Benidorm

Benidorm is surrounded by high mountains, which protects it from the sometimes chilly north winds. Even in Winter, Benidorm’s average temperature does not dip below a balmy 19° C. This means that Benidorm’s beaches can be enjoyed all year round. Together, Benidorm's two beaches, the playa de poniente and the playa de levante are about 5 km long. Benidorm also offers many great golf courses to be enjoyed year round. You should visit the latter if you are if you are looking for a quiet and relaxing time.

Benidorm's beaches and range of leisure amenities explain why has it has become yhe Costa Blanca's main tourist area. Benidorm has some of the best beaches in the world. The fine sand, cleaned daily, the quality of the services and the transparency of the water are the main reasons given by Benidorm's many visitors.

The two regions of Benidorm, Levante to the North an Poniente to the South, are joined by the Old town area of narrow streets crammed with shops and bars.

The Playa de Levante, where most bathers gather, is located 2 kilometres from the old town centre, the Sierra Gelada and the Ricón de Loix. In the middle of the summer the colourful concentration of human bodies is quite impressive.

The Playa de Poniente is located on the edges of the old town centre, near the Finestrat cove. The Playa de Poniente resembles the Playa de Levante, though it is more peaceful. There is a small cove between the Playa de Poniente and the old town centre, known as the Playa del Mal Pas, which can be reached from the port or from stairs that descend from the castle.

If you get tired of the beach, Benidorm is surrounded by several holiday and theme parks, offering a variety of attractions. Villajoyasa is a nearby town that also features fantastic beaches and for the sweet tooth, a chocolate factory. The people of Benidorm are friendly, and very large English and Irish communities have made Benidorm their home. With all that Benidorm has to offer, it is no wonder that so many who have visited it end up becoming permanent residents.

The historical centre is located around the Canfali vantage point, which is the most emblematic image of Benidorm with a white stone balcony and a vantage point. The neoclassical church dedicated to St James the Apostle is also located in this area. The Levante beach can be reached from the Plaza del Castillo either by walking down through the narrow white streets, or through the town's commercial district.

Benidorm's impressive commercial centre is located around the Plaza Triangular, the calle Martínez Alejos, Gambo, Dr. Perez Llorca and the wide avenida del Mediterráneo. There is an interesting walk that starts from the Ayuntamiento and then runs parallel to the Playa de Levante along Avenida de Alcoy and Avenida Madrid. This area is one of Benidorm's most animated night spots. The Aiguera Park, designed by Ricardo Bofill, is Benidorm's largest park and divides the town in two.

Benidorm's attraction lies in the variety of its leisure amenities, with a wide range of activities for foreign and national tourists, children, teenagers and pensioners. All tastes and activities are catered for: gastronomy, music, culture, excursions through the region and cinema. Walks can be taken in the Parque de Elche, excursions taken to the Sierra Gelada, you can go swimming on the best beaches of the Costa Blanca, go to the cinema, visit the Aquatic Park, eat and drink in restaurants for all budgets, and practise sports such as sailing and diving and also enjoy the nightlife. area.

 

E-mail: benidorm@gva.es Web: www.benidorm.org

Gastronomy: Coca farcida (flat sponge cake), Arroz a banda (rice in fish broth), arrós amb fesols (rice with beans), bollos a la paleta and guisaet de bull are a few of the local dishes. San Blai buns is one of the typical desserts. In Benidorm you can eat a range of food from all countries and for all budgets.

Arts and Crafts: Benidorm is like an huge bazaar, where you can find sommething of everything at any price.

Monuments: The old town centre, church of St James, castle, vantage point and Waxworks.

Museums: The Wax Museum.

Festivities: Benidorm has the largest calendar of fiestas of the entire province: Fallas, Carnival, Holy Week with a saeta competition (Flamenco-style sacred songs), 'Hogueras' in honour of St John and Moors and Christians pageants. Patron saint feast day celebrations are held on the 11th and 12th of November in honour of Saint James and the Virgin of the Suffrage which features a re-enactment of the miraculous discovery of the Virgin. The 'Festes de la Carrxofa' are held in the old town centre during the third weekend of November.

Excursions: The most famous excursion is the boat trip to L'Illa - a missing section of the nearby Puig Campana mountain. There is subtropical flora and fauna on the bottom of the L'Illa and you can go diving. Another excursion, on foot, climbs up to the Sierra Helada from the watchtower located in the Punta Escaleta, at the end of the Levante beach. There is a large water park, Aqualand, in the Sierra Helada. Other leisure pursuits are Aquascope, Cable Ski, bullfights and the Benidorm Palace.

Sporting Diary: There is a sailing school (96.585.30.67), cable-skiing (96.585.13.86), go-karts (96.589.46.76) scuba diving (96.680.17.84 and 96.585.32.27)

 

Important telephone numbers

Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) - 96 585 55 00/96 681 54 00 Plaza de SS MM Reyes de España s/n

Oficina de Atencion al Ciudadano (Citizens Advice Bureau) - 96 680 21 21 Plaza de SS MM Reyes de España s/n

Centro de Desarrollo Turistico (Tourism Development Office) - 96 687 00 00 C/ Benissa, 1

Centro de Informacion Juvenil (Youth Information Centre) - 96 585 30 41 C/ Tomas Ortuño, 66

Correos y Telegrafos (Post Office and Telegram Office) - Plaza Doctor Fleming - 96 585 34 34 Av. Europa - 96 585 97 15 Av. Mediterraneo - 96 585 07 73

Infodona (Womens Info) - 96 683 00 41 C/ Gerona, Edf. Ana Junta

Arbitral de Consumo (Consumer Arbitration) - 96 586 80 01 C/ Jupiter, 18 bajo

OMIC (Consumer Information Office) - 96 585 13 06 C/ Mercado, 1

Oficina Municipal de Turismo (Tourist Office) - Avda. Martinez Alejos - 96 585 13 11/96 585 32 24 C/ Gerona con Derramador - 96 680 59 14/96 680 67 34 Avda. Europa - 96 586 00 95

Ambulatorios para residentes (Ambulances for residents) - Ambulatorio Virgen del Sufragio, C/ Tomas Ortuño - 96 585 58 04

Centro de Salud, Avda. Juan Fuster Zaragoza, Ed. Acuarium III - 96 680 20 16 Centro de Salud La Cala, Avda. Mont Benidorm - 96 586 68 58 Centro de Salud de Foietes, C/ Venezuela - 96 683 00 61/62

Ambulatorios para no residentes (Ambulances for non residents)

Ambulatorio C/ Tomas Ortuño - 96 680 38 38/96 680 53 53 Ambulatorio Avda. Juan Fuster Zaragoza, Ed. Acuarium III - 96 586 60 46 Ambulatorio C/ Venezuela - 96 683 00 61/62 Urgencias Medicas (Medical Emergencies) - C/ Venezuela - 96 585 26 83 Avda. Juan Fuster Zaragoza, Ed. Acuarium III - 96 586 60 46

Hospital Comarcal (situated on the main road between Benidorm and Villajoyosa) - 96 685 98 00/96 685 98 54 Centro de especialidades (Specialized medical unit) - C/ Venezuela - 96 680 82 34 SAMU (national ambulance emergency number) - 112 CICU (co-ordination centre for emergencies) - 96 514 40 00 Cruz Roja (Red Cross) - 96 680 89 34

General Emergency number - 112/085

Bomberos (Fire Brigade) - 96 585 40 80/96 585 44 75

Policia Local (Local Police), Av. Comunidad Europea - 96 680 77 66 Policia Nacional (National Police), C/ Apolo XI - 96 683 19 30/96 585 02 26 Guardia Civil (Civil Guard), C/ Capitan Cortes - 96 585 40 30/96 585 03 30

Autobuses Urbanos (Town Buses) - Llorente Bus, C/ Castellon, Poligono Industrial de Finestrat - 96 585 43 22