Benidorm with Kids: A Parent’s Guide to the Best Family Trip

Yes, it’s better than its reputation suggests. The stag-do crowd you’ve heard about sticks almost entirely to one strip of bars near the eastern end of Playa de Levante. Walk ten minutes the other way and you’re among grandparents pushing prams, kids building sandcastles, and pharmacies that sell sun cream and nappies on every other corner. Benidorm with kids works because the whole resort is built around three big theme parks, two beaches with lifeguards and gentle shelving, and a flat seafront promenade you can wheel a stroller along for two miles without a single set of steps.

It also helps that the flight is short (under three hours from most UK and Irish airports) and the airport transfer takes about 45 minutes. That matters when you’re travelling with a toddler who’s already done with sitting still.

This guide covers the attractions worth your money, which beach suits young children, where to stay to avoid the noise, the easiest day trips, and the practical stuff (heat, dining times, supermarkets) that actually makes or breaks a family holiday here.

Best Things to Do in Benidorm with Kids

Some of Spain’s biggest theme parks sit within a short drive of the centre, and a free shuttle bus runs to most of them in summer. Buy theme park tickets ahead on GetYourGuide or Tiqets and you’ll usually skip the queue at the gate, which is no small thing when it’s 32 degrees and someone needs the toilet. For the complete rundown, our guide to things to do in Benidorm covers everything beyond the family angle.

Terra Mítica (Theme Park)

The biggest park, themed around ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. There’s a real spread of rides: gentle carousels and a kids’ zone for the little ones, plus proper roller coasters (Inferno, Synkope) that need a minimum height of around 1.4m. Best for ages 6 and up because younger kids will spend the day watching their siblings queue. Tickets run roughly €38 for adults and €30 for children, with online deals often cheaper. Budget a full day.

Aqualandia & Mundomar

These two sit side by side, and a combined ticket saves money if you do both. Aqualandia is the water park: big flumes, a wave pool, and shallow splash areas for toddlers. It only opens in the warmer months (roughly May to October), so check before you book. Mundomar is the marine and exotic animal park, with dolphins, penguins, and parrots, and it’s the better bet for younger children and works year-round. Expect around €37 adult and €27 child for one park, with a combined ticket bringing the per-park cost down. Allow half a day for Mundomar, a full day for Aqualandia.

Terra Natura (Animal Park)

The pick for families with toddlers and pre-schoolers. You walk through habitats with elephants, big cats, and rhinos separated by clever hidden barriers rather than obvious cages, so it feels closer to a safari than a zoo. There’s an attached water area (Aqua Natura) in summer. Around €34 adult, €27 child. The shaded paths and shorter walking distances make this far less of a slog with a buggy than the bigger parks.

Beaches for Families

Two main beaches, and the difference matters. Playa de Levante is the lively one: busier, backed by bars and shops, with a steady hum of people all day. It’s fine for older kids who like the buzz and want an ice cream every twenty minutes. Playa de Poniente is the calmer choice, wider and quieter, with a gentler slope into the water and more space to spread out, which makes it better for young children and toddlers. Both have lifeguards in season, blue-flag water, showers, and toilets. Poniente also has the prettier modern promenade for stroller walks.

Rainy Day & Indoor Options

It doesn’t rain much, but when it does: there’s a bowling alley near the centre, indoor soft-play centres aimed at under-8s, and the local cinema sometimes screens films in English. For older kids, take the cable car or drive up to the Serra Gelada mirador (the cross on the headland) for views down the whole bay. On a clear day you can see right across to the high-rise skyline that earned Benidorm its ‘Manhattan of Spain’ nickname.

Family-Friendly Areas to Stay in Benidorm

Where you stay decides what kind of holiday you have. Avoid the streets immediately behind the eastern end of Playa de Levante, that’s the bar zone, and noise carries until the early hours.

Rincón de Loix, at the quieter top end of Levante, is the classic family choice. It’s residential, walkable to the beach, and packed with all-inclusive resorts that have kids’ pools, splash zones, and evening entertainment, the kind of places where children can roam a little and parents can relax. The Poniente and Old Town side is the other strong option: calmer, more Spanish in feel, closer to the gentler Poniente beach, and good for families who want quieter evenings and self-catering apartments where you can cook for fussy eaters.

For all-inclusive resorts and family apartments in both zones, Booking.com has the widest filter for things like ‘children’s pool’ and ‘family rooms’. If you’re weighing up neighbourhoods, our breakdown of the best areas to stay in Benidorm compared goes into more detail on each one.

Getting to Benidorm with Children

Alicante Airport (ALC) is the closest, about 45 minutes away by road, and it’s where most family flights land. Valencia Airport is the alternative, but it’s roughly 90 minutes’ drive, which is a long stretch with restless kids, so only worth it if the fares are much cheaper.

For the journey itself, a private transfer is the easiest with luggage and tired children: door to door, car seats available on request, and no waiting around. The ALSA bus from the airport is the budget option and runs regularly, but you’ll change at Alicante and manage cases and a buggy yourself, which gets tedious. Car hire makes sense only if you’re planning several day trips, otherwise parking in central Benidorm is a hassle. Full transport details and booking options are in our guide to getting to Benidorm from Alicante Airport.

Easy Day Trips from Benidorm for Families

When the kids need a break from the parks, a few half-day or full-day trips break things up nicely. You can book guided tours with hotel pickup through GetYourGuide or Viator, which saves the stress of driving and parking.

• Guadalest (about 40 minutes): A tiny castle village perched on a rock above a turquoise reservoir. The climb up to the fortress is short, the views keep older kids interested, and there are quirky small museums. Pair it with a stop at the reservoir below.
• Algar Waterfalls (about 30 minutes): Natural pools and falls you can actually swim in during summer. Bring water shoes, the rocks are slippery, but kids love splashing in the cold mountain pools. Half a day is plenty.
• Tabarca Island (boat trip, around an hour by sea): A small car-free island reached by boat. Calm, shallow water for swimming and a little fishing village to wander. The boat ride itself counts as part of the fun for most children.
• Scenic train along the coast (about 1.5 hours one way): The narrow-gauge line toward Alicante hugs the coast and inland hills. A relaxed, low-effort outing on days when nobody wants to walk far.

Practical Tips for Visiting Benidorm with Kids

A few things that make the trip smoother:

• Skip peak August with toddlers. Temperatures regularly hit the mid-30s and the resort is at its busiest. May, June, and September give you warm sea, quieter beaches, and heat that’s manageable for little ones.
• Sun protection is non-negotiable. Hats, high-factor cream, and a shaded buggy. Plan beach time for mornings and late afternoons, not midday.
• Supermarkets and pharmacies are everywhere. Mercadona and smaller supermarkets stock baby food, nappies, and snacks, usually cheaper than the resort shops. Green-cross pharmacies are easy to find for any holiday sniffles.
• The promenade is flat and stroller-friendly, running the length of both beaches with no steps, so prams and scooters roll easily.
• Eat early. Spanish dinner runs late locals slowly starting to have dinner after 9pm, but plenty of restaurants near the beaches serve from 6pm and offer a children’s menu or the budget-friendly menú del día at lunch.

For the bigger picture on the resort, weather, and getting around, our full Benidorm travel guide fills in the gaps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benidorm family-friendly despite the nightlife?

Yes. The party scene is concentrated in one small bar zone behind eastern Playa de Levante. The rest of the resort is geared toward families, with three theme parks, calm beaches with lifeguards, and a flat seafront promenade. Stay in Rincón de Loix or the Poniente side and you’ll barely notice the nightlife.

What is the best beach for young children?

Playa de Poniente. It’s wider and quieter than Levante, with a gentler slope into the water, more space to set up, and lifeguards in season. The calmer atmosphere and shallow entry make it the safer, less stressful choice for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

What is the best time of year to visit?

Late spring and early autumn, roughly May to June and September. The sea is warm, the beaches and parks are less crowded, and temperatures stay comfortable for children. August brings the strongest heat and biggest crowds, which is harder going with toddlers.

How many days do you need in Benidorm with kids?

Five to seven days hits the sweet spot. That gives you a couple of beach days, time for two or three theme parks without rushing, a day trip to Guadalest or Algar, and enough downtime that nobody melts down. A short break of three or four days works but you’ll be choosing between the parks.