Sport and active holidays in Benidorm
Facts checked 15 October 2026 against the sources at the foot of this page.
Short answer
Benidorm is better for sport than its reputation suggests, and the best months are October to May, when it's 15–22°C and the hills are rideable. Within 40 minutes you have about ten golf courses (Villaitana's two Nicklaus courses are on the edge of town, from €65 in 2026), the Costa Blanca climbs that pro cycling teams use every winter, the Serra Gelada cliff walk, around 30 tennis and padel courts, and a half marathon on Saturday 21 November 2026. On the water, two hours at the cable ski cost €30 in 2026. Pick your sport below.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best season for sport | October–May (cooler; summer middays are too hot for hills) |
| Nearest golf | Villaitana (2 × 18 holes) and Las Rejas (9-hole par 3), both in Benidorm |
| Cheapest round | Las Rejas €21 a day; Altea 9 holes €35 (2026 low season) |
| Bike hire | E-bikes from €15 (TaoBike, 2026); carbon road bikes from €35/day |
| Signature walk | Serra Gelada traverse, 8 km one way, 4–4.5 h |
| Big race | Benidorm Half & 10K, Sat 21 Nov 2026, evening start |
| parkrun | None in Spain (checked Oct 2026) |
| Public courts | Palau d'Esports l'Illa: 4 tennis + 4 padel; Guillermo Amor centre: 4 tennis |
| Cycling law change | From 1 Oct 2026 helmets compulsory for every cyclist outside towns |
| Water sports season | Cable ski: late March to October |
Pick your sport
| Page | What you'll find | Headline number (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Golf | 11 courses within ~50 min, official green fees, buggies, club hire | Villaitana Levante €100–160 visitor rate |
| Cycling | Hire prices, Coll de Rates, Guadalest, Tudons, pro team hotels, new road rules | E-bike from €15 |
| Hiking | Serra Gelada routes, Puig Campana, Ponoig, Sella; heat and fire closures | Traverse 8 km, 438 m high point |
| Tennis & padel | Every club, courts, how to book as a visitor | Ifach club tennis €10/hour |
| Running | Seafront routes in km, Benidorm Half, race calendar, the parkrun question | Half starts 18:00, 21 Nov 2026 |
Water sports: quick price table
| Activity | Who / where | 2026 price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water ski, 2 hours unlimited | Cable Ski Benidorm, end of Levante beach | Adults €30, kids €25 | Includes beginner lesson, life jacket, helmet |
| Wakeboard "easy up", 2 hours | Cable Ski Benidorm | Adults €33, kids €25 | All-inclusive wake pro €45 / 2 h |
| Cable ski, 4 laps | Cable Ski Benidorm | €17 | Good taster if you just want a go |
| Jet ski, 30 min (2 people) | Jet Ski Benidorm | €90 | 60 min round Benidorm Island €150 |
| Paddle board, 4 hours | Marinea Experiences | €25 | Deposit and €10 cleaning fee if returned dirty |
| Guided kayak, bay (2.5 h) | Capitán Kayak, yacht club | €40 | Ask the club |
| Guided kayak, island (3.5 h) | Capitán Kayak | €50 | As above |
The cable ski at Levante has run since 1966 and calls itself the only cable ski over open sea; its 60th season opened on 26 March 2026. For boat trips to the island see boat trips.
Sports facilities run by the council
Benidorm has two main public complexes. The Guillermo Amor Sports Centre (Partida Foietes) has an athletics track, Olympic and leisure pools, 4 tennis courts, a fronton, climbing wall and football pitches. The Palau d'Esports l'Illa (Partida Salto del Agua, tel. 96 683 10 50) has 4 tennis and 4 padel courts, 2 squash courts, a gym, a semi-Olympic pool and a bouldering room. Bookings go through the council's online system, deportesbenidorm.deporsite.net — you must register first. There's also a skate park in Parc de la Séquia Mare.
Big sports dates, 2026–27
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 13–15 Nov 2026 | Costa Blanca Trails, trail running, start/finish Finestrat |
| Sat 21 Nov 2026 | Benidorm Half (21K 18:00) and 10K (17:00) |
| Dec 2026 | Ask the club |
| Jan 2027 | Ask the club |
| Mar 2027 | Ask the club |
Watch out for
- Summer heat: June–September the hills are dangerous after 11:00. Go at dawn or don't go.
- Fire closures: on 19–21 August 2026 the Generalitat banned walking on paths across the region, Serra Gelada included. Check before any hill walk in summer.
- New cycling rules since 1 October 2026: no helmet outside town is a €200 fine.
- Golf prices change by month: Villaitana's high season is March–May and September–November, the opposite of what most Brits expect.
- Jet ski and kayak prices on resale sites vary a lot for the same trip; compare with the operator's own price.
Questions people ask
Is Benidorm good for a golf holiday?
Yes, especially October to May. Villaitana's two courses are on the edge of town, Las Rejas is a cheap 9-hole par 3 inside Benidorm, and Altea, Ifach, Bonalba and La Sella are 20–40 minutes away. 2026 green fees run from €21 (Las Rejas) to €160 (Villaitana Levante, peak visitor rate).
Can I hire a bike in Benidorm?
Yes. TaoBike on Avenida Mediterráneo hires e-bikes, folding e-bikes and mountain bikes from €15 and e-MTBs from €35 in 2026. Carbon road bikes are hired by specialist firms that deliver to hotels, from about €35 a day.
Is there a parkrun in Benidorm?
No. Spain is not on parkrun's list of countries as of October 2026. Most visitors run the seafront instead: Levante promenade is just over 2 km, Poniente just over 3 km.
When is the Benidorm Half Marathon?
Saturday 21 November 2026. The 10K starts at 17:00 and the 21K at 18:00, so you finish in the dark. Over 9,000 runners had entered by mid-September 2026.
What water sports can I do in Benidorm?
Cable ski and wakeboard at Levante (from €17 for 4 laps in 2026), jet ski (€90 for 30 minutes for two), paddle board hire (€25 for 4 hours), kayak tours, diving and snorkelling around Benidorm Island, sailing at the yacht club.
When is the best time for active holidays in Benidorm?
October–November and February–May. It's warm enough for shorts, cool enough for hills, and hotel prices are lower. See cheapest time to go and weather.
Hotels near Sport and active holidays in Benidorm with live prices
Live prices from Booking.com, Expedia and others via Stay22. We earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. How we earn.
Sources
- Visit Benidorm — Active & Sports Tourism — competitor hub, page list — checked 2026-10-15
- Visit Benidorm — Sports facilities — municipal centres, private clubs, Capitán Kayak prices — checked 2026-10-15
- Visit Benidorm — Sports events 2026 — 2026 calendar — checked 2026-10-15
- Cable Ski Benidorm — Precios 2026 — 2026 price board; 60th season opened 26 Mar 2026 — checked 2026-10-15
- Jet Ski Benidorm — €90/30 min, €150/60 min — checked 2026-10-15
- Marinea — paddle surf hire Benidorm — €25 for 4 h — checked 2026-10-15
- Ayuntamiento de Benidorm — Reserva e inscripciones — online booking system — checked 2026-10-15
- Benidorm Half — 21 Nov 2026, start times — checked 2026-10-15
- parkrun — countries — Spain not listed — checked 2026-10-15
- DGT — Reglamento General de Circulación update — cycling rules from 1 Oct 2026 — checked 2026-10-15
- Ayuntamiento de Alicante — riesgo extremo incendios — level 3 path ban 19–21 Aug 2026 incl. Serra Gelada — checked 2026-10-15
- Trail Running Calendar — Costa Blanca Trails 2026 — 13–15 Nov 2026, Finestrat — checked 2026-10-15