Benidorm in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

In Benidorm you will find a place that has an extremely varied range of entertainment on offer. For this reason, the best things to see and do in Benidorm can satisfy those who visit this picturesque community for a whole month or those who are only looking to dedicate a weekend of their holiday to it.

I invite you to read on, as I have compiled a series of activities that will show you the best side of this Valencian town from the first moment to the last moment of your trip. Which is quite convenient, as logistical planning is what makes the difference in a truly successful trip.

The old town and the four most visited beaches of Benidorm are the representative elements of this city for international tourism. Exactly for this reason it is a good idea to take advantage of the first day of your visit to explore the area.

You should know that for this first day it is not necessary to have a car if you have not arrived in the city with a private vehicle. Most of the attractions I mention are accessible by a short walk from the previous point. The exception is the last activity of the day, but it's still a short and cheap taxi or Uber ride away.

Visit the cove or beach of Mal Plas and enjoy a jet ski ride

Mal Pas cove is the small section of Benidorm's coastline located just a short walk from the historic town centre. For centuries it was the section used to defend the town from pirate invasions or any military attack. However, nowadays it is one of the most beautiful sections of the town's coastline and can be a great place to start your first day in Benidorm.

Mal Pas beach is located across from Benidorm's marina and certainly has a lot more space for those tourists who miss out on a stretch of sand in this famous cove.

Here you could take part in one of the jet ski rides around Benidorm. If you haven't had the chance to have breakfast in your hotel I recommend you do so in one of the restaurants across the Parque de Elche or in the narrow streets of the old town.

You could also take a ride on a banana boat

If you're up for it, you also have the option of taking part in a speed ride on a banana boat, as this is one of the signature activities of a visit to the beach in Benidorm. Some of these rides usually leave from Mal Pas beach, as well as others which are already booked for the Poniente beach.

Equally, if the boat is waiting for you at Poniente you will only have to walk a couple of metres from the other beaches and it will be a perfect opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the modern promenade of this section of the bay.

Note that this is one of the best things to do in December in Benidorm, as the dropping water temperatures make it an even more exciting experience to avoid falling into this type of boating

Stroll through the old town

On the other hand, when you're satisfied that you've enjoyed and toured these two or three beaches in the town then you can take advantage of the proximity to stroll around Benidorm's beautiful old town. Here you will have the opportunity to have lunch in good gastronomic proposals if you wish, but the most interesting are the places that you cannot miss

The craft market, the church of San Jaime and Santa Ana, the Plaza de la Constitución and the central market of Benidorm are some of these places that you should visit on a tourist tour of the area. If you're not too keen on the idea you could also take the opportunity to visit La Aigüera park and if you do you shouldn't miss the amphitheatre and the town hall building.

Keep in mind that touring this area is one of the best things to do in Benidorm all year round. Especially when the tourist crowds are low and you won't find hundreds and hundreds of people lining the narrow streets of the area.

Catch the sunset on the Mediterranean Balcony

Knowing that you are touring the historic city centre it would be a real mistake not to take the opportunity to walk to the Mediterranean Balcony. This is the most famous viewpoint in the whole city which allows you to admire a complete perspective of both the Benidorm skyline and the sea that surrounds it.

I recommend that you leave it as the last stop on your sightseeing tour of the old town so that you can enjoy it just as the sun sets. On the other hand, an excellent way to get around the city if you're interested in receiving an explanation of its history with an audio guide are the Benidorm Hop On Hop Off buses. They allow you to get off at any stop and use the system as a means of transport throughout the day.

End the day with a visit to the Benidorm Palace

When you've returned to your accommodation and you've had the chance to enjoy a short break to recharge your batteries, you'll probably still be in the mood for a night out on your first night in the city. If this is your case I recommend you visit the Benidorm Palace, which is a large auditorium that for four decades has been the epicentre of the cabaret world in this city.

There you can enjoy a dinner with live entertainment, but you should bear in mind that this is a space that is not part of the activities to do with children in Benidorm. As it is a show that includes vedettes and other adult elements, it is not suitable for the whole family.

Benidorm itself is a great tourist destination, however, that doesn't mean that touring the surrounding area is a negative or inadvisable plan for a visitor. In fact, if someone is only coming for a weekend it is a good idea to explore the natural attractions close to this town

Exactly for this reason the plans I have selected for the second day of your itinerary have to do with enjoying the outskirts of Benidorm. And in this case, if you have the possibility, it would be a good idea to have a private car, rented or owned, in order to save on travel costs.

Spend the morning hiking in the Sierra Helada

The Sierra Helada is a nature reserve that stretches from the north of Benidorm to the neighbouring community of Albir. This place is characterised by the beauty of its cliffs, by the mountainous terrain that makes up the whole area and also by the entertaining trails that run through the whole area.

Exactly for that reason it is a good idea to start the day by walking some of the trails in this nature reserve. Before doing so, I can advise you to walk through the streets of the Rincón de Loix and have breakfast at the first tavern you come across. This will allow you to be satisfied before this sporting experience.

Then visit the Aqualandia water park for a while

When you've had enough of touring this natural park, you'll have the opportunity to visit the Aqualandia water park. This has been the most visited amusement park during the summer season for the safe escape from the heat that defines the Costa Blanca during this time of the year.

However, it is also an excellent alternative to visit during the rest of the year if your visit to the city takes place during a weekend. If this is not the case, you can skip this activity as there are other even more interesting plans for the rest of the itinerary on your second day in Benidorm.

Equally, this site for many locals and for some frequent visitors is one of Benidorm' s best water parks and if you're visiting the city with children it would be a good idea to spend a couple of hours of your morning enjoying the pools and fun slides.

However, this is a part of the itinerary that you could skip if you are not travelling with children or if you feel that a water park would be too exhausting and you won't be able to do anything else for the rest of your day.

End the afternoon with a trip to Jávea for some kayaking

Although Aqualandia is a fun place to visit, it's true that it will only take up about four hours of your day and that means you'll have the whole afternoon available to explore Benidorm's surroundings. For this reason an excursion to the picturesque community of Jávea is a good idea if you're interested in taking part in some of the best kayaking activities in Benidorm and the surrounding area.

Of these types of excursions you should be aware that some include a return transfer from Benidorm whilst others have a meeting point in Jávea. That means you would have to drive for about 40 minutes in the direction of the north of the Costa Blanca.

Either way it's a good plan as the beaches here are characterised by crystal clear waters and a diversity of marine life that will allow you to enjoy a fun snorkelling session.

Come back for dinner for a good Valencian meal

You should be back in Benidorm around six in the evening and you'll probably have a significant appetite after a day of physically demanding plans. For this reason it's a good idea that you dedicate yourself to an authentic Valencian meal and nothing better for this purpose than a paella in one of the taverns in the historic centre of the city.

If you do so I can't help but advise you to accompany your meal with a refreshing sangria and if you need recommendations on any specific establishment I can highlight the Marisquería Córdoba or the famous Aitona restaurant. If you think that going to the historic centre is a bad idea because your hotel is in another area of the city then you should opt for an establishment closer to your accommodation.

Party in some of the city's best nightlife areas

Finally, after dinner you'll still have plenty of hours left to enjoy the nightlife in Benidorm and for some people this could be the best activity in town. This tourist destination is known for being an epicentre of partying in the Spanish Mediterranean. There are different types of experiences you could have depending on the type of establishment you decide to visit.

For example, if you go to the Levante area you will find different beach bars and specifically in this part of the city you will find the famous Güiris area. This is the area with the largest number of bars and nightclubs aimed at the British public. Note that this is one of the best things to see and do in Benidorm at night, especially during the summer months.

If you visit the area known as La Carretera you'll find larger nightclubs and after hours establishments that allow you to continue partying until after sunrise. In the old town you'll find most of the LGBT establishments in the city and if you're looking for this type of partying you should know that there are over 30 diversity orientated bars in this area of Benidorm.

By the third day of your visit to Benidorm there will still be plans to create indelible memories of a short but entertaining holiday in this famous Spanish Mediterranean destination.

That's why I've taken it upon myself to find other activities that will allow you to continue exploring the town as well as its nearby natural attractions.

Take a Segway tour around the city

The Segway is a type of single-passenger vehicle that is relatively similar in operation to an electric scooter, but is much easier to ride. On its own it's a very entertaining activity and if accompanied by a sightseeing tour of the city it becomes an even more interesting plan.

That's why I suggest it as a good way to start your last day in Benidorm. Without a doubt it's a recommended plan all year round, but it's also one of the best things to do in Benidorm in September. This is because it's still summer, but at the same time there are fewer people on the streets and you'll be able to tour them on these vehicles with more safety and freedom.

Afterwards you could have a parasailing session in Denia

When you've already covered a large part of Benidorm by Segway it's very likely that you're no longer interested in walking around the city and you're looking for plans that involve the sea and enjoying it. Exactly for this reason I suggest as a second activity for your last day in the city that you have a parasailing session in the neighbouring community of Dénia.

If you don't know what parsailing is all about you have to understand that it's basically riding a paraglider and enjoying a ride through the air while a sports boat drives at top speed along the beach you're on. In this case it would be the bay of Denia and your visit to this community also becomes another tourist activity, as it allows you to get to know this beautiful part of the Spanish Costa Blanca.

In fact, in other contexts a visit to Denia is one of the best excursions you can do from Benidorm.

End the trip with a nice catamaran ride at sunset

While in Denia you will probably be tempted to have lunch in one of the restaurants located along the promenade of the bay or walk along one of its streets to look at the picturesque beauty of this town. However, you still have a few more hours left of your holiday and so a catamaran ride to enjoy the sunset over this beautiful bay is a good plan to enjoy before returning to your accommodation in Benidorm.

This type of boat trip around Benidorm or its surrounding communities is a recommended plan for the whole family and without a doubt it is the perfect way to end a short but extremely entertaining holiday from start to finish.