Is Benidorm safe?
Safe with normal care. Drunk British tourists, drink spiking and pickpockets on Levante nightlife streets are common; balcony falls are a known risk.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-11.
- Homicide rate in Spain: 0.7 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Spain: 3.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 091 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Benidorm at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing and bag snatching along promenades and bars, drink spiking in party zones, and fights late at night. |
| At night | Levante's bars run until dawn and are crowded. Use taxis late; the walk back along dark side streets is the only worry. |
| Solo women | Comfortable in daytime. Late nights on Levante can be rowdy; watch drinks and go with a group or take a taxi. |
| Other risks | Heat above 35°C in July–August; Strong currents when red flags fly; Falls from balconies |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Timeshare touts offering free gifts for a 'short' presentation
- Street sellers pressing bracelets and items on your wrist
- Inflated bills in some Levante bars; check before ordering
Take care
- Calle Mallorca and Levante party strips after midnight: spiked drinks, fights
- Balconies when drunk: falls from hotel balconies kill several people a year
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking alcohol in the street is banned in many cities, with on-the-spot fines.
- Wearing swimwear or going shirtless away from the beach is fined in Barcelona and many resorts.
- Police can ask for photo ID at any time and hold you until it's confirmed; carry it.
How Benidorm compares in Spain
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| San Sebastián | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bilbao | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Córdoba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Menorca | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Toledo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Santiago de Compostela | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Salamanca | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Barcelona | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Madrid | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Seville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Valencia | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Málaga | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mallorca | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ibiza | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tenerife | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gran Canaria | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Granada | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palma | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Palmas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lanzarote | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alicante | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fuerteventura | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marbella | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cádiz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Benidorm | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maspalomas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sitges | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Benidorm safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable in daytime. Late nights on Levante can be rowdy; watch drinks and go with a group or take a taxi.
Is Benidorm safe at night?
Levante's bars run until dawn and are crowded. Use taxis late; the walk back along dark side streets is the only worry.
What is the crime rate in Benidorm?
Pickpocketing and bag snatching along promenades and bars, drink spiking in party zones, and fights late at night. Nationally, Spain records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Benidorm?
Police 091 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
More about Benidorm
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Alicante-Elche Airport (Aena)
- TRAM d'Alacant (FGV)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.