admin☀️ The Benidorm Bulletin
Your weekly dose of sun, sangria, and what’s on
✉️ From the Editor
Holy Week is nearly upon us, which means Benidorm is about to do something quite remarkable: transform from Europe’s most enthusiastic party resort into a place of solemn candlelit processions, incense, and centuries-old Spanish tradition. Semana Santa starts next Sunday, and if you’ve never seen it, it’s genuinely one of those experiences that stops you in your tracks — in the best possible way.
This issue is packed with everything you need for the next few weeks: Easter event details, the news that Brits are booking Benidorm in record numbers (no surprise there), a heads-up on Mundomar reopening, and a very important message for any Elvis fans who’ve been putting off booking their April trip.
Hint: don’t put it off any longer. Right then — let’s get into it.
🗞️ Lead Story
Brits Back in Force: Record-Breaking Bookings as the Season Kicks Off
British tourists have just hit a number not seen for a very long time — and Benidorm’s hotels couldn’t be happier about it.
In the first half of March, British visitors accounted for a record 50.6% of all hotel bookings in Benidorm — meaning, for the first time in recent memory, more than half of every occupied hotel room had a Brit in it. The industry body Hosbec described the figure as something “not seen for a long time.” Overall hotel occupancy hit 77.9%, up on the same period last year.
The timing isn’t entirely coincidental. Cheltenham Festival raceweek drew an estimated 40,000 British racing fans to the Costa Blanca this month, with hotel reservations during race week reportedly up 225% year-on-year. Bars opened early to catch the live action, poolside commentary was very much a thing, and Benidorm earned itself the unofficial nickname “Costa del Cheltenham.” Forty thousand Brits descending for the horse racing is, one might say, noticeable.
Beyond the racing crowd, the figures reflect a broader trend: British tourists are returning to Benidorm with genuine enthusiasm, and the resort — with its combination of reliable sunshine, affordable prices, and sheer concentrated fun — is delivering exactly what people want in the spring.
- Easter week (29 March – 5 April) is filling up fast. If you haven’t booked yet, do it today — particularly if you want anything in the Levante area.
- Spring shoulder season (late March to mid-May) is some of the best value and best weather of the year — well worth considering if you’re flexible on dates.
- Early bookings for summer are reportedly strong too. If you’re planning July or August, don’t assume you have plenty of time.
📅 What’s On This Month
From ancient religious tradition to slightly less ancient Elvis tribute acts, the next few weeks have something for absolutely everyone.
Sunday 29 March – Sunday 5 April
Semana Santa — Holy Week
Semana Santa is Spain’s most extraordinary week, and Benidorm’s version is quietly spectacular. Each evening, religious brotherhoods carry vast ornate floats through the narrow streets of the Old Town — all candlelight, white robes, incense, and slow drumbeats. It’s unlike anything you’ll see back home. Highlights: the Procession of Silence on Holy Wednesday (1 April) from 9pm, and the emotional Good Friday Via Crucis at 7am on 3 April. Easter Sunday ends the week on a joyful note with a morning procession at the Alameda from 8am, complete with brass bands and flowers. Roads in the Old Town will be closed during procession times — factor that into any evening plans.
Saturday 28 March
Mundomar Marine Park — 2026 Season Opens
Mundomar is back for the season from this Saturday, running 10am–6pm. The park features dolphin and sea lion shows, exotic bird displays, and up-close animal encounters that go down brilliantly with children of all ages. Book online to save around £6 per adult — children aged 4–12 and over-65s get a reduced rate, and under-4s go free.
Sunday 12 – Tuesday 21 April
Benidorm Gastronomic Tuna Days (Jornadas del Atún)
For ten days every April, dozens of Benidorm restaurants dedicate their menus to fresh tuna — tapas, tasting menus, single dishes, the works. One of those events that rewards a bit of wandering: pop your head in somewhere that looks good, point at the chalkboard, and you’ll rarely be disappointed. No advance booking required at most venues.
Friday 24 – Sunday 26 April
16th Benidorm Elvis Festival
The world’s most concentrated gathering of Elvis impersonators returns for its 16th year, featuring 15+ named tribute artists across four venues. The bad news: weekend wristbands have sold out. The good news: individual venues can still be visited without a wristband, so there’s no reason to miss the atmosphere entirely. Check Round Town Travel for any wristband returns.
Thursday 30 April – Sunday 3 May
Festa de la Creu — Holy Cross Festival
A quieter but genuinely lovely festival in which Benidorm’s local neighbourhoods compete to create the most elaborate floral cross display. The main day is Friday 1 May (a Spanish public holiday). A beautiful backdrop for anyone visiting over the early May bank holiday weekend.
🎭 Tonight’s Entertainment
Whether you’re after world-class cabaret or a solemn procession through a candlelit Old Town, Benidorm’s entertainment scene is well underway.
Benidorm Palace: ELEMENTS
If you’ve never been to Benidorm Palace, go. ELEMENTS features 50+ international artists, 250 sq m of 8K LED screens, dancers, acrobats, aerialists and live musicians across a show that follows AI character ‘Arche’ through earth, water, fire and air. It is, to put it mildly, a lot of show for the money. Dinner packages available; show-only works perfectly well too. Book ahead at benidormpalace.com.
Elvis Festival — Individual Venues
Even without a weekend wristband, you can still enjoy the festival atmosphere at individual venues across Benidorm. Sinatra’s Premium is the most polished of the lot; Rock & Roll House is the most gloriously chaotic. Check individual venue listings for door prices and set times as the festival approaches.
Semana Santa Processions — Free Street Theatre of the Finest Kind
It bears repeating here: the evening processions during Holy Week are some of the most atmospheric free entertainment you’ll ever stumble across. Find yourself a spot along the Old Town route, give yourself twenty minutes, and see what you think. Most people find themselves standing there for two hours.
☀️ Weather Watch — April
April in Benidorm is the kind of weather forecast that makes British people quietly triumphant. While it’s still doing whatever it’s doing back home, you’ll be looking at average highs of 19°C and around 10 hours of sunshine most days — with pleasantly warm evenings cooling to about 12°C after dark. The sea comes in at around 16°C, which is bracing if you’re the swimming type, though the resort’s pools are heated. Expect about six days with some rain — passing showers rather than the dreary grey stuff you left behind.
❓ You Asked…
I’ve heard Semana Santa causes chaos with traffic and road closures. Should I avoid Benidorm that week entirely?
Not at all — but it’s worth knowing what you’re dealing with. Certain streets in the Old Town are closed during evening procession times, typically from around 8pm on the main nights. The practical fix: walk everywhere that week, which is entirely doable given how compact central Benidorm is. The bonus is that you’ll stumble across the processions quite naturally, which is honestly the best way to experience them. The resort doesn’t shut down — bars, restaurants and everything else are open as normal.
Are the Elvis Festival wristbands really gone? I’ve been planning this trip for months.
Unfortunately yes — the core weekend wristbands have sold out. However, all is not lost. Individual venues (Sinatra’s Premium, The Tropical, Rock & Roll House, and the Hotel Meliá) continue to admit guests on the door for their own events without a wristband. It’s also worth keeping an eye on Round Town Travel, who sometimes have wristband returns. The atmosphere across the whole resort that weekend is fantastic regardless — you don’t actually need a wristband to feel like you’re at the party.
🔥 Hot Topic
Benidorm’s €350 Million Debt Deal — Should Tourists Be Worried?
You may have seen news this week that Benidorm’s city council voted to approve a repayment plan for a €350 million (approximately £303 million) debt owed to landowners from a property dispute going back to the early 2000s. An initial €60 million payment is due before the end of this year, with the remainder paid over many years in cash and land. The deal was reached to avoid the council entering formal insolvency proceedings.
The honest answer to “should tourists be worried?” is: not really, no. Benidorm’s entire economy runs on tourism — the resort generates enormous revenue and that isn’t going to change. The debt relates to historic land compensation, not everyday council services. The fact that a structured deal has been agreed is actually the reassuring part of the story. No reason to alter your holiday plans based on this news.
💡 Tip of the Week
Book Mundomar Online — You’ll Save More Than You Think
Mundomar’s gate price is €32 (approx £28) for adults. Book online at mundomar.es and you’ll pay €26 (approx £22) — a saving of €6 per adult before you’ve even had your first ice cream. For a family of four, that’s over £20 back in your pocket before the dolphin show has started. Children aged 4–12 and over-65s get the same proportional discount online; under-4s are free regardless. The park opens from Saturday 28 March, 10am–6pm. Arriving at opening time is well worth the early start.
🤔 Did You Know?
Benidorm Has More Skyscrapers Per Square Kilometre Than Manhattan
Benidorm’s famous skyline didn’t happen by accident. In the late 1950s, the town’s forward-thinking mayor Pedro Zaragoza Orts encouraged high-rise development specifically to maximise visitors without sprawling across the surrounding countryside. The plan worked rather better than anyone expected. Today, Benidorm has more skyscrapers per square kilometre than Manhattan — a fact that surprises half of everyone who hears it, and delights the other half.
That’s your lot for this week — and what a week to be planning a Benidorm trip. Whether you’re heading out for Holy Week to watch the processions, dashing over for the Easter sunshine, or already counting down to the Elvis Festival in April, there’s plenty to look forward to.
Next issue we’ll have full Semana Santa coverage, a first look at what’s happening in May, and we’re hoping to bring you some reader recommendations from the Tuna Days restaurants — so if you’re heading to Benidorm over Easter, do send us your best finds.
Until next time — keep the sun on your face and the sangria cold. ☀️
