admin☀️ The Benidorm Bulletin
Your weekly dose of sun, sangria, and what’s on
✉️ From the Editor
Well, here we are. Holy Week has officially arrived, the clocks went forward last night (so you’ve lost an hour of drinking time — sorry), and Benidorm is about to put on one of its most spectacular free shows of the entire year. The Semana Santa processions kick off today, and if you’re out there right now reading this on the terrace with a coffee — lucky you.
This week we’ve got the full Holy Week schedule, a cracking new film festival starting later in April, and — by popular demand — our first ever Eat & Drink guide: the best spots for a cheap pint, a bargain cocktail, and a proper meal, all backed by real Tripadvisor reviews from fellow visitors. No sponsored content, no tourist board fluff — just places people genuinely love.
Let’s get into it. You’ve earned it.
🗞️ Lead Story
Holy Week Is Here — Your Complete Guide to Semana Santa in Benidorm
The candlelit processions begin today. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of one of Spain’s most extraordinary free events.
Semana Santa — Holy Week — is the one time of year when Benidorm’s famous Old Town genuinely transforms. The sangria bars and souvenir shops are still there, but from tonight they share the narrow streets with centuries of Spanish religious tradition: white-robed brotherhoods carrying ornate floats, slow drumbeats echoing off whitewashed walls, and a solemn, candlelit atmosphere that most British visitors genuinely don’t expect to find here.
It runs from today, Palm Sunday 29 March, through to Easter Sunday 5 April. The main processions happen each evening, with the most dramatic falling on Good Friday 3 April — the General Procession of the Holy Burial at 8:30pm is the one not to miss. Easter Sunday ends the week on a joyful note with the Procession of the Encounter at 8am, complete with a uniquely local tradition called the Embaixada de l’Àngel.
Roads in and around the Old Town are closed during procession times. Walk everywhere, find a spot along the route, and give it twenty minutes. You’ll probably still be standing there two hours later.
- Sunday 29 March (Palm Sunday) — Blessing of palms across parishes from 11am; main procession from El Buen Pastor at 8:00pm
- Wednesday 1 April (Holy Wednesday) — Procession of Jesús Nazareno through the Old Town, 10:00pm
- Thursday 2 April (Maundy Thursday) — Solemn processions from 9:00pm; Holy Hour and Stations of the Cross from 11:00pm
- Friday 3 April (Good Friday) — Stations of the Cross at Monte Calvario, 7:00am; Celebration of the Passion, 6:00pm; General Procession of the Holy Burial, 8:30pm ⭐ Main event
- Saturday 4 April (Holy Saturday) — Easter Vigil, 10:00pm–11:00pm
- Sunday 5 April (Easter Sunday) — Procession of the Encounter with Embaixada de l’Àngel, 8:00am; masses throughout the day
📅 What’s On This Week
Beyond Holy Week, there’s a fair amount happening in and around Benidorm over the next seven days.
Sunday 29 March
Clocks Go Forward — Spain Joins British Summer Time
Spain moved to summer time overnight, along with the rest of Europe — so sunsets are now pushing past 8pm and there’s genuine evening light to enjoy on the terraces. The upside: longer golden hours. The downside: you’ve lost an hour of Sunday. Try not to dwell on it.
Sunday 29 March – Sunday 5 April
Semana Santa — Holy Week Processions
See full schedule in the Lead Story above. Each evening brings a different procession — from tonight’s Palm Sunday parade to the emotionally charged Good Friday burial procession on 3 April. Find yourself a spot along the Old Town route and let the atmosphere do the rest.
Sunday 5 April
La Mona — Traditional Easter Monday Celebration
La Mona is the Spanish Easter Monday tradition in which families and friends gather for outdoor picnics, sharing the mona — a special sweet bread decorated with a hard-boiled egg. It’s one of those quietly lovely local customs that visitors stumble across and always remember. Parks and the beach front get lively from mid-morning.
Saturday 18 – Saturday 25 April
Skyline Benidorm International Film Festival
Coming up in a few weeks, but worth booking ahead now: the Skyline Film Festival brings a week of international short films, animation, documentary and fiction to Benidorm, with screenings at indoor and outdoor venues across the resort. This year it’s breaking records for submissions. The festival’s National Section is recognised as a qualifying competition for the Spanish Goya Awards — so you may be watching tomorrow’s award-winners tonight. A genuinely brilliant alternative to the usual Benidorm itinerary.
Friday 17 – Saturday 26 April
VI Tuna Festival (Jornadas del Atún) — Benidorm Gastronómico
The official dates for Benidorm’s bluefin tuna festival have been confirmed as 17–26 April — slightly later than we reported last week (apologies!). Dozens of restaurants offer specially created tuna menus, tapas and individual dishes. The festival opens with a traditional ronqueo — the ceremonial butchering of a whole bluefin tuna — which is worth watching if you’re around. No advance booking needed at most restaurants; prices are typically very affordable.
🎭 Tonight’s Entertainment
While the Old Town is given over to candlelight and solemnity this week, the rest of Benidorm carries on regardless.
Benidorm Palace: ELEMENTS
The resident show ELEMENTS is running throughout Holy Week — a 50-strong international cast, 8K LED screens, acrobatics and live music. If you’re in Benidorm over Easter and looking for a spectacular evening that isn’t a procession, this is it. Book ahead at benidormpalace.com.
Semana Santa Evening Processions — The Best Free Show in Town
Honestly, the processions are the entertainment this week. The Procession of Jesús Nazareno on Holy Wednesday night (10pm, 1 April) through the narrow Old Town streets is arguably the most atmospheric — arrive early for a good spot. Good Friday’s 8:30pm procession is the biggest and most solemn. Both are free, unforgettable, and distinctly un-package-holiday.
Skyline Benidorm Film Festival — Coming 18 April
Worth pencilling in now if you’re planning an April visit. The festival is breaking records for entries this year and spans fiction, documentary, animation and experimental short film. It’s a week-long programme across multiple venues — some outdoor, some indoor — with a vibrant creative atmosphere that sits surprisingly well alongside the beach bars. Keep an eye on the festival website for the full programme.
☀️ Weather Watch — Easter Week
Easter week is looking warmly promising. Daytime highs are nudging 17–19°C with plenty of spring sunshine — though the evenings drop back to around 11–12°C, so something warm is essential for the late-night processions. The clocks going forward last night mean sunset is now after 8pm, which is genuinely lovely for evening terrace time.
🍺 New Feature: The Benidorm Eat & Drink Guide
You asked for it — here it is. Every week we’ll be sharing reader-backed recommendations for cheap pints, bargain cocktails, and places to eat, all sourced from genuine Tripadvisor and Google reviews. No paid placements, no tourist board suggestions. Just the places real visitors keep going back to.
🍺 Where to Get a Cheap Pint
Benidorm’s drinks prices vary wildly depending on where you sit down. Here are three spots consistently praised by British visitors for great value on draught and bottled beer.
Uncle Ped’s British Pub
📍 Calle Derramador, New Town
Benidorm’s most famous bargain bar. Three locations across the resort, with the Calle Derramador branch consistently rated the best. Pints of Amstel, Coors and bottled beers from as little as €1–1.50 during the day, with live entertainment most evenings. Big screens for sport, pool tables, outdoor terrace — and it’s a proper sun trap in the mornings. Recently refurbished with new toilets (which the regulars are delighted about).
From €1 a pint / €1–1.50 bottles
Tiki Beach Bar
📍 Levante Beach front
Right on the first line of Levante Beach — and consistently praised for offering genuinely affordable beers in a setting where most places charge a premium. Families, couples and groups all get a mention in reviews, and the DJ sets and live music in the evenings make it worth lingering. Cash only, so bring euros.
Approx €2–2.50 a pint
Cheap & Cheerful Bar
📍 C. Jaén, New Town
Does what it says on the tin, and then some. Reviewers consistently praise the generous measures, rock-bottom prices, and sunny outside terrace. Stocks a good range of spirits, gins and mixers alongside the usual lager. Popular with regulars who end up staying “for just one more” several times over. British pub atmosphere with Spanish sunshine.
From €1.50 a pint; spirits from €2
Daytona Rock Beach Bar
📍 Avenida de Alcoy, Levante Beach
A 1950s American rock n’ roll-themed bar right on Levante Beach — and one of the most mentioned Benidorm bars across review sites. Afternoon and evening live music, a lovely beachfront terrace, and drinks that reviewers consistently describe as “inexpensive” for the location. One reviewer noted it was still as good as ever in 2025.
Approx €2–3 a pint
🍹 Where to Get a Cheap Cocktail
Benidorm is one of the best places in Europe for cocktails that won’t empty your wallet. These two consistently come up in reviews when people ask where to find the best value.
The Secret Fountain Roof Bar Garden
📍 Marina Resort Hotel, Av. de Mallorca 5 (first floor — look for the small gate and lift)
Consistently described by reviewers as having “the best cocktails in Benidorm by far.” A rooftop terrace above the busy strip with a small fountain pool, sun loungers, misting systems to cool you down, live entertainment twice daily, and free crisps with every round. Cocktails are generously sized and well-priced — the strawberry daiquiri and Baileys Chocolate Cream are particular favourites. Hard to find but always worth it. Open 11am–11pm.
Cocktails from approx €6–8; pints €2; wine from €1.80
Daytona Rock Beach Bar
📍 Avenida de Alcoy, Levante Beach
Already recommended above for cheap pints — but it doubles up as a great cocktail spot too. The beachfront terrace setting makes a sundowner here one of the nicest things you can do in Benidorm for under a tenner. Live music from the afternoon makes it a natural place to linger. Reviewers note prices are noticeably lower than most of the beachfront competition.
Cocktails from approx €5–7
🍽️ Where to Eat — Reader-Backed Recommendations
Benidorm has over 1,200 restaurants. Here are four that reviewers keep returning to — from a hidden Old Town gem to the current Tripadvisor number one.
Kathmandu Restaurant Benidorm
📍 New Town, Benidorm (check Google Maps for exact address — it moves fast in search rankings)
Currently the top-rated restaurant in Benidorm on Tripadvisor, and the reviews make clear why: fresh, authentic Indian and Nepalese cooking with generous portions, customisable spice levels, and staff who genuinely care about your evening. One reviewer called it “the best Indian food I’ve tried in Spain.” Another visited on Boxing Day 2025 and couldn’t fault a single thing. The naan gets particular praise. Book in advance — it fills up quickly and turning up without a reservation means waiting.
Vajra Bistro
📍 C. de la Palma 30, Old Town (on Restaurant Street, near the headland)
A tiny, intimate bistro run by a wonderfully welcoming couple in the Old Town. The menu del día offers three courses including water or wine for €11.95 or €17.95 — which, frankly, is remarkable value. Reviewers consistently describe the food as exceptional: fresh ingredients, generous portions, perfectly cooked steaks, homemade pasta and desserts. Service is unhurried and personal. You need to book — it’s small, it’s popular, and you will kick yourself if you don’t. Rated 4.9 on Google with over 800 reviews.
La Mejillonera
📍 Paseo de la Carretera 16, Old Town waterfront (open since 1981)
If you eat anywhere in Benidorm that feels truly Spanish, make it La Mejillonera. Open since 1981, it’s a seafood institution serving mussels in about a dozen different preparations — marinara, vinaigrette, stuffed, au gratin, garlic and paprika — along with excellent paella and rice dishes. Spanish locals queue here alongside the tourists, which is always a reliable sign. Arrive before 7:30pm to avoid the longest waits. Note: some reviewers mention brusque service during peak rush — it’s a busy kitchen, not a gastropub. The food makes up for it comprehensively.
Zodiac House (Old Town)
📍 Ruzafa Street, Old Town (not to be confused with Zodiac Bar on Poniente beachfront)
A consistent recommendation in Benidorm forums for cheap, decent tapas: six tapas plus a bottle of wine, jug of sangria, or beer for around €8. It’s not the most polished restaurant in Benidorm, but for a long lunch or early evening tapas session in the Old Town — where the atmosphere is free — it represents exceptional value. A regular go-to for residents and returning visitors who’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
❓ You Asked…
Is it worth staying in the Old Town during Holy Week, or will the processions make it impossible to get around?
It depends on what you’re after. If you want to be in the middle of the atmosphere, the Old Town is the place to be — the processions literally walk past your door. The practical downside is that some streets are closed during procession times (generally from 8pm onwards on the main evenings), parking is nightmarish, and it gets very busy on Good Friday in particular. If you’re staying nearby, walking everywhere is the only sensible option. If you’re driving in from outside, leave the car well away and walk in. The flip side: the atmosphere in the Old Town during Holy Week is genuinely extraordinary. Most people who experience it once want to come back specifically for it.
The Skyline Film Festival sounds interesting but I don’t speak Spanish — is it worth going?
Short films are a surprisingly accessible format even with a language barrier — many of the entries are international, some are entirely visual, and the festival includes fiction, animation and documentary categories. The atmosphere at the screenings is typically relaxed and sociable. Even if you only understand half of what’s on screen, a warm evening watching short films in an outdoor setting in Benidorm is a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a few hours. Check the programme at the official Skyline Benidorm website for screening details and English-language entries as the full programme is announced.
🔥 Hot Topic
Semana Santa vs. The Party Strip — Does Holy Week Change Benidorm’s Atmosphere?
It’s a question that comes up every year in the forums: does Holy Week mean Benidorm tones down, or does it carry on as normal? The honest answer is: both, in different parts of the resort simultaneously. The Old Town and the areas around the main parishes go genuinely solemn during procession times — the music stops, the noise drops, and something quite remarkable happens. The main strip and the Levante beachfront, meanwhile, continue pretty much as ever.
What most people find is that the contrast makes both experiences better. A quiet candlelit procession through the Old Town followed by a beer on the strip an hour later is one of the more distinctly Benidorm evenings you can have. The resort doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t — it just adds something genuinely unexpected for a week, and most visitors are the richer for it.
💡 Tip of the Week
Finding The Secret Fountain — It’s Easier Than You Think, But Easy to Walk Past
The Secret Fountain rooftop bar is one of the most highly rated spots in Benidorm, but reviewers consistently note that it’s easy to miss. It’s above the Marina Hotel complex — look for a small gate and sign on the main drag near the Marina Resort. There’s a lift inside the building (which also provides wheelchair access). Once you’re up there, you’ll wonder how you walked past it so many times. It’s busiest in the afternoon — arrive around 3pm for the best combination of sun, available tables, and the afternoon entertainment set. Evenings are livelier but can be boisterous depending on the groups in that night.
🤔 Did You Know?
The Tuna Festival Has a Spectacular Opening Ceremony
The Benidorm Tuna Festival — running 17–26 April — opens with a ronqueo: the ceremonial, expert butchering of a whole bluefin tuna that can weigh over 200kg. It’s a tradition connected to Benidorm’s deep historical roots in the Mediterranean fishing industry, when local boats worked the almadraba tuna traps off the coast. The fish is broken down by hand using traditional long-bladed knives in a process that takes around 20 minutes and is, by all accounts, genuinely fascinating to watch. Worth arriving in Benidorm on 17 April if you can.
That’s Issue 53 done — and what a week to be in Benidorm. Whether you’re there right now watching the Palm Sunday procession, or you’re reading this from a rainy living room somewhere in Britain and planning your Easter escape, we hope this one was useful.
Next week we’ll have a full Easter Sunday round-up, more Eat & Drink Guide recommendations (we’ve had some brilliant reader suggestions already — keep them coming!), and a preview of what’s happening in April as the season really gets going.
If you’re in Benidorm this week — enjoy every single moment. And if the procession brings a lump to your throat, that’s completely normal. It does that to everyone.
Until next time — keep the sun on your face and the sangria cold. ☀️
