Benidorm is a major city lying along the Costa Blanca, about 45 km north of Alicante, in Valencia, Spain. Home to over 65,000 people, it is the fifth most populous town in the Alicante province. However, outside of Spain, the popularity of Benidorm is borne out of the fact that it is one among the much sought after tourist resorts along the Mediterranean coast. Despite its modern look and feel, the city is synonymous with night life and beaches, and a popular vacation hotspot. The mild weather is another factor that attracts lots of tourists to Benidorm.
Benidorm was a small village until the beginning of the 1960s. That was when the earlier waves of tourism industry started to caress the quite settlements in and around Alicante. Once the pace was set, Benidorm’s transformation from a sleepy village to a bustling tourist center was almost sudden, and soon the town was hosting thousands of vacationers and beach goers, whose numbers only increased with the every passing year, to the point where it is today. According to tourist statistics, every year during summer, the population of Benidorm swells to over 1.5 million, a million of them tourists from different parts of Europe, especially Britain.
As mentioned already, the major attractions of Benidorm are its sandy beaches and the thrilling nightlife that not many towns in Spain can claim to have. The three major beaches in Benidorm are Poniente, Levante, and Mal Pas, all with a blue flag, the best quality standard recognized by the European Union. The Poniente and Levante beaches are about 5km in length. However, since a heavy traffic road passes by Poniente, the scene can be a bit noisy. Hence, if you are looking for a quiet and relaxing bath by the sun, opt for Playa de Levante. Regarding nightlife, the city has over 30 discos and 1000 odd restaurants; the entertaining mix of good food and leg tapping music, party lovers can have it in plenty in Benidorm.
Other Benidorm attractions include the casco antiguo - the old Benidorm city center – Terra Mitica, the theme park, the animal park Terra Natura, Mundomar Park, and Aqualandia Water Park. The latter two are located on the Lavente side, at the city outskirts, while the ‘Terra’ parks are located at the foothills, outside Benidorm town limits. For golf lovers, there are few top class golf courses in and around Benidorm. The yearly Benidorm International Song Festival is a major event in the town. Try not to miss it if you are in the town during the occasion.
The best mode of transport in Benidorm is by car. You could hire a car for rent during your stay in the town. Alicante is the nearest airport. It has connections to all parts of Spain and Europe. From the airport to Benidorm, one can either go by car or bus, or can take the narrow gauge railway. Alicante is connected to Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, or Seville by daily bus and train services. To know more about Benidorm and its tourist attractions, see the city/Alicante tourism website.
Showing posts with label benidorm spain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label benidorm spain. Show all posts
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Benidorm Sightseeing
Benidorm is one of the most wonderful tourist destinations in Spain, located at the heart of Costa Blanca region. Situated just 45 km north-east of Alicante, Benidorm draws tourist all year round, particularly in summer. Benidorm offers excellent sightseeing opportunities, with its fabulous attractions ranging from the Castle of Conde de Alfaz and the Prades Mountains to excellent beaches and a variety of theme parks. Equally fascinating is Benidorm’s nightlife, boasting of a plethora of bars and nightclubs, many of them with an exotic as well as innovative ambience. This article elucidates all about Benidorm sightseeing and attractions.
Most popular among Benidorm’s attractions is perhaps the Castle of Conde de Alfaz, which is renowned for its show, featuring knights jousting and fighting on the horseback. The fight in turn includes the application of items like swords, spears, and shields. The focal point of the show is dinner that is served in a medieval style, with a menu inclusive of sumptuous dishes such as pork ribs, Sangaria, bread, and roast chicken. This show usually lasts for two hours, and is usually conducted on Friday and Saturday nights. Another excellent option for Benidorm sightseeing is Benidorm Palace, the highlight of which is an amazing three-hour dinner show played on every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. A variety of other shows are also conducted here, such as dances, singing, and comedy as well as magic shows.
Benidorm sightseeing also includes a spectrum of theme parks, and some of them are Aqualandia Park, Terra Mitica Park, and Mundomar Aquatic Park. Aqualandia Park is a great way to make your Benidorm attraction really a memorable one, as endless activities can be enjoyed here, including sliding through waterslides such as the Kamikaze and the Zig Zag; splashing around in the swimming pools; refreshing rides in aisles like Pistas Blandas; floating on Amazonas – a circular soft current; and walking in the park’s green areas. Entry to the park is free for children of three and under. However, the park is open only from May through October. An excellent option to explore all that is hidden on the shores of the Mediterranean – Terra Mitica Park’ theme is ancient history, featuring Mediterranean civilizations of Egypt, Rome, Greece, Iberia, and the Islands, as well as their myths and legends. Further, a chain of restaurants can be seen here, whose recipes are taken from each civilization. There are also shops, with a complete line of items such as Greek statues, Egyptian papyrus, and specialties of Iberia like perfumed candles. The park can be visited only from May to October.
For those who are interested in underwater world – visit Mundomar Park, an aquatic park that provides superb options to learn about sea mammals as well as their adaptation to the water environment. With matchless facilities, the park is complete with a variety of animals like penguins, seals, flamingos, sealions, and dolphins. Attractions also cover a park area exclusively for kids, with a range of specialties like swings, slides, nets, bridges, and ramp.
Also, worth mentioning attractions for Benidorm sightseeing is a myriad of stunning beaches, of which most popular are the Malpas Beach, the Playa de Poniente and the Playa de Levante, great for sun bath. Further, Benidorm is home to a spectrum of golf courses.
With a host of peerless attractions in Benidorm, you will never go wrong in region’s sightseeing.
Most popular among Benidorm’s attractions is perhaps the Castle of Conde de Alfaz, which is renowned for its show, featuring knights jousting and fighting on the horseback. The fight in turn includes the application of items like swords, spears, and shields. The focal point of the show is dinner that is served in a medieval style, with a menu inclusive of sumptuous dishes such as pork ribs, Sangaria, bread, and roast chicken. This show usually lasts for two hours, and is usually conducted on Friday and Saturday nights. Another excellent option for Benidorm sightseeing is Benidorm Palace, the highlight of which is an amazing three-hour dinner show played on every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. A variety of other shows are also conducted here, such as dances, singing, and comedy as well as magic shows.
Benidorm sightseeing also includes a spectrum of theme parks, and some of them are Aqualandia Park, Terra Mitica Park, and Mundomar Aquatic Park. Aqualandia Park is a great way to make your Benidorm attraction really a memorable one, as endless activities can be enjoyed here, including sliding through waterslides such as the Kamikaze and the Zig Zag; splashing around in the swimming pools; refreshing rides in aisles like Pistas Blandas; floating on Amazonas – a circular soft current; and walking in the park’s green areas. Entry to the park is free for children of three and under. However, the park is open only from May through October. An excellent option to explore all that is hidden on the shores of the Mediterranean – Terra Mitica Park’ theme is ancient history, featuring Mediterranean civilizations of Egypt, Rome, Greece, Iberia, and the Islands, as well as their myths and legends. Further, a chain of restaurants can be seen here, whose recipes are taken from each civilization. There are also shops, with a complete line of items such as Greek statues, Egyptian papyrus, and specialties of Iberia like perfumed candles. The park can be visited only from May to October.
For those who are interested in underwater world – visit Mundomar Park, an aquatic park that provides superb options to learn about sea mammals as well as their adaptation to the water environment. With matchless facilities, the park is complete with a variety of animals like penguins, seals, flamingos, sealions, and dolphins. Attractions also cover a park area exclusively for kids, with a range of specialties like swings, slides, nets, bridges, and ramp.
Also, worth mentioning attractions for Benidorm sightseeing is a myriad of stunning beaches, of which most popular are the Malpas Beach, the Playa de Poniente and the Playa de Levante, great for sun bath. Further, Benidorm is home to a spectrum of golf courses.
With a host of peerless attractions in Benidorm, you will never go wrong in region’s sightseeing.
Elche, A Magical Town In Alicante Spain
The capital city of the Baix Vinalopo District as well as the second largest city of the Alicante Province, Elche is a charming tourist destination, situated within the Valencian Autonomous Community, in the Costa Blanca Spanish region. Elche has a prosperous history dating back to the times of Iberian, and hence it is home to a plethora of historical sites.
Acknowledged as the ‘The City of Palms,’ Elche is much famed for its expansive palm tree grove, also known as the Palmeral of Elche, which is credited to be the only Palm forest in Europe, consisting of over 10,000 palm trees, of which majority of them are date palms. Covering an area of more than 3.5 sq km, the grove is believed to have been planted by the Phoenicians during the 6th century BC, although cultivated and designed by the Moors between 8th and 13th century. Most spectacular of the forest’s sight is the Imperial Palm, boasting seven stems and taking after the shape of a Candelabra. Further, many of the areas within the grove have now been developed into beautiful gardens and parks. Another interesting thing regarding this grove is that it is still watered by the irrigation system of the River Vinalopó, devised during the 10th century. The forest has been now declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Equally fabulous is the Mystery Play of Elche, which is conducted annually. Declared as the masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001 by the UNESCO, the play is a sacred cum lyrical program dating back to the 15th century. Further, it is the only proof of the medieval religious European theatre.
Apart from these, Elche boasts a continuum of museums, such as the Municipal Festa Museum, Pucol Agricultural Museum, and La Alucida, all of them housing a range of rare artifacts. Popular among the city’s monuments are Torre de la Calahorra, Basilicca de Santa Maria, Town Hall, and Torre de Calendura. In addition, excellent options are available for nature as well as wildlife lovers, such as El Honda Nature Park and Clot de Galvany.
Attractions in Elche also cover some fabulous white beaches like La Marina, El Carabassi, L’ Altet, Arenals del Sol, and El Penet, each of them coupled with excellent facilities for a range of water sport activities. Further, Elche hosts a variety of fiestas, including Palm Sunday, The Hallelujas, Fiestas of the Virgin’s Arrival, and Nit de l’Alba.
Besides being home to a range of stunning as well as historically significant places, Elche is one of the leading producers of footwear in Europe.
The city’s gastronomy is usually Mediterranean in style, al though a continuum of restaurants serving international cuisine such as Valencian, European, and Spanish can be seen here.
Elche is within easy reach of almost all popular tourist destinations in Costa Blanca. For instance, Elche is only an hour’s drive from Alicante, which is at its northwest and half an hour drive from Benidorm – one of the most prominent tourist resorts across the shorelines of the Costa Blanca.
Acknowledged as the ‘The City of Palms,’ Elche is much famed for its expansive palm tree grove, also known as the Palmeral of Elche, which is credited to be the only Palm forest in Europe, consisting of over 10,000 palm trees, of which majority of them are date palms. Covering an area of more than 3.5 sq km, the grove is believed to have been planted by the Phoenicians during the 6th century BC, although cultivated and designed by the Moors between 8th and 13th century. Most spectacular of the forest’s sight is the Imperial Palm, boasting seven stems and taking after the shape of a Candelabra. Further, many of the areas within the grove have now been developed into beautiful gardens and parks. Another interesting thing regarding this grove is that it is still watered by the irrigation system of the River Vinalopó, devised during the 10th century. The forest has been now declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Equally fabulous is the Mystery Play of Elche, which is conducted annually. Declared as the masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001 by the UNESCO, the play is a sacred cum lyrical program dating back to the 15th century. Further, it is the only proof of the medieval religious European theatre.
Apart from these, Elche boasts a continuum of museums, such as the Municipal Festa Museum, Pucol Agricultural Museum, and La Alucida, all of them housing a range of rare artifacts. Popular among the city’s monuments are Torre de la Calahorra, Basilicca de Santa Maria, Town Hall, and Torre de Calendura. In addition, excellent options are available for nature as well as wildlife lovers, such as El Honda Nature Park and Clot de Galvany.
Attractions in Elche also cover some fabulous white beaches like La Marina, El Carabassi, L’ Altet, Arenals del Sol, and El Penet, each of them coupled with excellent facilities for a range of water sport activities. Further, Elche hosts a variety of fiestas, including Palm Sunday, The Hallelujas, Fiestas of the Virgin’s Arrival, and Nit de l’Alba.
Besides being home to a range of stunning as well as historically significant places, Elche is one of the leading producers of footwear in Europe.
The city’s gastronomy is usually Mediterranean in style, al though a continuum of restaurants serving international cuisine such as Valencian, European, and Spanish can be seen here.
Elche is within easy reach of almost all popular tourist destinations in Costa Blanca. For instance, Elche is only an hour’s drive from Alicante, which is at its northwest and half an hour drive from Benidorm – one of the most prominent tourist resorts across the shorelines of the Costa Blanca.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Benidorm Spain
An exciting as well as lively destination - Benidorm is a small town, situated north of Alicante, on the Costa Blanca. One of the main draws of Benidorm is its nightlife. Once the sun goes down, Benidorm’s exclusive venues become alive with its non stop entertainment, which continues until the sun is up.
Perhaps the best in the whole Europe, the nightlife in Benidorm is both a fun and entertainment, and is also a blend of Spanish culture, heritage, and wonderful relaxation. With its enormous variety of nightclubs, pubs, discos, and a tempting assortment of trendy cabaret bars, of which
many of them have an international flavor – Benidorm nightlife is varied and caters to people of all age groups. Apart from British bars, there are also a large number of Dutch, German, Irish, and Scandinavian bars.
Nightlife attractions also cover a range of Spanish restaurants and bars that represent every region of Spain.
Nightlife in Benidorm is really legendary, with such nightclubs and bars as Benidorm Palace – one of the best options to enjoy Europe’s entertainment, with first-class fabulous dancers performing in feathered costumes; Ritch Bitch – a stylish show bar noted for its riotous, adult comedy night; and Heartbreak – one of the slickest themed bar on the water front. For those looking for great British entertainment, an ideal choice would be Tower Lounge. A great venue for classic rock lovers, Daytona Rock Bar entertains people with its lively music. If you are a casino freak, then step into clubs like Casino Mediterraneo, featuring more than 35 slot machines and 23 games including American Roulette, French Roulette, Chemin De Fer, and Black Jack. Likewise, for quality live music as well as never ending happy hours, an excellent option is Beach Hardrock Café. Such venues as Morgan Tavern, Steptoes, and Wheeltappers, attract top comedians and best singers.
There are also night clubs, hosting great magic shows and drag shows.
Some of the sought after names in Cabaret Bars are The Shamrock, Zodiac, Chapplin’s, Hippodrome, Sinatras, The Town, Stardust, and Pancho’s Pub, all of them featuring entertainment by some of the renowned actors, dancers, and vocalists. Apart from
aforesaid bars and clubs, Benidorm boasts of a very interesting street, namely, c/Santo Domingo, which is home to a complete line of Basque bars. Equally important is a short stretch of Avenida de Mallorca, attracting a large number of British visitors. Included in this stretch are bars like Bahamas, Café de Benidorm, Champions, and Lennon's. Benidorm nightlife highlights also cover a host of Tapas Bars, which attracts a huge number of Spanish visitors. Among the renowned tapas bars are Tapas Alley – an ideal venue to enjoy the art of tapeo, and La Cava Aragonesa, which include in its menu such Spanish classics as roast lamb and more than 200 wines. Above all, Benidorm is famed as one of the top clubbing destinations in Mediterranean,
thereby drawing some of the UK's top djs. The much favored KM Plaza and Pacha are an example for this.
With its celebrated bars and nigh clubs, presenting entertainment that ranges from kids’ specialties to sexy night shows - nightlife in Benidorm has plenty to offer!
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