Benidorm or Alicante? An Honest Comparison by Traveller Type
Beach town or real city? How Benidorm and Alicante compare for beaches, nights out, food, families and winter stays.
Honestly, it depends what kind of holiday you want. Pick Benidorm for a full-on beach break with long sandy beaches, British bars, shows and everything a short walk from the sea. Pick Alicante for a real Spanish city with a castle, old-town tapas bars and a beach on the doorstep, and fewer English menus. They're only about 72 minutes apart on the tram, so plenty of people do both.
Quick facts
- Same airport: both use Alicante-Elche (ALC). Alicante city is about 9km away, and the C6 bus runs every 15 minutes from 06:00 to 23:00.
- Benidorm from the airport: hourly buses, or a taxi at about €90 on the daytime meter.
- Between the two: TRAM line L1, about 72 minutes, a two-zone fare (it was €2.80 before the October 2026 fare rise).
- Winter weather: almost identical. December highs are around 17°C (AEMET averages for the Alicante stations).
- Drinks: in Benidorm, a caña is about €1.80-2.50 and a British-pub pint €3-4 (Euro Weekly News, May 2026).
Benidorm or Alicante: side by side
| You want | Benidorm | Alicante | Our pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach holiday | Two long sandy beaches, Levante and Poniente, right in town | Postiguet in the centre, San Juan a tram ride away | Benidorm |
| Nightlife | British bars, tribute acts, shows, big clubs, all walkable | Spanish-style late nights in the old town and port | Benidorm for a party, Alicante for a night out like a local |
| Culture | Small old town, a local history museum | Santa Bárbara castle, MARQ museum, old town, a working city | Alicante |
| Food | Everything from fry-ups to good old-town pintxos | Rice dishes, seafood and serious restaurants | Alicante |
| Over-50s and winter stays | Flat seafront, shows, a big winter crowd from home | City life, culture, healthcare and shops on hand | Benidorm for company, Alicante for city living |
| Families | Beaches plus theme parks nearby in season | City beach, castle, museums | Benidorm in summer |
| Getting there | About an hour from the airport by bus or taxi | About 9km from the airport, frequent bus | Alicante |
Beaches
Benidorm wins this one. Levante is the busy one, close to the bars and the action. Poniente is quieter and more family-focused. Both are long and sandy, and they're right on the doorstep of most hotels.
Alicante has Postiguet, a city beach under the castle that's handy for a dip between sights. For a proper beach day, locals go to Playa de San Juan, which is on the tram line. It's good, but you're travelling to it, not stepping out onto it.
Nightlife
If you want British bars, karaoke, tribute acts and a big night that starts early, it's Benidorm. The Levante strip does exactly what it says on the tin. There are big clubs like KU Discoteca, and Benidorm Palace runs cabaret and tribute nights through the winter.
Alicante goes out later and more Spanish. People eat at 9.30 or 10pm, then move on to bars in the old town and around the port, and nobody is in a hurry. See our Alicante nightlife guide for where to start.
Culture and things to see
Alicante is a real city, so it's easier to fill days without the beach. The Castle of Santa Bárbara sits on Mount Benacantil, 166 metres above the sea, and there are lifts inside the mountain if you don't fancy the climb. The MARQ is one of the best archaeology museums on the coast (open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-19:00, Sunday mornings 10:00-14:00).
Benidorm has a small, pretty old town on the headland between the two beaches, the Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint and a little history museum, the Museu Boca del Calvari. It's nice for a morning. It isn't a culture trip.
Food
You can eat well in both. Benidorm's old town has proper pintxo bars like La Cava Aragonesa on Plaza de la Constitució, with pintxos around €2.50-5. Alicante is the stronger food city overall, especially for rice dishes and seafood. Start with our where to eat in Alicante guide.
Over-50s and long winter stays
Benidorm is built for this. The seafront is flat, there are shows most nights, and in winter it fills with long-stay visitors from the UK and Ireland, so making friends is easy. Benidorm Palace's winter calendar includes tribute and Christmas nights, plus a New Year's Eve gala.
Alicante suits people who want to live like they're in a city: markets, museums, clinics, a big department store and a proper Spanish rhythm. The castle lift has been free for people aged 65 and over with ID. Check before you go, as that may have changed.
Families
In summer, Benidorm is the easy family pick: big beaches, lots of family hotels and the theme parks just outside town (Terra Mítica, Aqualandia, Mundomar and Terra Natura). Most of the parks are seasonal or open on limited days in winter, so check their calendars before you promise anyone anything. Alicante works for families who like a mix of beach, castle and museums, and it's quieter.
Flights from Ireland and the UK
Both share Alicante-Elche airport, which is very well connected to the UK and Ireland. Routes listed for the airport include:
- Ireland: Dublin (Aer Lingus, Ryanair), Shannon (Ryanair) and Knock (Ryanair, seasonal). Belfast International has easyJet and Jet2. Cork wasn't on the route list we checked, so look at the airlines directly.
- UK: Manchester, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds Bradford, with Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and others.
Routes and seasons change, so check with the airline when you book. For the transfer, see Alicante airport to Benidorm.
Getting between Benidorm and Alicante
The TRAM is the easy way. Line L1 runs along the coast between the two in about 72 minutes, and it's a two-zone fare: €2.80 single before fares went up on 1 October 2026, so expect a little more now. There are also ALSA buses between the two cities. A taxi is quicker but costs a lot more. Our Alicante to Benidorm by tram guide has the details.
Our verdict
If it's your first trip, you want sun, sand and a laugh, and you like having English spoken everywhere, go to Benidorm. If you want a city break with a beach, better food and a more Spanish feel, go to Alicante. If you can't decide, base yourself in one and do a day trip to the other. With the tram, it's barely a decision at all. Browse the Benidorm and Alicante centre area guides to see where you'd stay.
FAQ
Is Benidorm or Alicante better for a first trip?
Benidorm is the easier first trip if you want a beach holiday with British bars and shows. Alicante is better if you want a Spanish city with culture and food and a beach on the side.
How far is Benidorm from Alicante?
About 72 minutes on TRAM line L1, a two-zone fare of roughly €3 since the October 2026 fare rise. It's about an hour from Alicante airport by bus or taxi.
Which is closer to Alicante airport?
Alicante. The city is about 9km from the airport, and the C6 bus runs every 15 minutes. Benidorm is further up the coast, with hourly buses or a taxi at around €90.
Is Alicante more Spanish than Benidorm?
Yes. Alicante is a working Spanish city with a later, more local rhythm. Benidorm is a resort with a big British and Irish presence, though its old town still feels Spanish.
Can you fly to Alicante from Ireland?
Yes. Dublin has Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights, Shannon has Ryanair, and Knock has seasonal Ryanair flights. Belfast International has easyJet and Jet2.
Either way, you'll get the sun.