While it’s well known for its hedonistic ‘Brits abroad’ hard drinking and dance culture, Benidorm is actually, first and foremost, a wonderfully safe family holiday destination.
The extraordinary beaches are just the beginning (although, admittedly, it’s a pretty good beginning!), and are the perfect complement to the huge range of family-friendly attractions.
Thrilling theme parks, good cheap eats, boat trips up the coast, great shopping and, yes, those big, beautiful beaches and all the fun that goes with them, makes this one of the most popular places on the Costa Blanca for families. Even if you’re travelling with notoriously hard-to-please teens, there’s so much fun on offer you might even be able to prise them away from social media for a few hours. Then again, they’ll probably just multi-task, because what happens in Benidorm is way too good to stay in Benidorm!
Mini Tourist Train
A great way to get the lay of the land when you arrive is to hop on board the little train that trundles around Benidorm. While it’s certainly a hit with younger children, for teens (and for adults as well), it’s an excellent way to get familiar with the local area if they’re old enough to do a little exploring on their own. There are three routes: Levante, Marin Levante and Poniente, with each lasting around 50 minutes. You’ll get to see everything from beautiful beaches and historical buildings to residential areas and the tallest hotel in Europe on this whistle-stop tour of Benidorm.
You can pick up the little tourist train at these points: Levante Farmacia 24h, Festilandia; Hotel Palm Beach, Hotel Ambasador, Hotel Golden, Parque Elche, Hotel Bali. Regular departures daily from 10.30am-11.30pm in high season. Tickets €4.
Terra Mitica
It won’t take long until the call comes to cut loose at every teenager’s dream theme park – Terra Mitica. Part history lesson and part cultural experience, the biggest part is reserved for fun! One of the most unique theme parks in Spain, it’s separated into five lands, each with its own personality and packed with rides, shows, acrobatic and circus performances, food and musical entertainment.
With a lot of ground to cover, the kids can work their way through Rome, Iberia, Greece, The Islands and Egypt. They’ll have their choice of gravity-defying rides including:
- Magnus Colossus – the longest roller coaster in Europe
- SynKope – a giant discus spinning, stomach-churning monstrosity
- Triton’s Fury – a wild river ride down screaming rapids
- Rapids of Argos – a white-knuckle white water ride
- The Rage of Achilles – a stormy, shipwreck experience
- Tizona – an adrenaline pumping vertical-drop rollercoaster
There are plenty more, but you get the picture. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to wait this one out by the pool with a cocktail…
All-day entry to Terra Mitica is €38. The park is about 5km from Benidorm and you can easily get there by taxi or local bus lines 21 or 22.
Sub Aquatic Catamaran
If you’ve got curious teenagers, the sub-aquatic catamaran will definitely be a hit, giving them the chance to encounter the colourful and quirky sea life of the Costa Blanca. It’s all hands below deck for the voyage on this unique vessel, which, as its name suggests, sits half above and half below the surface of the water. Down below is definitely the place to be, though, and you’ll have a front row seat to the abundant and very curious marine life through the observation windows. While there are plenty of boat tours, this is hands-down the most unusual.
The sub-aquatic catamaran leaves from Benidorm Marina every hour from 10am-6pm every day, and costs €15.
Mundomar
This delightful marine animal park is an inspirational experience for teens. Set within lush tropical gardens, there are regular shows and interactive feeding events with the park’s exotic inhabitants, including:
- parrots
- sea lions
- dolphins
- lemurs
- monkeys
- flamingos
- turtles
- tropical birds
For the ultimate encounter, treat your kids to the private sea lion or dolphin experience, where they can get up close and personal with these wonderful marine animals – complete with professional selfie!
Mundomar is located right next door to Aqualandia in the heart of Benidorm. Get there easily by taxi or local bus number 11. Open daily from 10am-7pm, tickets start at €18.
Mirador del Castillo
Speaking of selfies, no teen will be able to resist the opportunity to pose against this magnificent backdrop. Also known to the locals as El Balcón del Mediterráneo, it’s not too taxing to get there (although there are quite a few steps) and the views over the city are absolutely incredible. This was the site of an ancient castle (hence the name), but unfortunately there’s nothing left of it. If you close your eyes and breathe in the salty air you can almost imagine it though…
So get ready to say ‘hola’ to your next happy family holiday in Benidorm!
Tip: If Benidorm sounds like it might be your kind of place and you want to learn a little more, this blog post might be of interest.
How to get to Benidorm
Getting your family to Benidorm is straightforward. You’ll fly into Alicante International Airport, which, as the gateway to Spain’s Costa Blanca, services frequent and regular flights from the UK. You’ll be able to pick up cheap flights from any of the budget carriers and flying time from the UK is just 2.5 hours.
Once you land at the airport, the fastest way to get from Alicante Airport to Benidorm is with a convenient shuttle transfer service. You won’t have the hassle of navigating public transport with the kids, and the friendly local driver will have you alighting at the door of your accommodation in Benidorm in around 45 minutes.
Where to Stay
Hotel Benikaktus – Situated opposite the famous Levante Beach, the Hotel Benikaktus has everything you need, plus jaw-dropping views to boot. The kids will love the Wi-Fi and hi-rise pool and games room, while you’ll be sold on the spacious family rooms, daily maid service and relaxing sun terrace. Oh, and the views; did I mention the views?
Hotel Sol Pelicanos Ocas – With five pools, a mini-club and a full family entertainment programme, you might not see much of the kids at the Hotel Sol Pelicanos Ocas! The fresh, spacious family rooms have a private balcony with great elevated views, and with free Wi-Fi and satellite TV you’ll be able to get plenty of peace and quiet in the evenings. With everything you need onsite, you might even forget you’re just a short walk from the beach.
Hotel Montemar – Wake up to the sun, surf and sand on your doorstep at the Hotel Montemar. With a cool, summery vibe, a friendly welcome and a fantastic roof terrace, this could be your perfect home-from-home in Benidorm. Just a few minutes from the main promenade, opposite Poniente Beach, teens will love the laidback casual ambience, while you’ll be impressed with the subtle touches of luxury.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is the most trusted provider of airport transfers in Europe and North Africa. We’ve been getting travellers too and from their destinations for many years and our convenient and cost effective services are second to none. With a simple to navigate online booking system, it’s easy to lock in your onward travel arrangements before you leave home, giving you the convenience and peace of mind to make your holiday run smoothly.
