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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Travel
Leah Pattem

Forget the stereotypes, Benidorm is the complete package

Poniente beach from Plaça del Castell, Benidorm.
Poniente beach from Plaça del Castell, Benidorm. Photograph: Ian Dagnall Commercial Collection/Alamy

Last year, Benidorm welcomed close to 3 million visitors. Despite its reputation as a British holiday mecca – nearly 900,000 UK travellers visited the city in 2024 – it was actually Spanish nationals who made up the largest share, with more than one million domestic visitors flocking to the Costa Blanca resort, according to Benidorm city council. I have a feeling that these visitors did not come for the stereotype of full English breakfasts and pub crawls, but for something often overlooked by international tourists: the authentic, everyday rhythm of Spanish coastal life.

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