What to see in Benidorm

👥 70.450 inhabitants 📍 ~135 km from València

Benidorm is the odd one out on the Costa Blanca: a fishing village that in the 1960s bet on mass tourism and ended up as the "New York of the Mediterranean," the city with the most skyscrapers per resident in the world. It sits about 135 km south of València and, whether you love it or just find it funny, it's hard to stay neutral about it.

The skyline is topped by the InTempo, Spain's tallest residential skyscraper (198 metres, 47 floors), with its M-shaped silhouette and a long, messy backstory: it took fourteen years to finish after work stalled during the property crash. There's more to the town than towers: the Balcón del Mediterráneo, the viewpoint on the old castle mound that splits the two main beaches; the golden sand of Levante and Poniente; and water parks like Aqualandia and Aqua Natura, good for families. The Serra Gelada and Benidorm island are close by if you want some nature instead.

From València, the direct bus is the most practical option (about two hours and a quarter), or take the train to Alicante and change to the TRAM. By car it's roughly two hours on the AP-7.

Local tip: go up to the Balcón del Mediterráneo at sunset, then wander the old town, which is more authentic than the cliché suggests, with its taverns and the church of San Jaime. If you're touring the south, pair it with Guadalest, Alacant or the area's beaches, and check our guide to plans with kids.

🚆 How to get there from València

Benidorm sits about 135 km from València by road, on the Alicante coast. Without a car, the easiest option is the direct ALSA bus from València's main bus station (Estació d'Autobusos): there are many departures a day, and the direct trip takes around 1 h 45 min (some services stop along the way and take longer). There is no direct train: the usual route is a Renfe train to Alicante, then TRAM line 1 (Luceros to Benidorm), which runs along the coast but adds a good chunk of time. By car, take the AP-7/A-7: roughly 1 h 30 min.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Benidorm from València?

The most direct way is the ALSA bus from València's main bus station, with departures throughout the day. By car, take the AP-7/A-7. There's no direct train: you'd take a Renfe train to Alicante and catch TRAM line 1 from there up to Benidorm.

How long does it take?

By direct bus, around 1 h 45 min. By car, about 1 h 30 min on the motorway. Train plus TRAM takes noticeably longer, since it routes through Alicante with a change.

What is there to see in Benidorm?

Walk up to the Balcón del Mediterráneo (Mirador del Castillo) between the two beaches, and to the Cruz de Benidorm for the views. The old town has the church of San Jaime y Santa Ana, and for a family day there's Aqualandia and Aqua Natura; the InTempo skyscraper defines the skyline.

Is it worth going with kids?

Yes. Levante and Poniente beaches are wide and sandy, and Aqualandia and Aqua Natura are built for families. It makes an easy one- or two-day beach trip from València.