Enjoy days and nights eating al fresco with new friends, and strolling the vibrant streets of Benidorm
Moving to Benidorm means living in an established expat community with lots of other foreigners around who are in a similar situation. It will be easy to connect with others and find clubs to socialise and make friends, as well as find access to services for foreigners.
If you’re trying to decide where to live in Andalucia, it’s important to be aware that while Benidorm may have a reputation for wild partying and package holidays, it’s also home to a traditional old town complete with historic architecture, narrow cobbled alleys and classic bars, as well as lots of natural areas within easy access of the city.
The pretty promenade of Benidorm
The city offers year-round amenities thanks to its status as both a tourist destination and permanent residential hub. Unlike some Spanish coastal towns that quiet down significantly in winter, Benidorm maintains a steady pulse of activity across all seasons. This means residents benefit from consistently open restaurants, shops, and services, while enjoying lower tourist numbers during the off-season months.
The local infrastructure is well-developed, with good public transport connections to Alicante and other nearby cities, making it convenient for both daily life and exploring the wider region.
The microclimate created by the surrounding mountains also provides notably mild winters and comfortable temperatures throughout most of the year.
Living in Benidorm: Essential Information
Benidorm has more than 60 skyscrapers, more than any other Spanish city, and the third highest number in Europe
Population
According to Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE), Benidorm had a total population of 73,342 in 2023. The latest available stats from the Diputacion de Alicante in 2022, show that a total of 49,118 of these were foreigners, which is way over half.
Just over 50 percent of these were Europeans (with a total of 3,874 Brits) followed by 17.4 percent from the Americas and 16.59 percent from Asia. The rest were made up of Africans and Australasians.
Benidorm's Mediterranean Balcon offers fabulous views of the Benidorm coast
Healthcare in Benidorm
The healthcare facilities you visit in Benidorm will depend on if you have private or public insurance. You will likely have access to public healthcare if you pay into the social security system and work or are self-employed. If you are retired, you’ll likely have private insurance or be covered for public healthcare under the S1 scheme if you’re from the UK.
For more serious health issues and emergencies, the nearest hospital is the Hospital Marina Baixa in nearby Villajoyosa, around a 20-minute drive from the centre of Benidorm.
If you have private health insurance, there are many different clinics and surgeries that you can visit. The two biggest private hospitals in the city are Hospital IMED Levante and Hospital Clinica Benidorm.
If you plan on moving to Benidorm and are not retired, then you will more than likely be looking for a job. This can be a challenge, particularly with visas involved, but our handy guide to finding a job in Spain will help you out. According to the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Diputación de Alicante, the majority of people living in Benidorm unsurprisingly work in the hospitality industry, be it hotels, restaurants, tour companies or holiday entertainment. This is good news for foreigners because with the sheer number of holidaymakers here, English language skills can be used to your advantage. The next largest industry is commerce, followed by construction and then business.
Remember, if you’re from a non-EU country such as the UK you won’t be eligible to apply for these types of jobs unless you already have permission to work in Spain. It’s unlikely that you’ll find a company to sponsor you for a visa unless your skills are in high demand.
If you can’t get a job in Benidorm, one great option for moving here is to apply for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa. This gives you the option to remotely, perhaps keeping your job with a company back in your home country.
If you are working remotely, then you’ll need a place to work from with reliable internet. This would either be a home office or a co-working space. There are several co-working spaces in Benidorm including Co-working Benidorm, Tourist Lab and Espai Co-working Benidorm.
According to the Fair Internet Report, Benidorm has an average internet speed of 231 Mbps, which is 139 percent above the Spanish average. The most common internet provider in Benidorm is Orange Spain.
Benidorm Old Town
Schools and education in Benidorm
There are 18 main public schools in Benidorm, ranging from kindergartens all the way up to high school and even higher education colleges.
There are also a total of seven international schools near Benidorm. The nearest one just outside the city is the Lope Vege International School, which is a bilingual school in English and Spanish following the US and Spanish curriculums. Very near this is the Costa Blanca International College which is also a bilingual English and Spanish school from ages 3-18.
Mini cruises are available from Benidorm up and down the Costa Blanca coast, as well as to Tabarca Island and even the world party capital of Ibiza
Transport in Benidorm
Benidorm is served by many different public transport options including local urban and regional buses. Buses run throughout the city, as well as to nearby towns along the coast such as Villajoyosa and Altea. ALSA also runs a service to the regional capital of Alicante, which takes around one hour.
Benidorm is also served by a tram service which runs between Benidorm and Alicante. It travels along the entire coast and takes just over an hour to complete its journey. Other major stops en route include El Campello and Villajoyosa. The tram line also continues north all the way to Dénia, taking around two hours.
If you want to get out into nature areas and small villages regularly, then having your own car is a good idea as buses can take a lot longer and have limited schedules. Read our guide on driving in Spain to find out more.
The nearest international airport to Benidorm is Alicante-Elche Airport, just under 50km away. You can reach the airport by local bus, tram or by road. You can fly to over 100 destinations across Europe from Alicante Airport, which is served by 32 different airlines.
Things to do in Benidorm
Lounge on the beach
Benidorm's spectacular beach can get busy in the summer months, but there are plenty of hidden gem beaches to explore along the coast if you're looking for a more tranquil beach experience
If you’re moving to Benidorm, then it’s most likely that you’re a fan of the beach. Making the most of the excellent year-round climate, you can sunbathe and swim in summer, enjoy water sports during other times of year or simply walk along the coast. The city has two main beaches – Poniente and Levante. Both beaches have lots of facilities and are lined with bars and restaurants. They’re very busy and popular, particularly in summer. Between the two is the smaller Mal Pas Beach which is backed by a cliff and is generally more laidback than the others, although it can still get busy in summer.
Hiking pretty coastal paths and mountain trails
Enjoy spectacular coastal walks in the Sierra Helada Natural Park
Benidorm offers the best of both worlds – the city life, the restaurants, the night clubs and its more natural side. If you’re a fan of nature and getting outdoors, living in Benidorm also offers this option. The Sierra Helada Natural Park lies just outside the city and extends for 5,600 hectares. It’s characterised by fossilised sand dunes, caves and ancient ochre mines and is home to numerous hiking trails.
Nightlife and eating out
One of many buzzing, restaurant and bar-lined streets in Benidorm's Old Town
The town is renowned for its nightlife and if you’re interested in moving to Benidorm, it’s probably an aspect that attracts you. But it’s not just about nightclubs and bars, one of the city’s premiere entertainment venues is Benidorm Palace. Open since 1977, it’s a concert hall, cabaret lounge and theatre in one.
Another well-known place to go in the evenings is the so-called Tapas Alley. Located in Benidorm’s Old Town, it runs along Calle Santo Domingo and is lined with some of the best tapas bars in the city. Interestingly many of the bars here were set up years ago by Basques from the north of Spain and today you can still find many Basque pintxos bars.
Take the family to a theme park
Aqualandia water park provides fun for all the family
For families living in Benidorm and those hosting visiting relatives, the city's array of theme parks provides year-round entertainment. Aqualandia, one of Spain's largest water parks, offers refreshing fun during the warmer months, while Terra Natura combines a wildlife park with water attractions at Aqua Natura. History enthusiasts will enjoy Terra Mítica, where you can journey through ancient civilisations including Egypt, Greece and Rome, complete with themed rides and shows.
Explore historic nearby towns
The impossibly picturesque mountain town of Guadalest and its fresh water reservoir
The surrounding area of Benidorm is dotted with charming historic towns that make for perfect day trips or afternoon excursions. The medieval village of Guadalest, perched dramatically on a mountaintop, offers stunning views over its reservoir and houses several interesting museums. Just along the coast, you'll find Altea, known for its pristine old town with whitewashed houses and blue-domed church. Meanwhile, Villajoyosa, with its rows of brightly-coloured houses along the seafront, offers a different flavour of Costa Blanca life. The town's chocolate-making heritage is still very much alive, and residents can visit local chocolate factories to learn about the production process and, of course, sample the goods.
Expat clubs & activities
Living in Benidorm will be a lot easier if you make some friends and socialise, and one of the best ways of doing that is to join clubs and activities. Being such an important international destination, there are lots of options.
If you love card games, then the Benidorm International Bridge Club could be a great spot to meet new people. They meet three times a week in Benidorm every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 2:30pm. Contact them on 607311292 or 966866560.
Benidorm International Friends Club is a group for the over 50s of any nationality to meet and up, socialise and make friends. They organise events such as bowling, coach trips and dinner dances. They also have a Facebook page you can follow to find out about the latest goings on.
The colourful houses of Villajoyosa, a town close to Benidorm
Part of the wider Costa Blanca forum, the Benidorm forum site has lots of posts from members living in and around the city. There are sections on moving to Benidorm for advice and tips, as well as a general discussion and announcements so you can find out what’s going on.
Finca Guila Bowls Benidorm is situated on the Altea side of Benidorm near the village of Alfaz del Pi., this is a friendly bowls club which offers a variety of activities as well as the games include barbecues, social meets, team meals and competitions.
