Benidorm – The Old Town

Benidorm is a city of two parts, the New Town area which is where most of the entertainment takes place and incorporates Levante Beach, but there is another very Spanish side to Benidorm the Old Town area.

In the Old Town of Benidorm you will find traditional white-washed houses, wonderful churches and the famous El Mirador de la Punta del Canfali, (The castle look out point), beaches Mal Pas and Poniente and of course Benidorm Port, lovely parks (Parque de Elche and Parque de L´Aiguera) and a maze of cobbled streets with some fantastic shops, boutiques, dozens of quaint restaurants and 100´s of bars all bursting with character and of course for traditional Tapas a visit to Tapas Alley is a must. The Old Town is a complete contrast to the New Town.

The Walking Street is Passeig de la Carretera this is the pedestrian street that runs through the old town more or less parallel to the sea. Here is the main shopping area, with loads of bars and restaurants from the streets that run off here.

To get there walk down Av. Mediterraneo to the very end. Go down the road between Bankinter and El Italiano restaurant. Walk underneath the bridge. Turn left at Hotel Bristol Park. Keep going straight and you will come to a pedestrian street. This is ‘walking street’.

Another way is, at the end of Av. Mediterraneo take the street to the left of Bankinter. You will see Specsavers optician on your left. Turn right just passed Specsavers then left at Ale Hop. This is ‘walking street’.

If you continue along ‘walking street’ you will come to Dove Park. You cannot miss it.

At one point you will come to a fork in the road by Pinocchio. The right fork is ‘walking street’ but if you take the left fork and keep walking straight ahead and up the hill you will come to the blue domed church of  San Jaime y Santa Ana and the famous Balcon del Mediterraneo (the mirador)

The city of Benidorm has been gay-friendly since late 19th century and is amongst the oldest gay-friendly towns in Spain. With a friendly gay scene,  Nightlife is also famous among the gay visitors. Read more HERE

The Old Town area is also where nearly all the Fiesta Parades take place.

Nightlife

The Old Town’s evening and late night entertainment can only be described as diversified. There’s karaoke, cabaret and even transvestite bars, all of which guarantee a night of top class entertainment.

BEACHES

Cala Mal Pas

This is the name given to the small cove that separates the two main beaches in Benidorm it is situated between Punta Canfali and the port, and at only 120 metres long with fine golden sand offers a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere. More information HERE

Poniente Beach

At more than 3km long Poniente Beach is the longest beach in Benidorm, making it an ideal place to stroll along during the day or evening, it is usually much quieter and features a new modern promenade designed by the architect Carlos Ferrater, there are a wide selection of restaurants, bars and clubs. More information HERE

San Jaime Church (St James) Benidorm Old Town

The church of “Saint James is dedicated to the patron saint of the town, is set at the very top of the Old Town on Canfali hill. It is a Neoclassical building, built in the 18th Century with the typical blue Mediterranean tiled dome.

Inside you´ll find a statue of the Virgen del Sufragio, the well-loved patron saint of Benidorm. The Virgin has her own small chapel containing the little wood sculpture which, as the story goes, was found on a boat adrift on the high seas.

The legend of the Virgin says that in 1740 the residents of Benidorm were surprised by the arrival of a ship who had sailed there without crew. It was thought that perhaps the cause of the disappearance of the crew was the plague and this instilled dread in the local villagers. The authorities decided to burn the boat to keep people safe. It was burned without removing anything. When the flames were extinguished, the children searched amongst the remains and  found “intact and shining” an image of the Virgin with the Child Jesus in her arms.  The Fiesta day of the Virgen del Sufragio is always held on the second Sunday of November.

The church is open for Mass at 10am until 13.00 and then is closed until the evening Mass is at 7pm then one at 8pm, On Sunday various Masses are celebrated throughout the day and the church is open until after the last Mass. Beautiful music is piped during the day throughout the building and it really is a stunning church well worth seeing whilst in Benidorm.

El Mirador de la Punta del Canfali – THE CASTLE, LOOK OUT POINT

The castle/fortress was situated on the big rock that divides the two beaches (Levante and Poniente) and its main purpose was to guard against invasions of the Berber pirates.  The castle was thought to have stood here around 1325, this is the highest point in Benidorm, with its characteristic white balustrade  it is one of the symbols of the city. The viewpoint has two parts, a top with benches and rest areas, and another viewing point down quite a  few quite steep steps which offers views closer to the sea. Read More HERE

The Port

Enjoy a wander round the port, watching the boats come and go to the Benidorm Island, Tabarca and Calpe. 

Maritime Cultural Centre

Situated opposite the port on Paseo de Colon, is the Maritime Museum, where you will find a permanent display of various model ships.  The centre was established as a permanent reminder of the achievements of local seamen.   Entrance is free of charge.

Parque de Elche

The famous Elche park is home to hundreds of beautiful white doves and know to many as Dove Park, it is also known for its spectacular palm trees.

It is located just in front of Poniente Beach,and is close to Benidorm Harbour.  This is a lovely shady park and a great place to sit and people watch..

Tapas Alley –  Officially runs from Pl. de la Constitutio, and along Santo Domingo 

Head into the little cobbled streets in the historic old town you can enjoy mouth-watering morsels of Spain from the tapas bars.

It’s known locally as Tapas Alley because it is filled with bars serving these tasty treats.

The small dishes of tapas are perfect for sharing and for trying food that you may not feel comfortable ordering as a main course in case you don’t like it.

Ordering tapas is also perfect for getting a taste of some of the more expensive dishes, such as Denia red prawns or the more expensive Spanish ham, without running up a massive bill. Find out more here.

BENIDORM BULLRING (Plaza de Toros)

Several bullfights with top named matadors are held every year. If you’ve ever doubted the popularity of the sport, wait ’til you see how packed it gets.  The bullring is also used during fiesta times for The running with the bulls and amateur bullfights.

The bullring in Benidorm was opened in 1962. Capacity of 9,971 people.