Benidorm has been a favourite with British holidaymakers for decades, but there’s much more to it than beaches and nightlife. For families, it combines warm Mediterranean weather, sandy beaches, family-friendly hotels, water parks, theme parks and plenty of things to do away from the pool.

Whether you’re travelling with younger children or thrill-seeking teenagers, Benidorm can be an excellent choice for a family holiday — particularly if you want plenty of entertainment without the cost of a long-haul trip.

In this complete guide to Benidorm for UK families, we’ll cover the best areas to stay, beaches, theme parks and water parks, things to do with kids, getting from Alicante Airport, eating out, day trips and our tips for planning a Benidorm family holiday in 2027.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t choose your Benidorm hotel on price alone. The area you stay in can make a big difference to the type of holiday you have, particularly when comparing lively Levante with the generally more relaxed Poniente side of the resort.

Benidorm for Families at a Glance

If you’re considering Benidorm for a family holiday in 2027, here’s our quick verdict before we get into the details.

	Holiday Blueprint Verdict
Best for families	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Beaches	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Theme parks & attractions	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Water parks	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eating out	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value for money	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for teenagers	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for younger children	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall	4.7/5

🏆 Holiday Blueprint Verdict: Benidorm is an excellent choice for UK families who want a straightforward Mediterranean holiday with plenty to do. The combination of beaches, family attractions, water parks and a huge choice of accommodation makes it particularly appealing for families who don’t want to spend every day sitting around the hotel pool.

Best for: Families wanting beaches + attractions
Best area for a more relaxed family stay: Poniente
Best area for being close to the action: Levante
Airport: Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport
Holiday length we’d choose: 7–10 nights

Is Benidorm Good for UK Families?

Yes — Benidorm for UK families can be an excellent choice, despite the resort’s reputation for nightlife. Much of the resort is geared towards family holidays, with long sandy beaches, hotels with pools and entertainment, water parks, theme parks and plenty of restaurants where eating with children is easy.

One of Benidorm’s biggest advantages is the amount you can do without travelling far. You could spend one day on the beach, the next at a water park and another exploring a nearby town or attraction, while still having plenty of time to relax around the hotel.

It’s particularly good for families with older children and teenagers. Aqualandia, Aqua Natura and Terra Mítica give you alternatives to beach days, while watersports, boat trips and other activities mean there’s considerably more to do than on a traditional fly-and-flop holiday.

Families with younger children are well catered for too, although choosing the right area and hotel becomes more important if you’d prefer quieter evenings away from Benidorm’s busiest nightlife.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t let Benidorm’s nightlife reputation put you off. The experience can be completely different depending on where you stay. For a family holiday, we’d concentrate on choosing the right part of Benidorm and the right hotel rather than judging the whole resort by its liveliest streets.

Best Areas to Stay in Benidorm for Families

Choosing where to stay can make a surprisingly big difference to a family holiday in Benidorm. The resort is fairly easy to get around, but Levante, Poniente and the Old Town offer quite different experiences.

There isn’t one area that’s best for every family, so we’d choose based on whether you prioritise a quieter beach holiday, being close to attractions and entertainment, or having restaurants and traditional streets on your doorstep.

Poniente — Best Overall for Families

Poniente would be our first choice for many families, particularly those wanting a slightly more relaxed base. Its long beach and promenade give you plenty of space, while you’re still within easy reach of central Benidorm.

We’d particularly consider Poniente for families with younger children or anyone who likes having access to Benidorm’s attractions without necessarily staying in the busiest part of the resort.

Levante — Best for Families Who Want More Going On

Levante puts you closer to much of Benidorm’s entertainment and has a lively beachfront atmosphere. It’s a good option for families with older children and teenagers who enjoy having plenty happening around them.

The trade-off is that some parts can be considerably livelier, particularly in the evening, so we’d pay close attention to the exact hotel location rather than choosing purely because it says “Levante”.

Benidorm Old Town — Best for Restaurants & Atmosphere

Staying around Benidorm Old Town gives you a different experience again, with narrow streets, restaurants, shops and easy access between the Levante and Poniente sides of the resort.

We’d consider it for families who enjoy going out for meals and exploring on foot, although a large resort-style hotel with extensive pools and children’s facilities may be easier to find elsewhere.

🏆 Holiday Blueprint Pick: Poniente
For a first family holiday to Benidorm, we’d start our hotel search around Poniente. It gives you a good balance between beach time, access to central Benidorm and a generally more relaxed family-holiday feel.

Best Things to Do in Benidorm with Kids

One of Benidorm’s biggest advantages for families is that you don’t have to rely entirely on the beach or hotel pool. There are several major family attractions nearby, ranging from roller coasters and water slides to wildlife parks and shows.

If you’re staying for a week, we’d probably choose one or two of the major attractions rather than trying to visit everything. On a 10 or 14-night holiday, it’s much easier to mix attraction days with beaches, swimming and exploring the surrounding area.

Terra Mítica

Terra Mítica is Benidorm’s main theme park and the obvious choice for families who enjoy rides. The park is themed around ancient Mediterranean civilisations and includes a mixture of thrill rides, family attractions and shows.

Families with older children and teenagers are likely to get the most from the bigger rides, while there are gentler attractions for younger visitors too.

🎢 Holiday Blueprint Pick: If your family enjoys theme parks, Terra Mítica would be near the top of our Benidorm itinerary.

Aqualandia

Aqualandia is one of Benidorm’s best-known water parks, with a mixture of large slides, pools and attractions for different ages. It’s particularly appealing during the hotter summer months when spending a full day around water is considerably more inviting than sightseeing.

For thrill-seeking families, this is likely to be one of the highlights of a Benidorm holiday.

Aqua Natura & Terra Natura

Aqua Natura combines pools and water attractions with areas designed for families, while neighbouring Terra Natura offers a wildlife-focused day out.

Being next to each other makes them useful options for families who want something different from another beach day, particularly when travelling with children of different ages and interests.

Benidorm Beaches

You don’t need to pay for an attraction every day. Levante and Poniente beaches are two of Benidorm’s biggest family attractions in their own right, and we’d deliberately leave several days free for the beach and hotel pool.

Poniente would be our preference for a more relaxed family beach day, while Levante is better if you enjoy a busier atmosphere with plenty happening around the promenade.

🏖️ Planning some beach days? Read our Best Beaches in Benidorm for Families (2027) guide to compare Poniente, Levante, Mal Pas and Benidorm’s quieter coves.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip: Check attraction opening dates before building your itinerary, particularly if you’re travelling outside the main summer season. Operating days and hours can vary through the year.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Benidorm with Kids?

Benidorm can work well for family holidays for much of the year, but late spring through to early autumn gives you the best chance of warm weather for beaches, pools and water parks.

July and August offer the hottest weather and the liveliest atmosphere, but they’re also among the busiest periods and can be very hot for days away from the pool.

For families who aren’t restricted to the main school summer holidays, May, June and September can offer an excellent balance of warm weather and fewer peak-season crowds.

Families travelling at Easter or October half-term can still enjoy Benidorm, but we’d check the opening schedules of attractions such as theme parks and water parks before booking if they’re an important part of your holiday.

☀️ Holiday Blueprint Pick: If school dates allow, we’d seriously consider late May, June or September for a balance of warm weather, beach days and avoiding the very hottest part of summer.

Getting to Benidorm for UK Families

Benidorm is an easy destination to reach from the UK, with most families flying into Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC).

From Alicante Airport, Benidorm is roughly 60 km away, with several ways to complete the journey including private transfers, shared coaches, taxis and car hire.

For most families staying entirely in Benidorm, we wouldn’t automatically hire a car. If your hotel is centrally located, much of the resort is easy to explore without one, and organised transport is available for many of the major attractions.

A hire car becomes more useful if you’re planning to explore more of the Costa Blanca, particularly places such as Altea, Villajoyosa or Guadalest.

✈️ Holiday Blueprint Tip: For families travelling with children and luggage, we’d compare the total price of a private airport transfer against a shared coach transfer before booking. The extra convenience can sometimes be worth the difference after a flight.

Eating Out in Benidorm with Kids

Eating out with children in Benidorm is generally easy, with everything from Spanish tapas and Mediterranean food to pizza, burgers and familiar British favourites.

Families wanting the widest choice will find plenty around Levante and central Benidorm, while the Old Town is particularly good when you want to explore smaller restaurants and tapas bars away from the main beachfront.

We’d encourage families to try at least a few local Spanish dishes during their holiday rather than eating entirely around the most tourist-focused areas. Even children who aren’t adventurous eaters can usually find simple options such as grilled meats, potatoes, rice dishes and fresh bread.

🍽️ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Head into the Old Town for at least one evening meal. Even if you’re staying around Levante or Poniente, it’s a nice change from eating around your hotel every night.

Best Day Trips from Benidorm for Families

Benidorm has enough to keep most families busy for a week, but if you’re staying longer, there are some excellent places to explore around the Costa Blanca.

Guadalest – A spectacular mountain village with incredible views and a completely different atmosphere from the coast.

Altea – A beautiful whitewashed coastal town that’s ideal for a slower day of exploring, eating and enjoying the seafront.

Villajoyosa – Known for its colourful waterfront and sandy beaches, making it an easy option for families wanting a change from Benidorm.

Alicante – Combine shopping, restaurants and the waterfront with a visit to Santa Bárbara Castle for views across the city and coast.

🚗 Holiday Blueprint Pick: If we were choosing just one, we’d visit Guadalest. It gives you something completely different from Benidorm’s beaches, pools and theme parks.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t overload a one-week Benidorm holiday with day trips. We’d probably stay fairly local on a 7-night trip and explore more of the Costa Blanca if staying for 10–14 nights.

How Much Does a Benidorm Family Holiday Cost?

Benidorm can offer very good value compared with many family destinations, but the total cost varies enormously depending on when you travel, where you stay and whether you choose self-catering, half-board or all-inclusive.

Families travelling during the UK school summer holidays will usually pay considerably more than those able to visit in May, June or September. Hotel location can also make a big difference, particularly when comparing beachfront properties with accommodation slightly further from the centre.

We’d look at the whole holiday cost rather than choosing the cheapest package. A hotel that includes meals, entertainment and good pool facilities may ultimately offer better value than a cheaper room if you’re spending considerably more once you arrive.

💰 Holiday Blueprint Tip: Price the holiday both with and without all-inclusive. Benidorm has such a large choice of restaurants that paying extra for all-inclusive isn’t automatically the best option for every family.

Benidorm with Kids: Practical Tips

A Benidorm family holiday is relatively easy to organise, but a few simple decisions can make the trip considerably more enjoyable.

Choose your hotel location carefully – Don’t just look at the hotel itself. Check exactly where it sits in relation to the beach, restaurants and the parts of Benidorm you expect to visit most.

Don’t plan an attraction every day – Terra Mítica and the water parks are great additions, but leave plenty of time for the beach, hotel pool and slower days.

Be prepared for the heat – During the hottest months, sunscreen, hats and plenty of water are essential, particularly when visiting outdoor attractions.

Check attraction schedules – Opening days and hours can vary depending on the season, so check directly before building your itinerary around a particular attraction.

Think about your airport transfer in advance – After arriving with children and luggage, knowing exactly how you’re getting from Alicante Airport to Benidorm makes the start of the holiday much easier.

Explore beyond the busiest areas – Even if you’re staying around Levante, spend some time around Poniente and the Old Town to see a different side of Benidorm.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t try to “complete” Benidorm. Some of the best family days can simply be beach → pool → ice cream → dinner → evening walk.

Final Verdict: Is Benidorm Good for UK Families?

Yes — we think Benidorm is an excellent choice for a UK family holiday, particularly for families who want much more than just a hotel and swimming pool.

The combination of sandy beaches, family-friendly accommodation, theme parks, water parks and easy access to the wider Costa Blanca means there’s enough variety to keep both children and adults entertained.

We’d particularly recommend Benidorm for families with older children and teenagers, although families with younger children can have a brilliant holiday too — especially when staying around the more relaxed Poniente side of the resort.

Benidorm won’t be right for everyone. Some areas are extremely lively and busy, especially during peak periods. But choose your hotel and location carefully and you can have a very different experience from the nightlife-focused image Benidorm sometimes has in the UK.

For families looking for sun, beaches, attractions and good value without flying long-haul, Benidorm deserves serious consideration for 2027.

🏆 Holiday Blueprint Verdict: 4.7/5

Best for: Families with older children & teenagers
Our area pick: Poniente
Biggest strength: Huge variety of things to do
Ideal stay: 7–10 nights
Would we recommend it? Absolutely.

🌴 Considering Spain for your family holiday? You might also like our Salou & Costa Dorada for UK Families guide.

Coming soon on Holiday Blueprint:

🏖️ Best Beaches in Benidorm for Families (2027)
☀️ Best Time to Visit Benidorm: Month-by-Month Guide (2027)
🎢 Terra Mítica for UK Families: Complete 2027 Guide
🌊 Best Water Parks in Benidorm: Aqualandia vs Aqua Natura
🏨 Where to Stay in Benidorm for Families (2027)