Everyone thinks they know Benidorm. The twin skyscraper skyline, Levante Beach packed shoulder-to-shoulder in July, the English pubs belting out karaoke on Calle Gerona. And yes, that Benidorm absolutely exists — and it's brilliant fun. But after ten years living on the Costa Blanca, I can tell you with confidence that the Benidorm most visitors never find is every bit as rewarding as the famous one. September is honestly the perfect time to discover it: the summer crowds have thinned, the sea is still a bathtub-warm 26°C, and the locals are finally reclaiming their town.
Here are my ten favourite hidden gems — the places I take friends and family when they visit and want something a little different.
1. Racó del Conill: The Cove Nobody Talks About
You'll find this tiny pebble cove tucked beneath the cliffs on the far western edge of Poniente Beach, a fifteen-minute walk past the lighthouse at Punta de l'Escaleta. No sunbed rentals, no beach bar, barely any signage. Just crystalline water in four shades of blue and the occasional local fisherman. Go early morning and you'll often have it entirely to yourself. Wear proper footwear for the path down — it's rocky.
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Every visitor ends up at the Tuesday market on Avenida de la Comunitat Valenciana, but the smaller Wednesday neighbourhood market in the El Rincón de Loix district is where actual Benidorm residents shop. Better prices on local fruit, decent jamón stalls, and a real slice of Spanish daily life. It wraps up by noon, so get there before 10am.
3. Mirador del Castell: The View That Outdoes Everything
Most people make it to the famous viewpoint above the Old Town — and it IS spectacular. But fewer walk the extra ten minutes up to the ruined castle walls behind it. From up there you get a 360-degree panorama: the whole Bay of Benidorm, the Puig Campana mountain inland, and on clear September days you can see as far as the Columbretes Islands. Take water, take your camera, and go at golden hour.
4. Bar La Cava: Tapas the Way Locals Actually Eat Them
Hidden in a side street off the Old Town, Bar La Cava has been serving the same generous tapas raciones since the 1980s. Order the clóchinas (small local mussels), the boquerones en vinagre (anchovies in vinegar — Benidorm's local catch), and whatever arroz dish they're doing that day. The wine comes in a proper clay jug. The owner, Paco, speaks limited English but communicates entirely through pointing at food, which works perfectly. Main dishes run €8–12. Cash only.
5. The Trail to Ponoig Mountain (The Sleeping Lion)
Locals call the distinctive mountain that looms behind Benidorm El Lleó — the lion — because from the right angle it looks exactly like a sleeping big cat. The hiking trail from La Nucía (a 20-minute drive from Benidorm) up to the summit at 1,181 metres is tough but magnificent. September is the ideal month: temperatures are cooler, the summer haze has lifted, and the views from the top across the whole Costa Blanca are jaw-dropping. Start before 8am, bring 2 litres of water per person, and download the trail on Wikiloc before you go (search: Ponoig from La Nucía).
6. Benidorm Island by Kayak
Yes, you can take the tourist boat to Illa de Benidorm — but hiring a kayak or paddleboard from one of the small rental outfits near the eastern end of Levante Beach and paddling out yourself is a completely different experience. The island is a protected marine reserve and the snorkelling around its base is genuinely world-class: grouper, sea bream, octopus, and in September you might spot jellyfish (bring a rash vest). The crossing takes about 25 minutes in calm conditions. Check weather forecasts and sea state before you go.
7. Mercado Central de Benidorm on a Saturday Morning
This is Benidorm's proper covered food market, near the bus station on Calle Metge Llorca. It's been there forever, it smells of oranges and cured meat, and the fishmonger's stall has whatever came in fresh from the Villajoyosa fish auction that morning. September means late-season tomatoes, enormous local figs, and the first of the autumn almonds. Bring a bag and buy enough for lunch at your apartment.
8. The Murals of the Old Town
Spend an hour wandering the narrow streets behind the church of San Jaime and Santa Ana and you'll discover an unofficial outdoor art gallery. Local and visiting artists have decorated the old walls with striking murals — some political, some playful, some beautiful. There's no official map, which is half the fun. Start at Calle Esperanza and weave your way through.
9. Cala de Mal Pas at Dusk
This small rocky cove on the northern tip of the promontory separating the two main beaches is technically not a secret — but almost everyone visits it at midday. Come back at 7:30pm in September when the sun is low and hitting the water from the west. The colours are extraordinary. There's a small bar nearby where you can get a cold clara (beer with lemon) and watch the light change. Pure magic.
10. Villajoyosa Fish Market at Dawn
Okay, this one technically takes you out of Benidorm — but only 10 kilometres south. The lonja (fish auction) in Villajoyosa starts around 5am and by 6am the catch is being sold on the quayside. It's not a tourist attraction; it's a working market. Turn up, watch the professionals buy whole crates of fresh fish, then walk to the old coloured fishermen's houses along the seafront for the best sunrise photograph on the Costa Blanca. Be back in Benidorm for breakfast.
Staying Beyond the Hotels
Here's the honest truth: if you're staying in a big hotel, you're missing half of what makes Benidorm brilliant. A self-catering apartment or villa gives you a kitchen to bring home those market finds, a balcony to watch the famous sunsets from, and the freedom to live at your own pace rather than a resort's schedule.
Browse our Benidorm holiday rentals — we have everything from studio apartments overlooking Levante Beach to spacious family villas a short drive from the Old Town. And when you book direct with JV Properties, you save up to 18% compared to booking through Airbnb or Booking.com. That's a significant chunk of money that goes straight back into your holiday fund — more cervezas at Bar La Cava, basically.
Final Thought
September is genuinely the sweet spot for discovering the real Benidorm. The sea is warm, the queues are shorter, and the town feels like it belongs to everyone again rather than just the peak-season crowds. Use this list as your starting point, add your own discoveries, and you'll leave with a very different — and much richer — picture of one of Spain's most misunderstood destinations.
Have your own Benidorm hidden gem? Drop it in the comments — I'm always adding to my list.
