Situated on the Costa Blanca, Benidorm is on Spain’s east coast 26 miles northeast of Alicante and is Spain’s most visited holiday resort. It has wonderful beaches, incredible theme parks and golf courses. More recently Aiguera Park and amphitheatre have been built in the centre of town offering free cultural activities. Despite the facilities for tourists, the Old Town still retains a small-town Spanish ambiance.   

As a resort, Benidorm is spilt into 2 areas: Playa de Levante which caters mainly for the British, and Playa de Poniente which is mainly used by the Spanish and other nationalities. The surrounding mountains create a micro climate resulting in mild winters making Benidorm a haven for retired British and north Europeans.

Benidorm sits in a bay that is dissected by the lookout point, Balcón del Mar. To the east is Playa de Levante (stretching for 2km) and to the west Playa de Poniente (stretching for 3km). There is also a third, smaller beach, Playa del Malpas (120m). All boast immaculate golden sand which is cleaned daily and all have enjoyed Blue Flag status since 1987.  

The main draw for many tourists is of course the beaches. Poniente is less crowded than Levante and both have excellent beach facilities including biblioplayas (beach libraries) which allow you to read foreign newspapers free of charge. All water sports are accommodated including a cable ski mechanism on Levante, which allows you to water ski without the need for a speedboat.

But it isn’t all about sun, sea and sand. In and around the outskirts of Benidorm there are four major theme parks and water parks. And the entertainment doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Benidorm is very much the party capital of the Costa Blanca with an unrivalled nightlife.

But if you enjoy a bit of culture during your holiday there are some remnants of Benidorm’s historic past, although you have to look for them. In the Casco Antiguo section of the old town are the ruins of a castle that was built in the 14th century to fend off Berber pirates. This is a stunning place from which to watch Benidorm's spectacular sunsets.