Benidorm is brilliant — but after a few days on the beach, even the most dedicated sun-worshipper starts to wonder what else is out there. And the answer, if you're staying on the Costa Blanca, is: quite a lot. In ten years of living here, I've done every one of these day trips multiple times, and I still find reasons to go back. June is actually the perfect month for most of them — hot enough to feel like a proper holiday, not yet the brutal 38°C of August.
Before we dive in, a practical note: most of these work brilliantly from a self-catering base in Benidorm. If you haven't sorted your accommodation yet, browse our holiday rentals in Benidorm — booking direct with us saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb, and you get an actual human to call if anything goes wrong.
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Find rentals →1. Guadalest: The Mountain Village That Defies Gravity (30 minutes)
This is the one I recommend to absolutely everyone. Guadalest is a tiny medieval village perched on a rocky spike about 25km inland from Benidorm, and it's genuinely dramatic. The castle (Castell de Sant Josep) is accessed through a tunnel blasted into the rock, and the views over the reservoir — that startling turquoise-green colour — are jaw-dropping.
Get there before 10:30am in June. By midday, the tourist coaches arrive and the main street becomes a bottleneck. Go early, have a coffee at Bar El Xorret just outside the castle entrance, walk the walls, and you'll be back in Benidorm for a late lunch. Parking is free in the lower car park (about 5 minutes' walk up). Entry to the castle area is around €2.
Don't miss: The Museum of Miniatures inside the village — it sounds naff but it's actually fascinating.
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2. Altea: The Arty White Town on the Water (20 minutes)
Altea is Benidorm's quieter, more bohemian neighbour, and the contrast couldn't be sharper. The old town sits on a hill above the seafront, all blue-domed church and narrow whitewashed lanes filled with art galleries, ceramic shops, and decent restaurants. In June, the light here in the late afternoon is extraordinary — photographers know what I'm talking about.
Park down by the seafront (paid parking, around €1.20/hour) and walk up. The church square (Plaza de la Iglesia) is the reward at the top. Grab lunch at one of the seafront restaurants on the paseo — fresh fish, rice dishes, proper stuff. Altea is also famous for its fideuà (think paella but with noodles instead of rice).
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3. Alicante City: Proper Spanish Life (1 hour)
Alicante is just over an hour by car or about 90 minutes on the TRAM (the coastal tram that runs from Benidorm to Alicante — genuinely one of the great scenic train journeys in Spain). The city has everything: the imposing Santa Bárbara Castle sitting above the city on a bare rock, the Explanada de España promenade with its famous wavy marble mosaic, a proper covered market (Mercado Central), and the Barrio de Santa Cruz — the old quarter climbing up the castle hill.
For June: the TRAM ride is spectacular because the route hugs the cliffs between Altea and Calpe. Buy your ticket on the app (Metrovalencia) to avoid queues. The castle is free on Sundays; otherwise around €3.20. Allow a full day.
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4. Calpe and the Peñón de Ifach (35 minutes)
Calpe is dominated by the Peñón de Ifach — a 332-metre limestone rock that erupts from the sea like something from a Spielberg film. You can actually climb it; it's a proper hike (about 2 hours return, moderately tough), and the views from the top stretch to Ibiza on a clear day. In June, go early — by 9am is ideal — because it gets very hot on exposed sections.
After the climb, Calpe's fish market (Lonja de Calpe) is worth a look, and the salt lakes (Las Salinas) just next to the rock are a flamingo habitat — yes, actual flamingos, often visible in June. The old town (Ifach) has some very good tapas bars.
Parking tip: The car park right at the base of the Peñón fills up fast. There's more parking 10 minutes' walk away near the salt lakes.
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5. Tabarca Island: A Proper Mediterranean Escape (boat from Benidorm or Alicante)
Tabarca is Spain's smallest inhabited island and the only island settlement in the Valencia region. Boats go from Benidorm port (check Cruceros Kontiki or similar operators — around €25 return), or from Alicante if you're combining with the city trip. The island itself is tiny — you can walk around it in an hour — with a small walled old town, incredibly clear water for snorkelling, and one genuinely excellent fish restaurant (Casa de Emilio, always book ahead).
June is ideal for Tabarca because July and August get absolutely rammed. Bring sunscreen, cash, and a snorkel if you have one. There are no cars on the island.
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6. Fonts de l'Algar Waterfalls: Jungle in the Mountains (40 minutes)
This one surprises people. About 40km inland near the village of Callosa d'en Sarrià, there's a series of natural waterfalls and rock pools (the Fonts de l'Algar) fed by a mountain spring. In June, the water is still cool and refreshing — perfect after the drive. There are several pools you can swim in, connected by wooden walkways and short hikes through lush vegetation.
Entry is around €5 per adult. Get there early — it gets busy by midday in summer. Callosa village itself is worth a quick wander; there's a good little bar on the main square.
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7. Villajoyosa: The Colourful Fishing Town (15 minutes)
This is criminally undervisited considering how close it is. Villajoyosa (or La Vila Joiosa in Valencian) is a working fishing town with a seafront of brightly painted houses — different colours supposedly so fishermen could identify their homes from the sea. The town has a proper local market on Tuesdays and Fridays, a fascinating chocolate factory museum (Valor, one of Spain's most famous chocolate brands, is based here), and several genuinely excellent fish restaurants that have barely changed in thirty years.
It's only 15 minutes from Benidorm and feels a world away. Park on the north end of the seafront and walk south along the promenade.
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Getting Around: Car vs. Public Transport
For most of these day trips, a hire car makes life significantly easier. If you're staying in a holiday rental in Benidorm rather than a hotel, you'll likely have parking included or nearby, which helps. The TRAM (Alicante-Dénia line) covers Altea, Calpe, and Alicante well and is genuinely scenic. For Guadalest and Fonts de l'Algar, you really do need a car.
Tolls: the AP-7 motorway is the fastest route south to Alicante but charges tolls (around €3-4 one way). The N-332 coastal road is free and often just as fast outside peak hours.
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Plan Your Base: Stay in Benidorm, Explore Everything
Benidorm is genuinely one of the best-positioned bases on the Costa Blanca — close to the mountains, close to quieter towns, close to Alicante, and with the TRAM for car-free travel. View our properties in Benidorm — apartments and villas for every group size. Book direct and save up to 18% on what you'd pay through Airbnb, plus you get flexible check-in and real local support.
Any questions about any of these trips — distances, parking, what's open in June — drop us a message. We've done them all.
