Playa de Levante (Benidorm)

Levante is the beach that defines Benidorm's image: over two kilometres of fine golden sand, bounded by the Sierra Helada to the north and Punta Canfali to the south, with the promenade and the wall of apartment towers as a constant backdrop. It carries a Blue Flag, has lifeguards in season, showers spread along its full length, marked parking and accessible access points.

It's also, by a wide margin, the liveliest beach in the city: beach bars, sunbed rental, jet-ski and parasailing operators, and a promenade that stays busy at almost any hour. It genuinely fills up in July and August, so arriving early is the difference between finding room for a towel and not.