Benidorm is the cheapest gay holiday in Europe from the UK, and its scene is unlike any other resort on this list: cabaret, drag and singalong bars in the Old Town rather than clubs. The area is compact and walkable, the crowd skews older and heavily British, and it runs for most of the year rather than a summer season. If that description appeals, nothing else comes close on price.
- Cheapest of the European gay resorts by a clear margin.
- The scene is in the Old Town, around Calle Santo Domingo and nearby streets.
- Cabaret and drag-led, not a club scene. This is the defining difference.
- Open far more of the year than the Mediterranean resorts.
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Where things are
| Area | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town | The gay scene, around Calle Santo Domingo | Compact, walkable, cabaret-led |
| Levante beach | The long, busy main beach | Where most hotels are |
| Poniente beach | The quieter side | More residential, less nightlife |
| The English quarter | British-oriented bars, further from the Old Town | A different crowd entirely |
| Alicante airport | About an hour by road | Bus, taxi or transfer |
What the scene is actually like
Worth being direct about, because Benidorm’s reputation causes both unfair dismissal and misplaced expectations. The venues are small bars with a stage. The entertainment is drag, cabaret and live singing, running from early evening rather than starting at midnight. People sit down. Shows are the point rather than the backdrop.
If you want a circuit crowd or a late club scene, this is the wrong resort and you will be disappointed. If you want cheap, warm, funny nights out with an unpretentious crowd, there is nothing else quite like it in Europe.
Why it is so cheap
Three structural reasons: enormous hotel capacity built for mass tourism, year-round occupancy rather than a short season, and an established half-board and full-board market that keeps food costs down. Combined with cheap flights to Alicante from most UK airports, it produces the lowest total cost of any resort in these guides. Full comparison in cheap gay holidays.
Gay bars in Benidorm
Nearly all of these are in or beside the Old Town.
Bar 69 BenidormBar
Bar CodeBar
Bears BarBar
Disco Pub MercuryBar
Eagle Bar BenidormBar
5 venues listed. Details come from public listings and venue websites — ring ahead before travelling, opening times change.
When to go
- Spring and autumn — the best combination of weather and price.
- Winter — mild rather than warm, and a genuine off-season destination for British visitors. Much of the Old Town keeps operating.
- Summer — hot and busy, with Spanish domestic tourism peaking in August.
- Benidorm Pride — held in the Old Town; check the current dates, as they have moved.
Where to stay
The main decision is Old Town versus Levante. The Old Town puts you in the middle of the scene and within walking distance of everything; Levante gives you the bigger hotels, the better beach access and a 15–20 minute walk back each night. Given that walking back is free and taxis are not, and that the nights end earlier here than in other resorts, the Old Town end is usually worth the slightly higher price.
Half board is common and genuinely reduces total spend if you would otherwise eat out twice a day.
Practical points
- Alicante airport is about an hour away — book a transfer or use the bus rather than assuming a short taxi.
- Shows have set times. Unlike other resorts, arriving at 1am means you have missed it.
- Cash is still useful in the smaller Old Town bars.
- Legally and socially straightforward — Spain, with a long-established scene.
- Insurance and GHIC — see travel insurance.
- Apps skew towards visitors; see apps abroad.
Compared with the alternatives: gay resorts in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the gay area in Benidorm?
The Old Town, around Calle Santo Domingo and the surrounding streets. It is compact and walkable, and it is where nearly all the gay venues are.
What is Benidorm’s gay scene like?
Cabaret, drag and live singing in small bars, starting early evening. It is a show-led scene rather than a club scene, which makes it quite different from Sitges or Mykonos.
Is Benidorm cheap?
It is the cheapest gay resort in Europe from the UK, driven by large hotel capacity, year-round occupancy and cheap flights to Alicante.
Is Benidorm open in winter?
Much of it, yes. The weather is mild rather than hot, but unlike the Mediterranean resorts it does not shut down, and it has a long-standing British winter trade.
How far is the airport?
Alicante is about an hour by road. Buses, taxis and transfers all run; it is not a short hop, so plan for it.
Should I stay in the Old Town or on Levante?
The Old Town if the scene is the point — you walk everywhere. Levante for the bigger hotels and the beach, with a 15–20 minute walk back at night.