SPAIN
Benidorm

Benidorm

In the late 1950s, the mayor of Benidorm decided to ignore the bikini ban in force. Partly because of this measure, the Spanish seaside resort has since become one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain. Both young and old enjoy a holiday in Benidorm year after year. The city offers long beaches, great nightlife and a multitude of accommodations.

Benidorm Skyline_{Photo: Siocaw in the public domain}

Location

Benidorm is a seaside resort on the southern east coast of Spain. This coastal strip is also called the Costa Blanca. This region is very popular among tourists who love sun, sea and sand. The climate, nature and environment are ideal for this. Less than 50 kilometers south of the city is the larger Alicante. From the UK you can fly directly here, so that you will be in Benidorm in a relatively short period of time.

Weather

The Costa Blanca is the driest beach area in all of Europe and therefore extremely ideal for a sun holiday. You can enjoy that wonderful weather almost all year round, because the temperature in Benidorm actually remains very pleasant all year round. In the summer months the temperature can even reach thirty degrees. The mountains in the hinterland of the Costa Blanca ensure that it hardly ever rains or storms in this part of Spain. The temperature of the sea also remains very pleasant all year round. That makes this area ideal for a last minute to Spain.

History

Coat of arms of Benidorm_{Photo: Public domain}

People already lived in the area that we now call Benidorm about 3000 years before Christ. The ancient Romans also camped in the bay of Benidorm, but the place never became an important city. It remained a fairly poor fishing village until just after the Second World War, but under Mayor Zaragoza the seaside resort grew into one of the most visited destinations in all of Europe. He flouted the bikini ban and invested heavily in the tourism industry. And that did not harm to Benidorm. In 1977, around twelve million tourists visited the city and that record remains to this day.

Sights

Church of San Jaime Benidorm_{Photo: J. Pérez Soriano CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

Although most people fly to Benidorm to lie on the beach all day and work on their tan, you can also spend a day in the city. The absolute highlight when it comes to sightseeing is the church of San Jaime, a patron saint of the city, which dates back to the eighteenth century.

In addition, the L’Aigüera park is also worth a visit. This park was designed by Ricardo Bofill, a well-known Spanish architect, in a neoclassical style. It is also a wonderful park for many Spaniards from the city to have a picnic in the afternoon or to enjoy a glass of wine or beer at the end of the afternoon.

Tips

When you book a holiday in Spain, you can be sure of one thing: you will never be bored. Also not in Benidorm. In addition to the many wonderful beaches, you can easily discover the area. In the Spanish interior there are always and everywhere idyllic places to find, where you can enjoy the beautiful nature, the lush tranquility and the Spanish hospitality.

Terra Mitica Benidorm amusement park_{Photo: Vicreate CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

In and around Benidorm there are a number of amusement parks, nature parks and golf courses. Mundomar, Terra Mitica, Aqualandia and Terra Natura are just four examples. Young and old can have fun here, because they offer a wide range of entertainment. You can practice various water sports here and there on the beaches of Benidorm. Just think of diving, snorkeling or sailing.

Benidorm Levante Beach_{Photo: Erkan CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

But in the end, almost every tourist in Benidorm will always return to the most popular attraction in the city: the beach. Benidorm itself has 3 large beaches: Levante beach, Poniënte beach and Mal Pas beach. These beaches are often very wide and long and are frequently visited. In the immediate vicinity of Benidorm there are also several more secluded, quieter beaches if you want a little more intimacy and tranquility during your well-deserved holiday.