Essentials
- City
- Benidorm, Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain
- Population
- Approx. 70,000 (increases to 400,000+ in peak season)
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available; 300 Mbps - 1 Gbps common in apartments
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: CaixaBank, BBVA, Santander
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink, but high mineral content; most residents prefer bottled or filtered water
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, Yoigo; Prepaid 20GB for approx. €15-20
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Wise, N26 (widely used); Physical banks require NIE for non-resident accounts
- Accommodation
- High-rise apartments, hotels, and holiday rentals via Airbnb and Idealista
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and contactless payments accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agencies like Benidorm Direct; €800-€1,500/month
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Benidorm Beach (approx. €25/night), B&B Hotel Benidorm Centro
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Levante Beach (nightlife and action) or Old Town (Casco Antiguo) for charm
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Poniente Beach (quieter, modern apartments) or La Cala de Finestrat
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Coworking Benidorm (C. de l'Almadrava, 4); approx. €15/day or €150/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- D-Alicia Benidorm (C. de Gambo); quiet corners and reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Alicante Digital Nomad Meetups (short train ride to Alicante city)
- Social Events for Expats
- Benidorm Expats Facebook Group; weekly gatherings at bars in the Rincon de Loix
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- PideTaxi (local app) and Radio Taxi Benidorm; Uber is limited but available
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tao Bike (electric bikes); approx. €20/day. Tao Bike - C. de l'Ametlla de Mar
- Best Beach Nearby
- Playa de Poniente (spacious and less crowded than Levante)
- Top Regional Airline
- Vueling (operating from Alicante-Elche Airport ALC)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2 (heavy traffic from UK and Northern Europe)
- Highway Access
- AP-7 (Autopista del Mediterráneo) and N-332 coastal road
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Benidorm TRAM Station (connects to Alicante and Denia)
- Public Transport Passes
- Tarjeta Móbilis (rechargeable card for local buses/TRAM); approx. €1.50 per journey
- Regional Travel
- ALSA Bus (to Valencia/Madrid) and TRAM (to Altea, Calpe, Alicante)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital IMED Levante (C. Ramón y Cajal, 7); multilingual private hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Hot Yoga Benidorm; Wellness Center at Gran Hotel Bali
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness Corpore (Av. de l'Almadrava); approx. €40/month
- Laundry Services
- Clean & Go Self-Service Laundry (Av. de los Limones)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo, Just Eat, UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Arroz a Banda (coastal rice dish) and Paella Valenciana
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Vagabond (French-influenced with veg options); Paneil's (Old Town)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Llaollao (frozen yogurt) and Valor Chocolate Shop (C. de Gambo)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercadillo de Foietes (Wednesday morning market)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.es, El Corte Inglés
- Grocery Delivery
- Mercadona, Carrefour, and Consum online delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Square (English Zone) and Calle Santo Domingo (Tapas Alley in Old Town)
- Local Brewery
- Cervecería l'Abadia (specialty beers and drafts)
- Wine Bars
- La Cava Aragonesa (famous for its huge wine list and tapas)
- Street Food Stalls
- Benidorm Indoor Market (Rincón de Loix)
- Popular International Cuisine
- India Gate (British-style Indian); Amigos Bistro (Mediterranean-British fusion)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Balcón del Mediterráneo (The Castle Viewpoint)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Boca del Calvari Museum (local history and art)
- Historical Sites
- Tossal de la Cala (Roman settlement ruins at the end of Poniente beach)
- Religious Sites
- Iglesia de San Jaime y Santa Ana (Old Town)
- Annual Events
- Benidorm Fest (February), Benidorm Pride (September), Fiestas Mayores Patronales (November)
- Cultural Districts
- Casco Antiguo (The Old Town)
- Theater Venues
- Benidorm Palace (world-class cabaret and dinner shows)
- Local Markets
- Mercadillo de Benidorm (Municipal Market at Goya Street)
- Music Scene
- Low Festival (indie/rock in July) and live music venues in Rincon de Loix
- Street Art
- Murals around the Plaza de Toros area
- Cooking Classes
- Local paella workshops (available via experience apps in nearby Alicante)
- Art Galleries
- Galeria de Arte Isataba
- Historic Buildings
- Intempo Building (iconic M-shaped skyscraper, tallest residential building in Spain)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Peñon d’Ifach' in nearby Calpe is the iconic regional symbol
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sierra Helada Natural Park (hiking trails with cliff views)
- National Parks Nearby
- Montgó Natural Park (approx. 45 mins away near Denia)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Promenade spanning Levante and Poniente beaches (approx. 6km)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- La Cruz de Benidorm (The Cross) at the top of Sierra Helada
- Birdwatching Locations
- Benidorm Island (L'illa de Benidorm) reachable by boat
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited on public beaches; look for designated 'Moros y Cristianos' festival zones
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos (Main post office at Av. de l'Ametlla de Mar), DHL, SEUR
- Tech Repair Services
- PC Box Benidorm (C. de l'Ametlla de Mar)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Polideportivo Foietes (Public sports complex)
- Language Classes
- Costa Blanca Language School; approx. €15/hour for group lessons
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Municipal Central (Plaza de SS. MM. Los Reyes de España)
- Community Centers
- Centro Social José Llorca Linares
- Gaming Lounges
- GameOn Benidorm (local gaming/internet cafe)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Mediterráneo Benidorm (Av. Mediterráneo)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €128,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €88,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €180,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €120,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €224,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €152,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard rate 25% (Spain); 15% for new companies for the first 2 years
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 19% - 26% depending on amount
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (>183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 47% (National + Regional variation)
- VAT
- 21% (IVA)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Spanish tax law includes robust CFC (Transparencia Fiscal Internacional) rules
- Property Tax
- IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles), annual tax based on cadastral value
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITP (Resale) approx. 10% in the Valencia region; VAT (New build) is 10%
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Spanish Digital Nomad Visa; Bekham Law extension possible (flat 24% rate on Spanish-sourced income)