Benidorm is situated on the Costa Blanca on the east coast of Spain. It is probably the Costa Blanca's liveliest resort town and has long been a favourite with British visitors embarking on Spain holidays. Benidorm offers a variety of things to see and do and has something to offer for most holiday makers.
One of Benidorms strongest assets is its award winning beaches. There are two beaches in Benidorm which together stretch for nearly three miles. The beaches are named Lavante and Poniente (Spanish for sunrise and sunset respectively) and are consistently voted amongst the cleanest and most popular beaches in Europe. There is a great variety of watersports available from the beaches including banana boat rides, parasailing and scuba diving.
Other attractions in Benidorm include the waterparks on the outskirts of the town and also Terra Mitica, Spain's largest theme park. For those wishing to explore further afield, Alicante 25 miles north of Benidorm is the main town in the Costa Blanca and has a variety of places of interest for holiday makers, while coach tours to the thousand year old mountain fortress of Guadalest are also popular. The Costa Blanca region is also famous for its golf and there are over fifteen 18-hole golf courses within a couple of hour's drive of Benidorm.
There are plenty of gift shops in Benidorm, again aimed at the British holiday maker with prices in the resort being relatively cheap, especially on alcohol and cigarettes. As with many areas of Spain, leather goods are prolific and of good value in Benidorm as are items of jewellery, bags and shoes.
The busy nightlife is another of a Benidorm holidays highlights, with something available for everyone. There are all sorts of live shows and bands, karaoke, bingo and adult entertainment available as well as a hoard of bars and clubs that will appeal to younger tourists. Many of the restaurants in Benidorm are geared towards the British tourist, so expect to find plenty of places serving the usual British food as well as the expected fast food joints and Chinese and Indian restaurants. For those looking to try some authentic Spanish cuisine, there are several bars and restaurants offering tapas and locally caught seafood along the old harbour.
If you are looking for an authentic Spanish experience from your holiday in Spain then Benidorm is probably not the best choice for you as many have likened it to England in the sun. But if you are looking for entertainment, nightlife and fun in the sun, it may just be an ideal destination.
Written by
Harry Lawrence
Harry Lawrance is an experienced writer based in the UK.