Benidorm in January: Weather, Three Kings & Is It Worth It

January is Benidorm's coldest month, but cold here means about 17°C at lunchtime and 6°C before sunrise. Apart from the Three Kings on 5 and 6 January and Benidorm Fest at the end of the month, it's the quietest stretch of the year, and it's when the long-stay winter crowd really settles in.

Quick facts

• Average high / low: 17.0°C / 6.3°C, the coldest month in the record
• Sea temperature: about 15°C on average
• Rain: about 23 mm over roughly 3 to 4 days with 1 mm or more
• Sunshine: about 181 hours, close to 6 hours a day
• Daylight: about 08:16 to 17:51 on 1 January, stretching to 08:05 to 18:22 by the 31st
• Three Kings parade: TBD. Based on last year, expect the evening of Tuesday 5 January 2027, with the time and route not yet announced (last year it started at 18:00)
• Crowds: busy around 5 and 6 January and Benidorm Fest week, quiet otherwise
• Prices: some of the lowest of the year

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 January?

It depends when you ask. On a sunny day between about 11am and 4pm, 17°C in the sun feels genuinely warm, and you'll eat lunch outside in a T-shirt. Early mornings and evenings are properly cold for the coast: the average low is 6.3°C, and the mean temperature across the whole month is under 12°C.

Rain isn't the problem, with only three or four wet days on average. The cold indoors is. A lot of apartments have tiled floors and no central heating, so if you're coming for a month or more, make sure your place has heating, or air conditioning with a heat setting.

Can you swim in the sea in January?

Technically, yes. The sea averages about 15°C and can dip lower. There's a small, cheerful crowd of all-year swimmers on Levante most mornings, but for most people January is for walking along the beach, not getting in. If you want a swim, pick a hotel with a heated indoor pool and check it's open before you book.

What to wear and pack

• A warm jacket. Not a ski coat, but more than a light layer
• Two jumpers or fleeces, so you can layer up in the evening
• Long trousers, and socks you'd actually wear at home in winter
• Slippers if you're in an apartment with tiled floors
• T-shirts and sunglasses for sunny lunchtimes
• Comfortable shoes for the promenade and the old town hill

Our winter packing guide has a full list.

Is Benidorm open in January? What's closed

Benidorm doesn't shut for winter. The bars on the Levante strip, the British pubs, the old town tapas bars and most big hotels stay open, and the town fills with long-stay visitors from northern Europe. If you're staying a month or more, ask hotels and apartment owners about long-stay rates rather than booking night by night.

What's closed:

• Terra Mítica: shut for winter. Its 2026 season ended on 1 November. Check the park's website for the 2027 opening.
• Aqualandia: summer only.
• Mundomar: last January its calendar showed selected days, mainly for its dolphin and sea lion experiences. The winter 2026-27 dates weren't up at the time of writing.
• Terra Natura: ticket sellers list weekends and holidays only over winter.

1 January and 6 January are public holidays, so banks and most shops close on both.

What's on in January 2027

Three Kings, 5 and 6 January

In Spain the big present day is 6 January, not Christmas. In Benidorm the Kings set up camp in the garden in front of the Town Hall (from 2 January last year, 2027 dates TBD), and the Cabalgata, the Three Kings parade, runs on the evening of the 5th. The 2027 date, time and route are TBD, but the 5th is a Tuesday. Last year it started at 18:00 from Parque de Elche and ran along Avenida de los Almendros, Calle Marte, Calle Venus, Calle Ruzafa and Calle Herrerías, past the Plaza de SS.MM. Reyes de España, finishing at the Julio Iglesias auditorium in Parque de l'Aigüera. Sweets get thrown from the floats, so stand where kids can reach. Check benidorm.org for the 2027 time and route. If you're in Alicante instead, see our Three Kings parade guide.

Benidorm Fest, 23 to 30 January

Spain picks its Eurovision song in Benidorm. RTVE has confirmed the semi-finals for Tuesday 26 and Thursday 28 January 2027 and the final on Saturday 30 January, with the festival week starting on the 23rd. The ticket sale date is TBD, but it was expected in November 2026. Even without a ticket, the town has a bit of a buzz that week, and hotels get busier.

Almond blossom starts inland

From late January the almond trees inland start to flower, peaking from late January to mid-February in a normal year. The Vall de Pop around Xaló and Alcalalí is the classic drive. More on that in our February guide.

Best things to do in January

• Walk the whole seafront, Levante to the old town and round to Poniente. It's flat, it's sunny and it's free.
• Climb up to the Balcón del Mediterráneo at the tip of the old town, then warm up with tapas at La Cava Aragonesa.
• Catch a sunny afternoon drink at Selvático Rooftop Bar on Calle Primavera.
• Take the TRAM to Altea or Calpe. Line 9 runs north from Benidorm to Dénia, and Calpe's Peñón de Ifach makes a good winter walk. See our Peñón de Ifach guide.

Is it busy? Prices

The first week is lively with Spanish families out for the Kings, and Benidorm Fest week brings a crowd at the end of the month. In between, it's calm. The people you'll meet are mostly long-stay winter visitors, couples and over-50s, and the pace suits them: no queues, easy tables, and quiet beaches on sunny days.

It's one of the cheapest months to come. 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 getting about on our Benidorm area page.

FAQ

Is Benidorm warm in January?

It's the coldest month, but that still means an average high of about 17°C. Sunny lunchtimes are pleasant outside. Mornings and evenings are chilly, with an average low of about 6°C, so you need a warm jacket.

Can you swim in the sea in Benidorm in January?

It's cold. The sea averages about 15°C in January. Some regulars swim year round, but for most people it's a quick dip at best. A heated pool is the more comfortable option.

When is the Three Kings parade in Benidorm?

TBD for 2027, but expect the evening of Tuesday 5 January. Last year it started at 18:00 from Parque de Elche and finished at the Julio Iglesias auditorium in Parque de l'Aigüera. 6 January is a public holiday. Check benidorm.org for the 2027 route and time.

When is Benidorm Fest 2027?

RTVE has set the semi-finals for Tuesday 26 and Thursday 28 January 2027 and the final for Saturday 30 January, with the festival running from 23 January. The ticket sale date is TBD, but it was expected in November 2026.

Is Benidorm busy in January?

Not really. After the first week it's one of the quietest times of the year for short-break visitors, though plenty of long-stay winter visitors are in town. Prices are among the lowest of the year, apart from Benidorm Fest week.

Is Benidorm good for over 50s in January?

Yes. January is when the long-stay winter crowd is settled in, a lot of them retired northern Europeans. The pace is slow, the promenades are flat and easy to walk, and bars and restaurants stay open.

Bring a proper jumper. The sun does the rest.

Planning the rest of the year? See December · February · Benidorm in winter