Why Benidorm is a lot greater than occasion tourism

Benidorm has had a long-standing picture drawback, particularly in England – the supply of a lot of the city’s worst behaved vacationers.

The journey hotspot is known for its wild events and low-cost alcohol. However as I discovered on a latest journey, there’s rather more to the Costa Blanca city than stag nights and sunburned Brits.

Stunning seashores, effective eating, a rugged nationwide park and a captivating outdated city – there are “many Benidorms in the identical metropolis”, says Sergio, our host from Go to Benidorm.

“There’s a Benidorm for sports activities lovers, for households, for seniors, for individuals who need to effective dine – there’s something for everybody.”

Right here’s all the things it’s good to know to plan the proper journey to Benidorm.

Benidorm: Yr-round solar and delightful seashores

Situated on Costa Blanca within the province of Valencia, Benidorm enjoys scorching, dry summers and delicate winters.

Don’t neglect to pack your solar cream; the town enjoys greater than 300 days of solar a yr, and there’s no scarcity of locations to unroll your seashore towel.

The ‘British’ space of Benidorm is centred round buzzing Levante seashore. That is the place the rowdiest pubs and bars are. Simply up the strip, Poniente seashore is one other world, surrounded by upmarket accommodations and stylish eating places.

If you happen to enterprise out of the city centre, there are many smaller seashores much less frequented by vacationers. I visited Cala Almadraba and Calo Tio Ximo, a brief, uphill stroll from the north finish of Playa de Levante. These rocky coves had been all however abandoned after I went for a sunny (albeit chilly!) swim.

Cyclists will love Benidorm’s 140km of motorcycle lanes

Benidorm prides itself on its sustainability. It’s very compact, with extra skyscrapers per inhabitant than some other metropolis on the planet. With dozens of towering, skinny buildings, the hanging metropolis has grown upwards quite than outwards. Excessive density residing reduces the town’s influence on the encircling atmosphere, and means its very easy to get round and not using a automotive. Autos are topic to strict pace limits, and are banned within the outdated city precinct.

With greater than 140km of motorcycle lanes, the town is finest seen by electrical bike. Electrical bike rent is priced from €15 for 2 hours with TAO Bikes.

The bikes are very highly effective – on the best setting, you barely have to the touch the pedals. However you may modify the facility down in the event you fancy working up an urge for food for a plate of paella.

Discover the attractive Sierra Helada nationwide park on a rugged journey tour

Electrical bikes are additionally an effective way to discover the 13,750 acre Sierra Helada nationwide park that surrounds the town.

This stunning space boasts steep rocky cliffs and beautiful views throughout the Mediterranean. You may cycle the asphalted path to the Punta del Cavall, the ruins of a watchtower constructed within the sixteenth century to guard the village from pirate assaults.

For hikers, the 8km Route La Cruz (The Cross) is a superb possibility. It begins on the Cross of Benidorm – an imposing crucifix mounted in 1961 by locals involved by bikini-wearing vacationers – and winds alongside the cliffs to Albir, a neighbouring city. If you happen to don’t fancy the lengthy stroll dwelling, you may catch an area bus again to Benidorm.

One other strategy to see the park is a jeep tour. We had been whizzed to some wonderful viewpoints by Marco Polo Expeditions, who additionally supply moonlight trekking, mountain biking, and mountain climbing.

‘Sexual confusion’ is the key behind Benidorm’s wine

Positive, followers of chips and English breakfasts gained’t battle to discover a meal in Benidorm. However foodies are additionally spoilt for alternative.

Simply off the primary drag Av. Del Mediterraneo, Restaurant Ducado guarantees (and delivers) “good delicacies and custom.” The smoked cod was scrumptious, as was the ocean bass fried with garlic. If you happen to’re after a lighter meal, go to Benidorm’s aptly named tapas alley positioned within the coronary heart of the outdated city.

Paella lovers ought to head to Restaurante Ulia overlooking Poniente seashore. Although Paella is standard throughout Spain, the well-known dish originates within the rice-growing areas of Valencia. There are many conventional recipes – containing something from rabbit to snails – however our hosts served us a seafood model. It was the nicest Paella I’ve ever eaten. The restaurant is a favorite with celebrities who head to Benidorm, probably the most stunning being Elon Musk, however can be favoured by locals.

One of the simplest ways to scrub down these meals is with a glass of glass of scrumptious Spanish wine.

To get a style for the native grapes, we visited Bodega Enrique Mendoza, a family-run vineyard.

The winery’s assortment of natural wines are produced utilizing zero pesticides or herbicides. As a substitute, they use an revolutionary method referred to as “sexual confusion” – however not the type you may count on in Benidorm. By releasing butterfly pheromones into the air inside the vineyards, the winemakers confuse male butterflies and forestall them from mating close to the weak grapes.

The wines are scrumptious – however take my recommendation and be sure you eat breakfast beforehand. The tasting consists of seven wines, they usually don’t skimp on the parts.

A tour and tasting expertise on the winery is priced from €22 per individual.

The place do you have to keep for a vacation in Benidorm?

We stayed at Lodge Benidorm East, run by vacation rental and lodge firm Pierre and Vacances. It’s a pleasant, well-located lodge, with two swimming pools (one indoor, one out of doors) and an affordably priced inhouse restaurant.

My balcony had a wonderful outlook over the town, and loved balmy solar all afternoon – a stunning change from drizzly London. The workers had been useful and welcoming, and the bar runs actions a number of nights every week.

If you happen to fancy staying barely additional afield than the town of Benidorm itself, Pierre and Vacances run one other lodge in close by city Calpe, roughly thirty minutes away. The lodge has a wonderful rooftop bar with beautiful views of the rock of Ifach, an enormous rock face which dominates the city and towers 300 metres above the ocean.

Benidorm presents a lot greater than you may count on

I assumed I knew what to anticipate from Benidorm. And whereas there are many busy pubs and neon-clad Brits in components of the town, the town presents a lot extra to discover.

From effective eating to historical fortress ruins, Benidorm is filled with surprises – and I didn’t get the possibility to see all of them. Sitting on the bus again to Alicante airport, I used to be already planning a return journey to this misunderstood Spanish metropolis.

Charlotte Elton was a visitor of Pierre & Vacances Group