Playa de Levante (Benidorm)
If you want Benidorm, this is Benidorm — wide sand backed by a wall of high-rises, built entirely for volume.
Come for the nightlife and the sheer scale of the tourist infrastructure, not for anything resembling quiet.
At a Glance
- — you want quiet
- — natural scenery
- — avoiding crowds
This is the center of Benidorm: a long beach backed by high-rises and neon. There's no pretense of solitude; it's built for volume and constant activity. If you want a quiet, secluded escape, look elsewhere. If you want Benidorm at full tilt, this is it.
How it got here
Development began in the mid-twentieth century when the mayor of Benidorm approved the Plan General de Ordenación Urbana to shift the local economy from fishing to tourism. Builders replaced traditional houses with high-rise hotels along the shoreline to maximize occupancy. This transformation redirected the trajectory of the province of Alicante and established the blueprint for coastal development across the Mediterranean. The landscape reflects the shift from an industry built on seasonal tuna catches to one anchored in mass accommodation. The dense architectural footprint persists as the primary indicator of this rapid economic pivot that redefined the town in the nineteen-sixties and seventies.
Where it sits
The beach forms the eastern flank of a coastal town sheltered by the Puig Campana and Sierra de Aitana mountains. These ranges block inland weather fronts and keep the coastal climate temperate. Beyond the sand, the terrain rises into rocky outcrops that define the Marina Baixa region. Winds from the sea hit the towers directly, while the sun heats the paved promenade through the long summer months. Winter brings a slower pace as the crowds thin, yet the scale of the high-rise concrete remains the dominant feature of the coastline against the blue water.
What to eat and drink
Arroz a banda dominates the local kitchen, a dish of rice cooked in a concentrated fish stock that relies on the catch of the day. Diners often finish the meal with turrón, a dense confection of almonds and honey from nearby Jijona. Local red wines from the Vinalopó valley provide the standard accompaniment, alongside horchata, a cold drink made from tiger nuts and sugar. In the evening, the tradition of tapeo brings small plates of boquerones in vinegar or salted almonds to the table to pair with chilled beer.
Valencia: the whole region
A long, hot, flat coast with one excellent city at its centre and much emptier country behind it. Valencia itself earns three days on its own — the old town, the Central Market, the City of Arts, and the rice that was invented in the…
Minimum 3 days · better 5-6 days · deep 8-10 days
Pair It With
In Valencia
In Valencia
In Valencia
Logistics are verified only. We don't publish schedules we haven't confirmed.
Ready to build Playa de Levante (Benidorm) into a trip?
You've found a place worth going. When you're ready to turn discovery into an itinerary, Travel Itinerary Co picks up where the Field Guide leaves off — with your saved places already in hand.
Build this into a tripContinues on Travel Itinerary Co
Spain Field Guide may earn a commission when you book through selected links. Recommendations are editorial and independent of commission.