Mal Pas Beach, Benidorm: the little one under the Old Town
Facts checked 15 October 2026 against the sources at the foot of this page.
Short answer
Mal Pas is Benidorm's smallest town beach. It is 120 metres of sand tucked between the Punta Canfali headland and the harbour, right below the Old Town. Because the headland shelters it, it is calmer than Levante or Poniente, and it is handy if you are staying in or eating in the Old Town. There are sunbeds (€6 each), foot showers and a lifeguard post, with two lifeguards on summer shifts in 2026. Mal Pas is not on the 2026 Blue Flag list, although it still has its quality certificates. It is tiny, so in July and August get there early or go late in the afternoon.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 120 m |
| Width | 20 m average · 30 m at its widest · 2 m at its narrowest |
| Sand | Sand, 2,400 m², with rocks at the edges |
| Flags 2026 | No Blue Flag in 2026 (it had one until 2022). ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13009 (Q for Quality) and EMAS listed by Visit Benidorm |
| Lifeguards 2026 | 1 post · 2 lifeguards a shift Jul–Sep (09:00–20:00) · June 10:00–19:00 |
| Sunbeds | Sunbed and parasol hire, €6 each per day |
| Showers | 4 foot-shower units with 2 taps each |
| Toilets | None listed on the beach. Use cafés in the Old Town and at the port |
| Access | 1 walkway access. Steps and slopes from the Old Town. No accessible bathing point |
| Buses | No line runs alongside. Nearest stops are "Benidorm Centro" (lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 16, 18, 30, 50) |
| Dogs | Not allowed |
| Best for | A quick swim from the Old Town, couples, calm water |
What it's like
Mal Pas sits in the crook between the Old Town hill (the Canfali headland, with the Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint above it) and the harbour wall. In front of it, out in the bay, is Benidorm Island. Under the water there is a protected marine area around the island and the La Llosa shelf, which is why divers rate this end of the bay.
Visit Benidorm calls it "the hidden secret", but Mal Pas is not exactly hidden. It is just small. The 2,400 m² of sand is about 2% of Levante's area, so it fills up quickly. It has one lifeguard post with one flag, foot showers and a few rows of sunbeds. That's all. There are no bars on the sand. The Old Town's tapas streets and the port cafés are a few minutes' walk uphill or along the harbour.
People like it for three reasons. You can stay in the Old Town and be on a beach in a few minutes. The water is sheltered, so it is often calmer than on the open beaches. And you are well away from the noise of the Levante strip.
Why no Blue Flag in 2026?
Benidorm's 2026 Blue Flags went to Levante and Poniente only. The council's announcement of 18 May 2026 names just those two, and the regional government's 2026 list for Alicante shows the same. Mal Pas had the flag in 2019, 2020 and 2022. In 2023 no Benidorm beach flew it, because the council did not apply. In 2025 the council again did not apply for Mal Pas, saying pending works to move its footbaths would likely have led to a rejection; Mal Pas flew an Ecoplayas flag instead. We have found no public statement explaining why Mal Pas is missing in 2026.
What it means for you: not much. Blue Flag is an award scheme run by a foundation. Water quality is monitored under EU bathing water rules whether or not a beach has the flag. Mal Pas keeps its lifeguards, cleaning and certificates, and a council post from May 2026 says the regional Qualitur quality flag will fly at Mal Pas as well as Levante and Poniente.
Getting there
On foot, it is downhill from the Old Town and the Balcón del Mediterráneo, or along the harbour from the Poniente end. From Levante, walk west to the end of the promenade, and round the Canfali headland.
By bus there is no line that stops at the beach. Get off at Benidorm Centro (lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 16, 18, 30 and 50 all call there) and walk down through the Old Town. If you can't manage steps, ask your hotel or check the accessible beaches page first. Mal Pas has no adapted bathing point and the Old Town is hilly.
Snorkelling and boats
The harbour next door is where the boats leave for Benidorm Island. The island's waters are a marine reserve and popular with snorkellers and divers. Don't swim in the harbour entrance or its basins: the ordinance bans swimming and diving in port channels. Keep inside the buoys at Mal Pas. For trips, see boat trips.
Sea temperature
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 °C | 14 °C | 15 °C | 16 °C | 19 °C | 23 °C | 26 °C | 27 °C | 26 °C | 23 °C | 19 °C | 17 °C |
Long-term averages, SeaTemperature.info. In 2023–2025, Open-Meteo marine data averaged 28.1 °C in August and 14.8 °C in February.
Watch out for
- Space. At 120 metres, it can be full by mid-morning in August. Arrive early or after 17:00.
- No toilets on the beach. Plan around the Old Town cafés.
- Rocks at the sides. Wear sea shoes if you swim towards the headland, and watch out for sea urchins on the rocks.
- Harbour channel. Swimming in port entrances is banned and dangerous because of the boat traffic.
- The usual rules. No glass, no alcohol on the sand, no dogs. Swimming under a red flag can be fined €751–1,500.
Questions people ask
Is Mal Pas beach worth visiting?
Yes, if you are in the Old Town or want a short, calm swim. It is small, sheltered and right under the Balcón del Mediterráneo. Don't plan a whole day there in August, though. With only 2,400 m² of sand it fills quickly, and there are no toilets or bars on the beach.
Does Mal Pas have a Blue Flag?
Not in 2026. Benidorm's Blue Flags this year went to Levante and Poniente only. Mal Pas had the flag in earlier years, including 2019, 2020 and 2022. It still has lifeguards, daily cleaning and the quality certificates Visit Benidorm lists.
Are there lifeguards at Mal Pas?
Yes. Mal Pas has one lifeguard post. In summer 2026 two lifeguards covered each shift, 10:00–19:00 in June and 09:00–20:00 from July to September. One lifeguard covers Mal Pas outside the summer season.
Can you hire sunbeds at Mal Pas?
Yes. Sunbed and parasol hire is available at €6 each per day, the same price as Levante and Poniente. There are only a few rows because the beach is so small. If you want a guaranteed bed in August, Poniente has many more.
How do you get to Mal Pas beach?
Walk down from the Old Town, or along the harbour from Poniente. The nearest bus stops are at Benidorm Centro, served by most town lines, including 1, 2, 10, 11 and 30. From there it is a short walk downhill through the Old Town.
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Sources
- Visit Benidorm – Mal Pas Beach — length, widths, area, lifeguard post, showers, sunbeds, certifications, Benidorm Island / La Llosa reserve — checked 2026-10-15
- Ajuntament de Benidorm, 18 May 2026 — 2026 Blue Flags only for Levante and Poniente — checked 2026-10-15
- GVA – Playas Bandera Azul 2026, Alicante (PDF) — Benidorm entries: Levante, Poniente — checked 2026-10-15
- Benidorm.org – Blue Flag tag — 2019, 2020, 2022 Mal Pas flags — checked 2026-10-15
- Las Provincias, 4 May 2023 — no application in 2023 — checked 2026-10-15
- Ajuntament de Benidorm, 19 May 2025 — no 2025 Blue Flag application for Mal Pas (footbath works); Ecoplayas flag — checked 2026-10-15
- Ajuntament de Benidorm, 1 Jun 2026 — 2 lifeguards at Mal Pas, summer hours — checked 2026-10-15
- Diario de Alicante, 2 Jun 2023 — one lifeguard at Mal Pas in low season — checked 2026-10-15
- Benidorm beach ordinance 2009 — port channel swimming ban, red flag fines — checked 2026-10-15
- Llorente Bus / Avanza routes — Benidorm Centro lines — checked 2026-10-15
- SeaTemperature.info and Open-Meteo Marine — sea temperature — checked 2026-10-15