Benidorm Holidays: Beaches, Theme Parks and Day Trips
Provincia de Alicante · Valencia · Spain · 70,450 residents · on the coast
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Benidorm is a coastal town of around 70,000 people on the Costa Blanca, in the Valencian province of Alicante, and it is built for family holidays. Two long town beaches, Platja de Llevant and Platja de Ponent, frame the centre, while Terra Mítica, Aqualandia, Mundomar and Terra Natura all sit about two miles out. Summers are hot, with July highs around 31°C, and even December averages 17°C by day. Alicante airport, with direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly 29 miles away, so you can be on the sand the afternoon you land.
Why go
- Platja de Llevant lies just over half a mile from the centre, ideal for easy family beach days.
- Terra Mítica, Aqualandia and Mundomar are all within about two miles of town.
- Alicante airport has direct UK flights and is around 41 minutes' drive away.
- Dry, warm weather: July sees just 5 mm of rain and highs near 31°C.
Top sights in Benidorm
Theme Parks, Beaches and Old Town
Terra Mítica is Benidorm's best-known attraction, a theme park about 2 miles from the centre. Close by are Mundomar, a marine animal park at around 2 miles, Aqualandia, the waterpark, at a similar distance, and Terra Natura Benidorm, a zoo roughly 2.3 miles out. Together they make the town an easy choice for children of most ages.
The beaches are the other half of the story. Platja de Llevant is about 0.6 miles from the centre and Platja de Ponent about a mile; Platgeta del Mal Pas is a small beach a quarter of a mile away. Further out you will find Almadrava Cove (around 1.5 miles), Cala Tío Ximo (around 1.6 miles) and Playa de Finestrat (about 2 miles).
In town, the Museo Boca del Calvari sits barely a tenth of a mile from the centre, the Mirador de Sant Jaume viewpoint is a quarter of a mile away, and the Bullring of Benidorm stands about half a mile off. Tours and tickets for these and other experiences can be booked directly on this page.
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Tours & tickets in Benidorm
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Benidorm can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Benidorm
Choosing Your Base in Benidorm
The centre is compact: the museum, the Mirador de Sant Jaume and Platgeta del Mal Pas all lie within a quarter of a mile of each other, so staying here puts you on foot from the old quarter and the sea. Platja de Llevant, just over half a mile away, and Platja de Ponent, about a mile away, give you the choice of two long beachfronts.
Families planning several days at the parks may prefer the side of town towards Terra Mítica, Aqualandia and Terra Natura, around 2 miles out, or the quieter coves such as Almadrava and Cala Tío Ximo. Live hotel prices for Benidorm are shown on this page.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Benidorm and the villages around it is a hire car from Alicante (ALC), about 41 min away.
Best time to visit Benidorm
When to Visit Benidorm
- 16°CJan10 mm
- 16°CFeb17 mm
- 19°CMar17 mm
- 20°CApr15 mm
- 22°CMay56 mm
- 26°CJun19 mm
- 31°CJul5 mm
- 30°CAug22 mm
- 26°CSept50 mm
- 25°COct42 mm
- 21°CNov10 mm
- 17°CDec7 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months run from May to October. July is the hottest, with average highs of 31°C and lows of 23°C, closely followed by August at 30°C; June and September both reach around 26°C, which suits anyone who finds high summer too warm.
Rain is light overall, but May is the wettest month with about 56 mm, followed by September (50 mm) and October (42 mm). July is the driest, with only 5 mm across two rainy days. Winter stays mild, with daytime highs of 16 to 17°C from December to February, making Benidorm a sensible choice for winter sun.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16°C | 9°C | 10 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 9°C | 17 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 19°C | 11°C | 17 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 20°C | 13°C | 15 mm | 11 h |
| May | 22°C | 15°C | 56 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 26°C | 20°C | 19 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 31°C | 23°C | 5 mm | 14 h |
| Aug | 30°C | 23°C | 22 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 26°C | 20°C | 50 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 25°C | 17°C | 42 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 21°C | 13°C | 10 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 17°C | 9°C | 7 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Getting to Benidorm from the UK
Alicante (ALC) is the nearest airport, around 29 miles away and roughly 41 minutes by car, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Valencia (VLC), about 68 miles away, and Murcia (RMU), about 74 miles away, also have direct UK flights; allow around 1 hour 40 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes respectively by car hire or transfer.
Driving from Calais takes about 20 hours at the wheel, so most motorists split the journey over two or more days. Once in Spain, the ferry port of Dénia is about 25 miles north, with sailings to Ibiza, Formentera and Palma, and Valencia's port, around 63 miles away, adds Maó and Tangier Med.
By air
- Alicante (ALC)29 miles, about 41 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Valencia (VLC)68 miles, about 1 h 37 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Murcia (RMU)74 miles, about 1 h 45 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 20 h 4 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Dénia (25 miles), Valencia (63 miles), Ibiza (88 miles).
Benidorm is good for
Around Benidorm
Day Trips Along the Costa Blanca
Finestrat and la Nucia are both about 5 miles away, with Polop just beyond at around 5.5 miles. Altea and Villajoyosa, each roughly 6 miles from Benidorm, are larger towns of more than 20,000 people and easy half-day outings.
For something smaller, Sella, a village of around 640 residents, lies about 9 miles inland, and Relleu, with under a thousand inhabitants, is about 11 miles away. Calp, around 12 miles up the coast, rounds off the options.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Benidorm sits just 30 metres above sea level and July averages 31°C, so plan theme park days for the morning and pack plenty of sun cream and water for the children.
With around 70,000 residents and four major family attractions within a couple of miles, the town is busy in the peak months; booking park tickets ahead saves time in the queue. If you are visiting in May or September, the wettest months, keep an indoor option such as the Museo Boca del Calvari in reserve.
Questions people ask
How far is Benidorm from Alicante airport?
Alicante airport is about 29 miles from Benidorm, roughly 41 minutes by car. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom, which makes it the most convenient arrival point. Valencia and Murcia airports also have direct UK flights but are around 1 hour 40 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes away.
Is Benidorm good for a family holiday?
Yes. Terra Mítica, Aqualandia, Mundomar and Terra Natura Benidorm all lie within about 2.3 miles of the centre, and Platja de Llevant and Platja de Ponent are both around a mile or less away, giving families an easy mix of beach days and park days.
What is the weather like in Benidorm in winter?
Winters are mild. Daytime highs sit around 16 to 17°C from December to February, with night-time lows near 9°C, and rain is light, with only two or three rainy days a month. It suits a winter sun break rather than swimming weather.
When is the hottest time to visit Benidorm?
July is the hottest month, with average highs of 31°C and lows of 23°C, followed closely by August at 30°C. July is also the driest month. If you prefer gentler heat, June and September both average around 26°C.
Can you drive to Benidorm from the UK?
Yes, but it is a long journey. Driving from Calais takes about 20 hours, so most people break the trip with overnight stops in France or Spain. Having your own car does make day trips to Altea, Calp or the inland villages easy.
What towns can I visit on a day trip from Benidorm?
Finestrat and la Nucia are about 5 miles away, Altea and Villajoyosa around 6 miles, and Calp roughly 12 miles up the coast. Inland, the small villages of Polop, Sella and Relleu lie between about 5.5 and 11 miles from town.