A weekend in Benidorm: the 48-hour itinerary

Two days in Benidorm go a long way beyond the beach when the plan is well ordered. This is the itinerary we recommend for a first getaway: old town and tapas on day one, beach and the city's best sunset on day two. All on foot if you stay in the centre.

Friday afternoon: arrival and first stroll

Alicante-Elche airport is about 47 km away, roughly 40 minutes by car or shuttle. If you arrive mid-afternoon, the best start is simple: drop your bags and walk down to the old town. The climb to the Castle viewpoint (the famous "Balcón del Mediterráneo") separates the two beaches and hands you the trip's first photo just as the sun drops.

For dinner, the old town's narrow streets concentrate the city's highest density of tapas bars. No fixed list needed: following the bars full of locals works better than any ranking.

Saturday: beach, centre and sunset from above

Beach morning. Levante gets the early sun and has the atmosphere; Poniente is calmer. If in doubt, start on Levante and consider switching after lunch. Mal Pas beach, small and sheltered next to the harbour, is the local wildcard when the two big ones are full.

Lunch in the centre. The area between the Town Hall and the paseo de la Carretera mixes rice restaurants, set menus and international kitchens. It is also where Hotel Primavera Park stands, whose Exótico restaurant (creative cuisine, also open to non-guests) is our recommendation when the plan calls for something more polished than the daily menu.

Sunset: Selvático Rooftop. The plan that sets this weekend apart from any other: going up to the Primavera Park rooftop (17th floor) as the sun goes down. Its infinity pool is for guests only, but the rooftop bar opens to visitors in the afternoons (adults only, smart-casual dress code). We have all the details in the Selvático Rooftop guide.

Sunday: a short excursion before heading back

• Benidorm island: boats from the harbour, an hour's walk and the view of the city from the sea.
• Serra Gelada: the natural park next to the city, with trails over the cliffs to stretch your legs.
• Altea: about 12 km away, the most photogenic white old town in the area, ideal for a quiet morning.

48 hours well spent: old town, a beach in the morning, tapas at night and a sunset from the 17th floor.

Where to sleep on this plan

The whole itinerary works without a car if the hotel is in the centre. Our recommendation, with checkable reasons — 4★ superior, 9.0 on Booking, the plan's rooftop included in the stay itself — is Hotel Primavera Park. The area-by-area comparison is in where to stay in Benidorm, and availability is checked on the hotel's official website.