Towns and Villages Near Benidorm

The cities, towns and villages along the Costa Blanca coastline and inland areas all have a unique appeal and can be visited on a day out from Benidorm. Of course, Benidorm too has its appeal and boasts a wonderful selection of interesting things to see, cultural buildings and monuments, natural parks, plazas, museums and exciting attractions and activities to keep most visitors happy during their stay. But there really is so much more to see and do whilst holidaying in Benidorm and the surrounding towns and villages are great to explore.

Coastal Attractions

Easily reached by car or even bicycle along the picturesque N-332 coastal road, the pretty town of Villajoyosa is well worth a visit and boasts fine sandy beaches backed by colourful houses. The historic town centre still has remains of an old Roman wall and visitors can enjoy refreshments in a number of bars and restaurants, but be sure not to miss this town's main attraction, a free tour and tasting at the famous Valor Chocolate Factory. In the opposite direction and also reachable by bike is Altea that boasts a lively Tuesday morning market.

The town of Calpe is less than 30 minutes drive form Benidorm and offers award winning beaches, an interesting Moorish quarter and excellent hiking trails around its famous Rock of Ifach. Dénia is about the same distance and also has its famous rock, well Montgó Mountain to be precise, fondly nicknamed Old Monty and perfect for hiking and rock climbing. With favourable wind conditions and clear waters, El Campello is a popular destination for water and board sports such as wind and kite surfing, and is a great town to enjoy local seafood.

The coastal towns and villages are a pleasure to visit but there are also some fantastic cities within an easy drive from Benidorm that offer great beaches and countless attractions. More well known for its international airport, Alicante City spreads out below Santa Bárbara Castle and boasts beautiful beaches, parks and plazas, excellent shopping in its boutiques and malls and one of Spain's most spectacular promenades built from no less than 6.5 million colourful tiles and aptly named Explanada de Espana (Esplanade of Spain).

Not exactly part of the Costa Blanca, but just 1 hour 30 minutes drive and a must visit for any tourist, Valencia is home to the famed City of Arts and Sciences that attracts visitors from all over the world. Here you can also witness La Falles de Valencia (The Festival of Fire) a week long celebration of fire and fireworks that is a joy to watch and lights up the entire city. Sports enthusiasts and nature buffs will be in their element when visiting the city of Torrevieja with its huge Sports City, home to many international sporting events, and two vast salt lakes located in a natural park with delightful flora & fauna and pretty resident pink flamingos.

Countryside Attractions

The countryside towns and villages surrounding Benidorm are steeped in history, some located in the lush plains and valleys of the Costa Blanca's wine growing region, and others perched high atop mountains where the views stretch all the way to the sea. The most famous is Guadalest, Spain's most visited mountain village and once a strategic defensive fortress against raiding armies and marauding Barbary pirates. The charming village is a pleasure to visit and is home to some delightful little museums, arts & crafts shops and street side cafes.

On the way to Guadalest the windy mountain road passes the village of Polop with its ancient Moorish castle, narrow streets and alleys adorned with flowers and pot plants, St Peter's Church and the spectacular Los Chorros Square boasting 221 natural spring fountains. For some seriously beautiful countryside, the Natural Park of the Sierra de Mariola lies about 100 kilometres inland and is a paradise for nature lovers with over 1400 different species of plants and flowers set among soaring mountains, valleys and forest.

A favourite adventure for kids is visiting caves and there are two major cave systems that can be visited during a day out from Benidorm. Visiting countryside towns and villages can get quite exhausting during the hot summer months, and the Caves of Canelobre offer glorious cool respite from the midday sun. Enhanced by a subtle lighting system, the caves are enchanting and their huge cathedral shaped main cave produces pitch perfect acoustics and plays host to some fantastic live music performances, especially during the summer months.