Benidorm in February: Weather, Carnival & Almond Blossom

February in Benidorm is still winter, but you can feel it turning. Highs average about 18°C, it's one of the driest months of the year, and the almond trees inland start to flower. Add Benidorm's carnival and it's a good month for a cheap, quiet break, as long as you don't need to swim in the sea.

Quick facts

• Average high / low: 17.6°C / 7.1°C
• Sea temperature: about 14.3°C on average, the coldest of the year
• Rain: about 22 mm over roughly 3 days with 1 mm or more, the fewest wet days of any month outside summer
• Sunshine: about 180 hours, around 6.4 hours a day
• Daylight: about 08:04 to 18:23 on 1 February, and 07:32 to 18:53 by the 28th
• Carnival 2027: TBD. Based on last year, expect Saturday 13 February (the 2026 parades were on Saturday 21 February, the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday)
• Crowds: quiet, with a bump for carnival and half-term
• Prices: low, close to January levels

Where the numbers come from: air temperatures, rain and sunshine are AEMET's 1981-2010 climate normals for its Alicante city station, the nearest long-running official record, about 40 km down the coast. Benidorm won't match it to the decimal point, but it's close enough to plan with, and I use the same station for every month so you can compare. Sea temperatures are 10-year averages from seatemperature.info, and sunrise and sunset times are from sunrise-sunset.org.

Is Benidorm warm in February?

Warm in the sun, cool in the shade. A clear February day at noon is lovely: you'll see people having lunch outside in T-shirts on the Levante promenade. But the average low is 7.1°C, so mornings and evenings need a proper layer, and the sea breeze can make it feel colder than the number.

The good news is the light. By the end of the month the sun doesn't set until nearly 7pm, so evenings feel much less wintry than in December. And with only about three wet days on average, you can plan most days outdoors.

Can you swim in the sea in February?

This is the month to skip it. The sea averages about 14.3°C, the coldest of the year, and can drop lower. The hardy all-year swimmers will still be in off Levante most mornings, and good luck to them. Everyone else should look for a hotel with a heated pool.

What to wear and pack

• A warm jacket for mornings and evenings
• Jumpers or fleeces you can take off at lunchtime
• Long trousers and a pair of shorts for sunny afternoons
• Walking shoes if you're heading inland for the almond blossom
• A costume if you're joining carnival. Anything goes
• Sunglasses: the light is bright even when it's cool

There's more in our winter packing guide.

Is Benidorm open in February? What's closed

Benidorm stays open all winter. The Levante strip, the British pubs and the old town tapas bars all trade, and most of the big hotels are open, with long-stay visitors from northern Europe filling a lot of them. A few hotels close for refurbishment at this time of year, so double-check yours.

What's closed:

• Terra Mítica: shut. In 2026 it didn't open until 15 May. Check the park's website for 2027.
• Aqualandia: summer only.
• Mundomar: last February its calendar showed selected days, mainly for its dolphin and sea lion experiences. The 2027 dates weren't up at the time of writing.
• Terra Natura: ticket sellers list weekends and holidays only over winter.

What's on in February 2027

Benidorm Carnival

Yes, Benidorm has a real carnival, and it's in February, not November. It's run by the town's fiesta clubs, the Associació de Penyes Verge del Sofratge, with council support. In 2026 everything happened on Saturday 21 February: a children's parade at 10:30 from Calle Escuelas along Calle Ruzafa and Calle Herrerías to the Plaza de SS.MM. Reyes de España, then the adults' parade at 21:00 from Calle Venus. The Entierro de la Sardina, the mock funeral that closes carnival, followed on 24 February (2027 date TBD).

The 2027 date is TBD, as it hadn't been announced at the time of writing. Carnival Tuesday falls on 9 February in 2027 and Ash Wednesday on 10 February. Benidorm's 2026 parades were on the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday, so a best guess is Saturday 13 February 2027. Treat that as a rough estimate, because the date has moved around in past years. Watch benidorm.org from late January.

Almond blossom inland

This is the best reason to hire a car in February. In a normal year the almond blossom peaks from late January to mid-February. The Vall de Pop around Xaló (Jalón) and Alcalalí is the classic area, with whole hillsides of white and pink. The Guadalest valley, closer to Benidorm, tends to flower a bit later and for longer, and the road from Guadalest towards Callosa d'en Sarrià is a good drive. Blossom depends on the weather, so check recent photos on local Facebook groups before you set off.

The run-up to Fallas

Valencia's Fallas season officially opens with the Crida on the last Sunday of February, which is 28 February in 2027. The main days are in March; see our March guide.

Best things to do in February

• Do the almond blossom drive on a sunny weekday, then lunch in a village.
• Take the TRAM to Altea and wander its old town. Our Altea by tram guide explains how, and El Racó on Plaça de l'Església is right by the church.
• Walk up to the Balcón del Mediterráneo in Benidorm's old town for the view over both beaches.
• Have a drink with a view at La Terrasse as the evenings stretch out.
• Watch the rugby or football with the regulars at Shamrock Irish Pub.

Is it busy? Prices

February is quiet. You'll share the town with long-stay winter visitors, a lot of them over 50, plus a few more families during UK half-term and a local crowd on carnival weekend. Restaurants are easy to get into and hotel prices are close to their lowest.

Getting here is cheap too. The ALSA bus from Alicante airport was €7.99 one way at the time of writing (October 2026), and the TRAM Line 1 runs from Luceros in Alicante up to Benidorm. More on the town on our Benidorm area page.

FAQ

Is Benidorm warm in February?

Mild rather than warm. The average high is about 17.6°C and the average low about 7°C. Sunny lunchtimes are pleasant outside, but you'll want a jacket in the mornings and evenings.

Can you swim in the sea in Benidorm in February?

February has the coldest sea of the year, averaging about 14.3°C. A few all-year swimmers still go in, but for most people it's too cold for more than a quick dip.

Is there a carnival in Benidorm in February?

Yes. Benidorm holds a carnival with a children's parade in the morning and an adults' parade at night. In 2026 both were on Saturday 21 February. The 2027 date is TBD: based on last year, expect Saturday 13 February, but treat that as a rough guess and check benidorm.org from late January.

When is the almond blossom near Benidorm?

In a normal year it peaks from late January to mid-February, and in the Guadalest valley it often lasts longer. It depends on the weather, so check recent photos before you drive out.

Is Benidorm busy in February?

No, it's one of the quietest months for short-break visitors. Carnival weekend and UK half-term bring a few more people, and plenty of long-stay winter visitors are around, but prices stay low.

Come for the blossom and the quiet. Leave the sea for May.

Planning the rest of the year? See January · March · Benidorm in winter