Is there a quieter beach in Benidorm where I don't pay for sunbeds?
Dear Brenda
We're a pair of oldies coming for a month in late spring. Neither of us can walk far, so we want somewhere flat by the sea, and frankly we don't fancy paying for sunbeds every day of a long stay. Is there a quieter, flat stretch of beach in or near Benidorm? What do the beds and brollies cost now? And can we just bring our own?
Yes: for two of you who can't walk far, stay on the Poniente side and use the stretch towards La Cala, which is flat, wide and the calmest sand in Benidorm; in May most mornings are quiet anyway. Official sunbeds and parasols are €6 each a day in 2026, so two beds and a brolly come to €18, paid only at the council kiosks. And yes, bring your own: most long-stay regulars buy a mat and a parasol in a beach shop, about a tenner for both in 2026, and pitch up for free. The only thing you can't put up is a tent or a fixed structure.
Who the regulars recommend
- Poniente beach, the La Cala endFlat, wide and the calmest part of Benidorm's sand; the first answer regulars give for a quiet day.
- Mal Pas coveSmall and sheltered, right under the Old Town between the two main beaches; lovely early, before it fills.
- Levante, the Rincón de Loix endCalmer in the mornings than the middle of Levante, say people staying at that end.
- La Cala de FinestratA quieter cove at the end of Poniente, on bus lines 2 and 3 every 20 minutes.
- AlbirA change of pace on the line 10 bus, about every 20 minutes from Avenida del Mediterráneo.
Watch out for
- Anyone selling sunbed tickets on the sand isn't the council. Pay at the official kiosk only.
- Check the flag before you swim: a red flag means no swimming and a fine of €751 or more.
- No glass on the beach. Take drinks in plastic or cans.
- Mats, chairs and parasols are fine; tents and fixed structures are not.
- The middle of Levante is the busiest stretch in town; walk on if you want space.
Which beach is quietest and easiest to reach?
The far end of Poniente, towards La Cala, is the answer regulars give most. It's wider than Levante and the promenade is flat all the way. Mal Pas, the little cove under the Old Town between the two beaches, is pretty but small and fills up. Levante is busiest in the middle; people staying at the Rincón end find it calmer in the morning. For a change of scene, bus line 10 reaches Albir and Altea every 20 minutes. One honest note: in August nowhere in Benidorm is truly quiet, but late spring is a good time.
How much are sunbeds and parasols now?
€6 a sunbed and €6 a parasol, per day, at the council kiosks, and that price has held in every report since 2023. There are 21 sunbed sectors: Levante 1 to 10, Poniente 11 to 20 and Mal Pas 21. Hours are 10:00 to 18:00 in low season and to 19:00 in high season, and the beds are out all year. Higher figures you see quoted are usually two beds and a parasol together, or Alicante prices (€8 each in 2026). In August 2026 police warned of fake sellers charging €18 with a fake receipt, so pay only at the kiosk.
Can I bring my own mat, chair or parasol?
Yes, and long-stay regulars do just that. One 2026 visitor paid about a tenner for a mat and a parasol in a beach shop and spent the savings on cans and food. Supermarkets advertised folding beach chairs for under €9 and loungers for about €30 in 2025. What you can't do is put up a tent or any fixed structure: that's a very serious offence, with fines of €1,501 to €3,000. Others just take a towel and sit in the shade of the palms at the back of the beach.
What can I be fined for on the beach?
The main ones: glass bottles or glasses, and swimming under a red flag, both €751 to €1,500. Drinking alcohol on the beach, litter including cigarette ends, loud music and buying from unlicensed sellers are minor offences of up to €750. Since July 2024 there are smoke-free areas on Levante and Poniente. The rules date from 2009 and they are enforced; regulars' verdict is that it's not worth the fine.
Is there any building work to know about?
In 2025 there were sewage works on part of Poniente. Some visitors barely noticed; others were fed up with years of building near the beach. Works come and go, so before you book a month on the front line, ask the hotel or landlord what's happening outside this year.
What the regulars say
- Pay only at the official kiosk; anyone selling bed tickets on the sand is not the council.
- On a long stay, buy a cheap mat and parasol in town; it pays for itself in two days.
- Get down before eleven and claim a spot near the palms for afternoon shade.
- Take the line 10 bus to Albir or Altea when you want a change of beach and pace.
- Bring soft drinks in plastic; glass on the beach can cost you €751 or more.
The numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Official sunbed, per day | €6 | benidorm.co.uk/practical (playasbenidorm.es), checked 14 Oct 2026 |
| Official parasol, per day | €6 | benidorm.co.uk/practical (playasbenidorm.es), checked 14 Oct 2026 |
| Two sunbeds and a parasol | €18 | benidorm.co.uk/practical, checked 14 Oct 2026 |
| Mat and parasol bought in town | about €10 | visitor reports, 2026 |
| Supermarket beach chair / lounger | €8.99 / €29.99 | visitor reports, 2025 |
| Fake sellers' price, police warning | €18 | benidorm.co.uk/is-benidorm-safe, checked 14 Oct 2026 |
| Fine for swimming under a red flag | €751–€1,500 | benidorm.co.uk/practical, checked 14 Oct 2026 |
| Sea temperature, May | 19.9°C | benidorm.co.uk/cheapest-time-to-go (Open-Meteo 2023–2025), checked 14 Oct 2026 |
Reader figures are what visitors reported in that year. We have not checked them ourselves unless the source says so.
Your other questions, answered
2026What do two sunbeds and a parasol cost?
€18: €6 a bed and €6 a parasol, per day, at the official kiosk.
2026Coming at the end of May: what are beds and parasols now?
Still €6 each a day. Kiosks open from 10:00 and close at 18:00 or 19:00 depending on the season.
2025Do the hire beds stay out all year?
Yes. Visitors confirm the beds are out year-round at €6.
2025Here for a month: where can we buy cheap loungers?
Beach shops sell a mat and parasol for about €10 (2026); supermarkets had chairs at €8.99 and loungers at €29.99 in 2025.
2025How disruptive are the works on Poniente?
Opinions were mixed in 2025. Ask your hotel what's happening outside before you book a front-line room.
2024Is there a quieter beach where we don't pay for sunbeds?
Yes: the La Cala end of Poniente, Mal Pas, or the Rincón end of Levante early on. Take your own mat and you pay nothing.
2024Are the beach rules really enforced, or is it UK press hype?
The rules are real and date from 2009, with fines up to €3,000. Regulars say it isn't worth the risk.
2024Late in the year, are there still beds at the Finestrat end of Poniente?
Yes. A 2024 visitor saw loungers out on Poniente in the off-season, and the council beds run all year.
Read next
Beach rules and sunbed prices · Benidorm by area · Is Benidorm safe? · Buses to Albir and Altea · Sea temperature by month · Benidorm with kids
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