Can I bring my dog to Benidorm, and what are the rules?

Can my dog go on the beach?

No. Under Benidorm's beach ordinance, a dog on the beach is a minor offence with a fine of up to €750, on Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas. A 2023 visitor asked about dog beaches and off-lead spots nearby and got no firm answer, and we haven't confirmed one ourselves, so ask your vet or the tourist office when you arrive. In town, local owners keep dogs on leads, and many small dogs are even pushed in prams.

Where can we stay with a dog for a month or two?

In a rental or on a campsite. Hotels are the hard part: only one of the 50 hotels on our list, on the Poniente side, is marked as allowing pets. Long-stay visitors recommend Camping Raco in Benidorm as clean, friendly and pet-friendly, and one regular stays at Camping Villasol a month at a time on discounted long-term rates. For a flat, ask the owner directly. Whatever you book, get 'pets allowed' in writing and check any size or number limits.

Where can we walk him?

On a lead, in the parks and the quieter streets, which is what local owners do. Parc de l'Aigüera, the long park running up from the Old Town, is a good daily loop. For a longer walk, the Serra Gelada headland beyond Rincón de Loix has paths up towards the Punta del Cavall tower; keep him on a lead and take water. There's also a walking group that leaves from Camping Villamar about twice a week from September, which is a nice way to meet people.

What paperwork does he need, there and back?

To enter Spain, a dog living in Great Britain needs an animal health certificate from a UK vet, issued no more than 10 days before you travel; a UK pet passport is no longer accepted. He also needs a microchip and an in-date rabies jab, given at least 21 days before travel. The same certificate covers his return to Great Britain for up to six months, so a winter stay of one or two months fits. Before you come home, a vet in Spain must give a tapeworm treatment between 24 hours and 5 days before you arrive. Check GOV.UK when you book, as these rules do change.

Can he come in restaurants or on the bus?

Mostly not inside. A 2023 visitor put it plainly: you can't take dogs into most restaurants, though a terrace is usually fine, and dogs aren't allowed on most public transport. Many owners who can't fly with their dog drive down instead. Benidorm suits small, calm dogs best.

Will I find a vet if he's poorly?

Yes. In 2024 a visitor counted about half a dozen vets in Benidorm, and owners recommend one up past Benidorm Palace, on the opposite side of the road. There's also a big pet shop by the overhead walkway near the Hotel Bristol, close to the Old Town, which had dog prams in 2024. Book the vet for the tapeworm treatment early in your stay, rather than in your last week.