What to see in Benidorm

Benidorm packs more than 300 towers into a single skyline, several over 150 metres tall, which has earned it the nickname "Manhattan of the Mediterranean." Two bays split by a central headland shape the city: Poniente beach, wider and less built-up along its edge, and Levante beach, the more urban of the two, backed by the seafront promenade and much of the hotel supply. Offshore, the Illa de Benidorm gives the bay a visual landmark and is now a protected marine reserve. The city's municipal area covers 38.5 square kilometres and has the highest population density in the Marina Baixa district.

From fishing village to leading destination

Benidorm received its founding charter on 8 May 1325, granted by Bernardo de Sarriá, and lived off fishing for centuries, particularly tuna caught with the almadraba net technique, until the mid-20th century. The shift toward tourism began under mayor Pedro Zaragoza Orts, who pushed through an urban plan in 1956 designed from the outset around tourism, with wide blocks and building heights meant to house large numbers of visitors without spreading over more land. The opening of Alicante-Elche airport in 1967 multiplied charter-flight arrivals and cemented the model. Today the city, with just over 77,000 registered residents, multiplies its population several times over during the summer months, and its hotel capacity ranks third in Spain by number of beds, behind only Madrid and Barcelona.

Viewpoints, theme parks and nature

The Balcón del Mediterráneo, on the boundary between the two beaches, is the city's best-known viewpoint over the sea and the old quarter. To the north, the Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada offers cliffs and trails looking out toward the island, a sharp contrast with the skyscraper skyline; among them, the Intempo tower stands 202 metres tall, one of the tallest residential buildings in Spain. The city's theme parks, including Terra Mítica, add to the family-oriented offer alongside the beaches, among them the quieter Platja del Mal Pas, next to the old town.

Benidorm has held the Benidorm Fest since 2022, the contest that selects Spain's Eurovision entry, and in 2024 the city recorded close to 2.8 million visitors according to municipal tourism figures. That volume makes tourism by far the city's dominant economic activity, supported by a hotel and apartment sector built up over several decades. In 2022, Benidorm also became the first Spanish city certified as a Destino Turístico Inteligente, a designation recognising how it manages tourism infrastructure and data.