Benidorm Hop on Hop off Bus Tours

Have you just arrived in Benidorm and you're a bit absent-minded? Hop on a tourist bus and take a short tour of the city. You'll discover its best beaches, its great leisure areas and some parks where you can spend some quiet time with the little ones. This will make it much easier to organise your getaway or your holidays.

But, as well as all the things you can do in Benidorm, if you have time, I recommend you discover incredible places located just a few kilometres away. The best thing? You can also reach them by tourist bus. Do you want to know more? I'll tell you everything you need to know.

Getting around Benidorm is very easy. More than twenty bus lines criss-cross the city and will take you to all its nooks and crannies. But during your stay you should pay special attention to some unique vehicles: they are red and yellow, have two floors and are panoramic.

They really are part of the city's urban transport network, but they are real tourist buses. They will allow you to get to know Benidorm better, and not just because they take you from one place to another. They also have an audio system so you won't miss a single detail of everything you see.

It doesn't end there. In addition to these panoramic buses that will allow you to discover Benidorm, there are two other tourist buses that will take you to nearby towns and places of great interest, such as Guadalest, Altea or the Fuentes del Algar.

Whether you want to see the best of Benidorm in one day, or if your stay is longer and you want to make the most of it, these panoramic and tourist buses of the municipal transport network are an essential activity. Moreover, they are the only ones of their kind operating in Benidorm.

There are four bus lines that you should know about. The most popular is number 30. But take note of these other numbers: 31, 16 and 18. Any of them will allow you to get to know Benidorm and its surroundings in a different and fun way. What's more, getting on the panoramic buses is one of the most entertaining activities to do with children in Benidorm.

Line 30

As I said before, this is the most popular and the first option for getting around Benidorm on an open top bus. It has a terminus in the Rincón de Loix, the area with the highest number of skyscrapers in the city. In case you didn't know, there are more than 60 buildings over 80 metres high here.

The other end of this line is just at the other end, in the south of the town. On your journey from one end of the line to the other, which takes about an hour and a quarter, you'll pass some of Benidorm's biggest attractions. What will you see?

• Levante Beach: this is one of Benidorm's most important beaches, more than two kilometres long. Its promenade is lined with bars, terraces and nightclubs. In other words: it is the epicentre of fun.
• Parque de l' Aigüera: it occupies an old ravine, reconverted in the 90s into a landscaped promenade with pine and palm trees. This park marks the separation between the old and the new Benidorm.
• Parque de Elche: this is a small but charming urban park which is a prelude to the Poniente beach.
• Poniente Beach: this is Benidorm's largest and longest beach, with a length of more than three kilometres. But it is also a little quieter than the Levante beach, perfect for enjoying water activities in Benidorm or a relaxing day at the beach with the family.
• You will also pass very close to the famous Balcón del Mediterráneo, which you can visit when you get off the bus.

Bus line 31

Buses on this line are also panoramic and depart from the Rincón de Loix. But their route is different, as they don't head south, but leave the city and head north to El Albir and Altea.

If you're making plans to enjoy Benidorm in August, bear this in mind. In the central summer months Benidorm's beaches are very busy. The beaches of El Albir and Altea are a little quieter, so they're a good alternative if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Benidorm for a few hours.

A note of interest, especially if your stay in the city is not in those central months of the year: this line only operates between April and November. And what will you see? Some of the most beautiful spots on the Costa Blanca. If you want to take a day trip, this is a perfect plan.

• On your way you'll pass a unique natural area: the Serra Gelada Nature Reserve, a protected natural area. If you like hiking, my advice is to spend a morning or an afternoon hiking in it to get to its viewpoint, the views are spectacular.
• Then you will reach El Albir, a hamlet of the neighbouring town of L'Alfàs del Pi. Don't miss either its beach or its particular Paseo de las Estrellas (Star Promenade). The latter has its own explanation: a famous film festival has been held here for more than three decades.
• You can stay in El Albir or continue on to Altea. This village is known as the dome of the Mediterranean. Why? Because its charming, whitewashed town centre is crowned by a church with its deep blue tiled domes that stand out like a lighthouse in the landscape.

Lines 16 and 18

These are the two tourist lines (not panoramic) that will take you out of Benidorm to discover the surrounding area. Specifically, line 16 will take you to the charming village of Guadalest. This town overlooks the landscape from an imposing rock. It also has some very curious museums, such as the miniature museum or the salt and pepper shakers museum.

Line 18 will take you to the Fuentes del Algar, one of the most idyllic and photogenic spots in Alicante. Why are they so special? Because it is a succession of waterfalls that form pools of crystal clear water in a beautiful natural setting.

However, although you can get to these spots on these tourist buses, my recommendation is to take an organised excursion to these two places. You will have a guide who will explain all the details that interest you. It is much less cold and more entertaining than a simple audio tour on a bus.

The price of the tickets varies according to the line. A trip on the panoramic buses on lines 30 and 31 costs around 6 euros. At certain times of the year, however, prices may be somewhat reduced. On the other hand, on both lines the ticket is purchased directly on the bus itself.

The single ticket for travel on the vehicles of lines 16 and 18 is somewhat cheaper. It costs approximately 4 euros. The drivers will also give it to you and you can ask them any questions you may have about the route or what you are going to see on it.

If you are staying for a long time and plan to enjoy Benidorm for three days or more, my advice is to opt for a tourist card. There are several possibilities:

• 24 hour card
• 72 hour card
• 7 days card

The price of the cards varies according to the duration of your stay and ranges from 11 to 40 euros. The great advantage is that with them you can get on the tourist buses of the four lines I have mentioned as well as those of any other urban line in Benidorm.

As I explained, tickets are purchased on the bus itself. With a single ticket you can make a single journey. They are a good alternative if you just want to go for a ride to get an idea of what the city is like as a plan to see Benidorm in one day. They are also good for travelling to Altea, Guadalest or the Fuentes del Algar on your own.

If you are going to move around more and choose one of the tourist cards, you should bear in mind several important aspects:

• During their period of validity you can use them as much as you want.
• There is no limitation on the number of journeys, bus lines or destinations.
• The cards can only be purchased on the tourist lines: 16, 18, 30 and 31.
• The period of validity of the cards starts from the first use.
• The cards are for personal use only, i.e. they are not valid for groups.
• They are purchased on the bus.

You may not find it necessary to buy these cards, but bear in mind that Benidorm is a big city. If during your stay you plan to take a dip in Aqualandia, go to Terra Natura or enjoy all the beaches, the fastest way to get around will be by bus and with these cards you will be able to do so freely.

And one last thing I would like to point out. The four tourist lines have an audio system that will allow you to get to know important aspects of the places you pass through. The audio is available in 5 languages: Spanish, English, French, German and Russian.

Timetables vary greatly from line to line. It is very important to take this into account in order to get the most out of them, especially if you decide to buy a tourist card.

You will have no problem with the panoramic buses on line 30. Their frequency varies according to the season, but in no case is it more than 60 minutes. They usually run from 9.30am until after 10pm.

The timetables of the other lines are shorter and depend much more on the tourist season. For this reason, the best advice is to check the timetables on the website once you are in Benidorm.

It is true that Benidorm has no ancient monuments and maybe that's why you don't think it's worth getting on a tourist bus. Don't make that mistake. It's always a good idea to travel on them. Why?

• You will have a global vision of the city, which will allow you to locate the best beaches or the most atmospheric places to go for a walk or go out partying.
• They allow you to get to other places of great tourist interest, to beaches less crowded than Benidorm's and to natural spots of great beauty.
• The tourist buses in Benidorm actually belong to the urban transport lines. What does this mean? That their price is very affordable.

In the event that the urban route doesn't convince you or doesn't take you to places that interest you, there are always fun alternatives. You can cycle through the city, in fact there are bike lanes for you to do so. Or, if you don't want to make the effort, you can also opt for a Segway tour and choose your own route.

Now that you know how Benidorm's tourist buses work and all their advantages, I just have to give you some tips:

• If you decide to take the panoramic bus tour and the sun is shining, don't forget to wear a hat and sunglasses, as well as sunscreen.
• In case you want to visit Benidorm at night, the tourist buses are not a viable option after a certain hour. In any case, you can easily get around the main leisure areas of the city on foot.
• Find out about the timetables, it's something you should insist on. Why? Because, as I have already explained, in some cases the frequency is reduced. The problem is not that you miss a bus, but that because of an oversight there is no service to return to Benidorm if you have decided to leave the city.
• To be able to visit these towns at your leisure, my advice is to opt for a day trip to the Algar and Guadalest waterfalls. You'll be able to do it in a much more relaxed way.