The huge tourist resort of Benidorm has grown up around its excellent beaches and great year-round weather.
The town lines a six-kilometre stretch of golden sand that runs from Levante Beach in the east to Poniente Beach in the west. The beaches have the blue flag mark for bathing, feature lifeguards and are carefully cleaned every day. Also on hand, you will find all the amenities such as bars and restaurants and a whole host of water sports, such as water-skiing, jet-skiing, paragliding and scuba diving.
Levante Beach is the livelier end, with a young energetic crowd. The sandy beach slopes gently into the water and there are no rocks, which makes it great for bathing. In the sea one can play on the diving boards, rafts and slides.
Poniente Beach is a bit more relaxed and gets less crowded. Again, it is perfectly suited for bathing and is popular with families and the slightly older crowd.
Another beach, Malpas Beach, can be found beneath the cliffs near the harbour. It is much smaller and quieter than Benidorm's main stretch of beach, though the energetic can often find a game of volleyball here.
To enjoy some fun away from the beach, visitors can go to one of the many theme parks and water parks.
Aqualandia Water Amusement Park is open between May and October and easily be reached from the centre of Benidorm. There are all manner of pools, rides and slides, including Niagagra, the Big Bang and Kamikaze.
Terra Mitica is just 5 minutes from the centre of Benidorm and has loads of adrenalin-pumping rides all with an ancient civilization theme.
Benidorm's nightlife is certainly lively. The entertainment ranges from fish and chips and a British comedian to extravagant cabaret and dance shows in Benidorm Palace to Freddie Mercury impersonators.
Popular with tourists is one of the many excursions on offer on the area. It is possible to go sailing, on a moonlight safari, diving, climbing, or on a jeep safari to name just a few. Alternatively, you can hire a car/scooter/bicycle and explore the area under you own steam. There is some beautiful mountainous countryside around Benidorm and an escape from the concrete jungle by the sea to some of the nearby villages can actually make you feel like you are really in Spain!
There are daily âyellow submarineâ trips to Benidorm Island, 2kms off the shore. The lower deck of the boat is underwater allowing you to gaze at the marine life and the island is home to some rare birds.
Another day trip by boat takes you to Calpe, an hours ride away past some stunning coastline including the very pretty Bay of Altea. On arrival you'll find Calpe is a charming town that features some great seafood restaurants.
Also of interest in the area are the Canelobre Caves, 24 km north of Alicante. This natural underground chamber is beautifully lit and sometimes hosts concerts. There are good walking tours nearby. Alternatively, the Algar Falls are nestled high in the mountains behind Altea. The waterfall, its pools and the lush surrounding vegetation make a lovely scene.
There are two main markets in Benidorm. One is the Benidorm Outdoor Market on Wednesday and Sunday mornings where you can grab yourself a bargain. At El Cisne Flea Market you could find almost anything, and its well worth checking out every Sunday.
For Golf enthusiasts, the Costa Blanca is a paradise: within a two hour drive of Benidorm you can find more than fifteen 18 hole golf courses in the Costa Blanca, many of which are Championship standard.
Finally there are a number of great festivals to look out for in Benidorm. With over 55 festivals a year, the town is said to have the most of any town in Spain. That is no mean feat in a country famous for its fiestas.
One of the best is the Carnival in February, where the city turns into a sea of colour and residents come out to celebrate in style. It is rivaled by Las Hogueras de San Juanâ (Bonfires of St. John) which starts on June 24th and runs for a week. The focus is a street procession, during which huge wood and paper mache effigies are paraded through the streets. The end of the celebration sees a huge fireworks display as the effigies are burnt.
In November, La Fiestas Patronales celebrates Benidorm's patron saints (Virgen del Suffrage and Jaime Apostole). There are concerts as well as fishing and football competitions. Large bunches of flowers are carried through the old town to the Church on the headland and then woven into a huge display at the church's entrance.