Benidorm is well-known in the UK and countless Brits visit every year to take advantage of its sunny weather and beautiful beaches. It’s famous for its party atmosphere and its skyscraper skyline but when I went, I discovered some of the more unusual things to do in Benidorm, Spain.
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I visited this town on the Spanish Costa Blanca and was surprised by the experiences on offer. Alongside some epic outdoor adventures, you’ll find a gorgeous old town and some of the best food in Alicante.
Read this travel guide to find out more about holidays in Benidorm including some of the best things to do, where to stay, and how to get there.
How to get to Benidorm
Benidorm is one of the easiest (and cheapest) places to get to from the UK which is why it’s such a popular destination amongst us Brits. Although Benidorm does not have its own airport, nearby is Alicante airport which serves the city and other destinations nearby.
You can book flights to Benidorm with Jet2 from all over the UK. Flights into Alicante airport take around two and a half hours and are available from most major international airports including Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Flights from London Stansted Airport are also available and this is where I flew from for my trip.
Once you land at Alicante airport, it’s around a 40-minute drive to the centre of Benidorm. You can get a taxi or catch a bus into the city.
You can also book package holidays to Benidorm with Jet2holidays. With these holidays your flight, accommodation, transfer, and luggage is all included. I love that Jet2’s packages include 22kg of hold baggage – perfect for all your holiday outfits!
Unusual things to do in Benidorm
Of course, you can (and probably should!) visit the strip during your trip to Benidorm but there’s so much more to this beautiful place than just bingo and beers. Here are some of the best things to do in Benidorm, perfect for adventure itineraries.
Explore Benidorm Old Town
You have to start your trip to Benidorm by exploring its old town. It’s home to cobbled streets, white buildings, and a gorgeous church. There’s also El Mirador de la Punta del Canfali, a famous viewpoint, and the Mediterranean Balcony here.
It feels like you’re a world away from the modern hotels and hustle and bustle of the strip and it’s a great place to explore and enjoy the spectacular coastline.
Visit the Mediterranean Balcony
The Mediterranean Balcony (Balcon del Mediterraneo) is a viewing platform accessed by steps that juts out into the sea. From here you can see the sandy beaches of Benidorm and out into the deep blue sea.
It’s a great photo opportunity and, while we were there, there were some buskers playing music which created a really special atmosphere.
Hire an e-bike and cycle the coast
One of the more adventurous things to do on a Benidorm break is to hire an e-bike and cycle up the coastal path. We hired bikes from TAOBIKE and cycled into the Sierra Helada nature park.
The paths here are wide and smooth so they’re perfect for cycling (even if you’re not that comfortable on a bike like me!) and you can be out of the city within minutes. There are some breathtaking views of the coastline here too.
Kayak around the coast
Now you’ve seen the coastline from above, it’s time to get in the sea! You can take a guided kayaking tour with Capitan Kayak.
I think this was my favourite thing that we did while we were there. Our guide was so much fun and I enjoyed seeing the caves and inlets around the coastline.
Get your adrenaline pumping on a jet ski
I’m not going to lie – I was pretty nervous to jet ski as I’d never been on one before but you’ve got to get out of your comfort zone when you travel, right?! We did a jet ski experience with Carlos Watersports and it was so much fun (once I’d relaxed of course!).
The guides were great and we zoomed out to Benidorm Island and back again.
Go on an off-road adventure
A must-do in Benidorm is to go on an off-road adventure with Marco Polo Expediciones. You’ll be picked up in a 4×4 jeep for an inland tour where you’ll (quite literally!) go off the beaten track.
Things get very bumpy and it is honestly so much fun! You can tailor the tour to your group’s needs and choose different stops along the way. We got ours to drop us off at Bodegas Enrique Mendoza.
Visit La Cruz (The Cross of Benidorm)
High on a hillside above Benidorm, on the edge of the Siera Helada Natural Park, you’ll find The Cross of Benidorm, or La Cruz as it’s known in Spanish. You can hike up here from the city, or you can drive further up for a shorter walk.
The cross itself is pretty impressive but you’ll also get fantastic views over the city’s skyline and coast.
Wine tasting near Benidorm
The Bodegas Enrique Mendoza winery is situated in the Alicante hills. You can book a guided tour and a wine tasting here where you learn more about the history of the family and the wine.
We saw the pruning field, final product room, and the underground wine cellar and we tried different wines including whites, reds, and rosés.
Have rooftop drinks at Selvatico
There’s nothing I love more than enjoying a drink on a rooftop bar in the sunshine. Selvatico is the perfect place to do this in Benidorm.
It has a rooftop pool, a DJ spinning Ibiza-style tunes, and stunning 360 views over Benidorm. The cocktails are fantastic too – I very much enjoyed a pina colada as I looked out over the skyline.
Where to eat in Benidorm
One of the things that surprised me the most in Benidorm was the food. I think I was expecting to eat all British-food like fry-ups and everything with chips but I went to some of the best restaurants here that I’ve ever been to and ate some of the most delicious Spanish food.
Tapas Alley
If you love Spanish tapas and pinxtos then head straight for Tapas Alley, a street full of tapas bars. The street of Calle Santo Domingo in the Old Town is home to some truly authentic dining experiences.
We ate at La Taperia Aurrera where we enjoyed classic Spanish dishes like broken eggs, padron peppers, steak, and Iberico ham. It’s the perfect meal if you’re like me and can never decide what you want to eat because you can have a little bit of everything.
Restaurante Ulia
I went to Restaurante Ulia for my first meal in Benidorm and it set the bar high. Situated on the road adjacent to Poniente beach, they serve delicious Spanish dishes.
Here we had yummy salads, ham croquetas, and a huge paella. We also had some calamari which was some of the best I’ve ever tasted – super light and crispy.
Exotico
Exotico is one of the best gourmet restaurants in Benidorm. It’s got a super cool interior which looks more like a nightclub than a restaurant and there are also live performances on selected dates so you can enjoy some entertainment with your dinner.
Here I ate a gorgeous tuna tataki, a beef bao bun, and grilled turbot. Each dish was so good and the tuna was my absolute favourite.
Urban Beach
Situated on the promenade off Levante beach, Urban Beach is a chic gastropub overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. They offer innovative dishes, Instagrammable interiors, and a fun ambiance.
Here I had a caesar salad, croquetas, and a seafood fideua which is like a paella but made with fideos pasta instead of rice. Another fantastic meal in Benidorm!
D.Vora Restaurante
D.Vora Restaurante has the most gorgeous setting with a terrace overlooking the sea so, if the weather is fine, definitely try and get a table out here for a meal with a view. The interior is cool and contemporary and there’s a great atmosphere.
Here I had their version of broken eggs which came with foie gras and a brioche bread (so delicious!), the tastiest caesar salad, and a seafood rice dish. The food was really flavoursome here and I enjoyed every bite.
The staff also deserve a special mention here as they were so wonderful – they explained dishes and wines in detail and were very attentive.
Where to stay in Benidorm
During my trip to Benidorm, I stayed at the very Instagrammable Barcelo Benidorm Beach with Jet2holidays. There are lots of Benidorm hotels to choose from but this one has a fantastic location in Benidorm’s Old Town, modern decor, and a rooftop pool.
You can book different board options during your stay, too. I enjoyed breakfast here each morning (I can definitely recommend the freshly-made pancakes) as well as a buffet dinner.
The buffet was fantastic quality with tasty food and lots of variety. The food was some of the best quality I’ve seen at a hotel buffet.
So that’s it for some of my favourite things to do in Benidorm. This Spanish city really surprised me with its variety and it’s perfect for cheap holidays in the sunshine.
