10 Things to Do in Benidorm in October

Benidorm with its beaches, huge buildings and thousands of hotels is the tourist capital of the Valencian Community, and has well earned that status as it is one of the favourite destinations for Europeans during the summer, but it is also an ideal place to visit at other times of the year, when the summer attractions cease to be protagonists to make room for concerts, festivals and autumn postcards.

Some of the best things to see and do in Benidorm during October include Halloween night celebrations at the Terra Mitica theme park, visiting the autumn markets, taking part in the Moors and Christians festivities and sampling the local food at the Gastronomic Festival.

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

On Halloween night you can experience one of the most important events at 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 programme 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 are planning to visit Benidorm with children.

Interesting details

• Price... From 37 euros per person.
• Opening hours... Every day from 10.30am to 8pm. 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 city's bullring. During the summer the park plays a key role with its food trucks and food stalls but during the autumn it becomes one of the epicentres of Benidorm's events, such as the Iberia Festival and an obligatory stop on the way to the beach.

If you're planning to visit Benidorm in October you'll be able to walk around the park in one of its best states, during autumn with its trees changing leaves and its paths bathed in autumn yellow. You can also see the amphitheatre, 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 organised 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... Admission to the park is free.
• Opening hours... Every day from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm.
• Location... Calle Primavera 22, Benidorm.

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

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.

Taking part 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... 9th October 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, one of the patron saints of the city. During the Roser there are floral offerings, walks to the Ermita de Sanz and sporting 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 Sanz Chapel, which is located in Almabrá, and also includes a fireworks display.

The Festes del Roser are part of traditional Valencian folklore and go beyond religious motifs, so if you plan to visit the city in October you can make the most of your visit by taking part in one of the typical customs of the Autonomous Community. Visiting the Ermita de Sanz in Alicante is also one of the best things 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 theatre plays, music shows, patron saint festivals and also for its street markets, which in October become one of the favourite places for locals and visitors alike. In addition, the city's mild climate during the autumn season favours open market stalls.

If you are one of those who prefer to go shopping when visiting a city then Benidorm's street markets are ideal places for you. In October the town has the Mercadillo Pueblo, which is noted for its churreria bar, 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 Polop Flea Market, which during the autumn is known for its second hand products, being the only one in the city with this methodology, and if you want to visit 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 town's Gastronomic Festival, which is a celebration in which different restaurants, bars and taverns in the town offer their best dishes with discounts and offers for locals and visitors alike, so if you're planning to visit Benidorm in October you can sample the delicacies of Valencian cuisine at affordable prices.

The Gastronomic Festival is characterised by highlighting local produce, such as seafood and fish, but with rice as a common ingredient, as each edition of the event includes ' Arroces de la Tierra' (rice dishes), where restaurants offer paellas and other dishes containing rice.

These festivals usually also include fixed-price menu offers and each of the restaurants are promoted and highlighted by Benidorm Town Hall in the leaflets given to visitors and in the event's publicity.

Details of interest

• Price... The Gastronomic Festival includes an affordable fixed price menu.
• When... Every year in October.
• Location... In different restaurants, bars and taverns in the town.

At the beginning of October every year Benidorm commemorates the battles 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, fills the streets with costume parades, marches with timpani, comparsas and music.

In Benidorm the epicentre 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 fiesta was an excuse for adults to pass on Spanish customs to children in order to recover Hispanic traditions after the domination.

During the celebration of Moors and Christians, which lasts for several days without a break, 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 the main sites.

Columbus Day is celebrated on the 12th of October 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 town.

Columbus Day is also a perfect day for eating typical food, taking part in children's days and for activities in the port area, including some of the best boat tours along the Benidorm coastline or kayaking excursions.

Benidorm also hosts the Solemn Raising of the Flag at sunset, a celebration where you can watch the sunset from the port and which is usually attended by the local authorities.

Interesting details

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

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 organised around Columbus Day.

The Iberia Festival is one of Benidorm's most representative concerts and if you're planning to visit the town 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 single day, so it's a good plan even if you're planning 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's also a good time to take part in an open air festival in the amphitheatre in the Aigüera Park.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets for the festival start at approximately 42 euros.
• When... Every year in October.
• Location... Julio Iglesias Auditorium in 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 street markets in Benidorm and consists of a flea market where you can eat typical food from the Middle Ages and buy clothes and other objects from the period.

The Medieval Market is characterised by the atmosphere, the costumed vendors and the themed activities that take place during the weekend that the market is open, such as parades of armour from the Middle Ages and re-enactments of battles of the period.

Callosa de Ensarriá is 15 kilometres from Benidorm, close to the Fuentes del Algar, so you can make the most of your visit to the town by also visiting the nearby attractions.

Interesting details

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

Average temperatures in Benidorm in October are 19°, with highs of 25° and lows of 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. It also has a dry climate, so it doesn't 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 chance to see the city with few visitors.

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

The city's peak season is in summer so this is also when prices are at their highest. If you visit Benidorm in September you'll find that prices start to drop and you'll be able to find better rates on accommodation.

If you want to save more money you can book excursions and accommodation in advance online to make the most of online booking discounts.

Benidorm during autumn is hot, mild and also has a dry climate, except for a few days, so I recommend you pack the following items of clothing in your suitcase so you can enjoy the city:

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