Compare Benidorm holidays

Find your groove

And there’s just so much to do! Couples, singles, pensioners and families with young children would be wrong to dismiss a holiday in Benidorm in 2020 as a cheap getaway for teenagers and twenty-somethings hell-bent on all-night dancing sessions (although there’s plenty of that on offer).

Okay, Benidorm package holidays might not mean a quiet, meditative break filled with fine dining, but there’s more to this thrilling city than meets the eye.

Discover old Spain

A true taste of Spain can be found in the maze of narrow ‘ramblas’ of the Old Town at the heart of Benidorm, where you can marvel at gleaming white Spanish architecture and sample local cuisine along Calle Santo Domingo, or ‘Tapas Alley’, as it’s also known.

Family holidays in Benidorm, especially all-inclusive Benidorm breaks, are ideal for kids. When they’ve had enough of building sandcastles on the beach, they can't fail to be thrilled by the glass-bottomed boat ride around Benidorm Island, plus there are an array of family-friendly theme parks, water parks and wildlife centres a short drive or bus ride away from the city.

Party until the sun comes up

If you're keen to let your hair down, let the city's night-time revelry draw you in – you're in Benidorm, after all!

The beachfront is the best place to head, where, from sunset to sunrise, the taps are flowing, the dance floors are pulsing and the city's famous drag acts are in full…drag! Trust us, you'll be thankful for the array of British cafés offering a full English brekkie the next morning.

If that doesn't quite cut the mustard, and you’d prefer a cheap holiday in Benidorm that gets the muscles working, hike up the sun-baked Sierra Helada for jaw-dropping views over Benidorm and the glistening Mediterranean beyond.

For some midwinter sun in 2020, you can bag yourself an absolute bargain, with huge hotels offering luxury all-inclusive Benidorm deals at rock-bottom prices. 

Levante is the busier of the two, backed by a promenade and a string of bars, cafes and clubs. You’ll also find a range of water sports to get the adrenaline pumping, with everything from water skiing to scuba diving.

Poniente is a longer, quieter stretch, and (a clue to its name) it boasts magnificent sunsets. Twilight yoga on the beach anyone?

Theme parks

The children, won’t someone think of the children? Well, Benidorm has for sure, with its four popular theme parks, water parks and wildlife parks from which to choose.

Terra Mítica has a range of exhilarating rides themed around the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. Aqualandia has over 15 watery rides and a wave pool. Mundomar will entertain you with dolphin and sea lion shows while Terra Natura will immerse you in the full safari experience, with a few theme park rides thrown in. 

Benidorm Island

Gaze out from Benidorm’s beachfront and you should be able to make out a lopsided triangle jutting out from the sea in the distance. That is Benidorm Island, or Peacock Island as it’s also known, because of its peacock aviary.

Take a 20-minute boat ride out to the island, which has gorgeous views of the bay of Benidorm. Once there, take a ride on the glass-bottomed boat (included in the cost of the ticket) and watch shoals of fish dance about, walk the island trails, then visit the aviary. Take your towel and swimming togs so you can have a dip too. 

The Old Town

You’ll find the Old Town, or El Castell, on a rocky promontory between the two beaches, offering beautiful views from its Balcón del Mediterráneo. The warren of quaint, narrow streets is a joy to wander and soak up the Spanish history.

Here you’ll find Calle Santo Domingo, or Tapas Alley, where you can dine in authentic Spanish eateries, and Iglesia de San Jaime, a stunning white church that is the centre of the city’s fiestas. The Old Town is also the hub of Benidorm’s gay community, with a range of gay-friendly accommodation plus bars and clubs.

Guadalest

You cannot leave Benidorm without visiting Guadalest, one of the most picturesque places in the Costa Blanca. The village is nestled high up in the mountains (the 35-minute drive up there alone is breath taking), with a castle perched atop a rocky precipice and an unforgettable view over a turquoise reservoir.

Around the village you’ll also find delightful cafes and souvenir shops to mooch around. If you’re without a car you can catch the number 16 bus from Benidorm.

Best Benidorm nightlife and entertainment

It’s bold, it’s brash, it’s Benidorm!

For most of the year, this sleepless city is the Costa Blanca’s answer to Ibiza, attracting stag and hen parties and young party-hungry Europeans in their droves. There’s so much on offer, from karaoke bars and themed pubs to contemporary club scenes, and, to top it off, the drinks are cheap, cheap, cheap.

From one bar to the next, you won’t struggle to find Happy Hours and 2-4-1 deals, and many of the clubs are free to get in or have a very low admission fee. 

Life is a cabaret

If you want high-quality cabaret then Benidorm Palace (Avenida Dr. Severo Ochoa, 13) is a must. You can’t fail to miss this place – the entrance is like something straight off the Las Vegas strip. Here you can have dinner and be wowed by glittering dancers and live music, with the first drink included in your admission fee.

If you’re after something a bit more outrageous, the Rich Bitch Showbar (Calle Del Pal 4) , located in the Old Town, is a Benidorm institution famed for its comedy drag acts. The Old Town is also a hub for gay bars and clubs, as well as some smaller, quieter pubs.

Mega clubbing

A far cry from the fun but cheesy tribute acts and cabaret on offer day and night, Benidorm’s club scene is awesome, offering world-class DJs in the summer months.

The most popular Ibiza-style mega clubs are located along Avenida Communitat Valencia, a short taxi ride from the city centre. Make the most of the competition between these nightclubs and keep your eyes peeled for promos and freebies. 

Keeping the little ones entertained

Nightlife need not be restricted to the grown-ups. Children will simply love the medieval tournament at Magic Excalibur on the outskirts of Benidorm, where they can feast on roast chicken and watch jousting knights on horseback.

Where to eat in Benidorm

Tapas? Check. Paella? Check. Full English fry up? Double check!

Yes, Benidorm is renowned for its wealth of British greasy spoons and bars serving up perfect hangover-cure breakfasts and roast lunches. We’ve heard that The Union Jack (Avenida Ametlla del Mar, 29) does the best English breakfast in town and the portions are epic.

Eat like a local

Don’t let the mountains of egg and beans fool you – there’s plenty of local cuisine to be had in Benidorm. 

For delicious tapas, head to Calle Santo Domingo in the Old Town. There you’ll find clusters of atmospheric restaurants where you can dine out on the terrace with a glass of wine and soak up the atmosphere.

Close by La Cava Aragonesa (Plaça de Constitució) is a popular choice, famed for its huge array of tapas served on wooden platters and over 700 varieties of wine. 

Don’t dine before nine

While you’re eating Spanish cuisine, why not embrace the Spanish mood and eat like a local, who usually dine from 9pm onwards? You’ll find many locals in the popular Italian restaurants Duetto (Calle de Londres, 4) and Toscana (Calle Gerona, 3), tackling giant pizzas and luscious pasta dishes.

Succulent seafood

You’re holidaying by the sea, so it would be rude not to sample the fruits of the Mediterranean.

There are many reputable seafood restaurants to choose from, including Les Dunes Comodoro Hotel Restaurant (Avenida Madrid) on the Levante beachfront, which serves up humongous platters of paella, swordfish and other fishy delights. Its views out over the sea and Benidorm Island are spectacular.

Benidorm events

Benidorm Carnival; February/March: Revellers can enjoy the city’s very own carnival as winter draws to a close, with parades, fancy dress competitions and a curious event called ‘the burial of the sardine’!

Las Fallas; March: Several days of drinking and all-night dancing are also filled with fireworks, burning effigies and beautiful Fallas Queens.

Holy Week; Easter (March/April): Known as Semana Santa in Spanish, this is a chance to see Benidorm in full religious fervour, when the quaint streets surrounding the old church come alive with processions and music.

Moors and Christians Festival; October: Be a part of the action as the city celebrates Spain’s fascinating Moorish past during this unique event.