Benidorm Day Trips: 10 Best Options With Real 2026 Prices
The best Benidorm day trips are Guadalest, the Algar Waterfalls, Altea, Valencia, Alicante, Villajoyosa, and Tabarca Island, all reachable in under two hours by coach, tram, or car. Each one trades Benidorm’s high rises for mountain villages, a major city, or an island escape without eating up more than a single day.
Most guides list these towns and stop there. What they skip is the part that actually matters when you’re planning: what does it cost, how crowded does it get, and is it really worth the drive. That’s what this guide covers, with real prices instead of “book now” links.
How Far Is Guadalest From Benidorm and What Does It Cost to Visit?
Guadalest sits about 35 to 40 minutes from Benidorm along the CV 70 mountain road, a route that winds through almond groves before dropping you at a village built into a rock face. You enter through a tunnel carved straight into the stone, which feels a little theatrical the first time you walk it, then climb toward San José Castle.
Entry to the castle runs through Casa Orduña, a restored 17th century mansion turned museum, and travelers consistently find the combined ticket costs around 4 to 5 euros for adults, with children paying half that. The reward at the top is the turquoise Embalse de Guadalest reservoir framed by the Aitana mountains, one of the most photographed views on the Costa Blanca.
A common mistake first timers make is treating Guadalest as a half hour stop. Locals recommend budgeting closer to two hours, since the village also holds a handful of quirky museums, including a microminiature collection and a salt and pepper shaker museum that sounds like a joke until you’re standing in it.
How Do You Get to the Algar Waterfalls and Is It Worth Visiting?
The Algar Waterfalls, known locally as the Fuentes del Algar, sit around 35 to 40 minutes from Benidorm near Callosa d’en Sarrià. This is a protected wetland area, and it shows in the pools of cold, glass clear water stacked in tiers through the forest.
Expect to pay around 4 euros for adults in low season, with prices rising during the busy summer months, plus 3 to 5 euros for parking unless you grab the free lot near the tourist office and walk the short downhill stretch in. A common downside nobody mentions upfront is the water temperature. It stays genuinely cold outside July and August, so this trip suits sun seekers more in high season than in spring or December.
The paths get uneven and slippery near the pools. Water shoes are worth the small cost, and this excursion is not suitable for anyone with mobility difficulties, since there are steps throughout.
Can You Combine Guadalest and Algar Waterfalls in One Day?
Yes, and most travelers do exactly that. Bundled tours from Benidorm run 7 to 9 hours total, giving roughly two hours in Guadalest and two to three hours at the falls.
[Itinerary Table]
| Time | Stop | What You’ll Do |
| 9:00 AM | Pickup in Benidorm | Coach departs for the mountains |
| 10:00 AM | Guadalest | Castle, reservoir viewpoint, museums |
| 12:00 PM | Travel | Short scenic drive to Algar |
| 12:30 PM | Algar Waterfalls | Swim, walk trails, lunch on site |
| 3:30 PM | Return | Drop off back in Benidorm |
Doing it independently by car saves money but adds driving fatigue, since the roads are narrow mountain bends. For a first visit, most travelers find the guided version less stressful.
Why Do Travelers Choose Altea Over Benidorm’s Own Attractions?
Altea is only 10 to 15 minutes from Benidorm, which makes it the easiest half day escape on this list. Where Benidorm leans loud and high rise, Altea’s old town is a maze of whitewashed houses, cobbled steps, and bougainvillea spilling over balconies.
The Church of Our Lady of Consuelo, with its striking blue domes, anchors the main square and gives you the Mediterranean backdrop that shows up in most Costa Blanca postcards. From the viewpoint beside it, the sea stretches out below, and the promenade lets you walk all the way to Albir if you’re up for it.
This is a trip that rewards slow wandering rather than a checklist. Grab a coffee at one of the square’s cafes and let an hour pass without a plan.
Is Valencia a Realistic Day Trip From Benidorm?
Valencia is about two hours from Benidorm by coach, which sounds long until you realize you still get roughly five free hours in the city before the return trip. It’s Spain’s third largest city, and it earns that scale.
Most coaches drop you near the Torres de Serranos, a short walk from the cathedral and the historic Plaza del Ayuntamiento. A guided walking tour of the old town runs around 10 euros per person, paid on the day, and covers about 75 to 80 minutes of the most emblematic streets.
Save time for the City of Arts and Sciences, a futuristic complex that includes Europe’s largest aquarium at Oceanogràfic, though both require separate entry fees. Skip the mistake of trying to see everything. Valencia rewards picking two or three highlights and eating a real paella somewhere near the old fishing quarter of El Cabanyal instead of rushing.
What Makes Alicante Worth a Day Trip From Benidorm?
Alicante sits around 40 minutes away by car or coach, and it’s also reachable by TRAM in about an hour and twenty minutes, which makes it one of the easiest places to visit near Benidorm without booking a tour at all.
Santa Bárbara Castle, perched on Mount Benacantil, gives sweeping views over the city and harbor, and you can either hike up or take a lift. Below it, the Explanada de España promenade, famous for its wave patterned tiled floor, is lined with cafes and leads toward the marina and the old quarter known as El Barrio, which comes alive at night with bars and live music.
Since Alicante’s airport also serves Benidorm, many travelers save this trip for their last day, which is practical but means you’ll want at least half a day dedicated to it rather than a rushed final morning.
Why Do Families Choose Villajoyosa’s Chocolate Factory?
Villajoyosa sits less than 15 minutes south of Benidorm, making it one of the simplest benidorm attractions for families with young kids who don’t handle long car rides well. The town’s row of brightly colored fishermen’s houses along the Amadorio River is reason enough to visit.
The real draw for families is the Valor Chocolate Factory and Museum, where a brand with more than 130 years of history walks visitors through old tools and the modern production line before ending, unsurprisingly, at the shop. Visiting on a Thursday adds a local market to the itinerary.
The town beach is wide, calm, and far less crowded than Benidorm’s own, which makes this a solid half day when you want fun things to do in Benidorm’s surroundings without a full excursion commitment.
Is Tabarca Island Worth the Boat Ride From Benidorm?
Tabarca is the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community, and getting there from Benidorm means a ferry connection through Alicante or Santa Pola. Expect return tickets from roughly 15 to 23 euros depending on the departure port and season, with total travel time from Benidorm landing around 1.5 to 2.5 hours each way once you count getting to the port.
That’s a real time investment, so is it worth it. For snorkeling in a protected marine reserve with genuinely clear water and a walled 18th century village that feels frozen in time, most travelers say yes, but only outside peak summer. July and August bring thousands of day visitors, turning the narrow streets into a crush. Aim for May, June, or September instead, when the island empties out but the water is still warm enough to swim.
What Are the Best Hidden Day Trips Near Benidorm?
If you’ve already done Guadalest and Altea, three quieter places to visit near Benidorm are worth the detour. Polop, a ramshackle hillside village surrounded by almond and olive trees, offers medieval city walls and tapas bars without a single tour bus in sight, best paired with a scenic drive rather than a dedicated trip.
The Jalon Valley, just under 40 minutes away, is Costa Blanca’s wine country. Local bodegas offer tastings, and the Saturday craft market draws visitors browsing for souvenirs among almond covered hillsides, making this one of the better things to do in Benidorm for adults looking for something beyond a beach day.
Closer still, Sierra Helada Natural Park sits right at Benidorm’s edge, and the walk to the Albir Lighthouse is free, well maintained, and delivers cliff top sea views that rival paid excursions elsewhere on this list.
How Much Does a Day Trip From Benidorm Actually Cost?
Prices vary more than most guides admit. A guided coach tour typically runs 25 to 95 euros per person depending on distance, group size, and whether transport is shared or private. Self driving costs far less but adds fuel, tolls, and your own time behind the wheel on unfamiliar mountain roads.
[Cost Table]
| Destination | Guided Tour (approx) | Self Drive / DIY (approx) |
| Altea | €35 to €40 | Under €10 in fuel |
| Guadalest | €18 to €40 | €10 to €15 plus entry fee |
| Algar Waterfalls | €22 to €40 | €10 to €15 plus entry fee |
| Villajoyosa | €16 to €25 | Under €10 in fuel |
| Alicante | €22 to €35 | TRAM ticket, a few euros |
| Valencia | €33 to €50 | Bus ticket, around €15 to €20 |
| Tabarca Island | €45 to €55 | €15 to €23 ferry only |
A good rule of thumb, closer destinations like Altea and Villajoyosa rarely justify a paid tour if you have a car. Longer trips like Valencia or Tabarca tend to make more sense guided, since parking, ferries, and navigation eat into your day otherwise.
What Are the Best Day Trips From Benidorm for Families With Kids?
Villajoyosa, Guadalest, and the Algar Waterfalls come up again and again as the best things to do with kids in Benidorm, and for good reason. All three keep travel time under 45 minutes, offer safe swimming or hands on activities, and don’t demand a full day of walking that tires young legs out.
For family things to do in Benidorm that stretch a little further, the Guadalest and Algar combo works well since kids get a castle to explore in the morning and a swim in natural pools by afternoon. Just pack water shoes and sun protection either way, and check the season before promising a summer style swim in spring or December.
What Are the Best Things to Do Near Benidorm in December?
Winter changes the calculation. Water based trips like the Algar Waterfalls turn cold and quiet rather than refreshing, so December favors Altea, Alicante, and Valencia, none of which depend on swimming to be worthwhile.
Guadalest still works in December, though expect a jacket at altitude and shorter museum hours. The upside of visiting any of these places in the off season is the crowd. Guadalest’s narrow streets that feel packed in August are genuinely peaceful in winter, and that alone makes December an underrated month for these things to do near Benidorm.
Do You Need a Car for Day Trips From Benidorm?
No. Most day trips in Benidorm run as guided coach tours with hotel pickup built in, which is why so many visitors never rent a car at all. Alicante and Valencia are also reachable independently by TRAM or ALSA bus for a fraction of a tour price, if you’re comfortable navigating schedules yourself.
A car mainly pays off if you’re visiting several places over a longer stay, since fuel and parking add up less than repeated tour bookings. For a single week in Benidorm, a mix of one or two guided excursions and one TRAM trip into Alicante covers most of what this list offers.
Final Thoughts
Benidorm’s real advantage isn’t the resort itself, it’s everything within two hours of it. Guadalest and the Algar Waterfalls cover nature and history in one combined trip, Altea and Villajoyosa work for a relaxed half day, and Valencia or Tabarca Island suit travelers wanting something further afield. Whichever benidorm day trips you choose, check the season, budget the real entrance fees, and pick a pace that matches your group rather than the busiest tour on the list.
FAQs
Is Benidorm good for day trips?
Yes. Its location on the Costa Blanca puts mountain villages, a wine valley, a small island, and two major cities all within a two hour radius.
What is the closest town to visit from Benidorm?
Villajoyosa and Altea are both under 15 minutes away, making them the easiest options for a short half day trip.
Is Guadalest overrated?
It’s touristy, but the reservoir view and castle earn the reputation. The trick is visiting outside midday in summer, when tour buses stack up.
What are the best things to do in Benidorm besides day trips?
Beyond excursions, top things to do in Benidorm itself include the old town, water parks, and the Poniente and Levante beaches for those wanting to stay closer to base.
What are things to do in Benidorm at night?
Benidorm’s own nightlife, from the Old Town’s bars to Benidorm Palace shows, covers most evenings, since day trips are best planned for daytime hours only.
What are fun things to do in Benidorm with kids beyond day trips?
Water parks and the beach round out a family stay, alongside the family day trips already covered above.
