Benidorm has three beaches — and choosing the right one can make or break your holiday. After a decade of living here, I've watched thousands of visitors make the same mistake: picking a rental near the wrong beach for their travel style. Whether you're a family with kids, a couple after a quieter sunbed, or a solo traveller wanting to be in the thick of it, Benidorm's beaches each have a completely different personality. This guide gives you the honest, local lowdown.
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Playa de Levante: The Heart of the Action
Levante is the one you've seen in every photo of Benidorm — a 1.8 km sweep of golden sand with that iconic Manhattan-meets-Mediterranean skyline towering behind it. It faces east, which means you get morning sun and late-afternoon shade, useful to know in September when the heat is still intense.
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Find rentals →The beach is wide, clean, and relentlessly busy from June through to mid-October. Flag quality? Blue Flag every year, without fail. The sand is fine and golden, the water gentle enough for children in the shallower northern section near Rincón de Loix.
What's great about Levante: - Sunbed and parasol hire along the entire length (around €8–12 per set per day in September) - Excellent beach bars — La Cava Benidorm near the northern end does a proper Aperol Spritz and decent tapas - Pedalos, jet skis, and parasailing available from the central beach huts - The paseo (promenade) runs the full length — great for an early morning walk before the crowds hit - Closest beach to the Old Town and the main shopping streets
Honest cons: If you want peace and quiet, Levante is not your beach. In peak summer it's packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and even in September you'll struggle to find a free patch of sand after 10am without hiring a sunbed. The water can also get a little choppy when the Levante wind picks up (it's in the name, after all).
Best for: Families with older kids, couples who want to be near the action, solo travellers, people who enjoy the buzz of a lively beach scene.
Staying near Levante? Browse our holiday rentals in Benidorm — we have apartments with sea views just minutes from the sand, and booking direct saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb.
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Playa de Poniente: The Local's Choice
If Levante is Benidorm showing off, Poniente is Benidorm being itself. At 2.2 km, it's actually longer than Levante, but somehow always feels calmer. It faces west, so the morning shade can put people off early in the day — but by 11am the sun is full on, and come late afternoon you get those spectacular sunset views that Levante can only dream of.
The crowd here skews slightly older, more Spanish, and more residential. Families from Valencia and Madrid have been coming to Poniente for generations. The promenade is lined with proper local cafés rather than tourist-trap English pubs, and the vibe is noticeably more relaxed.
What's great about Poniente: - Generally less crowded — even in peak August you can often find a free spot - Fantastic sunsets, especially from the northern end near the Benidorm Palace - The promenade restaurants are better value, in my experience — try La Pergola for fresh fish - Good accessibility — ramps, adapted facilities, and parking at the southern end near Avenida Murcia - Gentler, more sheltered water — excellent for families with young children or less confident swimmers
Honest cons: Fewer water sports. The entertainment and nightlife is further away if you're based at the Poniente end. Some visitors find the western-facing aspect means the early morning beach is in shadow longer.
Best for: Families with young children, those who prefer a quieter experience, anyone who wants value-for-money beach cafés, sunset-chasers.
See our available apartments near Poniente — several properties have direct views of the western bay, and you'll pay significantly less than equivalent listings on Airbnb when you book direct with us.
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Playa del Mal Pas: Benidorm's Secret Third Beach
Most visitors don't even know Mal Pas exists, which is exactly why locals love it. Tucked beneath the rocky headland that separates Levante from the Old Town, Mal Pas is a small, pebbly cove of about 150 metres. It doesn't have sunbed hire. It doesn't have a beach bar. What it does have is crystal-clear turquoise water, a dramatic rock backdrop, and on a September weekday, you might practically have it to yourself.
The water at Mal Pas is noticeably cleaner and calmer than either of the main beaches. It's sheltered by the headland, making it ideal for snorkelling — there's decent marine life among the rocks, and visibility can be extraordinary. I've brought my own mask and fins down here on September mornings and seen octopus, sea bream, and the occasional moray eel.
What's great about Mal Pas: - Uncrowded even in high season - Exceptional water clarity — best snorkelling in Benidorm - Dramatic, photogenic setting beneath the castle lookout point - Free — no sunbeds to hire, no charges - A 5-minute walk from the Old Town's excellent tapas bars
Honest cons: Pebbles rather than sand (water shoes recommended). No facilities, no shade structures. Getting down requires navigating some steps cut into the rock — not ideal for pushchairs or those with mobility issues.
Best for: Couples, snorkellers, solo travellers, anyone wanting a break from the main beach crowds.
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Which Beach is Right for You? Quick Comparison
| | Levante | Poniente | Mal Pas | |---|---|---|---| | Sand type | Fine golden sand | Fine golden sand | Pebbles | | Length | 1.8 km | 2.2 km | ~150 m | | Crowds | High | Medium | Low | | Facilities | Excellent | Good | None | | Snorkelling | Poor | Poor | Excellent | | Best time | Morning (east-facing) | Afternoon/sunset | All day | | Best for | Buzz & activity | Families, locals | Peace & nature |
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September at the Beaches: The Honest Truth
I moved to the Costa Blanca partly because of September. The sea temperature in September in Benidorm averages around 26°C — arguably warmer and more pleasant than peak July. The crowds thin noticeably after the Spanish school holidays end in mid-September, yet all the beach bars, water sport operators, and restaurants remain fully open.
If you're reading this planning a late-September visit, don't hesitate. The beaches are at their best. Sunbed availability is easier, the water is perfect, and the locals come back out.
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Practical Beach Tips for Benidorm
- Arrive early or hire a sunbed — free spots on Levante disappear fast in summer, even in September
- Water shoes are worth packing if you plan to visit Mal Pas or explore the rocky areas around the headland
- Parking: The Bol underground car park near Levante (Calle Gerona) is the most convenient. Poniente has surface parking near Avenida Mediterráneo. Both charge around €2–3 per hour in peak periods
- Blue Flag status: Both Levante and Poniente hold EU Blue Flag certification — the water quality is consistently excellent
- Accessibility: Both main beaches have adapted equipment for disabled visitors; contact the Benidorm tourist office in advance to reserve
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Stay Right Next to Benidorm's Best Beaches
Choosing the right beach is step one. Step two is choosing a holiday rental that puts you within walking distance of the sand. At JV Properties, we have apartments across all three beach zones in Benidorm — and when you book direct with us, you save up to 18% compared to Airbnb prices, with no hidden platform fees.
If you have questions about which part of Benidorm suits your travel style, drop us a message — I'm happy to give you an honest local recommendation.
