Top 10 Best Things to Do in Benidorm, Spain [Benidorm Travel Guide 2024]

If your idea of the perfect holiday is lots of beach time, great weather, first-rate family attractions, and wild nightlife, then Benidorm needs to be high up your list. The resort on the Costa Blanca has an almost iconic skyline of apartment towers and two shallow crescents next to huge sandy beaches. The amount of activities on offer will make your head spin, whether it's golf, go-karting, paintballing, water sports, or mountain hikes. You have an action-packed week or two in the sun, or a lazy break doing next to nothing. Today we share the top 10 best things to do in Benidorm so you can plan a trip and experience all the exciting attractions and activities this beautiful city has to offer. Starting with number 10. Levant Beach. This is the image most associated with Benidorm, an arc of pale golden sand, bounded by a long line of skyscrapers and dappled with a forest of blue parasols. Granted, the beach can fill up in the summer, but even on the busiest days you can find a quiet place to nest away from the crowds that tend to swarm the waterline. If all this sea air gives you can appetite then at the foot of the tall apartment blocks are restaurants and North European-style pubs. At number 9 is the Mundo Mar. Wildlife parks with shows and demonstrations may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Mundo Mar is pretty modern and provides large enclosures for its wealth of sea animals and birds. The trainers and keepers also appear to have a rapport with these dolphins and sea lions, as you'll see during the regular shows that children are sure to love. You can also get close to otters, penguins, and a variety of primates and birds at the park zoo. Book ahead for special experiences like meeting with dolphins face-to-face or swimming with sea lions. At number 8, Terramitica. Among the largest theme parks in Spain, this attraction is inspired by ancient civilizations. The three areas here are Rome, Egypt, and Greece and they're all crammed with roller coasters, shows, and other amusements. One of the premier rides is the Magnus Colossus, a massive wooden roller coaster on a track more than a kilometer long. It's suitable for all except the littlest members of the family. Choreographed street shows, like Spartacus Rebellion, are all part of the fun. At number 7, Poniente Beach. The beach next door to Levant has a very different atmosphere. Although there's the same strip of towers, the bulk of the resort is way off to the east. Poniente is generally quieter and more family-oriented. This beach has received a lot of investment in the last few years, with a network of boardwalks making it accessible to wheelchair users. They'll branch off the road every 30 meters or so and save a hot, tiring walk down to the water. As with Levant, the surf at Poniente is moderate, but less assured swimmers should avoid wading out too far as the undercurrents can be quite strong. At number 6 in our list, Aqualandia. Next door to Mundomar is one of Spain's oldest and best water parks, opening for business back in 1985. It continues to grow and new rides and amusements are added almost every season. Some of these can break records, like Big Bang, the tallest water slide in Europe, while the brand new Vertigo sends riders hurtling to the splash pool at 100 kilometers per hour. The water for all these slides, pools, and jacuzzis is piped right from the Mediterranean, following a bit of desalination, of course. The wave pool at Aqualandia is gigantic, with enough room for thousands of swimmers at one time. At number 5, Balcón del Mediterráneo. Placa del Castell is a kind of stone garden with chessboard tiles and white balustrades on the headland between Poniente and Levant. This was the site of Benidorm's castle, which stood for hundreds of years until it was destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars. The views on either side of the square are sublime, but nothing beats the Balcón del Mediterráneo on the southern edge of the promontory. Take a seat beneath the lamppost here to contemplate the Mediterranean and Benidorm's modern skyline. At number 4, Sierra Jalata. For all Benidorm's urban character, there's a large natural park covering a large swathe of the coastline just next door. Within minutes, you can leave skyscraping towers behind for skyscraping cliffs. All you need is a decent pair of shoes, a hat, and some water and you're set for a hike through a rugged landscape of limestone rocks and Aleppo pines. At the northern end, there's a paved road that twists up to Albur Lighthouse. More challenging is the walk to the radio masts at the highest point of the park, 300 meters above the sea. At number 3 in our list, Puig Campana. The village of Finestrat is 15 minutes by car, and here you can get detailed information on how best to ascend one of the region's highest and most emblematic peaks. Visit the tourist office for trail maps, make sure people know that you're going to attempt the climb, and then you can be on your way. You won't need anything more than sensible clothing, food, water, and a phone to climb the 1,406 meters to the top. As you go, you'll encounter a sparse, almost lunar landscape of scree and the odd tufts of pine and juniper scrub. At number 2, Altia. The next resort along the coast is Altia, which sits in the bay beyond the ridge of the Sierra Galata. Altia has a quieter atmosphere to Benidorm and is one of those typically Mediterranean old towns to wander through. It's on a hillside with a steep gradient etched with alleys and stairways. Houses here are all painted white and wrought iron balconies, window grates, and gas lights. The unmissable monument in Altia is the parish church, loved for its two bright blue cupolas patterned with white tiles. Check out the number one places in our list, Alicante. The capital of the province is close enough for a morning or afternoon excursion, and you can even get there on L1 of the Alicante tram. There's a bit more history in this city, and none of it is more striking than the medieval castle of Santa Barbara. The outer walls of this fortress dominate Alicante from the steep slopes of Mount Benicanto, and as you descend you'll enter Santa Cruz, the old town, where there are winding cobblestone streets and traditional, whitewashed houses. Now it's time to hear from you what's your favorite things to do in Benidorm. Is there something we missed? Let us know in the comments section below, and don't forget to give this video a like and subscribe to Greenable if you haven't already clicked the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content.