Best Excursions From Benidorm: Top Day Trips & Tours (2026 Guide)

Benidorm’s beaches and nightlife are reason enough to visit, but the Costa Blanca surrounding it is packed with clifftop villages, waterfalls, historic old towns and boat trips that are easy to reach on a day excursion. Whether you’ve got a rental car or you’d rather sit back on an air-conditioned coach with pickup from your hotel, there’s a well-organised excursion for almost every interest.

Here’s a rundown of the best excursions from Benidorm, what each one involves, and how to book them online before you fly or once you’ve landed.

🎫 Browse and book excursions from Benidorm — compare all the available day trips and tours, read reviews, and reserve your spot online: see Benidorm day trips and excursions on Viator.

Guadalest & Algar Waterfalls

The single most popular excursion from Benidorm, and for good reason. Guadalest is a small mountaintop village around an hour’s drive inland, famous for its clifftop castle ruins, turquoise reservoir views and quirky museums tucked along its cobbled streets. Most tours pair it with a stop at the Algar Waterfalls — a protected natural site with a series of pools where you can swim before heading back to the coast.

Good for: First-time visitors, families, anyone who wants mountain scenery without renting a car Typical duration: Half-day to full-day, depending on whether the waterfalls stop is included

Some tours also combine Guadalest with a stop in Altea, the whitewashed old town known for its blue-domed church and artisan shops, giving you three very different landscapes — mountains, waterfalls and coast — in a single trip.

Day Trip to Valencia

If you have a full day to spare, Valencia is well worth the journey. Spain’s third-largest city is roughly 90 minutes from Benidorm by coach, and most excursions simply drop you in the historic centre near Torres de Serranos and leave the day free for independent exploring — the City of Arts and Sciences, the old town, the central market, or the beach at Malvarrosa.

Good for: City lovers, architecture and food fans, travellers wanting more independence within a guided-transport trip Typical duration: Full day

Day Trip to Alicante

A shorter, easier alternative to Valencia if you’d rather not commit a whole day. Alicante’s promenade, 16th-century Santa Bárbara Castle, and old town markets make for a relaxed half-day or full-day excursion, and it’s a useful trip if you’re also curious about the city near the airport you’ll be flying home from.

Good for: History and castle views, a lower-key city day than Valencia Typical duration: Half-day to full-day

Boat Trips & Catamaran Excursions

Benidorm’s coastline is best appreciated from the water, and there’s a good range of boat-based excursions on offer — from sunset catamaran cruises along the bay to full snorkelling and swimming trips around nearby coves like Cala de Portixol. Some operators also run trips out to Tabarca Island, a small marine reserve you can reach by boat from Benidorm or nearby Albir, with excellent snorkelling and a laid-back village to explore.

Good for: Couples, sunset views, a change of pace from beach days Typical duration: 2–4 hours for sunset cruises, full-day for Tabarca Island trips

Theme & Water Parks

If you’re travelling with kids — or just want a full day of rides and slides — Benidorm sits close to some of Spain’s biggest theme and water parks, including Terra Mítica, Aqualandia, Mundomar and Aqua Natura. Many of these are bookable as skip-the-line tickets or combined with transport if you’re not driving.

Good for: Families, thrill-seekers, a break from the beach Typical duration: Full day

Cala Granadella & Coastal Kayaking

For something more active, a handful of excursions head to Cala Granadella, a strikingly clear cove near Jávea often compared to Caribbean waters. Kayaking tours here let you explore hidden coves along the coastline that aren’t accessible on foot.

Good for: Active travellers, snorkelling and kayaking fans Typical duration: Half-day

How to Choose the Right Excursion

• Short on time? Stick to a half-day trip like Alicante, a sunset catamaran cruise, or the Algar Waterfalls alone.
• Want the classic Costa Blanca experience? The combined Guadalest, Algar Waterfalls and Altea tour covers the most ground in one day.
• Travelling with children? Theme and water parks or a relaxed boat trip tend to work best.
• No rental car? Nearly all excursions from Benidorm include hotel or central pickup points, so you don’t need your own transport to join.

If you’d rather explore independently on your own schedule, renting a car is a solid alternative for reaching Guadalest, Altea or Calpe at your own pace — see our Benidorm car rentals guide for tips on booking one at Alicante Airport or in town.

👉 Compare and book all Benidorm excursions here — filter by duration, price and departure point to find the trip that fits your holiday.

Planning the Rest of Your Trip

Before you book your excursions, make sure the logistics around them are sorted too. Check our guide on getting from Alicante Airport to Benidorm if you’re still arranging your arrival, and browse where to stay in Benidorm if you haven’t locked in your accommodation yet — many excursion pickup points are tied to specific hotel zones, so it’s worth knowing your base before you book tours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular excursion from Benidorm? The Guadalest and Algar Waterfalls day trip is consistently the most popular excursion from Benidorm, combining a clifftop mountain village with a swim at a protected waterfall site.

Do I need a car to go on excursions from Benidorm? No. The vast majority of excursions include pickup from central Benidorm or nearby hotel zones, so you don’t need your own transport to join a tour.

How far is Valencia from Benidorm? Valencia is approximately 90 minutes from Benidorm by coach, making it a feasible full-day excursion.

Are boat trips from Benidorm worth it? Yes, particularly sunset catamaran cruises and trips to Tabarca Island, which offer a different perspective on the coastline and good snorkelling opportunities not accessible from the beach.

How far in advance should I book Benidorm excursions? Popular tours like Guadalest and Algar Waterfalls can sell out in peak summer months, so booking a few days to a week in advance is recommended, especially for July and August travel.

Can I combine multiple destinations in one excursion? Yes, several tours combine Guadalest, the Algar Waterfalls, and Altea in a single full-day trip, making efficient use of your time if you want to see more than one location.