Over the Christmas period, it’s the best time of year to do a quick day trip and experience some of the beautiful villages and bustling cities that surround Benidorm. Whether you’re thinking about taking a trip for Christmas shopping, for Christmas markets or for a change of scenery, there are plenty of ideas for Day Trips from Benidorm for Christmas.

During Christmas, most of us are fortunate enough to get some holiday time and be able to relax a little. If you’re over on holiday, you might be thinking about a change of scenery too. After all, it’s nice to take the opportunity to get out and explore the surroundings. There’s more to the Costa Blanca than meets the eye.

Alcoy

I couldn’t write about places to go during Christmas without mentioning Christmas village itself. Situated up in the mountains, Alcoy is a town that is an hour drive from Benidorm. Don’t be surprised to see a beautiful Christmas market, a stunning nativity and if you’re lucky, even a blanket of snow! Home to the first King’s Day Parade, it’s worth stopping by, if you can!

Guadalest

Guadalest is one of the most idyllic villages on the Costa Blanca and arguably in Spain. It’s a truly lovely little village that will delight you from the moment you step foot in it. With day trips offered by various companies across Benidorm and the local bus travelling, it’s super easy to get up into the mountains and experience Guadalest first hand.

Guadalest is one of those villages that each time you visit it mesmerises you a little more, with quaint streets and towering mountains, each visit is the same as the one before yet it still feels just as enchanting.

Altea

Altea is such a change of pace from Benidorm and I’d recommend visiting it if you’re over in Benidorm. With stooping white buildings and a splash of blue, it’s a completely different alternate holiday destination to the booming and happening Benidorm. Altea also has its own Christmas parade and plenty of fireworks.

There are lots of cosy bars scattered across the beachfront and a bustling square located at the top of the hill, it’s an unmissable location.

Whenever we want a change of pace, Altea is the place to go. For such a short journey, it feels a million miles away. A calm and serene atmosphere, Altea is truly la bella.

Villajoyosa

Home of the chocolate factory, you’re guaranteed to have the smells of chocolate fill the air and Christmas will really feel like it’s coming to life. With parades, regular live brass bands at the park and a genuine friendly community feel, it’s one of the best places to visit on the Costa Blanca.

Don’t forget to stop by Valor chocolate factory cafe and enjoy one of their hot chocolate varieties. If you’re feeling like a big treat, you can get your own chocolate fountain complete with fruit skewers!

I never tire of the coloured houses, walking along the promenade makes me feel like I’ve been teleported to the land of Beauty and the Beast. I may have listened to “Belle”, whilst walking around a few times… It’s one of those cities that has such a comfortable feel about it, everyone is smiling, everyone says hello. Villajoyosa is a delight.

Valencia

What is Christmas without a stooping Christmas tree, a bustling plaza complete with Christmas markets and all of the favourite shops? Valencia has the answer. With some of the best Christmas lights on the Costa Blanca, a day trip to Valencia for shopping is possible, though I would recommend staying over the night! There are plenty of hotels that offer one-night stays for around 30€!

Valencia is a gorgeous city that offers it all. Long stretches of beaches, the Oceonagraphic, shopping for all and bars and cafe’s to watch the hours pass by. It won’t just look and feel like Christmas but smell like Christmas too, thanks to the street stalls roasting chestnuts, almonds and much more.

You’ll also find an intricate Nativity scene which will be placed at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento for the duration of December and early January.

Though, the biggest draw to Valencia during Christmas is Expojove, which is held from 26th December until 4th January at Feria València which involves lots of different fun activities for children. There will also be a Christmas Fair with tombolas, sweets and children’s toys.

Alicante

Another day, another city. Easily accessible by tram or bus, with the tram only taking an hour and being such low-priced, it’s a great place for a change of scenery in December. In Alicante, there are a range of different shops to do some Christmas Shopping, though if you’re planning to go to Primark, you’ll need to take another bus out of the centre to Gran Via, which takes an additional 20 minutes.

In Alicante, they also have Santa’s Grotto in the  Parque de la Ereta which is below Santa Barbara castle. There are lots of games and activities for children, Christmas music and the opportunity to meet Father Christmas, for free! Father Christmas can be visited from the 6th to the 23rd December from 12:00 to 20:00 and on the 24th & 25th December from 10:00 to 14:00.

There is also a temporary ice skating rink at the Town Hall, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, from 1st December until 7th January. This is open every day from 10:00 to 14:00 and then again from 16:00 to 23:00.

Feliz Navidad,