, you will find it and the prices are unbeatable due to fierce competition. Most hotels offer discount packages that may include full board, half board or bed and breakfast. You can book discount hotels in Benidorm here
Hotels in Benidorm visited and reviewed by Idealspain
The Hotel Regente, Benidorm - Full review and video here
Benidorm has received renewed interest partly due to the ITV hit series 'Benidorm' which is largely filmed at the Sol Pelicanos Hotel. The hotel is open to the public and located on C/Gerona, 300m from Levante Beach.
Bargain priced Insurance for your holiday home in Spain or for your Spanish home. Policies in English and English speaking helplines. The prices are the lowest you will find anywhere
