Benidorm Beaches: Levante, Poniente, Mal Pas and the Coves

How Benidorm's coastline is laid out

Levante Beach runs along the eastern side of town, backed by a promenade lined with cafés and bars. Poniente Beach forms the western bay, separated from Levante by the old town headland at Canfali Point. Mal Pas, a small cove, sits right between the two bays below the old town.

North of the town, the Serra Gelada cliffs rise above two small coves, Tio Ximo and La Almadrava, which feel far removed from the high-rise seafront. Benidorm Island, known locally as Peacock Island, lies a short boat ride offshore and has its own small beach.

Levante Beach

Levante is the most famous of Benidorm's beaches and the liveliest, stretching for 2.2 km of fine sand with cafés and restaurants along the front, some with terraces open all year. It stays busy day and night, with watersports on offer and playgrounds for younger children along the promenade.

If you want sunbeds, Levante has them in quantity, with close to 5,000 on offer according to Holiday Hypermarket, and lifeguards on hand during the season. The trade-off is crowds: this is the busiest stretch of sand in town, so arrive early in high summer if you want space near the water.

Levante suits groups, teenagers and anyone who wants watersports, bars and a promenade stroll within a few steps of the sand. It is a less obvious choice for small children on busy days, when the sheer numbers on the beach and in the water make the western bay more comfortable.

Poniente Beach

Poniente is the largest beach in the area at 3.3 km, with fine sand and clean water, and it feels noticeably quieter than Levante. A recent makeover of the promenade brought accessible amenities, and along the front you will find a beach library, sports facilities and playgrounds for children, which makes it the easier pick for a family day out.

Choose Poniente if you want room to spread out, a long walk along the shore or a base for children to play without losing sight of them in a crowd. The extra space comes with slightly less immediacy: the bars and restaurants of Levante are a walk away through the old town, though shops and facilities are within easy reach of the sand.

Mal Pas

Mal Pas is a 120-metre cove of fine sand and clear water tucked between Levante and Poniente, right in the historic quarter and easily reached on foot from either bay. Its position below the old town makes it a natural stop on a walk between the two main beaches.

The cove draws volleyball players and sunbathers, giving it a more active, sociable feel than its size suggests, and it is a good option for families who want a short beach stop rather than a full day. Above it, the Mediterráneo viewpoint at Canfali Point looks out over the historic centre and across to Benidorm Island.

Tio Ximo Cove

Tio Ximo is a 60-metre cove between cliffs at the foot of the Serra Gelada, on the north side of town, with a mix of fine sand and rocky ground and clear water. Sunbeds and shades are available to hire, and the rocky depths make it one of the best spots in the area for snorkelling and diving.

Its size and setting suit quiet-seekers and snorkellers far better than families with pushchairs or anyone wanting a long walk along the water. Expect a compact beach that fills quickly in summer, and come prepared for a rockier entry than the main bays.

La Almadrava Cove

La Almadrava is the most isolated of Benidorm's coves, reached beyond Tio Ximo along the coast below the cliffs, with diving opportunities and a few dozen sunbeds. For a quiet day away from the resort, it is as unspoilt as the town's coastline gets.

Treat it as a half-day trip rather than a stroll from the hotel: bring water and lunch, and plan your return before the afternoon heat peaks. Its small size means it rewards an early start, especially in July and August.

Benidorm Island

Benidorm Island, also called Peacock Island or Benidorm Rock, lies offshore and can be reached on boat trips that leave from the town, with its own little beach. It is not a regulated stretch of sand like Levante or Poniente, so think of it as an excursion with a swim rather than a full beach day.

Boats leave from the town and the crossing is short, which makes the island an easy add-on to a morning in Mal Pas or on Levante. Ask at the harbour ticket desks on the day you plan to go for departure times and fares.

The sand and the water

Both main bays are fine sand, and the water deepens gradually, which gives swimmers room to wade before it gets deep. Levante faces east and catches the morning sun; Poniente faces west and holds the light into the evening, so choose your bay partly by when you like to swim.

For shade, the promenades behind both main beaches offer cafés, trees and awnings, while the coves under the cliffs fall into shadow earlier in the afternoon. Bring an umbrella if you plan to stay on the sand through the middle of the day, because natural shade on the beach itself is limited.

Benidorm council publishes bathing-water analysis for its beaches and runs jellyfish identification and treatment guidance, so the town's own beach pages are the place to look before you swim.

Facilities

Sunbeds and shades are available for hire on the main beaches and at the coves, and Levante alone has close to 5,000 sunbeds according to Holiday Hypermarket. Lifeguards are on hand at Levante and at Tio Ximo.

Poniente's promenade has been redeveloped with accessible amenities, and the council publishes a manual of accessible spots covering its beaches, which is the most reliable starting point if you need step-free access or an adapted shower. Beach bars, cafés and restaurants line both main bays.

Hire prices for sunbeds are set by the concession running each beach rather than published in advance, so ask at the kiosk when you arrive. The same applies to boat trips to the island.

Getting there and getting around

The two main bays are joined by a walkable circuit: start on Levante, cross through the old town to Mal Pas, then continue to Poniente, which takes in three beaches in a single day without any transport. The promenades are flat and paved, making the route easy on foot.

For the coves north of town, Tio Ximo and La Almadrava, you need wheels or a taxi, since they sit below the Serra Gelada away from the seafront. The council's beach department handles queries about access and can be reached on 966 81 54 67.

Parking in central Benidorm fills up fast in summer, so if you are driving in, aim for the edges of the bays and walk along the front rather than hunting for a space near the sand.

Best time to go

The Mediterranean here is warmest from late June through September, with July and August the busiest months and the main beaches at their most crowded. June and September give you warm water with more space on the sand.

Benidorm council runs summer safety campaigns on its beaches, including drowning-prevention and shared-responsibility campaigns, so expect to see flag systems and information points in peak season. Follow the flags and any instructions from lifeguards rather than assuming conditions are the same as the day before.

Who each beach suits

Families with small children should head for Poniente, where the extra space, playgrounds and calmer feel make a full day easier, while groups and watersports fans will get more out of Levante. Snorkellers should make for Tio Ximo's rocky ground, and quiet-seekers should take the trip out to La Almadrava.

If you are in Benidorm for a few days, plan one day on Levante for the buzz, one on Poniente for a relaxed swim, and one for the coves or the island. That covers the range of what the town's coastline offers without repeating the same beach twice.

Nearby beaches to combine with a Benidorm day

The Costa Blanca coastline north and south of Benidorm has plenty more beaches, and if you have a car it is worth comparing the more developed Calpe beaches with the quieter Santa Pola beaches to the south. Further along the coast towards Alicante, the city beach at Playa del Postiguet is an easy urban option.

Closer to Benidorm, Albir and Altea sit within a short drive north along the same coast, offering pebble and shingle beaches that contrast with the fine sand of the main bays. If you keep heading north up the Costa Blanca, the beaches in Dénia offer another stretch of sand and coves worth comparing with Benidorm's bays.

Plan Your Visit

Decide first what kind of day you want: lively and busy on Levante, roomy and family-friendly on Poniente, or small and sheltered at Mal Pas, Tio Ximo or La Almadrava. Then plan one walkable circuit between the main bays and one trip to the coves, so you see the coast's range without wasting time on buses.

Check the council's beach pages for bathing-water analysis, accessibility information and summer campaign guidance before you go, and ask at the harbour or your hotel about boat trips to the island.