Benidorm Attractions: Beaches, Theme Parks and Viewpoints

If you only have a few days, the things to see in Benidorm fall neatly into three groups. First the beaches: Platja de Llevant, about half a mile from the centre, and Platja de Ponent, around a mile away, frame the town, with the little Platgeta del Mal Pas tucked right beside the old quarter. Second the parks: Terra Mítica is the big theme park, Aqualandia the waterpark and Mundomar the marine animal park, all roughly two miles out, with Terra Natura Benidorm, a zoo, at about two and a half miles.

Third, and often overlooked, are the views and the bits of old Benidorm. The Mirador de Sant Jaume sits at the heart of the old town, the La Cruz de Benidorm Viewpoint looks down on the whole bay from about two miles out, and the Museo Boca del Calvari and the town bullring are both close to the centre. Mix one from each group and you have a fair answer to the question of what to see in Benidorm without spending every day in a queue.

The old town and the seafront are where most things to do in Benidorm, Spain, begin. Mirador de Sant Jaume and the Museo Boca del Calvari are right in the centre, Platgeta del Mal Pas is on the doorstep, and Platja de Llevant and the Bullring of Benidorm are under a mile away. Platja de Ponent stretches off to the west at around a mile, and Almadrava Cove lies at a similar distance.

A short ride out, about two miles from the centre, you reach the theme park cluster of Terra Mítica, Aqualandia and Mundomar, plus the smaller beaches of Cala Tío Ximo and Playa de Finestrat and the La Cruz viewpoint. Terra Natura Benidorm is a touch further, at roughly two and a half miles.

Finestrat, the neighbouring town about five miles away, adds El Realet, a castle site around five and a half miles from Benidorm. It is the natural half-day trip if you want something different from the beach, and it rounds out the list of things to do in Benidorm, Costa Blanca, beyond the town itself.

Families are well served by Benidorm's Spain attractions because the biggest names are built for them and sit close together. Aqualandia is the obvious choice in the July and August heat, when daytime highs reach 30 to 31°C, while Mundomar's marine animals and the zoo at Terra Natura Benidorm make gentler days for younger children. Terra Mítica suits older children and teenagers who want rides.

The town beaches are the easy fallback: Platja de Llevant and Platgeta del Mal Pas are close to the centre, so you are never far from a shady break. Spring and autumn are kinder for park days, with highs of around 22 to 26°C from May to October, though May and September are the wettest months, so keep a flexible day in hand.

You can compare tours and tickets for the parks and excursions here, alongside hotel prices and car hire. Booking ahead makes the most sense for the theme parks in the school summer holidays, when demand is highest; outside the peak, May, June, September and October give warm weather with more room to move. Car hire is handy if you want to reach El Realet in Finestrat or the coves without relying on transfers, and Alicante airport is only 41 minutes away.

Most British travellers come on a package, with flight, hotel and transfer bundled together, and the deal buttons on this page let you compare those. Your board basis shapes your evenings: on bed and breakfast or half board you will be out more often looking for the best Benidorm restaurants, so it is worth deciding early how much eating out you want before choosing.