10 Things to Do in Benidorm in September

Benidorm, during the summer, is one of the favourite holiday spots for Spaniards and also a summer reference with its beaches and hotels, but it is also an ideal city to visit at any time of the year, especially in the early autumn when the weather remains mild and pleasant while the influx of tourists decreases significantly.

Among the best things to see and do in Benidorm in September you can enjoy its paradisiacal beaches with fewer visitors than during the summer, watch the city's sunsets from the Mediterranean balconies, visit the Algar fountains with the best temperature of the year and take part in the festivals and regional fiestas.

Aqualandia is one of the best water parks in Benidorm and opens every year between July and September. Here you'll find rides and activities for all the family, from the wave pools, the Gran Jacuzzi Iguazu and the Geyser to the Big-Bang and Verti-Go, two sets of water slides that will test your adrenaline tolerance.

If you're planning to visit Benidorm in September you'll be able to visit Aqualandia with less crowds, as during peak season months tickets sell out and rides are often delayed, but you can also make the most of the discount offers and take part in the water park' s closing ceremony, which includes music and fireworks displays.

Visiting Aqualandia is also one of the best alternatives if you're planning to visit Benidorm with children and if you're looking for alternative activities to the beaches to beat the September heat in the city.

Interesting details

• Price... From 37 euros per person.
• Opening hours... Every day from 10.00 to 20.00.
• Location... Sierra Helada s/n, Benidorm.

The Balcón del Mediterráneo is one of Benidorm's main attractions. Located in the old town, this viewpoint that divides the beaches of Levante and Mal Pas, is the ideal place to watch the sunsets, which during September are clear and clean, thanks to the mild weather that the city continues to maintain during the first days of autumn.

If you visit Benidorm in September you can also walk around the checker-tiled square at the top of the rocky headland and admire a panoramic view of the sea and part of the town, which is hidden behind the buildings that distinguish Benidorm as the New York of the Mediterranean.

In September, the sunset is usually in the late afternoon and you can also choose to watch the sunset from the cafes on the promenade, located next to the viewpoint, and if you plan to visit Benidorm in August or during the summer months you will find that they are always packed, while in September you will find room to enjoy the natural spectacle in peace and quiet.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission is free.
• Opening hours... The viewpoint is open 24 hours a day.
• Location... Plaza de Castelar 1, Benidorm.

Every year, during the first week of September, Benidorm prepares to welcome the Gay Pride Festival, which is characterised by parades of floats, parties on Levante Beach and in the Town Hall square and also in every bar and restaurant in the old town, which is famous for being one of the epicentres of the gay community in Europe.

During the Benidorm Gay Pride Festival the event's activities are open to all audiences and coincide with the celebrations for the end of summer, making it one of the main activities that ignite the spirit of the town and exploit the good weather that extends into the early days of autumn.

Most of the festival activities are free, although you can also opt for other more exclusive paid alternatives such as cruises from the Port of Denia, private pool parties or theatre shows.

Interesting details

• Price... Most of the activities are free of charge.
• When... During the first week of September each year.
• Location... In different locations in Benidorm.

The beaches are Benidorm's main tourist attraction and if you plan to visit the city in September you can visit them with fewer tourists, as August is the end of the high season, and with an average temperature of 23° which is ideal for swimming or kayaking.

On the coast of the old town you can visit the beaches of Mal Pas and Levante, which are the main beaches in the city, and also the Playa del Poniente or the Almadraba and Tío Chimo coves in Punta de Pinet. If you're looking for options further away from the city centre you can visit Albir Beach, which has crystal clear waters, golden sand and is noted for its cleanliness.

Bear in mind that most of the city's beaches are surrounded by services, so you can make the most of your visit by having lunch at the beach bars or dinner at one of the nearby restaurants if you're planning to visit Benidorm during the night.

As well as the beaches and hotels, Benidorm is also known for its festive music, which is a type of composition for the Moors and Christians Festival, held every year in October. This genre combines several types of music, including the pasodoble, the Moorish march and the Christian march and in September there is a Festera Music Composition Competition which awards prizes to the winners whose versions will provide the music for the Moors and Christians.

This competition is one of the most prestigious in the city and is held every year in the Óscar Esplá auditorium, where at the end of September the winners are announced amidst performances by local artists. If you are planning to visit Benidorm in October you can also attend the Moors and Christians Fiesta which will feature the winning artists.

The Festera Music Composition Competition is a very popular event in Benidorm and you can attend the auditorium free of charge, although the competition is limited to the capacity of the venue.

Details of interest

• Price... Entrance to the auditorium is free.
• When... Every year at the end of September.
• Location... Óscar Esplá Auditorium, Benidorm.

The Algar fountains, in the village of Callosa de Ensarriá, are one of the natural jewels of the areas near Benidorm. You can visit this set of waterfalls connected by water channels all year round, but it is between the months of June and September when you can make the most of your visit because you can bathe in average temperatures of 23°. In September, moreover, you can do so with few tourists and with discounted tickets, making it the ideal month for this activity.

In addition to the natural pools, the waterfall complex includes a 2-kilometre hiking route along the Algar riverbed that can be visited on foot and several restaurants serving local food.

Please note that a self-drive tour or visit to the Algar complex can take a whole day, so it's not one of the best excursions if you're planning a short stay in the city. If that's the case, here's a list of activities so you can discover Benidorm in 2 days.

Interesting details

• Price... From 24 euros per person.
• Opening hours... Every day from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm.
• Location... Callosa de Ensarriá, Alicante.

Benidorm Island, located off the coast of the Mediterranean Balcony, is the most popular of the city's island territories and is located in an area known as La Llosa, which has an important marine reserve, ideal for scuba diving experiences, which is one of the best activities to do in Benidorm

September is the best month for scuba diving in the waters off the coast of the island because it is one of the times of the year when the tide is clear. Also because autumn is when the marine species begin their migration and you will be able to observe the native fauna.

Diving excursions and snorkelling experiences that start at Levante Beach usually include a tour of the island's viewpoint and a glass-bottomed boat trip, so you can make the most of your visit to Benidorm.

The Sierra Helada Natural Park is one of the most representative natural areas of Benidorm and stands out for its cliffs of more than 300 metres high but also for its lush vegetation and especially for the changing marine reserve it shelters. In September this marine reserve begins its migration and the vegetation changes colour with the autumn, giving the Sierra Helada a very particular landscape.

This nature reserve is very important for the ecosystem of the Valencian Community, but it is also a central tourist spot in Benidorm because from the cliffs of Sierra Helada you can get one of the best views of the Mediterranean and also go hiking.

The Sierra Helada Natural Park is easily accessible from the old town as it is located about 7 kilometres away, so you can reach it by public transport or on Benidorm' s tourist buses, which include a stop in El Albir.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission is free.
• Opening hours... Open 24 hours a day.
• Location... Camino del Faro 18, Alicante.

Located 20 kilometres away from Benidorm, Guadalest is one of the most beautiful villages around the seaside resort. Nestled in the mountains, Guadalest is noted for its old wall, tunnels and museums, but if you are planning a trip to the Costa Blanca in September you can also take part in the Romería a Ginés, the local festivities in honour of Santa Ana and San Joaquín.

During the Romería a Ginés you can take part in the processions through the village, visit the local food stalls of Guadalest and get to know the tunnels and paths on guided excursions. In addition, the villagers and visitors who travel exclusively for the festival walk to an uninhabited area between the sierras and spend the day there amidst traditional dances and religious ceremonies.

The Romería a Ginés is the main event in Guadalest and each year it attracts thousands of visitors who far outnumber the permanent inhabitants of the village, so if you are planning to visit Benidorm in September I recommend that you take a day out during the third week of the month to get to know this beautiful spot on the Costa Blanca.

Interesting details

• Price... Participation in the activities is free of charge.
• When... During the third week of September.
• Location... Guadalest, Alicante.

If you want to get to know one of the most eccentric celebrations in the Valencian Community then you can't miss the Fiesta de San Miguel, in Villajoyosa. This festivity, which is celebrated on the weekend closest to the 29th of September each year, dates back to the 16th century and is noted for the market, the annual fair and the activities that attract the locals.

During the events of San Miguel in Villajoyosa the Moors and Christians companies organise a fiesta with traditional tapas and music, a paella competition is held which is usually the main attraction for visitors, there are concerts, processions, fireworks displays and children's games, but there is also the traditional Vaqueta.

The Vaqueta consists of a release of heifers in a square that attracts most of the locals and ends up being an improvised bullfight. All San Miguel activities are for charitable purposes and the proceeds are used for charity.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the fiesta is free.
• When... During the weekend closest to 29th September each year.
• Location... Villajoyosa, Alicante.

The average temperature in Benidorm in September is 23°, while the minimum is 19° and the maximum is 26°. It is an ideal climate for swimming at the beaches and waterfalls around the city, but also for sightseeing, walking and adventure excursions.

In September there is also a dry climate in Benidorm, so rainfall is very sporadic and most days are mild and sunny.

September sees the end of summer and the end of the high season in Benidorm, so the number of tourists decreases substantially, giving you the chance to explore the town in a quieter and less crowded way.

If you plan to visit Benidorm in August you'll find that the availability of accommodation is much lower and prices are higher, whereas in September the offer increases, prices are cheaper and the weather is still pleasant.

The high season in Benidorm is during the summer, especially between July and August, so in September, with the arrival of autumn, prices drop significantly, especially for accommodation.

September is an ideal month if you are looking to visit Benidorm with cheap prices and during the hot weather, because until the first days of autumn the temperature remains mild.

During the autumn Benidorm is warm, dry and offers an ideal temperature for swimming, so I recommend that you pack the following in your suitcase:

• Swimming costume
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Beach shoes
• Sun hat
• Lightweight T-shirt
• Lightweight coat
• Wool jumpers
• Comfortable shoes
• Lightweight trousers