The six kilometres of sand formed by Benidorm’s two main bays are a big part of its appeal. Closest to the town centre, and near to many All Inclusive hotels and restaurants, is Levante beach, also known as Sunrise Beach.

If you just want a paddle then you’ll find the shores pleasingly shallow, while further out in the water there’s a playground for all ages. There are swinging bridges, diving boards and rafts, with a ton of watersports, from banana boats to jet skiing. There is even a cable-skiing station in the sea – it’s a bit like water-skiing, but without the boat.

The other bay is Poniente Beach. It’s a big beach, with a long, pedestrianised promenade and a playground for children. You’ll find it slightly calmer than Levante, but there are still plenty of restaurants looking out to sea here. It’s worth taking the trip up to the viewing point in between the two bays, dubbed the ‘Balcon del Mediterraneo’, the balcony of the Mediterranean, for the astounding views.

Holidays in Benidorm are not just about the beaches, there’s also the opportunity to wander through the old town, where you’ll find amazing views over the bays and an impressive range of shops and markets to explore. If you fancy going further afield, head out into Costa Blanca to explore the Mediterranean Sea, mountains and natural parks of this beautiful area. There’s things to do for everyone here.

Bring on the night

Many of Benidorm’s visitors live for the night time antics – partying until daylight and snoozing most of the day. There are so many varied bars and clubs here, but, you don’t need to stay up all night to have a good time.

Evenings can be started at an Irish bar with a Guinness, Spanish tapas restaurant with some sangria or chilling out with a cocktail at a beach bar. The pace ramps up a little at the rock bars, karaoke clubs and cabaret shows across Benidorm.

Then, if you’re feeling the groove, get out those dancing shoes and head to one of the discos for funky tunes or big clubs like El Divino or Space for banging dance tracks. There are pool parties, foam parties and more raunchy shows, all to the soundtrack of the likes of Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry or Judge Jules.

Most bars and clubs all offer enticing promotional discounts so you can keep the drinks flowing without emptying your wallet.

Fun-fuelled parks

There’s also plenty of day time antics to get up to too. There’s a whole line up of waterparks and theme parks, luring you in with big slides and fast rides. Aqualandia waterpark – which has some of the world’s highest slides – and Mundomar Animal Park are conveniently located within walking distance on the eastern edge of Benidorm and offer seriously fun days out for all the family.

For big thrill rides, Terra Mitica theme park is the place to go. There’s rides that will drop you from serious heights, spin you up and down and round and round, but you can also enjoys magic shows and dance shows, as well as impressive street acrobatics.

If you’ve got little ones in tow, the pirate-themed Iberia Park might be better suited with a swimming pool and a selection of smaller rides.

What’s more, head to Terra Natura to explore a fun wildlife park in the north of Benidorm. as well as AquaNatura Waterpark which can both be easily accessed by regular direct buses.

Booking these parks online can be the key to your cheap Benidorm holidays as there’s often online discounts to make the most of, or combined park tickets available that will you you saving money while going to several parks.

A selection of shops

It might not seem possible, but there’s more shops than parks in Benidorm so you can have a shopping extravaganza – hope you’ve got room in your suitcase. Browse the designer boutiques, huge shopping centres and department stores for all your favourite bits, or hit the local markets to get some handmade gifts and local produce.

Some of the most popular shops line the Avenida Martinez Alejos in the old town district, or there’s the three-floor La Marina shopping centre that’s packed with Spanish and European brands.

There are plenty of unique buys to be found if you explore and if you’re one for a bargain, Benidorm’s top three markets are held either on a Wednesday or Sunday morning, where you’ll come across clothes, gifts, local fruit and vegetables, crafts and traditional Spanish products. You can try your luck with the sellers to haggle for the best deal possible, or even just a spot of window shopping can be fun.

Exploring the area

On holiday in Benidorm there’s also much natural beauty and serene landscapes to explore – it really does offer everything.

The Serra Gelada natural park provides stunning scenery and has a beautiful coastal walk from Albir lighthouse along a coastal ridge. The perfect setting to take a romantic stroll and soak up the views, or for just another notch on your hikers belt.

With the beaming sunshine in Benidorm you may fancy a day in the shade, you can take a trip to the Cuevas del Canelobre – the Candelabra Caves – in Busot. These are said to be the largest and deepest caves in Spain and they are named after a phenomenal candelabra shaped hanging rock formation. There’s a picnic area at the entrance of the caves so you can pack up some lunch and head out for the day. Cost of admission is super affordable so it can make for a great cheap day out for all.

Cheap holidays to Benidorm may seem impossible with all of these things to do, but a bit of planning and budgeting is all that’s needed for memories to last a lifetime.