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Benidorm beaches: which one is right for you?

Levante beach from the Old Town lookout
Levante beach from the Old Town lookoutLevante, the busy beach most hotels face

Facts checked 15 October 2026 against the sources at the foot of this page.

Short answer

Benidorm has two big town beaches and three small ones. Levante (2.1 km) is the busy one, with the bars and the Strip behind it. Poniente (3.1 km) is longer, wider and calmer. Mal Pas is a 120-metre sheltered strip under the Old Town. Cala Tío Ximo and Cala Almadrava are rocky coves at the foot of Serra Gelada, good for snorkelling and shared with naturists. Only Levante and Poniente fly the Blue Flag in 2026. Lifeguards work all year on the main beaches, 09:00–20:00 from July to September. Sunbeds and parasols cost €6 each per day.

Key facts

Fact Detail
Main beaches Levante 2,084 m · Poniente 3,100 m · Mal Pas 120 m
Coves Cala Tío Ximo 60 m · Cala Almadrava ~100 m (both sand and rock)
Blue Flag 2026 Levante and Poniente only (Mal Pas not on the 2026 list)
Lifeguards 2026 June 10:00–19:00 · July–September 09:00–20:00 · year-round on main beaches
Sunbed and parasol €6 each per day (price set in 2022, still charged in 2026)
Accessible bathing points 3: Levante (C/ Murcia), Poniente (Parque de Elche), Poniente (La Cala / Av. Mont Benidorm)
Toilets Levante 3 eco toilets · Poniente 5 · coves none listed
Dogs Not allowed on any Benidorm beach (assistance dogs excepted)
Glass Glass containers banned on all beaches and coves
Sea temperature 15 °C in February, 27–28 °C in August (table below)

The beaches side by side

Beach Length × average width Best for Sunbeds Lifeguards (summer 2026) Buses (nearest stops)
Levante 2,084 m × 55 m First-timers, nightlife, Rincón families Yes, €6 9 per shift 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 16, 18, 30, 50 (Mediterráneo / Rincón de Loix)
Poniente 3,100 m × 74 m Space, Spanish families, over-60s, long walks 1,700 in 10 sectors, €6 9 per shift 3 (Paseo Poniente), 30 (Playa Poniente), 2 (Parque Elche)
Mal Pas 120 m × 20 m Shelter, a quick swim from the Old Town Yes, €6 2 Walk from Benidorm Centro stops
Cala Tío Ximo 60 m Snorkelling, quiet, naturist-tolerant No 1 Walk from Rincón de Loix
Cala Almadrava ~100 m Snorkelling, naturists No 1 Walk from Rincón de Loix
Accessible points 3 sites Wheelchair users, limited mobility Shade provided 3 assistants each See page

Need to know about flags, fines and jellyfish before you swim? Read beach safety.

Sea temperature by month

Two sources, because they differ a little. The long-term average is the safer bet. The 2023–2025 figures show how warm recent summers have run.

Month Long-term average 2023–2025 average
Jan 15.0 °C 15.2 °C
Feb 14.3 °C 14.8 °C
Mar 14.5 °C 15.2 °C
Apr 16.0 °C 17.2 °C
May 19.0 °C 20.0 °C
Jun 22.7 °C 24.1 °C
Jul 25.9 °C 27.3 °C
Aug 26.9 °C 28.1 °C
Sep 25.6 °C 26.1 °C
Oct 22.8 °C 22.5 °C
Nov 19.3 °C 19.8 °C
Dec 16.5 °C 17.0 °C

Long-term: SeaTemperature.info. 2023–2025: our own average of hourly Open-Meteo marine model data for the bay. Both are surface readings, so the water feels colder once you are in up to your shoulders. For air temperature and rain, see weather.

Rules that apply on every Benidorm beach

The council's beach ordinance (2009, amended since) covers all five beaches. In plain English: - No glass. You cannot bring glass containers onto the sand. - No alcohol. A 2013 amendment bans selling, supplying and drinking alcohol on the beaches and coves. The ordinance makes one exception, for a kiosk at Tío Ximo. The bars are on the promenades, not on the sand. - No dogs. Animals are banned, except assistance dogs and rescue dogs. The nearest dog beach is El Charco (Xarco) in Villajoyosa. - No swimming under a red flag. This is a "serious" offence, with fines of €751–1,500. - No soap or shampoo in the sea or at the foot showers. - Smoking is still allowed on Benidorm's beaches as of October 2026. Next door, La Cala de Finestrat, Albir and Villajoyosa are smoke-free. A national ban on smoking on beaches is going through Parliament. - Leave a 6-metre strip clear along the water's edge. No sunbeds or parasols go there.

The full rules are on the beach safety page.

Watch out for

  • Beaches have changed since your last visit. Mal Pas has had no Blue Flag in 2025 or 2026 (the council did not apply in 2025 because of pending footbath works), and plenty of old guides still say "three Blue Flag beaches".
  • Paid sunbeds take up much of Levante in summer. Towel space is mostly at the very front or the far ends.
  • The coves have no toilets, cafés or shade. Bring water and wear sea shoes, because the seabed is rocky.
  • Night cleaning. Tractors clean the shoreline between 03:00 and 09:30 in summer. Anything left on the sand that gets in their way can be moved.
  • Midday sun. UV is strongest between 12:00 and 16:00. Shade on the sand is either paid or something you bring yourself.

Questions people ask

Which is the best beach in Benidorm?

It depends what you want. Levante is closest to the bars, shops and the British end of town, so it is the most convenient. Poniente is longer and wider, and you get more room. Mal Pas is small and sheltered, under the Old Town. For snorkelling, walk out to Cala Tío Ximo or Almadrava.

Are Benidorm beaches Blue Flag in 2026?

Yes, Levante and Poniente both hold the Blue Flag for 2026. The council collected both flags on 18 May 2026. Mal Pas, which used to have one, is not on the 2026 list. All the beaches also carry quality and environmental certificates (ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and the Spanish Q for Quality).

How much are sunbeds on Benidorm beach?

€6 for a sunbed and €6 for a parasol, per day, so €12 for one sunbed with shade. The council approved this maximum price in June 2022, and it is still what people paid in 2026. You pay the attendant in your sector. The council has not published a half-day rate.

Can you swim in Benidorm in winter?

Yes, if you don't mind cold water. The sea drops to around 14–15 °C from January to March, so most people take a quick dip rather than a long swim. Lifeguards still cover Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas outside the summer season.

Which Benidorm beach is quietest?

For space, the far western end of Poniente, towards La Cala. For a small beach, Mal Pas early in the morning. Outside July and August, the coves at Tío Ximo and Almadrava are often almost empty.

Can I take my dog to the beach in Benidorm?

No. The ordinance bans animals on every Benidorm beach and cove, except assistance and rescue dogs. The nearest dog beach is El Charco (Xarco) in Villajoyosa, about 20 km away by road. See dogs and pets.

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Sources

Top photo: Levante beach from the Old Town lookout, Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.