Most people arrive in Benidorm, plant themselves on Levante beach, and never once wander up the hill. Which means they completely miss the best part of the whole resort. The Benidorm Old Town — the Casco Antiguo — is a compact, genuinely beautiful quarter perched on a rocky headland between the two main beaches, and it's where Benidorm actually makes sense as a place. Whitewashed walls, blue-domed churches, cliffside viewpoints, tapas bars that have been here since before the skyscrapers — this is the Benidorm that existed long before the package holiday boom, and it's absolutely worth your time.
I've been living on the Costa Blanca for ten years, and I still come up here at least once a week in summer. Here's everything you need to know.
Getting to the Old Town: The Quickest Routes
The Casco Antiguo sits on the headland that separates Playa de Levante from Playa de Poniente. From Levante beach, walk towards the far southern end until you hit the rocky point — you'll see stairs cutting up into the hillside. From Poniente, it's even easier: walk along the promenade and the old town rises above you on your right. There's no dedicated parking inside the old town (it's largely pedestrianised), but the car parks along Avenida del Mediterráneo are a short walk away. In June, arrive early morning or after 6pm if you want to avoid the heat on those uphill steps.
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Find rentals →The Mirador del Castillo: Benidorm's Best View
This is the first thing you do. The Mirador del Castillo (Castle Viewpoint) sits at the very tip of the headland, roughly where a Moorish castle once stood — only a small section of wall remains, but the view is staggering. You get Playa de Levante sweeping away to the right with the Sierra Helada behind it, Playa de Poniente curving to the left, and on clear June mornings, you can see the Peñón de Ifach at Calpe, 25km up the coast. Photographers: the best light here is either just after sunrise or around 7pm when everything turns golden. There's no charge to enter — just walk up.
The Blue Dome: Iglesia de San Jaime y Santa Ana
The Church of San Jaime y Santa Ana is the image that defines Benidorm's skyline — that electric-blue tiled dome peeking above the rooftops. The original church dates from the 18th century, though it's been rebuilt and extended since. Step inside and it's surprisingly cool and calm, a genuine contrast to the noise outside. Mass is still held here regularly. The blue ceramic dome was restored relatively recently and really pops in the June sunshine — it's one of the most-photographed spots on the entire Costa Blanca. The church sits on a small plaza where locals actually sit and have coffee, not just tourists.
Plaza de la Iglesia and the Heart of the Casco Antiguo
The Plaza de la Iglesia (Church Square) is the beating heart of the old town. In June it gets busy by mid-morning, but arrive before 10am and you'll often have it largely to yourself. Surrounding the square are some of the best traditional tapas bars in Benidorm — not the English breakfast cafés of the strip, but proper Spanish bars with jamón hanging from the ceiling and cold draught Estrella. Bar La Cava on this square has been serving cold beer and patatas bravas for decades. The portions are generous, the prices are fair (a caña — small beer — is around €1.80, tapas from €3.50), and the atmosphere on a summer evening is exactly what you came to Spain for.
The Balcón del Mediterráneo
Slightly less known than the main mirador, the Balcón del Mediterráneo is a terrace-style viewpoint on the eastern edge of the old town that looks directly down onto Levante beach. On a June evening with the sun dropping behind you, the sea is an almost impossible shade of turquoise. There are a couple of small bar-restaurants right here — El Almendro is worth a stop for a glass of local white wine and some fresh anchovies. Sit here long enough and you'll see why people have been coming to Benidorm for 60 years.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Old Town in June
Wear comfortable shoes — the streets are cobbled and can be steep. Bring water — there are no large supermarkets in the old town itself, though there are small alimentación shops. The best time to visit in June is early morning (before 10am) for a quiet wander and photos, or early evening (from 7pm) when the light is beautiful and the restaurants are opening. Midday in June is genuinely hot up here — up to 30°C — and there's not much shade on the headland itself.
The old town is also the best departure point for the famous Benidorm island boat trips — ferries leave from the small port just below the headland and take around 20 minutes to reach Isla de Benidorm, where the snorkelling is excellent.
Stay Close to the Old Town
If you want to explore the Casco Antiguo properly, staying nearby makes all the difference. When you book a holiday rental in Benidorm directly through JV Properties, you save up to 18% compared to booking the same property through Airbnb — that's a real difference on a week's stay. Browse our available Benidorm apartments and villas and find something within walking distance of both the old town and the beach.
The Casco Antiguo is the part of Benidorm most people discover too late — usually on their last evening when they're wondering why they didn't come sooner. Don't make that mistake.
