Whether you're travelling alone, as a couple or as a family, Benidorm located on the eastern coast of Spain within Alicante is a great place to go on holiday. You'll find pleasant year-round weather, an energetic party atmosphere and a fantastic selection of activities and attractions for people of all ages and tastes to enjoy. The residents of Benidorm have gone all out to ensure there's a wide variety of things to see and do you just need to take your pick! With such a great number of excursions, shows, theme parks and natural sites to explore, there is something for everyone in fun and bustling Benidorm.
Sightseeing and excursions
Marco Polo Expediciones offers a wide array of ground, air and water excursions to suit every group size, taste and budget. The most popular trip is the Jeep safari tour which takes place three times a week during the quiet season and five times a week during the peak summer months. On this excursion you'll get to drive through the countryside of the Costa Blanca, taking in some fantastic mountain, village and valley views along the way. There is a quick stop for lunch before carrying on to the Algar waterfalls for a swim. You can choose to be a passenger during the excursion or if you take your driving license with you, you'll be able to drive your own 4x4 Jeep.
Horse Riding is a great way to explore the local area without having to walk anywhere. This trip takes place in the Sierra Helada natural park in Benidorm where you'll get to take in views of some of the most beautiful countryside the resort has to offer. The trainers will pair you with the perfect horse to suit your abilities, so whether you're an experienced rider or if you've never ridden a horse before, you're bound to have a great time.
If you're not keen on horses but still want to get out and about, how about a Segway Tour? On this eco-friendly excursion, you can give your feet a rest while exploring various parts of Benidorm. After a safety briefing and short practise to make sure you're comfortable on the Segway, you'll head off on your guided tour through the resort's Old Town, stopping off at all the interesting sites along the way.
A boat trip to Peacock Island is a great way to spend a day during your holiday. The glass-bottomed boat leaves from the Benidorm harbour once each hour every day and takes a 30 minute trip to the island, during which you'll have the chance to spot a variety of local marine life from the comfort of your seat. When you arrive at Peacock Island you can explore and take in the beautiful views of the island's coastline and Benidorm don't forget to take your camera with you. There is also a restaurant and bar on the island where you can enjoy a light lunch or refreshing drink.
The Benidorm City Sightseeing Bus is one of the best, easiest and cheapest ways to explore the resort. This hop-on hop-off bus service is made up of two buses which follow two separate routes. The L30 passes by several shopping centres, Levante beach, Parque de Elche, Poniente beach, the tourist information centre and a number of plazas. The L31 visits Levante beach, Tio Ximo beach, some shopping centres and Benidorm harbour. The ticket you buy lasts for one day, during which you can jump on and jump off as many times as you like, making it a very affordable way to get around the resort.
Theme parks
Families travelling with children won't want to miss the chance to visit Aqualandia. Open every day from 10am until 6pm May until September, this water park is packed with slides and activities for everyone to enjoy. The little ones will have the time of their lives in the Niagra swimming pool and Adventureland, whilst the more daring visitors can brave the Big Bang and Kamikaze water slides. Aqualandia also offers a café-bar where you can enjoy a drink or something to eat.
Whether you're holidaying as a family or a couple, a visit to Terra Mitica makes for a great day out. This large theme park is divided into four different worlds where you'll find a number of themed rides and attractions. Adrenaline junkies will love the Inferno, Titánide and SynKope, while the little ones will have fun on the Templo de Kinetos, Puerto de Alejandría and Mithos. On top of the rides, Terra Mitica also features several cafes, restaurants, gift shops and shows for everyone to enjoy.
Open from May until September, Aqua Natura is the ideal place for families and couples to spend the day. With so many things to see and do, this water park has something for everyone to enjoy. Here you'll find a number of water slides, swimming pools, sunbathing zones, children's areas and even a spa. Aqua Natura also features a small aquarium and provides visitors with the opportunity to swim with sea lions as part of daily interaction programmes. The onsite Mediterranean Reef Restaurant is the perfect place to stop for a spot of lunch, whilst the two Ice Corners serve a selection of delicious ice creams to cool you down.
Animal zoos
Open every day from 10am until 6pm, Mundomar is a great place for families to spend the day. This huge animal zoo is full of large enclosures where various species live, including flamingos, meerkats, monkeys and penguins. There are also dolphin, sea lion and parrot shows for visitors to enjoy. Those who want to get up close and personal with the park's residents won't want to miss out on interactive programmes like the dolphin encounter, swimming with sea lions, feeding the animals and becoming a trainer or keeper for the day.
Terra Natura is one of the most popular attractions in Benidorm. Here, you'll find more than 1,500 animals of over 200 species, 50 of which are in danger of extinction. As well as the many animals, this park also features over 2,500 examples of over 160 species of trees, shrubs and plants from the same regions as the animals. One of the best aspects of Terra Natura is the Zooimmersion experience, which allows visitors to safely come into contact with some of the park's residents as if there were no barriers separating you.
Shows
If you're searching for family-friendly evening entertainment, it doesn't get much better than Benidorm Circus. Held every Saturday at 6pm, this one-of-a-kind show features several magicians, acrobats, dancers, contortionists, jugglers, weight lifters and clowns who always leave the audience awe-struck and wanting more. Benidorm Circus does not use any animals in the shows, relying upon the incredible talents and skills of the performers alone. This two hour show is changed regularly, encouraging people to visit time and time again.
The Desafio Medieval show held in Castillo Conde de Alfaz is a must during your Benidorm-based holiday. One of the newest shows to come to the resort, Desafio Medieval takes you on a trip back in time with sword fights, jousting knights on horseback and damsels in distress. The price of the ticket includes the 90 minute show, dinner, drinks and entrance to the disco. As well as the standard tickets, you can also purchase VIP tickets for preferential seating and another type of ticket which includes a magic show.
When it comes to evening entertainment, Benidorm Palace Dinner Show is one of the most popular choices amongst families and couples. This Vegas-style music and dance spectacle sees a number of cabaret girls dressed in flamboyant feather outfits and costume jewellery perform some incredible flamenco numbers. There are also several sing-along songs throughout the evening that the audience can join in with. As well as the dancers, Benidorm Palace Dinner Show also features magicians, jugglers and acrobats which are sure to leave the audience amazed.
Historical & natural sites
History buffs won't want to miss the chance to visit Iglesia de San Jaime y Santa Ana. This small church found in Benidorm Old Town features quaint architecture both inside and outside. Often you'll find a number of locals here selling religious memorabilia, such as sculptures and other artwork, which make great souvenirs or gifts for friends and family back home. Don't forget to take your camera when you visit you can see amazing views of the Levante and Poniente beaches from here.
Situated along the Avinguda de l'Aiguera, l'Aiguera Park is a great place to take it easy and watch the world go by. This Neoclassic-style park is home to two large amphitheatres where the Benidorm Song Festival takes place every June. Here you can enjoy a picnic on the grass, read a book under the shade of a tree or admire the many water fountains. The park also offers a play area for the little ones to enjoy and several chess tables to keep the adults entertained.
One of the best places in Benidorm for bird watching, Parque de Elche is home to a great number of species which can be found throughout the grounds. Those who are fond of doves will be pleased to hear that there are hundreds of them in the park, where you can watch them splash about in the fountains. If you're holidaying with little ones, be sure to purchase a packet of bird food from the small kiosk and have fun counting all the different birds you attract.
A trip to Benidorm isn't complete without visiting the Algar Waterfalls. Just a 15-minute drive away from the centre of the resort, this area is characterised by natural plunge pools, waterfalls and streams, making it a beautiful place to visit. You can choose to explore the wooden bridges, stairways and boardwalks on your own or join a tour which takes you through the bed of the River Algar. The tour covers 1.5km, with plenty of opportunities to cool off in pools and waterfalls along the way. It doesn't matter what time of year you visit the temperature of the Algar Waterfalls rarely drops below 19°C, so it's always warm enough to enjoy a dip.
Golf
Golfers will be pleased to hear that Benidorm offers a number of spectacular courses. The Real de Faula Golf Club is one of the most popular and is ideal for golfers of all abilities and experience. This club is made up of two courses which are nestled into a pine valley with incredible sea and mountain views. The Championship North golf course is a par-72 and offers 18 holes, whilst the Executive South course also features 18 holes, this time with a par of 62. Here you'll find all the amenities and services you'd expect from a quality golf club, including pro shop, practice green, driving range, trolley hire, buggy hire, club hire, bar and restaurant.
Rejas Open Club is another top pick among golfers looking to enjoy a round or two during their holiday. This nine-hole golf course also features a golf academy, with more than 50,000m2 dedicated to introduce people to the sport and help them improve their game. Just a short distance away from Poniente beach, this golf course features a gentle rolling landscape with narrow fairways and strategically places trees and tees, making it a popular place for golfers of all abilities to play. A handful of the precision shots are very challenging, so even the most experienced golfers will be able to practice their short game.