Benidorm – guide for property buyers on the Costa Blanca
Benidorm is a seaside resort in the province of Alicante (Costa Blanca), home to about 77,000 people (INE, 1 January 2025: 77,221), of whom about 35% are foreigners. The town lies about 60 km from Alicante-Elche airport and is famous as the “Manhattan of the Mediterranean” thanks to its skyscrapers right by the beach. In 2025 the town was visited by more than 3 million tourists who spent more than 16 million nights here (data from Benidorm’s official tourism website).
Climate and location
The average annual temperature is about 19°C and the sun shines for more than 3,000 hours a year – the beach season is long and the winters mild. The Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas beaches have held the Blue Flag since 1987. The climate is hot semi-arid, tempered by the sea breeze: the average annual temperature is about 18–19 °C, sunshine reaches about 3,000 hours, and rainfall is about 300 mm a year. In winter maximum temperatures are usually 16–18 °C, in summer 28–32 °C. The town is sheltered from the east by the Serra Gelada natural park (Sierra Helada).
What to see
The old town with its rocky headland and port and the church of San Jaime, the island of Benidorm opposite the beach, skyscrapers (including the Gran Hotel Bali, 186 m) and theme parks: Terra Mítica, Aqualandia and Mundomar. In summer the number of people in the town can grow as much as fivefold. It is worth going up to the Mirador viewpoint (Balcón del Mediterráneo), located on the ruins of a medieval castle that defended the town against pirates in the 14th–16th centuries. The island of Benidorm is about 350 m long and 73 m high. The Serra Gelada natural park, created in 2005, has cliffs exceeding 300 m, and since 2022 the town has hosted Benidorm Fest, the contest that selects Spain’s Eurovision entrant.
What living here is like
Benidorm has more than 300 sunny days a year, wide Levante and Poniente beaches with the Blue Flag and the Sierra Helada Natural Park nearby. There is a rich social life and a large community of foreigners, so it is easy to make new friends. At the height of summer the number of residents grows from about 70,000 to more than 300,000, which means crowded beaches, queues at restaurants and more noise in the centre. It is worth bearing this in mind when choosing a particular district.
Getting there and transport
Benidorm lies about 38 km from the city of Alicante and about 106 km from Valencia. According to the official tourism website it is about 60 km from the town to Alicante-Elche airport, with a regular bus service on this route and private transfers. By car you can reach it by the AP-7 motorway or the coastal N-332 road.
The town has a TRAM d’Alacant (FGV) station. Line 1 connects Benidorm Intermodal with Luceros in Alicante, and line 9 leads from here to Dénia. The town itself is flat and compact, so many everyday errands can be done on foot or by bike.
Districts and character of the buildings
The most often mentioned parts of the town look like this:
- Levante and Rincón de Loix – the eastern part of the town; Levante beach is over 2 km long and the liveliest.
- Old town (El Castell) – occupies the headland and the area directly inland.
- Poniente and La Cala – Poniente is a calmer, spacious stretch of beach, and La Cala lies to the west of it.
Who Benidorm is for – pros and cons
According to INE, on 1 January 2025 Benidorm had 77,221 inhabitants. The character of the town is set by the 1956 urban plan with wide avenues matched to the lines of the beaches; the tallest building, Intempo, is 202 m, which is why many offers are apartments in skyscrapers or large complexes.
- Pros: a flat and compact town, TRAM and buses, about 3,000 hours of sun a year, a large community of foreigners.
- Cons: crowds, noise and queues in summer and dense development; in the season the town can host as many as several hundred thousand people.
- Short-term rental: since 1 July 2025 a number from the single rental register is required throughout Spain, applied for at the Colegio de Registradores; the rules of the homeowners’ association and the municipality also apply.
How a purchase works step by step
A purchase in Benidorm follows the scheme that applies throughout Spain. When buying with us, the buyer pays no commission:
- Reconnaissance – a viewing trip, preferably outside the peak season, to see the town without the holiday crowd.
- Reservation – a reservation agreement with a reservation amount.
- NIE and a Spanish bank account – the foreigner identification number and an account from which you pay the subsequent stages.
- Preliminary contract with a deposit (arras) – usually with payment of part of the price.
- Notarial deed – transfer of ownership before a notary.
- Entry in the registry – after the taxes are paid.
You will find the details of the costs in the guide to costs and taxes in Spain.
Purchase costs in practice
You will find a detailed breakdown of fees in the article on costs and taxes in Spain, which is worth reading even before you sign the reservation agreement. When buying through World Residence no commission is charged to the buyer.
Property in Benidorm
Benidorm is above all an apartment market, with properties close to the beaches and promenades. See current apartments on the Costa Blanca and houses on the Costa Blanca — no commission is charged to the buyer with us.
World Residence offers in Benidorm
Our current offer in Benidorm and Finestrat includes apartments from about €250k and houses from about €495k. Looking for something specific, for example within a given budget or close to the beach? Write to us and we will check what we can propose. When buying with our help you pay no commission.
See also our guides to nearby towns: El Albir, Polop, Finestrat, Villajoyosa. You will find all locations on the World Residence favourite locations page.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Benidorm from the airport?
Benidorm is about 60 km from Alicante-Elche airport, usually under an hour by car.
What costs should you add when buying property in Benidorm?
The town is in the Valencian Community: ITP tax on a resale purchase is about 10% (9% below €1 million from June 2026). For new properties you pay 10% VAT and 1–1.5% AJD tax. Including the notary and the registry, costs are usually about 12% (resale) or 12–14% (new).
Is an apartment in Benidorm suitable for holiday rental?
Benidorm is a resort with tourist traffic all year round, so short-term rental is popular here. It does, however, require registration, and the homeowners’ association or the municipality may introduce restrictions – we check this before the purchase.
Do you need an NIE number to buy in Benidorm?
Yes, a foreigner buying property in Spain needs an NIE number, issued by the police. The application can also be submitted from abroad, through a Spanish consulate.
How do you get from Alicante to Benidorm without a car?
From the centre of Alicante the TRAM runs (line 1 from Luceros to Benidorm Intermodal), and from Alicante-Elche airport there is a regular bus. Private transfers are also available.
Last updated: 15 October 2026.