Poniente beach in Benidorm

Introduction

The beach that I am going to tell you about in this publication is located in Alicante, specifically in Benidorm and is one of Spain's most famous, owing to the large number of bathers it has throughout the whole year as well as to it's extension.

Benidorm is a city in Alicante and it divides into two main beaches - Poniente beach and Levante beach (which I will tell you about in another publication).

The Levante beach is smaller but it is where all of Benidorm's main clubs are congregated. Whilst the Poniente beach is almost double the size of the Levante, it isn't as fun. However you can take advantage of more relaxation, residential areas, parks and there is more room for tourists.

This beach is more than three kilometres long and not only does this refer to the sand and sea area, but also the residential and touristic zone which border the sea.

As there are a large quantity of things to see and do on the Poniente beach, I will divide the most important into sections for you in order of apparition, starting with the beginning of Poniente beach. I hope that you like it!

Beach

The sand and sea area is very long as I have already mentioned and what’s more, it is rather wide. Out of all of those that I have seen in Murcia and Alicante it is the largest beach that I have been to, although the area of sand reduces in size as you reach the end of the Poniente zone.

Along with zones of deckchairs and parasols (to pay for) distributed along various areas of the beach, playgrounds for children, goals to play football on the beach and volleyball nets, in Summer there are also aquatic playgrounds with tobagons and other diversions for those a bit older, as in order to get to this zone you have to swim a little. There are also mobile vendors selling soft drinks but they are very expensive. Because of this, I recommend bringing your own drinks.

During the past few years, I have seen that there is opportunity to do an aquatic sport which consists in taking a boat out in a parachute and rising in it as the boat begins to sail (I don't know the specific name of this). I remained with the longing to do this seeing as it cost 80 euros per person or 100 for two people. If you want to pay for this activity or any other aquatic, you have to go to the end of the Poniente beach, where where is a number of tourist information huts just below where the view point is found (the one I will speak to you about further on ahead).

There are also boat trips that you can pay for at these huts and they go towards the Island of Benidorm, or along the coast of Alicante, passing by Altea and Denia. They are very popular with this tourists.

Hotel Bali

Benidorm's skyline is crowned by two big and high buildings, which are the most striking in Benidorm and are very famous not only in Benidorm, but the whole of Spain.

The great Hotel Balí is famous because it's the tallest hotel in Europe and because it was the biggest building in Europe until it was surpassed by the Espacio tower (which is found in Madrid) in 2006.

The hotel is 186 meters high, has 52 floors in total and is classed as four star.

Two of the curiosities in this hotel are that it hosts an annual stair climbing run and that you can also base jump from it.

I have a lot of affection for this building because I was going to Benidorm a lot and remember when it was being build. Each year I went it was progressing, but it seemed like they were never going to finish it. Just as they finished it, a relative bought a house just next to it, so I had the pleasure of admiring it during my holidays in Benidorm, as well as doing the typical attempt to get into it's elevator without being caught as you aren't allowed unless you are a client of the hotel, although worth the effort.

The cupula of this hotel is illuminated every night with a distinct colour and you can see if from practically all of Benidorm.

The In Tempo building

This building is what now calls the most attention in Benidorm. It is very new, they started to build it in 2007 and I don't know if it is completely finished, but the structure is.

It isn't only famous for it's height at 180 meters, but the most characteristic aspect of the building (and the reason for which it is mentioned in this publication) is it's form. Consisted in two twin towers united by a elliptical base cone at the top of the towers. In my opinion, it resembles an 'M' shape and this is why it has become one of my favourites.

The best views are from the road which goes to the building. It is really impressive to see it from below and from the beginning of the Poniente beach in the rocks, given that the building is orientated towards the right and that is how you can well appreciate the 'M' shape which I spoke to you about.

The building is intended for offices and residences. It isn't a hotel although I believe it would have a lot of success as one.

If you want to visit it, it is found on la Avenida México.

Jaime I

Jaime I is a main street on the Poniente beach, more or less in the centre, bordering towards the outskirts and it is quite popular for several reasons.

First of all, this is because it is one of the main avenues in Benidorm, when you get to this street you know where you are and where you are going, which is a relief, I asssure you.

On the other hand, it has a large quantity of souvenir shops and beach clothing and accessory shops, making it a commercial area.

Additionally, it holds various restaurants such as a Burger King and a Telepizza as well as various hotels.

The hotels in this avenue can be more expensive due to their strategic situation, but there are more in the avenue's surroundings which are much cheaper and serve the same function. The only thing I advise you is to pick the one closest to the beach as possible, as the avenue is on a slight slope and when you are tired one day in Benidorm, the slope becomes long. I am speaking from experience as I once stayed in a hotel at the end of the avenue and it is not at all convenient at night, although it might be during the day.

Elche Park

Elche park is a long, narrow park on the edge of the beach, at the end of the Poniente area.

Elche park owes it's name to the Dame of Elche and has a replica of the famous sculpture in one of it's ends.

The park is always full of people, whether sitting on benches, doing sport including playing chess as there is a chess club. The majority of these people are at an older age and take great pleasure in meeting older people enjoying the views and socialising.

The park has machines to work your limbs, playgrounds for children, with toboggans, swings, etc.

There is a great fountain in one end of the park with people always sat on the edges and pigeons flying above. Just here, there are several stalls, one of them with crisps, seeds and soft drinks and the others with information on the attractions where you can usually get discounts.

Furthermore, if you walk towards the pathway at the front of the park, you will encounter a large quantity of restaurants, which are cheap with average quality food. The most popular are the combined plates, which have a type of meat, potatoes and egg or sausages and beans, and cost less than 10 euros. The best thing about these restaurants, as well as the price is the views they have, so you can enjoy a nice view of the beach whilst eating.

Viewpoint

The viewpoint is found at the end of the Poniente beach, just between the Poniente beach and the Levante beach but it's main accesspoint is at the Poniente beach. It is also known as the Balcón del Mediterráneo at this place.

It is one of the most visited touristic sites in Benidorm. Other than the attractions such as Terra Mítica or Aqualandia and the clubs and beaches it has, Benidorm also has places which stop it from being just a beach to have fun on but those that give you the opportunity to see landscapes and sunsets never to be forgotten.

On one hand we have the Plaza del Castell where there are sculptures of anchors and cannons, as well as ice cream parlours, restaurants and even craft stalls - costume jewellery and those to make caricatures.

At one end of the square there is a church - la Iglesia de San Jamie y Virgen del Sufragio. It is very small but it has a lot of charm being right in the upper part of Benidorm and right at the viewpoint.

At the other end of the square there is a type of temple, and just behind it you can go down an escalator towards a mini plaza which seems to be hanging off the cliff and although it is lower down than the rest of the viewpoint, the views of the Mediterannean sea are incredible.

It is one of my favourite places in Benidorm. The only thing I don't like is that you have to climb up lots of stairs which normally wouldn't be a problem, but in Benidorm it is because your head is usually right in the sun and it isn't pleasant. However when you get there, you forget the suffering and you can enjoy the beautiful cliffs, an intense blue sea and a white location.

Here there are good views of Benidorm island, towards the whole of Poniente beach and the whole of Levante beach. However, it also has the best views of a very small beach in the Poniente area, just below the viewpoint. It will charm you because it is different, has a lot of charm and a friend told me that they have filmed films here. It is best to go at night to go for a walk on it.

To get towards the viewpoint, you have to go to the end of Elche park and turn right towards the tourist information booths. When you get there, turn to the left and look up to find the beautiful viewpoint.