Benidorm is Spain’s most famous — and most controversial — resort city: a skyline of towering skyscrapers rising from the Costa Blanca like a Mediterranean Manhattan, with more high-rise buildings per capita than any city in Europe. Love it or hate it, Benidorm is a phenomenon: two sweeping golden beaches, a year-round microclimate, and a tourism model that packs over 4 million visitors annually into a compact coastal strip that has become one of the most recognisable holiday landscapes in the world.
Quick Facts: Benidorm, Spain
- Best time to visit: May–June and September–October for warm weather without peak crowds; winter temperatures rarely drop below 15°C — popular with long-stay retirees
- Top attractions: Levante Beach, Poniente Beach, the Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint, and Benidorm’s old town (El Casco Antiguo)
- How to get there: ~45 minutes from Alicante Airport (ALC) by car or bus; regular tram connections from Alicante city
- Beaches: Two Blue Flag beaches — Levante (2km, lively) and Poniente (3km, family-friendly)
- Best for: Sun-seekers, families, nightlife, and budget-conscious travellers
Beyond the Skyscrapers
Benidorm’s old town — the original fishing village that predates the tourist boom — is a charming maze of whitewashed houses, narrow cobbled streets, and traditional tapas bars perched on a rocky promontory between the two main beaches. The Balcón del Mediterráneo offers spectacular views of both bays and the mountainous interior.
The city’s unusual vertical architecture was a deliberate urban planning decision in the 1950s — rather than spreading low-rise hotels along the coast (the model followed by most Spanish resorts), Benidorm’s planners opted for concentrated high-rises to preserve surrounding natural space. The result is a uniquely compact resort with a smaller environmental footprint per tourist than many sprawling low-rise alternatives.
Nearby, the Serra Gelada Natural Park offers excellent coastal hiking, and the inland mountain villages of Guadalest and Altea provide a complete contrast to Benidorm’s urban energy — traditional white villages perched on dramatic hilltops just 20 minutes away.
Benidorm is a western Mediterranean coastal city located close to Alicante in Spain.
Prior to the 1960s, Benidorm was a small village. Today it stands out for its hotel industry, beaches and skyscrapers, built as a result of its tourist-oriented economy. Now it is one of the most important holiday resorts in Spain. Due to the unique skyline formed by its numerous tall hotels and apartment buildings it is sometimes referred to as the “Manhattan of Spain” or “Beniyork”, which is unlike any other on the Costa Blanca (White Coast). According to the Urban Age project, Benidorm has the most high-rise buildings per capita in the world. Benidorm is surrounded by one of the most impressive mountains of the Costa Blanca, the 1406 m tall Puig Campana.
View Benidorm – Spanish Manhattan in Costa Blanca in a larger map
Is Benidorm your kind of Spanish holiday or do you prefer quieter Costa Blanca gems? Share your Benidorm experiences and alternative recommendations in the comments! 🏖️
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