What to do in Benidorm? Below we will present a series of activities that you cannot miss while you are in this incredible city of Alicante, but first let’s make a brief introduction about this city. Benidorm is one of the most important cities in the Valencian Community together with the capital itself, Valencia, of course. In recent times it has become one of the main tourist centers of the entire Autonomous Community.
This town is considered the great tourist center of the Costa Blanca, this being the name by which the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea is known in the province of Alicante, Spain, and it is not for less. It is a city that has excellent beaches, a historic center that allows you to discover the history of the city in the first person and at the same time visit spaces that were created centuries ago, and some of them offer spectacular views. That is, when we talk about things to do in Benidorm, options are things that are not lacking.
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, the city of Benidorm does not go unnoticed in the Valencian Community, nor in Spain and we could say that neither in the rest of the world. It is known as the “New York of the Mediterranean” and The reason for this is that it is the Spanish city with the most skyscrapers in all of Spain, but it is also the one with the most skyscrapers per inhabitant in the world.
With several outdoor spaces, such as its markets, Parque de l’Aigüera, Sierra Helada, the city has activities that can be enjoyed at different times of the year, with places that can be visited from different ways and that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Here is a list of activities that you can do on your way through this beautiful city of the Valencian Community.
9 activities to do in Benidorm
Being one of the most important tourist spots in all of Spain and the Mediterranean in general, the activities that can be done in Benidorm are inexhaustible. Bearing that in mind, and that sometimes a little help to get organized doesn’t hurt, here we present nine activities for you to take into account on your next visit to the city.
1. Get to know the Old Town
The city of Benidorm is divided into four zones, as established by the City Council, and the Casco Antiguo or Centro Viejo is one of them.It is one of the original points of the city and, at the same time, one of its main tourist attractions. It is characterized by having small streets and, for the most part, pedestrians, and is delimited by the intersection of Avenida de Ruzafa with Avenida Emilio Ortuño, and Plaza del Castillo, Elche Port and Park.
Getting to know and touring the Old Town is without a doubt one of the activities you have to do in Benidorm, to get to know the city from its beginnings. Not only for being picturesque and containing its origins, but also for the spaces it has to visit. It should be borne in mind that in its beginnings, local life was centered here.
One of the most outstanding elements was a castle from 1325, which was destroyed twice: partially in the 15th century, when it was attacked by pirates, and completely in the 19th century. In 1972, a low building was built in its place, which later became the Municipal Library. Among the outstanding places that you can find while you get to know the old town of Benidorm are the Plaza de Canalejas, Church of San Jaime, viewpoints and the Paseo de la Carretera.
2. Check the view from the Mediterranean Balcony
TheBalcony of the Mediterraneanis located on the Cerro Canfali and offers the possibility of appreciating the coastal landscape in an incomparable way. Checking the view of the bay from there is, without a doubt, one of the things you have to do in Benidorm, when you find yourself touring this town in the Valencian Community. It is one of the favorite points for tourists who come to the region.
Photo by Rodrigo Ardilha on Unsplash
This space is also known as“castle viewpoint”, and this is because it is located in the space where between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries a great fortress was found that served as a defense for the city. Another of the names used to refer to this space in the city is usually “Mirador de Benidorm”.
The viewpoint is located in the Plaza del Castell, next to the church of San Jaime and Santa Ana. In it it is also possible to find four cannons that keep the memory of the destruction of the castle present. It should be noted that the balcony is also usually the meeting place for various cultural celebrations such as Les Nits al Castell or the LGBTQ+ pride party.
3. Observe the city from the Mirador de La Cruz
This city stands out in the Valencian Community for its beaches, but its panoramic points are not far behind. In fact, one of the things you can’t miss doing in Benidorm is going up to Mirador de la Cruz and seeing everything the town has to offer from a completely different point of view.
This viewpoint is located at the top of theSierra Helada Natural Park, or Serra Geladasaid in Valencian, at some217 meters high. From there it allows you to have a spectacular view of both the city, the mountains and its coastline. The route to the top is one that can be done both by car or on foot, in fact it is an excellent place to practice hiking and connects with others that border the cliffs.
The cross that gives its name to this viewpoint, which on clear days allows you to appreciate a unique sunset, was placed in 1961. The reason for that was as a claim. That was the year in which the use of the bikini was allowed and, faced with this measure, the Catholic sector of the population did not agree and raised this cross to the top of the mountain that symbolized the liberation of Benidorm from sinful fame and the new (bad) habits. However,currently, far from being a popular place, it has become one of the best tourist spots in the city.
4. Visit the Markets and Flea Markets
If you are going to spend some time in the city, what could be better than enjoying it shopping as if you were completely local? In this sense, something you have to do in Benidorm is go through the markets and street markets where you can find everything, even things you didn’t know you needed.
On one side is the Mercaloix market, a covered space located in the Rincón de Loix neighborhood where it is possible to find everything from clothes to toys, and also items of the local gastronomy. This space can be visited on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 8 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon.
Another of the markets that can be visited in Benidorm is Foeites, one that is open throughout the year but only onWednesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. hours. It should be noted that it is possible to find all kinds of fruits and vegetables there, as well as other foods, and it is surrounded by food places. And, one that can be added to the list is the one known as “Benidorm Rastro” or “Swan Market”, it is one of those that are far from the center but it is the perfect place to find antiques and second-hand products.
5. Visit the Church of San Jaime and Santa Ana
The Church of Sant Jaume i Santa Ana, or San Jaime and Santa Ana, is a Catholic temple that wasbuilt between 1740 and 1780, but with the passing of elements continued to be incorporated over time. It is located in the old town and a visit to this space is one of the things you have to do in Benidorm, whether for the religious, historical or architectural aspect.
Located on top of the Canfali hill, it has a neoclassical style, and the tower it has was built between 1807 and 1812, although it was reformed in 1912 and it was restored in 1990. It is the oldest church in the entire city and there is an image of the Virgen del Sufragio, very important for the community as she is the patron saint of Benidorm.
This 18th-century church has a Mediterranean-style blue dome, according to its location, it has a central nave and small chapels next to it and since 2012 it has a pipe organ. It is here where the most important religious celebrations of the city take place.
6. Walk through the L’Aigüera Park
The Parque de L’Aigüera, or Parque de la Aigüera, is one of the city’s green spaces and is located right in the heart of it. Walking through the Park, enjoying its tranquility, is undoubtedly one of the experiences you have to do in Benidorm. It was designed by Ricardo Bofill towards the end of the 1980s and extends over 120,000 square meters.
One of the most distinctive features of this urban park is its design, due to its uniqueness. In addition, it has two auditoriums that have a Roman style and are linked by a promenade that extends over 300 meters with palm trees that mark its edges. In these amphitheaters throughout the year, although especially in summer, shows and cultural exhibitions are usually held.
L’Aigüera Park covers the space between the bullring and the city’s new town hall, and is just ten minutes from the Levante beach promenade.
7. Walk the path to the Torre de la Escaleta
The escaleta tower, also known as Punta de les Caletes Toweror also Punta del Cavall Tower, is one of the towers that were built in the city in the 16th century in order to defend the city. Its design was in charge of Juan Bautista Antonelli, engineer of the king. Its name is due to its strategic location, which makes a lot of sense for a defense tower, and allows you to observe the cliffs of Serra Gelada without any problem.
The visit to the Torre de la Escaleta is practically a mandatory activity to do in Benidorm, and it also has a hiking trail that can be followed by people of all ages. From this route it is possible to visit two coves that are in this region, these are the Cala de l’Almadrava and the Cala del Ti Ximo.
This tower is located in the southernmost region of the Serra Gelada Natural Park (Sierra Helada). In its beginnings, it was used to warn of the presence of pirates, known as ” Barbary corsairs”.
8. Enjoy the beaches of Benidorm
Undoubtedly one of the things you have to do in Benidorm is enjoy its beaches. It is one of its main attractions and has something for all tastes. The city has beaches, properly speaking, with coves that the general public can enjoy. In the same way, some of them are closer to the center while others are a little further away.
Among the most popular beaches in this city of Alicante are Levante and Poniente, two wide beaches that are characterized by having fine sand, are close to the center, and are located on each side of Punta Canfali. In addition, both also have all the services, in order to make the most of them.
At the northern end of the city’s coastline, it is possible to find two small coves, made of sand and rock. These two are Cala del Tio Ximo and Cala Almandrava. These are ideal spaces for people who enjoy diving and are looking for a place that is quieter than urban beaches. The city also has another cove, called Mal Pas, which is located right between Poniente Beach and Levante Beach.
9. Explore the Sierra Helada Natural Park
The Sierra Helada Natural Park, or Serra Gelada as its name is in Valencian, is a protected area that extends over part of Benidorm and the town of Alfaz de Pi. It has an area of 5,6953.92 hectares, where most of it is in the marine area and only almost 745 hectares are on land. This space encompasses the entire mountain range and also three islets: the Illot de la Mitjana, the Illot de Benidorm and the Illots de l’Olla and La Galera.
Its creation took place in the year 2005 and it is included in the network of natural parks of the Valencian Community. It is an ideal space for hiking while encountering Mediterranean landscapes that are hardly comparable, so exploring it is one of the things you definitely have to do in Benidorm.
In the park it is possible to find different routes and trails that lead to discover secret caves, lighthouses or hidden capes that have unmissable views, and observe unique specimens of wildlife.
These are some of the activities that you cannot miss doing in Benidorm to enjoy your stay in the city like never before.
