Costa Blanca holidays

Things to do

Explore your destination

Here's a little taste of what's on offer: for more excursion ideas, speak to your Rep. Excursions may change depending on season, availability and demand.

Benidorm Fiesta Week
This Spanish Fiesta, celebrating the Patron Saints of Benidorm, kicks off in November and lasts six days. Streets are decorated with huge flower bouquets and there’s live music, outdoor theatres and fireworks, plus loads of other cultural goings-on.

Benidorm Palace
Experience the biggest and most spectacular show in Benidorm, with international cabaret acts, flamenco dancing and ballet. A glamorous and fun-filled evening is guaranteed.

Valencia
Tour downtown Valencia and take in the Serrano Tower, Queen's Square and Virgin's Basilica, with plenty of free time to explore on your own. On the way home, pick up some souvenirs at the Lladro porcelain factory.

Jeep Half Day Adventure, Costa Blanca, Mainland Spain
Buckle-up and travel off the beaten track on this exciting jeep tour, discovering beautiful mountain views, visiting quaint Spanish villages and racing off road, across the dry bed of the River Guadalest.

Highlights

• Bathing the day away under glorious sunshine on Costa Blanca’s white coastline, the ideal way to catch a tan on holiday in Costa Blanca
• Catching a boat over to Benidorm Island, also known as Peacock Island, you can spot many of these brightly coloured birds here and see excellent views of the coast
• Taking picture postcard snaps on your camera at Plaza del Castillo, where the golden sands of Levante and Playa del Poniente beaches meet
• Putting your hands in the air and screaming at Terra Mítica, a fun-filled theme park with thrilling rides galore
• Shooting out of brilliant water slides and into cool pools at Aqualandia, a fabulous waterpark in Benidorm, while on holiday in Costa Blanca
• Checking out the animals at Mundomar, Benidorm, where you’ll find parrots, dolphins, flamingos and more, with a marine park and fantastic animal shows
• Enjoying a meal, a few drinks and a night out in Benidorm, where there’s something for everyone, from family-friendly bars to cabaret shows and nightclubs
• Travelling north to the beachside city of Valencia, where you can explore the medieval history, admire the eye-catching Museum of Arts and Sciences and see the Serrano Towers and the Virgin’s Basilica
• Buckling up and experiencing a Jeep adventure off the beaten track in Costa Blanca, where you’ll come across some great mountain views
• Trying out Costa Blanca’s golf courses on holiday in Costa Blanca, like Alicante Golf Club, with a course designed by former golf champion, Seve Ballesteros

Food and drink

Fish and seafood are the real favourites in Costa Blanca, along with paella and tapas. If you’re after traditional food in Benidorm, head towards the Plaza de la Constitución end of Calle Santa Domingo for a taste of real Spain. Good Spanish restaurants can also be found in Calpe and further north along the coast.



Most restaurants in Benidorm tend to cater for British travellers, so finding a good English fry-up, Italian or curry should be easy as pie.

Evening Flavour

For an unforgettable holiday night out, Benidorm Palace is one of the most spectacular shows in Benidorm, with glamorous, peacock-style dancers (dressed like peacocks, not dancing like them) and fabulous music.



Avenida de Mallorca is the main party street in Benidorm, which is packed packed with bars, pubs and clubs, so you can catch a game of sport on the big screen or feel silly singing in a karaoke bar.

On the outskirts of the town you’ll find world-famous clubs like Pacha and the KM Club, which have top DJs spinning all the best tunes throughout the night.

Shopping

Around Levante’s beach area, you’ll find plenty of stalls and small shops selling holiday goodies and refreshments. Also, Benidorm has several street markets throughout the week, selling all sorts of goods from leather to jewellery.

Shopping Centre La Marina is a big complex just outside Benidorm, in El Finestrat. You can shop till you drop here, with loads of well-known shops and designer goods.

Paseo de la Carretera is the main shopping street in Benidorm, with lots of shops selling pretty much anything you could want, including big brand clothing. If you’re looking to shop in a big city, you could always take a day trip to Valencia.

Dates for the Diary

Benidorm celebrates more than 55 fiestas a year. The second Friday in November through till the following Wednesday sees Benidorm celebrate its patron saints.

For the Family

• Chilling out on the soft sand, building sandcastles and swimming in the calm blue sea on Costa Blanca’s brilliant beaches
• Enjoying a thrilling day out at Terra Mítica, a theme park packed with rollercoasters and rides
• Visiting Aqualandia and Mundomar for a brilliant family day out, where kids and adults can splash around and then say ‘hi’ to the animals

Local weather

Information

Language: Spanish. Currency: Euro. Standard GMT: +1hr. Spanish Tourist Office: 2nd Floor, 79 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6XB. Tel: 020 7486 8077. www.spain.info

Travel money

Euro

You can get commission-free foreign exchange on currency notes and travellers cheques at most First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets.