Accessible beaches in Benidorm: assisted bathing, hours and how to use it

Key facts

How assisted bathing works

Go to the point's hut, where the staff will check your certificate and talk you through it. The amphibious chair is a floating beach wheelchair with big balloon tyres. A staff member pushes you down the boardwalk and into the sea inside the buoyed area, and stays with you. Some people prefer to leave the chair and swim. You can, but you must sign a waiver first. Amphibious crutches, which work on sand and in shallow water, are there for people who can walk with support.

The chairs are shared, so use depends on availability. Mornings in July and August are the busiest. If you come with a group (a care home, club or charity), the council asks you to email ahead so it can avoid crowding at one point and add staff if needed.

The service stops whenever a yellow flag goes up, not only under a red flag, so check conditions before you set off. Ring the staff line (966 815 485) if the sea looks rough.

Family and friends can share the shaded area, as long as they don't get in other users' way. The adapted toilets and changing rooms are for disabled users only.

Which point to choose

• Levante – Calle Murcia. The biggest point (312 m²) and the one nearest the British hotels and Rincón de Loix. Buses 1, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 50 run along Avenida del Mediterráneo, one street back.
• Poniente – Parque de Elche. At the town end of Poniente, near the Old Town and the harbour. Lines 2 and 30 stop at Parque Elche.
• Poniente – La Cala / Av. Mont Benidorm. At the quieter far-western end. Lines 30 and 3 run along Poniente towards Hotel Bali and La Cala.

Each point has reserved parking for people with reduced mobility nearby and level access from the promenade. Benidorm's promenades are at the same level as the pavements, and the railings are glass, which helps people with low vision. The beaches also have Braille signage. Ask your bus driver to deploy the ramp.

The disability certificate: what UK visitors need to know

The council's 2026 rules say a "certificado o tarjeta de discapacidad" (disability certificate or card) is needed to use the bathing service. That is the Spanish official document. The rules don't say what foreign visitors should bring.

Off-season visits

The points stay open all year apart from the 15 January – 14 February closure. Outside summer they run on shorter hours, 10:30–14:30. At Easter 2026 each point had two assistants. Sea temperatures are cold from January to April, around 14–16 °C, which matters if you get chilly easily or have circulation problems. From June to October the water is 23–27 °C on long-term averages.

Source: SeaTemperature.info long-term averages.

Questions people ask

Does Benidorm have wheelchair-accessible beaches?

Yes, three. Levante has one at Calle Murcia. Poniente has two, at Parque de Elche and at La Cala (Av. Mont Benidorm). Each has a ramp and boardwalk to the water, amphibious chairs, adapted toilets and changing rooms, and staff who help you bathe.

What are the accessible beach hours in 2026?

1 June to 30 September: 09:30–18:30. The rest of the year: 10:30–14:30. All three points close from 15 January to 14 February. Bathing is suspended when the yellow or red flag is flying.

Is the accessible beach service free?

Yes. It is a municipal service, and we found no charge for the chairs, crutches or assistance. You do need a disability certificate, and use of the amphibious chairs depends on availability.

Do I need to book an amphibious chair?

Individuals don't book. You turn up and the chairs are used in turn. Groups and organisations are asked to email playasymedioambiente@benidorm.org in advance so extra staff can be arranged. In peak summer, go early.

Can my family sit with me at the accessible point?

Yes. Family members can share the shaded area provided they don't get in other users' way. The adapted changing rooms and toilets are reserved for disabled users.

Who do I call about Benidorm's accessible beaches?

Beaches department: 966 815 467 (also 660 106 555 or 603 821 915). Municipal staff support line: 966 815 485. Lifeguard and rescue: 603 822 132. In an emergency, call 112.