Benidorm delivers far more than its famous high-rise skyline and sandy beaches. The city packs theme parks, a hilltop old town, offshore island excursions, hiking trails with Mediterranean views, and one of Spain’s liveliest nightlife strips into a compact coastal strip. Here are the standout things to do in Benidorm, with practical details on locations, hours and costs. For a complete overview, read our Benidorm travel guide.
Things to Do in Benidorm: Beaches and the Sea
Playa de Levante
Levante Beach stretches for 2km along Benidorm’s eastern bay with fine golden sand and calm, shallow waters. It is the busier of the two main beaches, backed by the famous skyline of high-rise hotels. Facilities include sun lounger and umbrella rentals (EUR 6 per lounger, EUR 5 per umbrella), showers, toilets, lifeguards (June through September, 10am to 7pm), beach volleyball courts, and a dedicated accessible bathing area with amphibious chairs. The promenade runs the full length with bars, restaurants, and ice cream kiosks. For more detail, see our Benidorm weather by month. Levante gets crowded by 10am in July and August.
Playa de Poniente
Poniente Beach is Levante’s quieter counterpart on the western bay, running 3km with the same golden sand but fewer crowds and more space. The water is slightly deeper and the beach attracts more Spanish families and older couples than the British-heavy Levante. Facilities match Levante with loungers, lifeguards, and promenade dining. The Rincon de Loix area at Levante’s eastern end and the far end of Poniente both offer quieter stretches if you want space. For more detail, see our best time to visit Benidorm. Poniente sunsets are the best in Benidorm, with the sun dropping behind the mountains.
Isla de Benidorm (Benidorm Island)
A distinctive rock island sits 3.5km offshore, topped with a distinctive hole that local legend says was carved by a giant’s sword. Glass-bottom boat trips depart from the port at the southern end of Levante Beach. The 20-minute crossing (EUR 17 return for adults, EUR 12 for children) gets you to the island where you can hike the short trail to the summit for panoramic bay views. The island is a nature reserve with seabird colonies. Boats run April through October, roughly every 30 to 60 minutes from 10am to 6pm depending on season. For more detail, see our Benidorm events and festivals. You can stay on the island for up to 2 hours before catching a return boat.
Things to Do in Benidorm: Theme Parks and Wildlife
Terra Mitica
This mythology-themed amusement park on the outskirts of Benidorm (Carretera de Benidorm a Finestrat) covers ancient Mediterranean civilizations with rides ranging from the Magnus Colossus wooden roller coaster to the Tizona inverted coaster. The park is divided into Egypt, Greece, and Rome zones. Admission costs EUR 38 for adults and EUR 28 for children (4 to 12) when booked online. The park operates late March through early November, daily in July and August, weekends only in shoulder months. Opening hours are typically 11am to 8pm, extending to midnight for special events. For more detail, see our Benidorm neighborhoods. The park includes live shows, splash zones for cooling off, and a mix of thrill rides and family attractions.
Aqualandia
One of Europe’s largest water parks, Aqualandia sits adjacent to Terra Mitica on the same access road. The park features the Verti-Go slide (a near-vertical 28-metre drop reaching 100km/h), a wave pool, lazy river, and dedicated children’s areas. Adult tickets are EUR 35 online, children (4 to 12) EUR 25. Lockers cost EUR 5 plus EUR 5 deposit. The park operates mid-May through mid-October, daily in summer with hours typically 10am to 7pm. Buy tickets online for a 10 to 15 percent discount over gate prices. For more detail, see our where to stay in Benidorm. Arrive at opening time in August to secure sun loungers.
Mundomar
This marine animal park next to Aqualandia focuses on dolphins, sea lions, penguins, and tropical birds with shows scheduled throughout the day. The dolphin show runs twice daily at 1pm and 4:30pm. Adult entry is EUR 28 online, children EUR 22. Mundomar operates daily mid-February through December with reduced hours in winter. Budget 3 to 4 hours to see the full circuit of exhibits and shows. For more detail, see our Benidorm travel tips. Combined tickets with Aqualandia offer savings of roughly EUR 15 per person versus buying separately.
Terra Natura
A zoo and water park combined, Terra Natura houses over 1,500 animals across 320,000 square metres with a focus on immersive enclosures that minimise visible barriers. Species include elephants, big cats, primates and reptiles from Asia, America and Europe zones. Adult entry costs EUR 28 online, children EUR 22. The attached Aqua Natura water park adds EUR 10 to the ticket. Located on the CV-70 road towards La Nucia, the park operates year-round and is one of the few Benidorm attractions open through winter, though the water park closes November through April.
Things to Do in Benidorm: Old Town and Viewpoints
Balcon del Mediterraneo
Perched on the rocky headland separating Levante and Poniente beaches, this whitewashed viewpoint is Benidorm’s most famous landmark. The tiled plaza, known locally as the Balcony of the Mediterranean, offers uninterrupted views of both bays, the island, and the Sierra Helada mountains. It is free to visit, open 24 hours, and especially popular at sunset. Below the balcony, narrow streets of the Old Town are lined with tapas bars.
Iglesia de San Jaime y Santa Ana
The blue-domed parish church sits on the Old Town hilltop next to the Balcon del Mediterraneo. Built in the 18th century, it houses Benidorm’s patron saints and is the focal point for the Moors and Christians festival procession. Entry is free and the church is open daily from 9am to 1pm and 5pm to 8pm.
Sierra Helada Natural Park
The 5.6km mountain ridge east of Benidorm rises to 439 metres at its highest point. Marked hiking trails start from the Rincon de Loix area and climb to the Albir lighthouse with sweeping coastal views toward Altea and Calpe. The main trail to the lighthouse is a 4.5km round trip taking roughly 2 hours on a well-maintained path with moderate elevation gain. Bring water and sun protection as there is no shade on the ridge. The park is free to enter and open year-round. The access point is at the eastern end of Calle de la Armada Espanola.
Things to Do in Benidorm: Nightlife and Entertainment
Benidorm’s nightlife concentrates in the “English Zone” around Calle Gerona and Calle Mallorca in the Rincon de Loix/Levante area, where British-style pubs, karaoke bars, and tribute acts run from 9pm to 4am. The Old Town offers a more Spanish alternative with tapas bars along Calle Santo Domingo (known as “Tapas Alley”) serving drinks with free tapas from roughly EUR 2 per caña. The Benidorm Palace on Avenida del Mediterraneo stages a Vegas-style dinner show with acrobatics, flamenco, and magic acts (EUR 45 to 55 including dinner, shows nightly at 9:30pm, closed Sundays in winter). For clubbing, Penny Lane and KU Benidorm are the longest-running venues, both open until 6am in summer.
