10 Things to Do in Benidorm in October

Benidorm with its beaches, its huge buildings and its thousands of hotels is the tourist capital of the Valencian Community, and has well earned that status as it is one of the favorite destinations of Europeans during the summer, but it is also an ideal place to visit at other times of the year, when summer attractions are no longer protagonists to give space to concerts, festivals and autumn postcards.

Among the best things to see and do in Benidorm during October are the Halloween night festivities at Terra Mitica theme park, visiting the autumn markets, participating in the Moors and Christians festivities and tasting the local food at the Gastronomic Festival.

Terra Mitica is one of the best theme parks in Benidorm and is based on the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean. In its more than 20 attractions, distributed in the areas called Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia and The Islands, you can find merry-go-rounds, train rides, roller coaster rides and ride the Titanide or Synkope rides, which are real adrenaline rushes, but in October you can also spend Halloween night there.

During Halloween night you can experience one of the most important events of Terra Mitica, which every year adds more special attractions but stands out for its shows and horror experiences in the Iberia area, which transforms the Toxicum to receive the Labyrinth of the Minotaur, a route in which grotesque and cruel beings will try to turn the circuit into a scary experience.

On Halloween, Terra Mitica will continue with its usual program and will add activities throughout the park, such as costume contests, parades, themed dinners and craft workshops for children, so it is also an ideal alternative if you plan to visit Benidorm with children.

Interesting details

• Price... From 37 euros per person.
• Opening hours... Every day from 10.30 am to 8 pm. During special events, such as Halloween Night, opening hours are extended.
• Location... Partida de Moralet s/n, Benidorm.

The Aigüera Park is the main green lung of Benidorm and also home to the Town Hall and its gardens, the Julio Iglesias Auditorium and the bullring of the city. During the summer the park plays a fundamental role with its food trucks and food stalls but during the autumn it becomes one of the epicenters of Benidorm's events, such as the Iberia Festival and an obligatory stop on the way to the beach.

If you plan to visit Benidorm in October you can walk through the park in one of its best states, during autumn with its trees changing leaves and its paths bathed in the yellow color of autumn. You can also see the amphitheater, attend festivals and fairs and visit during guided tours of the city.

The Aigüera Park also has a children's activity area where activities for the little ones are organized during the autumn and includes stops for public transport and Benidorm' s hop-on-hop-off tourist bus, so you can also use it as a stopover to get to Levante Beach and Benidorm's old town or take a bike ride around the city.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the park is free.
• Hours... Every day from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm.
• Location... Calle Primavera 22, Benidorm.

October 9th of every year is the Day of the Val encian Community and Benidorm is full of activities in different parts of the city in which visitors also participate.

During the festivity of Sant Donís, who is also considered the patron saint of Valencian lovers, men have the custom of giving women a handkerchief with marzipan sweets inside, but there are also other traditional activities.

Valencian Community Day celebrations include religious processions, free concerts by the Benidorm Symphony Orchestra, food stalls, street markets, traditional dances and a fireworks display to close the event.

Participating in some of the Valencian Community Day events is one of the best things to do in Benidorm.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the activities is free.
• When... October 9th of each year.
• Location... In different parts of Benidorm.

The Roser, since the 19th century, is one of the most traditional celebrations in Benidorm and is held every year in October on the weekend closest to the feast of the Virgin of the Rosary, which is one of the patron saints of the city. During the Roser there are floral offerings, walks to the Ermita de Sanz and sports activities for children and adults.

During the Festes del Roser, traditional Valencian activities are held, such as typical dances, and local food stalls are set up. The closing of the festivity is during the third week of October, with a mass at the Ermita de Sanz, which is located in Almabrá, and also includes a fireworks display.

The Festes del Roser are part of the traditional Valencian folklore and exceed the religious motifs, so if you plan to visit the city in October you can make the most of your tour by being part of one of the typical customs of the Autonomous Community. Visiting the Ermita de Sanz in Alicante is also one of the best excursions to do from Benidorm.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the activities is free.
• When... Every year in October.
• Location... In different parts of Benidorm and Alicante.

In autumn Benidorm stands out for its cultural activities, which include plays, music shows, festivals and also for the markets, which in October become one of the favorite places for locals and visitors. In addition, the mild climate of the city during the autumn season favors open market stalls.

If you are one of those who when you visit a city prefer to go shopping then the markets of Benidorm are ideal places for you. In October there are the Mercadillo Pueblo, which stands out for its bar with churrería, the Mercadillo del Cisne, famous for its stalls and food stalls, the Mercadillo Foietes, the oldest market in Benidorm, and the Mercadillo de Finestrat, which only sells food.

In October you can also visit the Rastro de Polop, which during autumn stands out for the second-hand products, being the only one in the city with this methodology, and if you want to know one of the most traditional places you can visit the Benidorm Municipal Market, located near the Elche Park, although it is open all year round.

Every year in October Benidorm celebrates the Gastronomic Festival of the city, which consists of a celebration in which different restaurants, bars and taverns of the city offer their best dishes with discounts and offers for locals and visitors, so if you plan to visit Benidorm in October you can taste the delicacies of the Valencian cuisine at affordable prices.

The Gastronomic Festival is characterized by highlighting local products, such as seafood and fish, but they have rice as a common ingredient, as the event includes in each edition the days called Arroces de la Tierra, in which restaurants offer paellas and other dishes containing rice.

These festivals usually also include menu offers at a fixed price and each of the restaurants are promoted and highlighted by the Benidorm Town Hall in the brochures given to visitors and in the advertising of the event.

Details of interest

• Price... The Gastronomic Festival includes an economic menu at a fixed price.
• When... Every year in October.
• Location... In different restaurants, bars and taverns of the city.

At the beginning of October every year Benidorm commemorates the battles that were fought during the Reconquest, the warlike confrontations in which the Christian Hispanic kingdoms recovered the territories that had been occupied by the Muslims during the Middle Ages. This Moors and Christians festival, which is celebrated all over the country, floods the streets with costume parades, marches with timpani, comparsas and music.

In Benidorm the epicenter of the celebrations is the Aigüera Park and the uneven streets of the old town, and throughout the city, during this important historical event, children's activities are also held, because originally the festival was an excuse for adults to transmit Spanish customs to children in order to recover Hispanic traditions after the domination.

During the celebration of Moors and Christians, which is celebrated for several days without rest, you can participate in events in different places and there are even many activities to do during the night in Benidorm, such as parades and marches of different types.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the activities is free.
• When... During the first days of October every year.
• Location... In different parts of Benidorm, with the Aigüera Park and the old town as main sites.

On October 12, Columbus Day is celebrated in commemoration of the Discovery of America and the voyages of Christopher Columbus and in Benidorm the main site of the celebrations is the port, where different activities take place such as the raising of the flag and a visit to the Navy ships docked in the city.

Columbus Day is also a perfect day to eat typical food, to participate in children's days and to do activities in the port area, including some of the best boat tours along the coast of Benidorm or kayak excursions.

At the end of the day Benidorm also holds the Solemn Raising of the Flag at sunset, a celebration in which you can watch the sunset from the port and which is usually attended by the local authorities.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the activities is free.
• When... October 12th of each year.
• Location... Port of Benidorm.

The Iberia Festival is Benidorm's most famous music event and features local and international artists every year, attracting visitors from all over the country. The concerts are held in the Julio Iglesias Auditorium in the Aigüera Park and are usually organized around Columbus Day.

The Iberia Festival is one of the most representative concerts in Benidorm and if you plan to visit the city in October you can attend by booking tickets in advance on the official website. You can buy tickets for the whole festival or just for a specific day, so it is a good plan even if you plan to visit Benidorm for 2 days or for a short stay.

Note that although the festival is in autumn the weather in the city is mild, so it is also a good time to participate in an outdoor festival in the amphitheater of the Aigüera Park.

Details of interest

• Price... Tickets for the festival have an initial cost of approximately 42 euros.
• When... Every year in October.
• Location... Julio Iglesias Auditorium of the Aigüera Park.

Every year, during the third weekend of October, the Medieval Market is held in Callosa de Ensarriá, which is in tune with the season of markets in Benidorm and consists of a flea market where you can eat food typical of the Middle Ages and buy clothes and other objects of the time.

The Medieval Market is characterized by the atmosphere, the costumed vendors and the themed activities that are made during the weekend that the market is enabled, such as parades of armor of the Middle Ages and recreations of battles of the time.

Callosa de Ensarriá is located 15 kilometers from Benidorm, near the Fuentes del Algar, so you can make the most of your visit to the city by also visiting nearby attractions.

Details of interest

• Price... Entrance to the flea market is free.
• When... Every year during the third weekend of October.
• Location... Plaza de España, Callosa de Ensarriá.

Average temperatures in Benidorm in October are 19°, while maximum temperatures are 25° and minimum temperatures are 15°, so despite the end of summer and the beginning of autumn the weather is mild and warm.

In some cases you can even take a swim in the city's beaches and do water activities, such as kayaking experiences or jet ski rides. In addition, it has a dry climate, so it does not usually rain too much in the city.

Benidorm is mainly a summer destination so the influx of tourists during autumn decreases drastically, which will give you the possibility to get to know the city with few visitors.

Note also that you will find far fewer tourists than if you visit Benidorm in August, which is one of the hottest months, but you will still be able to enjoy the sunny, warm and mild weather.

The high season of the city is in summer so that is also when prices are higher. If you visit Benidorm in September you will see that the prices start to decrease and you will be able to find better rates in the accommodations.

If you want to save more money you can book excursions and accommodations in advance online to make the most of the discounts on electronic bookings.

Benidorm during autumn is hot, temperate and also has a dry climate, except for some days, so I recommend that you include in your suitcase the following clothes so you can enjoy the city:

• Swimsuit
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Beach shoes
• Sun hat
• Light T-shirt
• Lightweight coat
• Wool sweaters
• Comfortable shoes
• Lightweight pants